Farewell, Wildcats. Hello, Badgers

I must admit, I'm surprised at how this game went. I expected MSU to cruise and when it was 28-12 I thought I must be pretty smart. But the Wildcats deserve some credit for hitting shots they normally don't make, and for making things very tough on that MSU offense. And the Spartans deserve some blame for appearing to let up when the game was so close to being blown open. And I deserve to be called a doofus.

Bottom line: MSU sewed up an NCAA bid by all appearances, and the Spartans will get another crack at the Badgers. The only thing that would surprise me about Friday's game is if it isn't extremely close. Wisconsin is definitely the better team, but MSU matches up well with the Badgers and has some answers on both ends of the floor.

Finally, I'd like to apologize for predicting a MoJo outburst against Northwestern, incorrectly for the second time in two meetings this season. He had a rough day. But that doesn't mean you guys should rip on the poor kid. I've seen enough growth out of him to say it's not a foregone conclusion that he's just going to sit on the bench next season while the freshmen take all his minutes. It comes down to how much work MoJo gets done this summer. Also, he can still make a positive difference in this postseason.

Comments

[Evergreen]

Joseph will be more of a factor next year -- he's still in the learning curve this year with many of our other young Spartans. People get their hopes way too high and then crucify the poor kid when he doesn't measure up to them.

Anyway, on to Wisconsin. It'll be a good matchup and State's heads will be in the game more than they were today. They beat them the first time in a stunner. They held them close and lost in the waining seconds the second time, to show that maybe it wasn't such a stunning feat after all. I think the pressure's on Ryan's team, and that tomorrow will be a good game.

Go Green!

[JMCSpartan08]

Look, Mojo CLANKS wide open shots...if you don't have the range to hit the three that's fine, take a step in like T-Walt and knock down a nice mid to long range two. But seriously those three kill me because I see him standing in the corner WIDE OPEN screaming at Suton to hit him and when they do he bricks it. No excuse for the wide open jumpers clanking like that, sorry, it's harsh but I honestly think Dahlman is the better option. Mojo has a TON of work to do this summer if he wants to see some legit minutes next year.

[markv]

I already defended Mojo in the last blog entry, but i'll just add that this year he is clanking them. That's an improvement over last year, when he airballed them. At this rate he'll be swishing them by next year! Seriously, think about someone like Eric Snow, who shot like hell as a sophomore, but got better. (Faster and stronger than Mojo, i know.) Or Chapell who came to MSU as a 3-point specialist, and left as a big defender and rebounder. Patience with Mojo, at least until January of next year...

The kid's a team player...i'll take him any day.

[BWhite]

Mojo had a good 1st half in the blowout win against Iowa a few weeks back (5 or 6 three pointers, as I recall), but there wasn't much pressure in that game at the Bres. Mojo just needs another year of honing his stroke so he can start hitting some shots on the road (i.e. - at OSU, last second shot) and in some bigger games. Give him time... he's Canadian for Pete's sake! (ha, ha...).

Glad MSU "escaped" with win today. Izzo's been hinting all week that it would not be an easy game against NW for this club, I guess he knew what he was talking about (as usual). As a lot of you are mentioning, a game under their belts in the United Center should benefit MSU against the Badgers tomorrow, who'll have been sitting around for a while leading up to the early evening tip. Depending on the officials whistle in that one (can't get any worse than it was in Madison last weekend!), I'll take MSU by 5.

[JMCSpartan08]

Ok, I guess I agree Mark, I'm being a little too hard on Mojo. I'm sure Tom has has a few discussions with him about shooting and some of the problems he has. So do I like having him on my team...yes. Do I want the ball in his hands with the game on the line at the end? No, unless it's the FT line. I guess the point I'm making is I wish Izzo would maybe just try Dahlman more often than Mojo...personally I think he has more potential than Mojo, not to say Mojo couldn't be sweet in the future, but I think when we have to take Raymar out we need to replace him with someone who has the same kind of options (posting up, hitting jumpers, dunking) becuase of his height I think he can defend better than Mojo, but that's my opinion. I'm sure Tom has it figured out...maybe it was just a bad game for Mojo and soon the Iowa game will be the rule rather than exception.

[Andy]

MoJo has been in a shooting slump for a while, mainly (coach in me) because I think his release is too out in front of him. But that's for Izzo and staff to dissect and put back together.

