MSU predictions

[Sbee]

I have MSU beating ISU to make the final four, then losing to Florida. Florida beats Louisville in the final, Arizona as the other FF team.

Regardless of what happens i feel good, we're going into the final four with our team healthy and playing good basketball. I'm sure we would be better if we practiced together all year but oh well. if we lose early, it's because we didn't play well, not because of injuries, etc.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Team still makes me nervous, but I think if we play well we can win the whole thing. Florida is the only team that can beat us if we are at the top of our game.

BTW, we played great on Sunday, but that was not as good as we can play.

One thing though, as we have started playing better we are shooting less 3s. 17 was pretty high on Sunday and we only made 2, but most of the shots were wide open. Really making an effort to go inside with Payne and now Dawson being a viable option in the post. Robinson had zero chance of stopping the much stronger Dawson in the post.

Deleware goes with 4 guards, we should get whatever we want inside all game long.

I see a Final 4. Don't sleep on UVA though, that is a tough team.

 

[MSUMatt28]

I'm not going to make any predictions at this point. They make me nervous too. Even at full strength this team had a tendency to play down to opponents earlier in the season, or struggle for stretches of a game but then bury teams with a 10-0 spurt. They lost that ability to go on spurts when they were at less than full strength.

As is the case most years, I'll be happy if they make it out of the first weekend. Then it gets fun and I like their chances.

 

[jdeb]

I got them going all the way. When healthy, they have the best depth and coach.

 

[MSUMatt28]

Team still makes me nervous, but I think if we play well we can win the whole thing. Florida is the only team that can beat us if we are at the top of our game.

BTW, we played great on Sunday, but that was not as good as we can play.

One thing though, as we have started playing better we are shooting less 3s. 17 was pretty high on Sunday and we only made 2, but most of the shots were wide open. Really making an effort to go inside with Payne and now Dawson being a viable option in the post. Robinson had zero chance of stopping the much stronger Dawson in the post.

Deleware goes with 4 guards, we should get whatever we want inside all game long.

I see a Final 4. Don't sleep on UVA though, that is a tough team.

I think the thing that we were missing with Dawson that was evident again on Sunday, aside from the defense and rebounding is his ability to get his hands on balls: steals, blocks, deflections. Those lead to more turnovers and fast-breaking opportunities and some of those spurts I was talking about. Also, less reliance on 3-point shooting as you're saying and more of an ability to generate offense from defense.

The nice thing we did on Sunday was go right inside to Payne in the beginning and he was able to draw some fouls on Morgan and Horford. Him shooting 3's is fine, like the back breaker he hit late when Michigan was trying to make a little last ditch run to get back into it, but down low is where he needs to start.

 

[Michchamp]

I got them going all the way. When healthy, they have the best depth and coach.

no, we have the best coach. Then Duke, Louisville, UNC, Kansas, and then State.

 

[Sbee]

no, we have the best coach. Then Duke, Louisville, UNC, Kansas, and then State.

All of those coaches have won a national title and gone to at least 4 final fours, played in multiple title games, except one of them. I'm not saying jb isn't a very good coach but the other ones you mentioned are hof coaches.

 

[Sbee]

I think the thing that we were missing with Dawson that was evident again on Sunday, aside from the defense and rebounding is his ability to get his hands on balls: steals, blocks, deflections. Those lead to more turnovers and fast-breaking opportunities and some of those spurts I was talking about. Also, less reliance on 3-point shooting as you're saying and more of an ability to generate offense from defense.

The nice thing we did on Sunday was go right inside to Payne in the beginning and he was able to draw some fouls on Morgan and Horford. Him shooting 3's is fine, like the back breaker he hit late when Michigan was trying to make a little last ditch run to get back into it, but down low is where he needs to start.

We played great d all weekend, lots of contested shots for Michigan and Wisconsin. We were able to switch everyone, even payne got switched on walton and we got a stop. Dawson allows a lot of that, he did a great job on nigel hayes who was the leading scorer in madison, he was 0-5 saturday.

Dawson was a man on the boards too, a lot of sky high rebounds. We missed that a lot during the season.

 

[Spartanmack]

no, we have the best coach. Then Duke, Louisville, UNC, Kansas, and then State.

This is the funniest thing you've ever said. Does JB even know what a timeout is? He's probably better than Roy Williams who can't win w/o at least 3 first rounders. I'll give you that but in terms of in-game coaching, JB isn't worth mentioning in the conversation with Izzo, Krzyzewski and Pitino. At best he's in the discussion about second tier guys like Self, Matta, etc.

 

[Sbee]

the MSU love doesn't stop

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140319/SPORTS0202/303190066/1132/rss18

 

[MSUMatt28]

We're screwed now.

 

[Sbee]

I can only imagine the comments section at the bottom of that detroit news article, it's msu vs michigan and democrats and republicans. it's like a spider web of hate

 

[Spartanmack]

I can only imagine the comments section at the bottom of that detroit news article, it's msu vs michigan and democrats and republicans. it's like a spider web of hate

I think this poses a problem for michigan fans - their hero who can do no wrong, (despite mountains of evidence to the contrary, but that's a different conversation), chooses their biggest basketball rival. How will they come to terms with that?

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

I think MSU is final four bound unless UNC somehow makes it to the elite 8. I think Florida, MSU, and Louisville are the 3 teams with the best chance of taking the title home. Of course that doesn't mean that one of the 3 will win.

Anyone else have Oklahoma State in the final 4 like I do? Or am I crazy.

 

[Spartanmack]

I think MSU is final four bound unless UNC somehow makes it to the elite 8. I think Florida, MSU, and Louisville are the 3 teams with the best chance of taking the title home. Of course that doesn't mean that one of the 3 will win.

Anyone else have Oklahoma State in the final 4 like I do? Or am I crazy.

I don't have my FF yet but I could see Ok St getting there. They are a very good, athletic team. Marcus Smart reminds me a bit of Mateen - big strong point guard, clearly not the leader Mateen was but he's more athletic and a better shooter.

 

[Sbee]

My general rule for msu is to put us one game past our seeding but this year I'm going two.

 

[Spartanmack]

My general rule for msu is to put us one game past our seeding but this year I'm going two.

I have submitted a bracket with MSU winning it all every year since and including 1999. Many of those years I've submitted a second bracket, but I always have MSU winning it all in at least 1.

 

[JScottWriter]

With all the love and pressure I will say Elite 8.

 

[SpartyNash]

When I first glimpsed at the bracket I was going to pick Louisville over Florida for the title, with MSU and Arizona making it to the Final Four. Unfortunately everybody and their brother is picking an MSU, FLA, AZ, LVILLE Final Four, so I am forced to take Arizona over Florida with Louisville and Iowa State, beating us in the Elite Eight. If we are to beat ISU I will be extremely happy, and if we lose it will sting a tiny bit less.

In my homer/crazy upset bracket I have us beating Michigan in the title game.

 

[Spartanmack]

I think MSU is final four bound unless UNC somehow makes it to the elite 8. I think Florida, MSU, and Louisville are the 3 teams with the best chance of taking the title home. Of course that doesn't mean that one of the 3 will win.

Anyone else have Oklahoma State in the final 4 like I do? Or am I crazy.

I'm w/ you - bought my ticket on the Ok St train this morning. Fla, MSU, Ok St, Wich St is my final four. Spartans over Wich St for the NC.

The only reason I took MSU all the way is to show certain posters that I am a true State fan. I just hope we don't play a michigan team with fresh legs in the finals. Go State!