Champaign, anyone?

Sobering thought for MSU: It's highly doubtful the Spartans will get their first Big Ten title since 2001 if they don't get their first win in Champaign since 2002.

    After watching tonight's game, how easy do you suppose that will be? Illinois might be the most brickalicious team I've seen in a while, but the Illini know how to defend. Every time they play MSU, they belt the Spartans in the mouth, seemingly get to every spot on every set a second early, make things very ugly. (Note to Michigan: Yes, it is possible to drape Neitzel and still cover your backside against the slips for dunks and layups).
    But you know what? I consider that a pretty good victory for MSU. Tom Izzo sure didn't seem to think so. The freshmen were out of their depth tonight. But I think this is one of those postseason prep/learning experiences that will help them, without having to lose a game. And let's give some credit to MSU for its defense. Travis Walton essentially erased Trent Meacham from existence. Pruitt and Randle did nothing.
    No doubt, though, that game at the space ship (Assembly Hall) is going to be tough. Illinois' schedule eases from here, so they'll probably pick up some wins and confidence, and at least be playing for an NIT spot. It's just one of many difficult, defining road tests ahead for this Michigan State team.

Comments

[Boogie614]

Geesh Joe, give the ridicule of Michigan a rest and just concern yourself with MSU! I'm a huge Spartan fan but a enough is enough already. Illinois is bad, Michigan is terrible, and Iowa is the horrendous (and I don't need to remind anyone were that second loss came from on State's schedule).

I don't believe this team is a top eight seed. If they do get a decent seed, watch out for a Weber State type exit.

I know that Tom will say that (insert the name of a just vanquished or just about to be vanquished opponent) "_____ is the best 6 and 15 team in the country". That may be...but sometimes MSU plays like the worst 19-2 team in the country.

It's been 21 games...and yes, the record is gleaming, but I am still not sure what the character of this team is.

[B Knapp]

Is it just me, or does Trent Meacham look like Eddy Munster.

Not quite the similarity as Kalin Lucas and Eddie Griffin -- but close.

About the game... I noticed Neitzel being aggressive around the hoop again. For a while he would just toss the ball toward the hoop while on a break, afraid of being blocked. Now he's being pro-active once again in getting to the hoop.

I'm also happy to see him doing his "fall guy" act a lot less lately -- that's when he goes flying to the floor in a heap anytime he's even remotely touched. I'm glad to see him finding his tough-self.

A trend that's bothered me the last few games, and really became an issue this game: Half court passing. This team is very lackadaisical in some of their passing beyond the top of the key. Illinois really noticed that, and exploited it. I think this is the worst team Izoo has had in that one category since Anderson, Hill, and Torbert were Freshmen. They were the worst at it, but this team makes a lot of mistakes with soft passing up top.

[Psyc]

The one glaring aspect I saw in this game was psychological. All the press and interviews leading up to this matchup spoke of how difficult a time we were going to have with Illinois defense, and for long streches (the entire game for our three freshmen) we did. I know Illinois can defend! I just think the players looked psyced out at times. Saying Illinois is good defensive team is not like saying the sun rises in the east.

This was a good Big Ten win, but I did not see anything this Spartan team needs to be afraid of come March 4th in Champaign. I hope the players think the same. There is a big difference between confidence and arrogance.

[Matt]

We never adjusted to the fact that the Illini were overplaying the passing lanes. If we had adjusted there could have been a lot more back door cuts for lay-ups.

[BoyneSpartan]

19-2 and the best start in school history. Not all wins are going to be blow outs or an offensive clinic. Lets take our victory and move on to Penn State and the rest of our schedule.

GO SPARTANS!!

[The Coach]

Joe, forget Booger's response. He's a butt pirate.

Harass scUM all you want. Those losers can't be ripped enough!

[shawn]

I agree, this team is not top 10, maybe even not top 20. One thing that continues to bother me is the fundamentals that are seemingly ignored. Time and time again I see these guards pick up the dribble and leave their feet! What is that. Its a Turn over! My Jr High coach taught me not to do that. The only one they screen for is Neitzel. This team really struggles in the half court, if they go 15 deep in the shot clock they start to get worried, and force it, make bad passes. Most of the TO's in their games are from the half court offense. Free throws. TOM, if you shoot 100 a day they should at least do that. No excuse for less than 85% from the stripe.

TOM RIGHT THE SHIP

[McSpar10]

Shawn you are an idiot!

85% from the stripe as a team? Haven't watched much basketball have you?

MSU is not a top 20 team???

Dude..

[zeke 3]

this forum cracks me up...kudos to the boys for overcoming mistakes and poor shooting to grind out a win last night. these are the dog days of the big ten schedule...i should know, i catch frisbees for a living.

[Lancaster]

Shawn you are an idiot, just like McSpar10 says.

Please name 2 top 10 teams that have a FT average of 85%.

Please name another 19-2 team that has as difficult a schedule (or even an easier one) that is not in the top 20.

