OSU at MSU

[johnny2x2x]

Also, the kid just played some pretty damn good D on Russell

Absolutely! Russell was 4-13 and 10 points, thought it was a bad match up with Nairn on him, but it wasn't, Russell doesn't use his 6-5 size he uses his quickness to get open looks, he couldn't shake Nairn.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

Nairn has certainly improved a ton and his ball handling is excellent, he can beat anyone off the dribble and that opens our offense up a lot. Eron Harris has been playing some point in practice and will spell Nairn next year at the position.

I'd rather Eron play the 2. Who will start there next year? Ellis? Or does Forbes have another year?

 

[Spartan23MSU]

Does Harris have 3 years of eligibility left?

 

[johnny2x2x]

I'd rather Eron play the 2. Who will start there next year? Ellis? Or does Forbes have another year?

Forbes has 2 more years. Eron Harris will start and Forbes will come off the bench. Harris will be the best player on the team next season and will play the 2, but spell Nairn at the point. Davis and Schilling will start at the 4 and 5 with Valentine at the 3. Unless Swannigan comes which we still have a good shot at then Davis comes off the bench.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Does Harris have 3 years of eligibility left?

He'll have 2, but most people think he will leave for the NBA after 1. Kid averaged 17.2 ppg last year in the Big 12, he can play.

And he's an 86% FT shooter.

 

[SpartyNash]

I watched this at the bar, place went crazy. This was a huge win, an ugly one, but it gets us a great resume win should we wind up on the bubble still. I was really pleased with Tum, he should definitely start over Trice. I agree with spartan23 in that the comparisons to Mateen and Lucas are stupid, but right now he is our best option.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Team has shown they can play with anyone on occasion. We've really thrown a few games this year away, we could easily have 20-22 wins right now, doesn't mean we're a great team, but a few more plays this year and we could have be playing for a 3 or 4 seed.

 

[gotime909]

I watched this at the bar, place went crazy. This was a huge win, an ugly one, but it gets us a great resume win should we wind up on the bubble still. I was really pleased with Tum, he should definitely start over Trice. I agree with spartan23 in that the comparisons to Mateen and Lucas are stupid, but right now he is our best option.

I don't remember anyone besides him bringing up Cleaves or Lucas when talking about Tum.

 

[gotime909]

Team has shown they can play with anyone on occasion. We've really thrown a few games this year away, we could easily have 20-22 wins right now, doesn't mean we're a great team, but a few more plays this year and we could have be playing for a 3 or 4 seed.

I've been frustrated over the missed bunnies and FT's, but I really didn't get all the negativity about this team this year. It's not like we really were expecting a ton out of this group. Shit, we're in 2nd place in the big ten right now.

 

[johnny2x2x]

I've been frustrated over the missed bunnies and FT's, but I really didn't get all the negativity about this team this year. It's not like we really were expecting a ton out of this group. Shit, we're in 2nd place in the big ten right now.

Yeah, and we're playing our best basketball of the season right now too.

Going into the season I think most people saw the Sweet 16 as this team's ceiling, I still see the same thing, maybe Elite 8 if we get hot, but going out in round 1 or 2 is more likely than the Elite 8.

 

[Sbee]

I've been frustrated over the missed bunnies and FT's, but I really didn't get all the negativity about this team this year. It's not like we really were expecting a ton out of this group. Shit, we're in 2nd place in the big ten right now.

I was out at a bar too, place went crazy. I've said all a long that there are a bunch of flawed teams fighting for 2nd place. We still have a shot at that, the IL game was a killer but this was huge.

 

[Spartan23MSU]

I don't remember anyone besides him bringing up Cleaves or Lucas when talking about Tum.

Nobody brought up lucas but someone said cleaves. In the best lumberg voice " um yeah thats not realistic"

 

[johnny2x2x]

Nobody brought up lucas but someone said cleaves. In the best lumberg voice " um yeah thats not realistic"

He's been compared to Cleaves a ton as a leader not as a player.

 

[Spartanmack]

Team has shown they can play with anyone on occasion. We've really thrown a few games this year away, we could easily have 20-22 wins right now, doesn't mean we're a great team, but a few more plays this year and we could have be playing for a 3 or 4 seed.

Yeah, and we're playing our best basketball of the season right now too.

