MSU in the Final 4

[johnny2x2x]

2 months ago, no one would have thought we'd end up here. Heck, 2 weeks ago we were all pissed at drawing Duke as our #1.

Texas Tech is extremely tough, they dismantled Michigan. I love what their coach does. I think this is a much better match up for us though than Michigan. Michigan has an awful offense.

Texas Tech has lost to teams this season that:
A) Move the ball well. MSU leads the nation in assists and assist %. You simply won't beat that defense 1 on 1.

B) Rebound well. MSU is a top 5 rebounding team in the country.

C) Play physically. Look at their losses and they lost to Baylor, West Virginia, Iowa State, Duke, Kansas, and Kansas State. Most of those teams are among the most physical in the country. Baylor and WVU are just about more physical than us.

Michigan was in that game, but they missed several wide open 3s in the first half, they make a couple of them and it's a different game IMO. UM then lost composure after halftime and the rout was on.

This game will be a grind, similar to playing Wisconsin or Michigan this season. MSU has to stick to their game plan and not get frustrated if they go on a scoring drought. And we have to shoot near or average from 3 or above it. 6-25 won't get it done, we need to be 7-20 or better.

MSU 66 Texas Tech 60

 

[MSUMatt28]

Looking at TT's offensive numbers they're not bad either. They shoot 47% from the field and just under 37% from 3. So not too far off our own numbers. Though I think how Culver goes is how they go. He's not a great shooter but he shoots it well enough that you have to honor it to set up him getting to the basket (which looking at the UM game he's really good at). Moretti shoots it well. So hopefully if McQuaid is on him he can bottle him up. They don't appear to get much post scoring.

We need to limit turnovers and not give them easy baskets that way. They average a decent number of steals per game. Rebounding does seem to be an area where we would do well to make sure we have a decisive advantage.

Tech had a bit of a lull during the Big 12 season where they lost 3 in row, similarly to us but earlier on in their conference season, but have mostly been rolling since then save for a hiccup vs West Virginia in the Big 12 tournament. In the non-conference they were right with Duke at MSG for most of the game back when Duke was probably playing at their best, until Duke pulled away in the final 5 minutes for the 11 point win.

 

[Spartanmack]

Looking at TT's offensive numbers they're not bad either. They shoot 47% from the field and just under 37% from 3. So not too far off our own numbers. Though I think how Culver goes is how they go. He's not a great shooter but he shoots it well enough that you have to honor it to set up him getting to the basket (which looking at the UM game he's really good at). Moretti shoots it well. So hopefully if McQuaid is on him he can bottle him up. They don't appear to get much post scoring.

We need to limit turnovers and not give them easy baskets that way. They average a decent number of steals per game. Rebounding does seem to be an area where we would do well to make sure we have a decisive advantage.

Tech had a bit of a lull during the Big 12 season where they lost 3 in row, similarly to us but earlier on in their conference season, but have mostly been rolling since then save for a hiccup vs West Virginia in the Big 12 tournament. In the non-conference they were right with Duke at MSG for most of the game back when Duke was probably playing at their best, until Duke pulled away in the final 5 minutes for the 11 point win.

Beilein also sat Mathews in the 2h after he shut down Culver for the first 20 minutes, presumably because Mathews got nothing off the dribble and isn't a great shooter. Livers couldn't handle him and the kid went off in the 2nd hlf and it didn't help that Livers had a poor shooting night as well.

Gonna go out on a limb here and say we win by 10, hopefully 63/53 because that will pay me $800 - I don't see it being a much higher scoring game than that.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Beilein also sat Mathews in the 2h after he shut down Culver for the first 20 minutes, presumably because Mathews got nothing off the dribble and isn't a great shooter. Livers couldn't handle him and the kid went off in the 2nd hlf and it didn't help that Livers had a poor shooting night as well.

Gonna go out on a limb here and say we win by 10, hopefully 63/53 because that will pay me $800 - I don't see it being a much higher scoring game than that.

