MSU 69 #13 Maryland 55

[johnny2x2x]

That was a heck of an effort. Offense was not great, but defense and hustle won the day.

Goins had a great game with 14 and 12.

Henry is a budding young stud.

No Lanfgford, no problem. No Ward from foul trouble as he was scoreless, no worries.

Team is really fun to watch.

 

[MSUMatt28]

Pretty impressive given it was a so-so game by Winston and Ward doesn't score. This isn't one of Izzo's most talented teams, but it starting to prove to be one of his most well-rounded. They're good offensively both inside and out and playing really good defense. And they have 2 go-to guys (3 with Langford), but also have role players who know their roles but can step up when needed.

With that said, I really hope they can get Langford back pretty soon. Based on the results they haven't missed him yet, but you can see that scoring is starting to become harder as time goes on.

 

[Spartan23MSU]

........

 

[Spartan23MSU]

Strangely, I wonder if Langford will throw off the team synergy after being gone 2 months? Kidding mostly. His injury is really unknown as to why. Docs report "no visible injury" . He could go tomorrow or it could be season ending. They cant pinpoint it other than he still cant put pressure on his left ankle, an anomaly of injuries. Why did Ward only get 13 minutes? Is he slightly injured and its being hidden? Ward with 0 points? This is the most "fly under the radar" team ive seen at MSU but they get it done. I thought we should win by 4 in this Maryland game. I didnt see Bridges departure changing the team this much but I figured Jackson leaving would force this squad to struggle. Go Green!

 

[Spartanmack]

streaming bit me in the ass for the first time. i subscribed to Sling which carries FS1 but apparently not all FS1 content bc the game was blacked out. had to follow the espn play-by-play on the phone.

seemed like a dominant defensive performance.

 

[MSUMatt28]

Strangely, I wonder if Langford will throw off the team synergy after being gone 2 months? Kidding mostly. His injury is really unknown as to why. Docs report "no visible injury" . He could go tomorrow or it could be season ending. They cant pinpoint it other than he still cant put pressure on his left ankle, an anomaly of injuries. Why did Ward only get 13 minutes? Is he slightly injured and its being hidden? Ward with 0 points? This is the most "fly under the radar" team ive seen at MSU but they get it done. I thought we should win by 4 in this Maryland game. I didnt see Bridges departure changing the team this much but I figured Jackson leaving would force this squad to struggle. Go Green!

Ward was battling foul trouble primarily.

 

[johnny2x2x]

We've been on a nice run and playing better and better, what's over loooked is that we're doing this while in the middle of a serious 3 point shooting slump. Team is hitting near 40% on the season from 3, but has been barely over 30% the last several games and 25% the last 2 games. The offense is producing wide open 3s, just need to start making them.

Ahrens, McQuaid, Henry, Cassius, Brown, and Langford are all good 3 point shooters. Tillman and Goins obviously make them in practice or Izzo wouldn't give them the green light.

The offense moves the ball so well side to side and inside and out, eventually those wide open 3s will start falling again, when they do watch out because we're going to blow some good teams off the floor.

Also, I don't think people realize, but Izzo has really changed his offense, he's recognized that modern basketball offenses need to have shooters everywhere on the floor. The offense is more designed to get open looks at 3 than before.

 

[Sbee]

We've been on a nice run and playing better and better, what's over loooked is that we're doing this while in the middle of a serious 3 point shooting slump. Team is hitting near 40% on the season from 3, but has been barely over 30% the last several games and 25% the last 2 games. The offense is producing wide open 3s, just need to start making them.

Ahrens, McQuaid, Henry, Cassius, Brown, and Langford are all good 3 point shooters. Tillman and Goins obviously make them in practice or Izzo wouldn't give them the green light.

The offense moves the ball so well side to side and inside and out, eventually those wide open 3s will start falling again, when they do watch out because we're going to blow some good teams off the floor.

Also, I don't think people realize, but Izzo has really changed his offense, he's recognized that modern basketball offenses need to have shooters everywhere on the floor. The offense is more designed to get open looks at 3 than before.

agree on the 3pt shooting but how you get there can be different. we get a lot of open 3's in transition because the 4 man inbounds, the 5 is streaking to the basket, that leaves a lot of trailers open. we also work the ball inside out on offense, Ward is a much better passer than last year so there's less incentive to double him. Some other teams get 3's off the dribble drive, not as much MSU, but we're getting a lot of open looks.

If this team had a real stretch 4, they'd be deadly.

 

[johnny2x2x]

agree on the 3pt shooting but how you get there can be different. we get a lot of open 3's in transition because the 4 man inbounds, the 5 is streaking to the basket, that leaves a lot of trailers open. we also work the ball inside out on offense, Ward is a much better passer than last year so there's less incentive to double him. Some other teams get 3's off the dribble drive, not as much MSU, but we're getting a lot of open looks.

If this team had a real stretch 4, they'd be deadly.

Malik Hall arrives next year. He's a smaller 4 at 6-7, 220 lbs, but he's a deadly 3 point shooter, went 10-11 from 3 the other night. He's expected to be a combo forward for us.

What would be crazy is if Nick Ward came back for his senior year, I don't think it's likely, but not totally impossible, we'd be returning the whole team less Goins and McQuaid. Ahrens could step into McQuaid's role. Hall would be a different player than Goins, much better shooter, but no one rebounds like Kenny.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

Malik Hall arrives next year. He's a smaller 4 at 6-7, 220 lbs, but he's a deadly 3 point shooter, went 10-11 from 3 the other night. He's expected to be a combo forward for us.

What would be crazy is if Nick Ward came back for his senior year, I don't think it's likely, but not totally impossible, we'd be returning the whole team less Goins and McQuaid. Ahrens could step into McQuaid's role. Hall would be a different player than Goins, much better shooter, but no one rebounds like Kenny.

I'm honestly not sure why Ward would leave. He put his name in the draft last year only to find out no one was willing to make him a promise. He's not appreciably a better player now than he was then, at the least not enough to justify his age. He's not going to demand double teams in the NBA, he's not a shooter, and he's not an adept passer. He's very much a college-star kind of guy. That's great while he's at MSU, but he's probably better off getting a 4 year degree now. I don't see how his draft prospects really change between this year and next.

 

[johnny2x2x]

I'm honestly not sure why Ward would leave. He put his name in the draft last year only to find out no one was willing to make him a promise. He's not appreciably a better player now than he was then, at the least not enough to justify his age. He's not going to demand double teams in the NBA, he's not a shooter, and he's not an adept passer. He's very much a college-star kind of guy. That's great while he's at MSU, but he's probably better off getting a 4 year degree now. I don't see how his draft prospects really change between this year and next.

I agree, but it’s been widely reported he’s almost left twice now. And his mom was very sick last year and his family is struggling. NBA might not be his future, but he can play in Europe and make $250k a year.

There’s at least a chance he returns though. If he does, we just need to replace McQuaid and Goins which actually won’t be as easy as it sounds. McQuaid has quietly become one of the best on the ball defenders in the country and Goins is a rebounding machine.