Neitzel to join T-Wolves in Vegas summer league
Drew wasn't selected in Thursday's NBA draft so he'll be forced to take an alternate route in hopes of reaching the NBA by joining the Minnesota Timberwolves summer league team in Las Vegas.
There are some very good players that participate in the summer league so hopefully Drew will prove himself worthy of a roster spot for somebody and fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA.
I plan on keeping tabs on his and other Spartan performances, so I'll share them here weekly.
State is playing Western next year at Ford Field?! What an incredible waste of a home game. All that campus atmosphere (not to mention revenues for East Lansing businesses) lost. Hollis is carrying this just a little too far.
Posted by: Rob | June 27, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Rob, That was off the subject; but, good Detroit recruiting exposure, AND, good to play there in preparation for the NCAA's, and possibly before UNC.
Posted by: LeeBee | June 27, 2008 at 07:08 PM
I forgot to mention: Thanks for keeping tabs on Drew. He is a great Spartan and I will enjoy following his playing and coaching career.
Posted by: LeeBee | June 27, 2008 at 07:09 PM
wait, we're playing western @ ford field in basketball or football?
Posted by: SpartyOn | June 27, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Football!!!!
Posted by: Rob | June 27, 2008 at 09:01 PM
Giving up the gate for a crowd of 75,000 at Spartan Stadium for only a portion of the gate in a 65,000-seat stadium. Not to mention all of the concessions, parking, etc. I sure hope they (tickets@msu.edu) have it wrong.
Posted by: Rob | June 27, 2008 at 09:06 PM
they dont have it wrong but its not next year...well if you mean the season after this one then yes. but it wont be so bad, i like the idea of some exposure i just wish we were playing someone bigger than Western. we should be taking teams like that to the woodshed by that time. would have been cool to move a big ten game there...could you imagine playing scum there, that would be cool. but anyway i hope Drew makes it somewhere. i could see him becoming a great assistant coach and then head guy down the road. i would love to see him come back to MSU on the staff, maybe win a title as a coach.
Posted by: Rexrode (evil twin) | June 28, 2008 at 11:40 AM
is there a LSJ article about the game? Link?
Posted by: SpartyOn | June 28, 2008 at 07:15 PM
Rexrode twin....do you realize we are giving up a home game for this? Its actually more of a gain for WMU and a loss for us. We're talking football here....not basketball.
Posted by: Rob | June 29, 2008 at 09:54 AM
The game at Ford Field would be considered a Western home game, not a Michigan State home game.
Posted by: Chris Smith | June 29, 2008 at 05:06 PM
http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2008/06/western_michigan_football_to_p.html
Posted by: Chris Smith | June 29, 2008 at 05:06 PM
I think that the Ford Field deal is a compromise as WMU has been dying to get MSU to play them in Kalamazoo for years. Since MSU has always declined that, a neutral field would be the next best thing.
WMU is the 3rd biggest public university in the state - their student population is not that far behind U-M. They'd like to have some recognition, and they were able to schedule a home game w/VA Tech several seasons back.
Of course, for MSU to go to Kzoo would be a lose / lose proposition. If they clobber Wetern, then that's what they're supposed to do. If Western's crowd gets into it (albeit a small stadium crowd, but still...) and Western either plays MSU or (gasp!) beats the Spartans, then it would be like losing to Central all over again. Moreover, it would shift attention away from U-M losing to App State.
Playing @ Ford Field is probably an adequate way to save face. MSU SHOULD still have more fans there than Western, and it would count as an away game, even though it would only kinda / sorta be an away game. Anyway, the above is my hypothesis on what is going on "behind the curtain."
DSR
Posted by: David | June 29, 2008 at 05:39 PM
*** I meant to say that if WMU plays state TOUGH it would not look good for the Green & White.
DSR
Posted by: David | June 29, 2008 at 05:40 PM
They serve beer at Ford Field. We all win.
Posted by: JMoist | June 29, 2008 at 07:09 PM
A great momory for me. My bride and I were invited to an MSU game and at half-time, she stood up and asked "Who want a Beer?" all she got were stares of course.
right on JMoist
Posted by: LeeBee | June 29, 2008 at 09:53 PM
Playing WMU is a lose/lose. If state wins- there is no real victory as state should have won anyway, big deal. If they lose, very big deal,very big loss.
Football...just around the bend!
Posted by: susanne | June 30, 2008 at 07:34 AM
What doesn't make any sense is if you look at the schedule, the WMU game would be our 7th home game. So indeed we WOULD be giving up a home game. We wouldn't get the same gate receipts, East Lansing businesses lose out, and what about the students?! Do you think they can all afford to drive to Detroit for a game? What a waste.
I guarantee you that you won't see U-M giving up home games like this. They are too business savvy.
Posted by: Rob | June 30, 2008 at 09:04 AM
"What doesn't make any sense is if you look at the schedule, the WMU game would be our 7th home game."
Again we would have 7 home games, since the Western Michigan game would be an away game and 4 away games and the Western game at Ford Field. DOn't worry about the student body or the East Lansing business since Michigan State is not giving up a home game.
Posted by: Chris Smith | June 30, 2008 at 10:00 AM
In the wake of the recent NBA draft as a Spartan fan I am interested to know how Drew Neitzel will fare this summer in the rookie leagues and if he will catch on with a team this fall. Please continue to follow him for us. I am also interested in knowing about the plans of the other Spartan Senior from last year's team, Drew Naymick. Will MSU's other Drew be playing in Europe? I know that Drew Naymick's game may not be as flashy as some of the other big men who were drafted by the NBA but he certainly knows how to "box out," play defense, shoot free throws, set screens and hit the mide range jumper and the open jam shot. He is a great team player, a model citizen and I wish him well. If I were an NBA exec I would want a player like Drew Naymick who could make my team better.
And while you are at it could you let the LSJ readers know about other Spartans from earlier teams that are playing in the NBA or abroad.
Posted by: Glenn Wagner | June 30, 2008 at 02:28 PM
No Chris, STATE would be giving up its 7th home game. 4 Big Ten games, Central, and Montana State. Those are the 6 home games. This would have been our 7th. Ford Field is not home.
Posted by: Rob | June 30, 2008 at 07:04 PM
You should really inform the MSU AD and Western's AD who negotiated the deal because they are under the impression that its a Western home game. Michigan State would be playing 7 at East Lansing, 4 on the road and the Western game at a neutral site. But you better correct them quick.
Posted by: Chris Smith | July 01, 2008 at 12:33 AM
You mean Neitzel of UM ( http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080626/483/2926d84a4e5b4bb7a4da831782b61ebb/ ) fame?
And that's a pretty select group he was put with. Too bad The AP isn't fielding a team next year.
Posted by: B Knapp | July 01, 2008 at 02:25 AM
Wow, another possible error, unless Drew NAYMICK tried out for the Pacers: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080606/SPORTS04/806060436
I don't even know how you make that mistake reporting on college basketball while in Indianapolis.
Posted by: B Knapp | July 01, 2008 at 02:32 AM
No Chris...you are wrong! The nonconference home games (at Spartan Stadium) would be Montana State and CMU. Notre Dame is a ROAD game in 2009. So add 4 Big Ten home games with the Montana State and CMU and you get SIX (6)!!!!
http://www.enlightenedspartan.com/
Posted by: Rob | July 01, 2008 at 12:47 PM