Texas Tech's defense dares you to drive baseline on them. I know there is no way Beilein didn't know that and coached his players not to fall for it. But Matthews got caught driving baseline multiple times and turned it over. I think he was benched for that.

In my mind, good ball movement is really important, but maybe just as important is good off the ball screening. Use screens to disrupt Texas Tech's spacing on defense. Also, screen out defenders to create open shots.

Winning this game is about mental toughness and sticking to the plan. Tech baits teams into less than good (Not necessarily bad) shots. You have to continue to work hard for good shots and not lose resolve and take the shots they bait you into. Easier said than done.

 

[Spartanmack]

Texas Tech's defense dares you to drive baseline on them. I know there is no way Beilein didn't know that and coached his players not to fall for it. But Matthews got caught driving baseline multiple times and turned it over. I think he was benched for that.

In my mind, good ball movement is really important, but maybe just as important is good off the ball screening. Use screens to disrupt Texas Tech's spacing on defense. Also, screen out defenders to create open shots.

Winning this game is about mental toughness and sticking to the plan. Tech baits teams into less than good (Not necessarily bad) shots. You have to continue to work hard for good shots and not lose resolve and take the shots they bait you into. Easier said than done.

he was benched for his offense and replaced by a guy that cost them on defense and added nothing on offense. seems like just about everything that could go wrong for uofm did. I think that game is probably a 60/40 tt/uofm split maybe even 55/45 if you play it 100 times.

 

[johnny2x2x]

I saw the betting line up to MSU -3.5 some places. Some late money coming in on MSU I guess.

Just great to be in the Final 4 again, play well and I think we have our best shot to win another title in a long time.

 

[SpartyNash]

Anyone here going? I’d love to, but too much damn money. Plus I’m going to Florida next week so it would be tough to swing it anyways.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Anyone here going? I?d love to, but too much damn money. Plus I?m going to Florida next week so it would be tough to swing it anyways.

Wife and I just got back from Hawaii a few weeks ago, since then we've been punching pennies to get our savings back up. I briefly entertained going, but couldn't justify dropping a few grand.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Kyle Ahrens is a full participant in practice today. Crazy if he gets time tomorrow.

 

[Spartanmack]

I'd be surprised if I ever attend a FF at this point - I don't live anywhere near a dome, at least not one that will host a Final Four and I don't think I'm all that interested in seeing one live anymore. I blew my chance in '00 when I was single and lived in Chicago and balked at paying $600 for a FF ticket in Indy. Now I don't have the time, too much going on to bail on the family (and work) for a long weekend. Plus my kids aren't old enough to enjoy it and I'm not taking a family vacation in Minneapolis ever, let alone in early April so my wife and kids can do what, go to the Mall of America while I go to the game? No thanks.

Maybe if there's an opportunity for a cool father-and-son trip to see MSU in a FF somewhere other than Minneapolis when my boy is in his teens I might change my mind.

 

[MSUMatt28]

I'd be surprised if I ever attend a FF at this point - I don't live anywhere near a dome, at least not one that will host a Final Four and I don't think I'm all that interested in seeing one live anymore. I blew my chance in '00 when I was single and lived in Chicago and balked at paying $600 for a FF ticket in Indy. Now I don't have the time, too much going on to bail on the family (and work) for a long weekend. Plus my kids aren't old enough to enjoy it and I'm not taking a family vacation in Minneapolis ever, let alone in early April so my wife and kids can do what, go to the Mall of America while I go to the game? No thanks.

Maybe if there's an opportunity for a cool father-and-son trip to see MSU in a FF somewhere other than Minneapolis when my boy is in his teens I might change my mind.

I'm not going either but what's been fun about this run is I've been able to enjoy it with all 3 of my boys. They're 13, 14, and 17 now. My oldest was just starting to get into that stuff in 2015 (and did not really care in 2009-2010), but my 2 younger ones back then had no interest at all and are now on board. I have to get on my oldest though sometimes as he just gets too darn emotional. He'll be yelling at the refs through the TV screen because they're down 10-8 at Rutgers and one of these days is probably going to break his hand from pounding it on the floor when things don't go well.