Going into the season I think most people saw the Sweet 16 as this team's ceiling, I still see the same thing, maybe Elite 8 if we get hot, but going out in round 1 or 2 is more likely than the Elite 8.

That was a pretty nice win but an ugly one. This team is not a few plays away from 3 or 4 seed. We're projected to be a 9 and that's about right. We could finish in a multi-way tie for 2nd in the B1G and still end up with a 7 seed - that's pretty remarkable. And finishing that high will be more a function of how average the B1G is and the fact that MD is the only top 5 team we have to play twice. So far, Kansas is the only loss we didn't get outplayed in and winning that game wud have been nice because KU is a much better team now than they were in November. Unfortunately you can't say that about the Spartans - although Nairn does seem to be getting better. As much as he's has improved, defending Russell was a team effort - Dawson deserves as much credit for that as anyone.

Anything can happen in the tournament but we'll need to pull off some big upsets to make the sweet 16 and most likely need some major upsets in our bracket to get an further. We still don't have that guy go to guy in the clutch.

 

[MSUMatt28]

That was a pretty nice win but an ugly one. This team is not a few plays away from 3 or 4 seed. We're projected to be a 9 and that's about right. We could finish in a multi-way tie for 2nd in the B1G and still end up with a 7 seed - that's pretty remarkable. And finishing that high will be more a function of how average the B1G is and the fact that MD is the only top 5 team we have to play twice. So far, Kansas is the only loss we didn't get outplayed in and winning that game wud have been nice because KU is a much better team now than they were in November. Unfortunately you can't say that about the Spartans - although Nairn does seem to be getting better. As much as he's has improved, defending Russell was a team effort - Dawson deserves as much credit for that as anyone.

Anything can happen in the tournament but we'll need to pull off some big upsets to make the sweet 16 and most likely need some major upsets in our bracket to get an further. We still don't have that guy go to guy in the clutch.

The Notre Dame loss we also didn't get outplayed in and failed to close in the final 2 minutes like so many other games. That's really the non-conference game that was an opportunity lost on the road since as it turns out they're pretty good. The committe might look at that as a "quality" loss. Apparently they do look at such things.

As far as this team making the tournament I think the coming game with UM is huge. Looking at the remaining schedule, one would think that @UW and @IU are likely losses. Minnesota and Purdue at home SHOULD be wins but the way things have gone with them at home in Big Ten play, I'm not sure we can count on that either. We seem to play pretty well on the road and after initially hangin in without Levert UM seems to be losing steam. Lose that one and it turns at Illinois into a must win. I don't think 10-8 in Big Ten play is getting us in unless we make a nice run in the BTT.

 

[Sbee]

The Notre Dame loss we also didn't get outplayed in and failed to close in the final 2 minutes like so many other games. That's really the non-conference game that was an opportunity lost on the road since as it turns out they're pretty good. The committe might look at that as a "quality" loss. Apparently they do look at such things.

As far as this team making the tournament I think the coming game with UM is huge. Looking at the remaining schedule, one would think that @UW and @IU are likely losses. Minnesota and Purdue at home SHOULD be wins but the way things have gone with them at home in Big Ten play, I'm not sure we can count on that either. We seem to play pretty well on the road and after initially hangin in without Levert UM seems to be losing steam. Lose that one and it turns at Illinois into a must win. I don't think 10-8 in Big Ten play is getting us in unless we make a nice run in the BTT.

A split this week would be nice with two road games. michigan is still competitive with a roster that's duct taped together, I heard that Walton may play which could benefit us, it's tough to work a pg back in the rotation, I'd bet he only gets a few minutes. IL is in the same situation with rice, that will be the tougher of the two games. I'd take a split and be happy, win one this week and then win our home games would make us 11-7.

 

[johnny2x2x]

The Maryland game at Breslin was a terrible loss, we had that game won, just hit a FT and it's over.

 

[Sbee]

The Maryland game at Breslin was a terrible loss, we had that game won, just hit a FT and it's over.

Absolutely, a game we should have won. I think the won @iowa canceled that one out though. We won a game we'd lose 7 out of 10 and lost a game we'd win 7 of 10.

 

[Spartanmack]

You're giving iowa too much credit. They just lost to NW. They needed a miracle to get to OT and got it but ended up losing to a bad team anyway. They got waxed by wisco twice and this is their second bad loss in a row. They're not a team that should beat us 7 out of 10 times