Time to Take Control of the State
Win tomorrow and the Spartans could be looking at a three-game lead over everyone in the Big Ten by the end of the week.
It won't be easy. Michigan played 30 great minutes against #1 UConn on the road Saturday and is finding a way to win games even though they are a poor rebounding team. The reason is they don't turn the ball over and they make free throws. Not to mention for the first time since, um, Johnny Orr perhaps, they have a very good Xs and Os coach.
If MSU ever played a zone defense outside of the 2-3 against the underneath out-of-bounds, this would be the time to use it. The Wolverines essentially put four guards or three-point shooters on the floor with Deshawn Sims or Zack Gibson most of the time. Look for Marquise Gray to play more minutes than Draymond Green tomorrow because of Michigan's abundance of perimeter players.
But Michigan has some favorable matchups. Zach Novak could be guarded by Roe or Gray at times, and while he probably won't get many rebounds against those two, his three-point shooting will pull them away from the lane. I see Travis Walton and Durrell Summers taking turns on Manny Harris, and Lucas guarding Laval Lucas Perry. Harris is a tough cover for anyone and he'll get his points. But if the Spartans can keep Sims out of the paint and off the glass, I like their chances.
The Yellow Shirts who try to mimic the Izzone will no doubt be fired up provided they realize they are watching a basketball game and not spring football practice. But assuming the Spartans can get past Crisler Arena's horrific lighting to see the basket, I think they will play well. Look for Goran Suton to finish with a double-double. Look for Chris Allen's hot shooting to continue because you can SEE his confidence growing by the game.
And look for the experience MSU has gained against 1-3-1 defenses earlier this year to play dividends here.
It's close until the final two minutes but the Spartans will win because they are the tougher team. And the way the schedule is this week, it's likely that everyone will have at least five conference losses this week outside of the Spartans and maybe Purdue (who hosts Penn State and is @ Iowa).
Most of all let's hope there will be no more Taylor Battle/Kevin Coble type performances against the Spartans in A-squared. Finally, watch out for Yellow Shirt flying elbows (although the Spartans had good practice for that from Saturday's game). Class move by Tom Crean to suspend the Dumas kid for his display, but of course what else would you expect of He Who I Wish Would Have Succeeded Izzo in East Lansing.
