MSU Basketball AP#1 pre season (schedule is insane!)

[johnny2x2x]

Means nothing, and it will likely be short lived. We've had some brutal schedules in the past, but I don't know if Ive ever seen this before, we play:
#2 Kentucky
#3 Kansas if we win our first round preseason tourney vs Virginia Tech
#4 Duke in the B1G ACC challenge
#7 Maryland twice in B1G Play
#12 Seton Hall
#18 Ohio State
#23 Purdue

Potentially 3 top 5 and 4 top 12 teams before we even start conference play. That's nuts.

Top 25
1. Michigan State
2. Kentucky
3. Kansas
4. Duke
5. Louisville
6. Florida
7. Maryland
8. Gonzaga
9. North Carolina
10. Villanova

11. Virginia
12. Seton Hall
13. Texas Tech
14. Memphis
15. Oregon
16. Baylor
17. Utah State
18. Ohio State
19. Xavier
20. Saint Mary?s
21. Arizona
22. LSU
23. Purdue
24. Auburn
25. VCU

 

[byco42]

I am so weary of MSU sports getting all the pre-season hype.

 

[Spartanmack]

I am so weary of MSU sports getting all the pre-season hype.

that's pretty good. and I sort of share your sentiment - I'm definitely wary (without the "e") of this preseason hype. I'd much rather the team be under the radar than playing the whole season with a target on their backs. the experience level of the team helps ease some of that concern.

 

[byco42]

Nah … I think that a team does in some way earns the pre-season #1 ranking and who else, if not Michigan State?

 

[Spartanmack]

Nah ? I think that a team does in some way earns the pre-season #1 ranking and who else, if not Michigan State?

I think they're as worthy as anyone at this point. Just as a matter of personal preference, I'd rather they have less downside risk and more upside potential at this point.

 

[byco42]

I think they're as worthy as anyone at this point. Just as a matter of personal preference, I'd rather they have less downside risk and more upside potential at this point.

Well, the rankings have nothing to do with the tournament, per se.

 

[Spartanmack]

Well, the rankings have nothing to do with the tournament, per se.

yep, and it's up to Izzo to make sure the team remembers that.

 

[boogerlovejoy]

Izzo?s schedule will make sure that #1 ?target? is erased early.

But come March.....this team could be special.

How much will Tillman and Henry progress? Is Langford 100%. Can Watts take over the 3rd guard role from Loyer or Ahrens? Can Bingham add anything? How does Hauser fit in?

I know one thing......this team will be much more fun to watch than that disaster of a football team we have.

 

[byco42]

I have the utmost respect for MSU basketball that goes back to Gus Ganakas, Ralph Simpson and Mike Robinson.

 

[Spartanmack]

Izzo?s schedule will make sure that #1 ?target? is erased early.

But come March.....this team could be special.

How much will Tillman and Henry progress? Is Langford 100%. Can Watts take over the 3rd guard role from Loyer or Ahrens? Can Bingham add anything? How does Hauser fit in?

I know one thing......this team will be much more fun to watch than that disaster of a football team we have.

Unless the KY/KU/dook portion of the schedule is a complete disaster, we'll be considered a frontrunner all season. I like this team in that it isn't based so much on anticipation of what we may get from a bunch of high-expectation unknowns, especially given Izzo's propensity to underutilize those kids.

The core of the team is experienced and really good - the younger players are mostly fillers, not unimportant but less critical than when we were relying on guys like Nairns as our most experienced players to run the show. If Langford and Winston stay healthy, that takes a lot of pressure off of guys like Henry and gives them room to grow. There are plenty of unknowns but the base is there. I wish Ward was still around for the extra toughness and experience, especially if Izzo would ever put him and Tillman on the floor at the same time.

 

[gotime909]

Langford and Ahrens both hurt. Must be basketball season. Langford one sounds bad.

 

[gotime909]

Sounds like he won't even be reevaluated until January. I'm guessing he's done

 

[Spartanmack]

I'd like to revise my previous post, we're going to need to lean on some younger guys to step up and provide badly needed perimeter offense. I feel so bad for that kid. what is it with MSU hoops players and recurring foot injuries? Lucious, Bird, Langford...

 

[gotime909]

I'd like to revise my previous post, we're going to need to lean on some younger guys to step up and provide badly needed perimeter offense. I feel so bad for that kid. what is it with MSU hoops players and recurring foot injuries? Lucious, Bird, Langford...

Hell all the way back to Cleaves. Seems every year we have a foot injury or 2.

 

[gotime909]

Super bad luck for langford. Such a good kid. Izzo was breaking down a bit announcing it today.

 

[Spartanmack]

Hell all the way back to Cleaves. Seems every year we have a foot injury or 2.

I know an orthopaedic surgeon that has consulted on a couple of them - he has no interest in being the team doctor but he's the guy who did the 2nd surgery on Lucious after the 1st one didn't work and he consulted on Bird's foot injury - I got to hang out in the team lounge at Breslin after midnight madness one year while he examined Bird's foot. I'll ping him to see if he has any idea what's going on w/ Langford.

 

[MSUMatt28]

Plenty of examples of us being highly rated in the pre-season and it not turning out so well for us. While I certainly don't expect some sort of repeat of 2010-2011 and can't envision this team falling very far if at all, I certainly worry if they can meet these kind of expectations.


Oh geez and as I'm in the middle of this what do you know. Langford is out indefinitely.

 

[boogerlovejoy]

Fuck. I expected Ahrens to get hurt the next time he sneezed......but Langford is a massive blow. Hope Rocket is the real deal.

 

[Spartanmack]

Izzo?s schedule will make sure that #1 ?target? is erased early.

But come March.....this team could be special.

How much will Tillman and Henry progress? Is Langford 100%. Can Watts take over the 3rd guard role from Loyer or Ahrens? Can Bingham add anything? How does Hauser fit in?

I know one thing......this team will be much more fun to watch than that disaster of a football team we have.

as of right now, Hauser is sitting out the year - NCAA denied his waiver request yesterday. MSU is appealing, I'm not getting my hopes up...

 

[boogerlovejoy]

as of right now, Hauser is sitting out the year - NCAA denied his waiver request yesterday. MSU is appealing, I'm not getting my hopes up...

Well super.....the hits keep coming.