It's Just One Loss, But...

Big Ten championship teams typically don't lose at home to Big Ten squads that went 1-17 last year in the league.

Joe Rexrode did a good job of capturing my feelings in his blog post after the Northwestern loss. Yes, the Wildcats hit a few ridiculous shots. But the Spartans basically lost because they couldn't stop two players from scoring, they couldn't make open shots and they turned the ball over too much.

MSU won't shoot well every game. But the most disturbing aspect of this game long-term is the team's apparent inability to consistently score against an aggressive zone defense. The Wildcats used a 1-3-1 yesterday. Guess what Michigan usually runs? Guess what Iowa has run at times this year? Guess what Penn State used effectively in the second half a week ago in almost coming back on the Spartans?

I said earlier this week that against Northwestern's zone Chris Allen and Durrell Summers would be key figures in their ability to shoot three-pointers. They didn't hit them for the most part yesterday. But you can't rely on three-point shooting to beat good zones as the Wolverines has proved in their last three losses. Delvon Roe and Goran Suton need to finish more around the net when one of our point guards can break down a zone.

Ohio State in Columbus is next up this weekend. Do you like our chances? This could be a make or break game for the Big Ten title run for MSU. Lose and you're looking at a frustrating league season like last year. Win and perhaps you've straightened the ship. But the formula to beat MSU has been established: use aggresive zone defenses, close out on Allen and Summers from deep and let everyone else shoot outside shots, get back on defense to prevent quick MSU baskets and when in doubt foul everyone but Kalin Lucas.

So much it seems for a #1 NCAA seed but a Big Ten title is still possible. And we need Raymar healthy!