MSU in the Final 4

[Mitchrapp]

TT the killers of the state of Michigan. Congrats to MSU getting this far..

 

[MSUMatt28]

With a little time to reflect now, that's some of the best defense I've seen in quite a long time by Tech. It was finally a game where MSU needed someone who could go get his own shot (would a healthy Langford have helped there? Possibly). Good ball movement and Cassius doing his thing wasn't going to be enough. Henry showed some flashes of being that guy, and I have to wonder how he would have done all game if not for getting the fouls in the first half. There were quite a few times were we did the right things on offense, got the ball inside, kicked it back out, swung it around, and just about each time where was still somebody right there at every step. And then other times the shots just didn't fall, but good defensive teams do that to you, and get into your head. Then you add one of their guys (Mooney) playing over his head and making some shots, and there you have it.

I have to almost wonder too if that Regional final win had been against anyone other than Duke if the performance would have been different last night. They slaid the dragon that Izzo had been 1-11 against and took down a "generational talent" and the team that had been the overall favorites most of the year in dramatic fashion. And then, oh yeah, gotta go win 2 more games. Maybe there was a bit of a hangover effect.

Still it was a hell of a year, and depending on a couple of decisions has the potential to be just as good or better next year (maybe similar to 1999-2000, when we bowed out in the final four, then Cleaves came back the next year to finish the deal? One can hope). Nothing is guaranteed in March, though. That's for sure.

 

[Spartanmack]

The defense wasn't very good in the second half. Yeah Mooney hit some shots you wouldn't expect him to, but we let too many of their guys get into the paint off the dribble.

As for the shooting, he's an easy target but really needed Goins to knock down 1 or 2 of his looks. He hit the big shot vs Duke but was pretty bad going all the way back to his freshman year. That and we didn't make Tech pay enough in the post during those times when they brought Owens all the way out on Cassius.

FIFY. Goins blows and he always has. He had a couple games this year where he convinced some people he could shoot but it was a mirage. He was never anyone that could be relied on as a regular contributor on offense. The reality is or was that he added nothing on offense. About all I'm willing to say is thanks for the rebounds and "the shot" and good luck selling insurance or whatever it is former athletes with advertising degrees do.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Great season. We did not play all that well last night, but their defense had a lot to do with it.

When Mcquaid misses that open 3 that would have tied it we deflated. We had spent all of our energy coming back. Depth issues caught up to us.

Next year we should be loaded and better on paper, but it’s all about how you gel as a team. Aaron Henry could be someone we can feature best season. He’s going to be a star.