But my family room was a fun place to be when Goins' shot went in and then when we realized nobody was going to catch Cash.

Thinking about it, I should have tried to go. Kids are on Spring break this week and who knows if there will be a similar opportunity in the future. But I'm cheap that way.

 

[SpartyNash]

I'm not going either but what's been fun about this run is I've been able to enjoy it with all 3 of my boys. They're 13, 14, and 17 now. My oldest was just starting to get into that stuff in 2015 (and did not really care in 2009-2010), but my 2 younger ones back then had no interest at all and are now on board. I have to get on my oldest though sometimes as he just gets too darn emotional. He'll be yelling at the refs through the TV screen because they're down 10-8 at Rutgers and one of these days is probably going to break his hand from pounding it on the floor when things don't go well.

But my family room was a fun place to be when Goins' shot went in and then when we realized nobody was going to catch Cash.

Thinking about it, I should have tried to go. Kids are on Spring break this week and who knows if there will be a similar opportunity in the future. But I'm cheap that way.

I went in 2009 to the semifinal games with my dad, I was your oldests age. Awesome experience (the game being in Detroit obviously helped) and a bucket list type thing for me. Thankfully I didn?t go to the UNC game that Monday night, my mom demanded to go. I doubt we would have ever gone if it wasn?t close to home, factor in airfare, hotels, meals, etc and you?re looking at an expensive extended weekend.

There is something great about watching big games with small groups of family and friends. I?ve generally never liked the huge watch party type deals, I tend to lose focus easier from the game and find myself forced to tone down my emotions.

 

[Spartanmack]

I'm not going either but what's been fun about this run is I've been able to enjoy it with all 3 of my boys. They're 13, 14, and 17 now. My oldest was just starting to get into that stuff in 2015 (and did not really care in 2009-2010), but my 2 younger ones back then had no interest at all and are now on board. I have to get on my oldest though sometimes as he just gets too darn emotional. He'll be yelling at the refs through the TV screen because they're down 10-8 at Rutgers and one of these days is probably going to break his hand from pounding it on the floor when things don't go well.

But my family room was a fun place to be when Goins' shot went in and then when we realized nobody was going to catch Cash.

Thinking about it, I should have tried to go. Kids are on Spring break this week and who knows if there will be a similar opportunity in the future. But I'm cheap that way.

yeah, that's definitely more fun. my kids watched the last 8 minutes or so of the dook game w/ me - that's about all they have the attention for. My son is 9 and my girls are almost 8 and 5. They don't care but they can tell when it's a big game I'm into so they get into it. My 7 year old was jumping up and down and my 5 year kept reading the score digit-by-digit then asking me what the score was like "it's four-four to four-three dad - who's winning?"

It's definitely more fun when they're into, I'm just not at the point where that happens for a full 40 minutes. I guess at some level, I'm being too cheap to go but I don't see the value in it - watching hoops in a dome stinks, I'd have to leave the family, travel alone, find a friend going to meet up with, give up all the conveniences of watching at home (comfort, family, proximity to food, drink, bathroom, etc) and overpay for the privilege - I don't see it happening unless I move close to a FF city and MSU makes it one year.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

2 possessions for Nick Ward. Offensive foul and gives up an offensive rebound. Holy shit he?s bad

 

[gotime909]

2 possessions for Nick Ward. Offensive foul and gives up an offensive rebound. Holy shit he?s bad

You're high. He's a good player. You just always look for shit to bitch about him

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

You're high. He's a good player. You just always look for shit to bitch about him

He proceeded to get dunked on the next play. He just can?t play against athletic guys. He?s too big and slow

 

[gotime909]

He proceeded to get dunked on the next play. He just can?t play against athletic guys. He?s too big and slow

If you got past your hatred long enough then you would notice that as soon as Goins went out they went in a run. Ward and Tillman play very well together.

 

[JScottWriter]

They need to start getting to some rebounds.

 

[Spartan23MSU]

Ward hasnt been himself since the injury

 

[gotime909]

Ward hasnt been himself since the injury

Agreed. He just needs his confidence back. It'll come