You also need to remember some of these kids are 17, 18 and 19 years old. They haven't been playing in the NBA for 5 years, they are just out of High School.

[Dale]

Fighting through the turnovers was a key to getting a win in this game. ILL run was based on giving them the ball numerous times without every getting off a shot. Raymar is always looking to score...but I swear, he gets called for the same traveling violation at least 4 times a game after a catch. Izzo saw it and was riding him hard, but again...it is habit and needs to change. The freshman struggled. It is to be expected on the road...but not at home. I still think that they will hit their stride here in the next few weeks just as a schedule gets tougher. Lastly...hopefully no more games on BTN because hitting the local establishment at 9pm mid week was fine when I was in my 20's....but not now.

[Spartan95]

Best defense by two teams in one game I've seen since the 2000 MSU/Wisky matchups. Illinois runs similar half court sets, so they know where Sparty is supposed to be. Sparty needs to adjust to Big Ten teams who know your offense. Absolutely the worst officiated game in years I've seen in years. Guys for both teams got mugged but the refs were enthralled with the off the ball stuff. Illinois is still pouting over the Eric Gordon thing as they have no one to rely on for points, especially at the free throw line. MSU's love for the traveling call will haunt them in the tournament because now they have a reputation for it and the refs are looking to call it. Especially on Morgan. Sort of like Anagonye = fouls. Gutsy win with free throw shooting winning it for Sparty down the stretch. This team doesn't play with the flash or offensive fire power of other top ten teams, but no one out there is playing the defense MSU is. And defense, rebounding, and free throws wins championships.

[db]

Not a top 20 team? We are 19-2. Illinios has given some other teams in the big ten a run for their money including Indiana. This is the big ten and you are not going to blow out every team you play. Think about things before you post them. I don't think there is a team in the nation that shoots 85% from the line. Drew Neitzel is second all-time at MSU and is a career 89% shooter. 19-2 is impressive and this team will make a run in the tournament.

[Bradley Wynn]

Good grind it out win last night. Yes Illinois always defends like that, and if it seems like they know our plays...they do. That's the way conference play is. These teams know each other so well, especially since Weber has been breaking down film of MSU for 5 years now. The thing to remember is that come tournament time you have the advantage of playing teams that don't have your offensive system memorized. They've probably only seen film a couple times.

The more concerning thing again is the turnover. Turning the ball over 19 times will result in a tournament upset.

[Matthew Fox]

When the team struggles offensively, is Neitzel enough of a spark plug to get them going again? Haven't seen enough of it yet this season ...

[Bill]

Shawn---

I don't it is right to call someone an idiot, so I will let the facts speak for themsleves.

Florida State is #1 in the ocuntry (out of 341 D-1 teams) in FT shooting. They average 79.0 per cent. MSU is ranked 59th with 72.9%

Thats 2nd in the Big Ten behind Indiana. They are ranked 29th with 74.6&.

That difference is not as great as it sounds. Had we made 9 more FT's over the course of the season, we would be ahead of Indiana.

For what its worth,Illinois is ranked 335 and Memphis is ranked 336 out of 341 both with 58.7%

[Bill]

Oops minor correction to my last post. Illinois is 336 and Memphis is 337

[Sunny]

Florida State is the best FT shooting team in the country at 79%. That is a sickening statistic, but still 6% short of the silly goal of 85%.

Dallas is the top FT team in the NBA at 82.17% with Toronto being the only other team at/above 80% at 80.73%.

[BoyneSpartan]

I don't think shawn will be back anytime soon.

[TD]

Free-throw shooting down the stretch and defense has improved dramatically thus far and it is likely to expect that the Spartans will continue to improve to prepare for tournament time.

This team continues to find ways to win as opposed to find ways to lose overcoming turnovers and poor shooting nights. They are a fun team to watch. The ratio of assists on field goals is amazing and welcomed compared to the NBA pick-n'-roll offense they tried in the Ager/Brown/Davis years.

Happy Birthday Izzo. Go State!

[griff325]

Yea the turnovers were unexcusable, but that officiating almost cost us the game as well.

[Derrick in SD]

With a low scoring game like, a 10-point win is fairly significant. If Illinois hadn't had that run of treys in the middle of the 1st half, this would not have been close. The fact that Spartans can grind out a win in this type of ugly game is important. These are the kinds of games we'll see in the tournament, when teams try to slow things down and play half court ball. We need to improve the offense, but the defense is some of the best I've seen in years.

[nad]

hey shawn you are an idiot...if you think you can coach this team better than izzo i'm sure msu would have hired you and fired him along time ago...why don't you bury your head in the sand and become a scummer...moron

[Kevin]

The team record for free throw percentage is 82.2% (Harvard in 1984). Only 6 teams have ever shot better than 80% for a season. 1986 Spartys shot 79.9% from the line. Just an FYI Shawn.

[Cleavesrules]

Hey Joe, how many games did you say Iowa had to win and you'd do the BT tourney wearing black and gold face paint?