Hoops

[gotime909]

Team has been playing much better. Pounded Minn and Nebraska to start the big ten. They've really been good since going to the 3 guard lineup finally. They really get out and run like the old izzo teams.

 

[gotime909]

When they go Fears, Akins, Richardson, Booker and Kohler it's exciting.

 

[gotime909]

Plus Holoman has been good. I can't think of an izzo team that they had 4 guys that could seriously run the point.

 

[Spartanmack]

They definitely look better. Finally hitting threes and running - had 1/3 of their points against Minnie off fast breaks. Even zappala looks improved which makes me wonder how much of it is the competition.

Izzo needs to crack down on some of these shoe choices though. Richardson shouldn’t be allowed to wear yellow or purple shoes let alone, one yellow and one purple shoe.

 

[gotime909]

They definitely look better. Finally hitting threes and running - had 1/3 of their points against Minnie off fast breaks. Even zappala looks improved which makes me wonder how much of it is the competition.

Izzo needs to crack down on some of these shoe choices though. Richardson shouldn’t be allowed to wear yellow or purple shoes let alone, one yellow and one purple shoe.

If Richardson keeps shooting 50% from 3, he can play in flip flops for all i care.

 

[gotime909]

Carson Cooper has no business ever touching the floor for us. My god is he awful. Fidler isn't much better

 

[Spartanmack]

I think Fidler is showing some small signs of improvement but not much and against decidedly weaker competition over the last several games. Cooper is just useless.

Zapala looks like he's taken a step in the right direction. We'll see if that's real or a function of the competition when we get into the meat of the schedule.

Oakland really took them out of their game - they've been averaging 29.5 fast break points this year but had zero in the first half. Thankfully they picked it up a bit and also shot much better in the 2nd half. They almost got to 80 points after being held to 31 in the 1st half. And Booker is hitting some of his 3s but he still needs to be more active inside.

 

[gotime909]

Kohler needs to be better finishing. Great moves, but keeps blowing easy layups. His rebounding has been great tho.

 

[gotime909]

This looks like more of an Izzo team. Removing Hoggard and Mady was such a plus. Finally attacking the basket and rebounding at an elite level again.

 

[gotime909]

Team wasn't ready to play today. I'm sure some of it is Izzo never wanting to embarrass a former assistant, but these guys are just late on everything. Single digit lead late vs a team we should be up 25 against.

Kohler is especially bad today. Fidler shouldn't be getting 20 minutes and game.

 

[Spartanmack]

This looks like more of an Izzo team. Removing Hoggard and Mady was such a plus. Finally attacking the basket and rebounding at an elite level again.

Addition by subtraction. Like when the Pistons got rid of Kent Benson - you knew they were going to be better.

 

[gotime909]

Fidler only played a couple minutes and Cooper never got in in the 1st half and we built a 14 pt lead early in the 2nd half at osu. They both then go in and the lead is now gone.

 

[Spartanmack]

Looked like Izzo almost put cooper in when Kohler bricked that early 3 but then he had a couple nice plays before the next whistle and Cooper sat back down.

Have to give Zapalla credit, I thought it would be Fidler’s shooting that would make him the more valuable transfer especially given how lost Zapalla looked in those first couple games but he has adjusted to the pace and physical nature of the game way more than Frankie. I’ve seen guys playing pick up together for the first time at the Y that look more in-sync than Fidler does on this team.

I’m not saying Zapalla is great but he’s made way more progress than Fidler and he looks like a serviceable B1G big at this point.

 

[Spartanmack]

I forgot to mention, I almost threw up in my mouth when Jimmy Jackson said Fears reminded him of Hoggard.

 

[gotime909]

Looked like Izzo almost put cooper in when Kohler bricked that early 3 but then he had a couple nice plays before the next whistle and Cooper sat back down.

Have to give Zapalla credit, I thought it would be Fidler’s shooting that would make him the more valuable transfer especially given how lost Zapalla looked in those first couple games but he has adjusted to the pace and physical nature of the game way more than Frankie. I’ve seen guys playing pick up together for the first time at the Y that look more in-sync than Fidler does on this team.

I’m not saying Zapalla is great but he’s made way more progress than Fidler and he looks like a serviceable B1G big at this point.

That 4 spot has been a polarizing position for us for awhile. Seems we went from Goins to Hall/Hauser and now Fidler. Obviously this team can still be good while getting nothing from Frankie, but if he ever puts it together, this team could be really good.

 

[Spartanmack]

That 4 spot has been a polarizing position for us for awhile. Seems we went from Goins to Hall/Hauser and now Fidler. Obviously this team can still be good while getting nothing from Frankie, but if he ever puts it together, this team could be really good.

Agreed. Right now, I feel like this team can pretty much hang with everyone - not get blown out and maybe have a shot if they don't have a shitty night.

If Fidler could even be a consistent "poor man's" AJ Grainger, they become a serious threat. Maybe not like the 2020 team that got screwed by the COVID nonsense, but a legit NC contender with the only weakness being a 3 point threat at the 2. I haven't paid much attention outside MSU/B1G but I can't imagine there's a team with a 4 guard rotation like we have.

edit: I still haven't gotten over what the NCAA did to Winston/Izzo and the rest of that team.