What he's been doing better is the little things. Like the way he hung in there against Tucker last Sat. He's getting after loose balls and rebounds better.

He will be an important role player on this team the rest of the way this year and in his career. And remember, studs in HS or not, there is still a learning curve for the newbies next year too... and there are always injuries as well.

[Andy]

On the game, hat's off to NU. They jacked up as many threes as usual, they just made a lot more than usual! Season high.

That also opened up the back door for them.

My only complaint - what has happened to the free throw shooting in the last three games? Even Drew is missing big FTs in key spots...

[Evan]

There is nothing wrong with MoJo's stroke. His release is not too far out in front of him. The problem is confidence. He had no confidence last year and it showed because he looked terrible. He had confidence early in the season and was actually looking like a player and he was our 2nd best three-point option, still is when he has confidence. As far as next year who knows but I think we should support Joeseph this year because we need him. He is a 3-point specialist... just needs the confidence, once the confidence goes so does the shot, just ask Chris Hill.

[JMCSpartan08]

Chris Hill in my opinion was a different type of case but I see what you're saying about confidence. However, I think it's odd that someone who "lacks confidence" would be willing to take these shots...especially the last shot of the game. I would figure that if he wasn't confident in his shot he would pass them up... and honestly, if he's a pure confidence shooter I wish he would pass them up unless he was "feelin' it" that day. Either way, I think calling MoJo a 3-pt specialist is a little much. Maybe at one time that was his role but I think that's effectivly changed. His role now is more of a place holder. He just needs to come in for maybe 12 minutes a game or so and play sufficient defense, get on the floor for loose balls, and possibly score 4-8 points. And that's ok, it's just frustrating to watch these shots clank, and clank and clank.

Wussconsin still better look out tomarrow...Suton goes of for 20 and 12 tomarrow. Thats my prediction.
GO GREEN!!!!!

[Mike]

Mojo's shot will come. If my memory serves me correctly, Mr. Nietzel's shot was a little off last year. I am more worried about Suton than anybody else, I have seen him miss more point blank shots, Than the rest of the team combined. I have to close my eyes everytime he gets the rock. I predict a Sweet 16 finish this year

[Cmoney]

I agree, Suton can be much more of an issue than Mojo. 1.) He plays much more than MoJo and 2.) his defense is the worst on the team (perimeter) 3.) not to mention he leads the team in TOs. Every time he has to D-up on a shooting forward (Laundry for Wisc, freshman Coble, Laundry for Purdue) they eat him up. So sure he score 10-14 points, but he gives up 18 with 3-4 to’s…

MoJo has a lot of work to do this off season.

[donaldo]

In my dream last night the Spartans were up by 2 late in the game to Indiana, so if I'm indeed prescient that means we take care of Wisconsin today.

In my waking state, I know that double-digit turnovers aren't going to get it done against Wisconsin. And can we please have a hand in the face of of their three-point shooters?

Looking forward to a great game where every possession means something.

[C.E. Sikkenga]

Agreed on Mojo. Not gauranteeing he'll be a breakout performer, but he has 30+ games of experience above the freshmen and, as bad as his D is at times, that may well put him light years ahead of incoming wing players in terms of earning minutes at this level.

[C.E. Sikkenga]

Agreed on Mojo. Not gauranteeing he'll be a breakout performer, but he has 30+ games of experience above the freshmen and, as bad as his D is at times, that may well put him light years ahead of incoming wing players in terms of earning minutes at this level.

[Chris]

Check out this link on Mojo on Youtube.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asdo1aDDgaI

What happened? He looks like a totally different player. Mojo missing shots is not what bothers me..It's his poor defense. Teams track how many points their team and their opponents score when a certain player is on the court. I'm sure when Mojo is on the court State scores less and gives up too many points. I trust Izzo knows what he's doing so I'm not going to question him playing Mojo over Dahlman. Let's hope for a good summer for those two because the freshman will take some time.

[Cmoney]

Great article!!---good job Izzone.

http://www.suntimes.com/hoops/289881,CST-SPT-survey09.stng

[markv]

On behalf of MSU, i'd like to be the first to congratulate the University of Michigan on another fine season and NIT bid. I hope they're proud of their accomplishment.

[ryan]

I'm a badger fan but man am i looking forward to this game. This is seriously starting to form into a big time rivalry and I know everyone from both sides is gonna be freaking out in the last 30 seconds of the game. Badgers take this one though b/c the badger fans are coming into town.