Spartan BBall about to be #1

[johnny2x2x]

UK and Maryland both lost, we just have to beat 2-4 Binghamton at home Saturday, they are currently ranked 308th by the computers.

A couple tough games left before conference play starts.

 

[Spartan23MSU]

Top 5 football top 5 hoops, yeah no big whoop. Actually its rarely ever done. Florida comes to mind during the Joakim Noah years. I was actually hoping we stayed just under the radar at #2. There is a weird stigma about being #1 and the target is always on your back. Good problem to have i suppose. Kentucky will develop as time goes. Calipari is 60% of the coach that Izzo is. If he doesnt have a squad of Mcdonalds All-Americans his teams arent even top 10. Johnny, do you think its fair if we land Jackson? I feel bad like we should pass off a couple players to , Minnesota, Northwestern, Michigan, Rutgers. Arent we in the day and age of "being fair". Like where everyone gets a trophy for participation etc. spread the wealth to keep things "fair". All smart comments aside I would have never guessed this team to be a #1 team but there is a distinct synergy amongst this squad. I saw a top 5 team not a #1 team. Again, ill take it. Go Green.

 

[johnny2x2x]

I think we will land Jackson. His mom is in charge and she loves Izzo and has spoken out about how sleezy recruiting can be, she hates the middle men that try to match onto her son. Jackson is a Staye fan and helped put "the Class" T-shirts together. They were his idea, a T-shirt that had Jackson, Bridges, Langford, Winston, and Ward on it.

If he committed right now he would be 100% Green, but he's taking his time, will take all 5 officials and commit in the Spring. He and his mom might find another place they feel lore comfortable with. But to them it's most important to have a coach who cares about his players, Izzo cares more than any coach in the country. Id say we're at 70%.

 

[MSUMatt28]

Being #1 in early December is nice, but ultimately meaningless. It's one of those years where there isn't going to be a dominant team and we have as good a chance as anyone else. I heard Jay Bilas say the other night he wouldn't put any team in this year's top 5 into last year's top 5, and I'd say that sounds about right.

It will be interesting to see what the team ends up accomplishing this year when next year is going to be the year everyone is pointing to.

 

[Spartan23MSU]

I think we will land Jackson. His mom is in charge and she loves Izzo and has spoken out about how sleezy recruiting can be, she hates the middle men that try to match onto her son. Jackson is a Staye fan and helped put "the Class" T-shirts together. They were his idea, a T-shirt that had Jackson, Bridges, Langford, Winston, and Ward on it.

If he committed right now he would be 100% Green, but he's taking his time, will take all 5 officials and commit in the Spring. He and his mom might find another place they feel lore comfortable with. But to them it's most important to have a coach who cares about his players, Izzo cares more than any coach in the country. Id say we're at 70%.

You isolated a key component. Jackson said he "wants to go where he can trust people". Well Izzo is above board through and through. Bill Self, no. How many other coaches kick out Mcdonalds all-americans before the season starts. Tom Izzo will toss you into orbit without a 2nd thought regardless of how good you are. Jasckon is Jordanesque and silky smooth on the court. I think hes buying time because his intention is to go GREEN. Its a matter of freeing up a scholarship. Heck id hate to lose Davis after 1 year but if we muster a NC and Davis is playing like he is now, go. There is your Jackson scholarship. The only issue is its way down the road. I suppose the Wollenman academic scholarship isnt a possibiltiy. Wishful thinking on my part.

 

[johnny2x2x]

You isolated a key component. Jackson said he "wants to go where he can trust people". Well Izzo is above board through and through. Bill Self, no. How many other coaches kick out Mcdonalds all-americans before the season starts. Tom Izzo will toss you into orbit without a 2nd thought regardless of how good you are. Jasckon is Jordanesque and silky smooth on the court. I think hes buying time because his intention is to go GREEN. Its a matter of freeing up a scholarship. Heck id hate to lose Davis after 1 year but if we muster a NC and Davis is playing like he is now, go. There is your Jackson scholarship. The only issue is its way down the road. I suppose the Wollenman academic scholarship isnt a possibiltiy. Wishful thinking on my part.

Wollenman is already on academic scholarship and he is a senior. The bench is about to be shortened and there's a couple guys on scholarship now that might not play more than a few minutes the rest of the season, Izzo likely already knows who is transferring and they've talked about it. It's assumed that Ellis is the one who will transfer, but what about Ahrens? He has to see the writing on the wall that he's never going to see the court on a team with this much talent and his injuries are still a factor, he could transfer while he is still young and have a great career at a mid major.

Regardless, Izzo knows his scholarship situation and would accept a commitment from Jackson today, they don't have to be at 13 scholarships until late summer of 2016. It wouldn't surprise me if the transfer has already agreed to transfer.

And Jackson is a special player, he can do it all and would be the best player in the country next year. What separate him from other #1 players is he loves to play defense, he's a lock down defender and plays tough. He, Langford, and Bridges together would make for the most athletic 2, 3, and 4 the conference has ever seen, it would be a highlight reel every game. This isn't just any old #1 player, this kid is a once in a decade type talent.

 

[Spartan23MSU]

I stand corrected, thanks for keying me in n Wollenman. Weve all thought Ellis. Hed be a good player somewhere,he just isnt MSU material. The fact Izzo had 2 meetings with Jackson the last month leads me to believe something is in the works.

 

[MSUMatt28]

Wollenman is already on academic scholarship and he is a senior. The bench is about to be shortened and there's a couple guys on scholarship now that might not play more than a few minutes the rest of the season, Izzo likely already knows who is transferring and they've talked about it. It's assumed that Ellis is the one who will transfer, but what about Ahrens? He has to see the writing on the wall that he's never going to see the court on a team with this much talent and his injuries are still a factor, he could transfer while he is still young and have a great career at a mid major.

Regardless, Izzo knows his scholarship situation and would accept a commitment from Jackson today, they don't have to be at 13 scholarships until late summer of 2016. It wouldn't surprise me if the transfer has already agreed to transfer.

And Jackson is a special player, he can do it all and would be the best player in the country next year. What separate him from other #1 players is he loves to play defense, he's a lock down defender and plays tough. He, Langford, and Bridges together would make for the most athletic 2, 3, and 4 the conference has ever seen, it would be a highlight reel every game. This isn't just any old #1 player, this kid is a once in a decade type talent.

Ahrens has mostly only played in mop up duty so far, but he seems to have some ability. He was billed coming in as a pretty good athlete and he looks like he can shoot too. I would say he's a Big Ten, not Mid Major talent. He might do well to redshirt next year if he's agreeable, rather than transfer as there could be opportunity the following year. Who knows how many of next year's freshmen will stay longer than 1 year.

Ellis would still seem a more logical candidate to try and go somewhere else and then make a splash in his senior year.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Up 38-9 on Binghamton in the first half. We're #1!!!