MSU vs IL

[Sbee]

Looks to be our last game without Denzel. Illinois has seemed to play us when we play our worst game, you can credit a little to IL but it seems like we miss a lot of FT's against them and make a lot of careless turnovers, at least in East Lansing. This is not the team that you think would be going for 3 straight in Breslin. MSU is -13 but I don't consider anything automatic without Valentine.

 

[Sbee]

I did just read that Kendrick Nunn is out, attending the birth of his first child, not what you generally expect in a college game but it does make an upset less likely

 

[Sbee]

I don't know if I've ever seen a coach get on the court more than groce

 

[Sbee]

We're not this much better than IL, we're without dv but they are really hurting without abrams, Nunn, etc and hill with foul trouble. They're a jv team right now

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

I'm beating a dead horse here, but damnit I love Davis!

 

[johnny2x2x]

This team played hard and are figuring out how to play together without Denzel. These last 4 games are huge for player development, Harris and Forbes have gained a ton of confidence.

We were dominant inside. Costello is a beast the last several games.

This team can win it all.

 

[Spartan23MSU]

Were seeing very good things tonight gents. This isnt a "one man team" the way ive been seeing the reaction after the Iowa loss. Davis is well positioned game after game. Good outing tonight.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Costello, Davis, and Schilling area nice trio inside. Really controlled the glass and the paint. Schilling played a lot of the 4 and showed he can guard on the perimeter. I thought Ellis III had a very good game, he hustled, rebounded, defended, and dove for loose balls. McQuaid playing the point right now is a smart move by Izzo, he's already improved a lot as a ball handler and this will pay off as the season goes along.

Davis is one of my favorite freshman we've had, he's so smart for a freshman and so fundamentally sound. Illinois double teams the post, Davis knew exactly what to do, kept the ball high, saw the whole offense and made the correct pass out of the double team. Just wise beyond his years, it took Adriean Payne until his senior year to handle double teams that well. Davis understands our spacing on offense, he knows when to move the ball and when to back his man down. On D, he waits for the block to come to him, and he shows excellent foot work. Shows well defending the pick and roll and is a natural rebounder. He never panics at either end of the floor. And his length and quick hops are something you can't coach. He plays above the rim without even having to try. He'll only be here 2 seasons, enjoy him while you can.

 

[Sbee]

DD looks great on both ends of the floor, you see opposing players throwing lay ups really high off the glass due to his presence. when he backs someone down and shoots that hook shot there is no defense for that, where he releases it the shot can't be blocked. Schilling really moves well for as big as he is, great pick and roll defender and physical presence, knock on wood he's not picking up a foul a minute now either. Costello is playing some of the best basketball of his career, almost 30 boards in the last two games and splitting minutes.

I think shortening of the bench means less PT for Clark and Bess, if we're playing Schilling and DD at the 4 then those guys are going to sit. I think it's ideal to play 9 guys, you don't need to play much more than that.

 

[Sbee]

Also, I watched a little of Purdue before our game, they have a ton of size which we knew but it's all slow and plodding. I originally thought the game in W Lafayette would be hard to win but I think we can just run them right out of the gym, keep putting bigs in the game and have them run straight to the rim, having Tum on the floor for that game will be huge. I think they'll really struggle with our break

 

[johnny2x2x]

Also, I watched a little of Purdue before our game, they have a ton of size which we knew but it's all slow and plodding. I originally thought the game in W Lafayette would be hard to win but I think we can just run them right out of the gym, keep putting bigs in the game and have them run straight to the rim, having Tum on the floor for that game will be huge. I think they'll really struggle with our break

Watched Purdue too, they have a very good defense, but are slow on offense. If we can get out and run we can run them out of the gym, but they try to control the pace of the game. And that Davis they have is an excellent defender one on one. I was not impressed with them offensively. One thing I noticed is that their whole team is weak with the ball, should be able to turn them over a lot.

And Caleb Swanigan is terrible. Chucks up garbage shots and averages over 3 turn overs a game. They rarely post him and he's only shooting 43%. He can't guard anyone either.

 

[Sbee]

Watched Purdue too, they have a very good defense, but are slow on offense. If we can get out and run we can run them out of the gym, but they try to control the pace of the game. And that Davis they have is an excellent defender one on one. I was not impressed with them offensively. One thing I noticed is that their whole team is weak with the ball, should be able to turn them over a lot.

And Caleb Swanigan is terrible. Chucks up garbage shots and averages over 3 turn overs a game. They rarely post him and he's only shooting 43%. He can't guard anyone either.

I'm surprised by that, he really looks bad in the games I've watched (michigan and Iowa). I think he picked the right school because he gets to play next to Hawes and Hammons and avoids double teams but he just looks slow and clumsy out there. Maybe he would be better under Izzo but he hardly looks like one and done material to me.

 

[MSUMatt28]

He's had a few good scoring games and does have some offensive game and appears to be decent passer, but he puts up way too many 3's for a big guy (especially since he only hits 31%) and is pretty unathletic. No point in having that big, strong body if he's not going to use it on the block.

I think this team where the battle for minutes is already fierce would have had some chemistry issues with him in the mix. No way he'd get the 27 mpg that he's getting over there, and there's a good chance that wouldn't have sit well.

 

[johnny2x2x]

I'm surprised by that, he really looks bad in the games I've watched (michigan and Iowa). I think he picked the right school because he gets to play next to Hawes and Hammons and avoids double teams but he just looks slow and clumsy out there. Maybe he would be better under Izzo but he hardly looks like one and done material to me.

With the amount of bone headed plays I've seen from him in every game I've watched, he would be sitting at the end of the bench if he had chosen us. Izzo would lose a lung screaming at him. At Purdue, Painter lets him do whatever he wants, he chucks up off balance threes, tries to dribble drive in traffic, and is basically a human turnover machine. Maybe his handlers picked the right spot for him, because he'd be miserable right now at MSU. And above all, he is a terrible defender, can't guard anyone. He would be the 4th or 5th big man on our team, fighting for minutes with Goins, Clark, and Bess.

Deyonta Davis is not only a much better player right now in every possible way, he's got a much higher ceiling for the near and far future.

 

[Sbee]

With the amount of bone headed plays I've seen from him in every game I've watched, he would be sitting at the end of the bench if he had chosen us. Izzo would lose a lung screaming at him. At Purdue, Painter lets him do whatever he wants, he chucks up off balance threes, tries to dribble drive in traffic, and is basically a human turnover machine. Maybe his handlers picked the right spot for him, because he'd be miserable right now at MSU. And above all, he is a terrible defender, can't guard anyone. He would be the 4th or 5th big man on our team, fighting for minutes with Goins, Clark, and Bess.

Deyonta Davis is not only a much better player right now in every possible way, he's got a much higher ceiling for the near and far future.

That's the way he plays, same knocks on him back from AAU. I just wonder how coachable he is? if he's coachable he could develop into a beast under Izzo.

 

[MSUMatt28]

Wow, Illinois spanks Purdue by 14, though Illinois had Nunn back.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

Wow, Illinois spanks Purdue by 14, though Illinois had Nunn back.

Purdue has come crashing lately. They're too slow in my opinion.

 

[Spartanmack]

Wasn't Illinois still missing a couple players yesterday? They shot the lights out and Purdue couldn't hit anything but other than a late run in the second half to tie the game, Purdue was getting slapped around all afternoon. They were in foul trouble most of the game - other than up front they must not be very deep at all.