The view from Houston

First, a bit of injury news. Marquise Gray, whose sprained right big toe is feeling just fine, hurt his knee today while working on his post moves.

    He was limping around and sat for most of MSU's practice at massive Reliant Stadium. But he said afterward that it just "locked up" on him.
    "It's just a little sore right now, I should be fine tomorrow," Gray said. Stay tuned on that.
    Other observations and notes:
    * Memphis coach John Calipari has, indeed, changed his initial assessment of MSU as a slowdown team.
    "People think they walk it up the court. They don't walk it up the court," he said. "Lucas is flying. Neitzel is flying. Morgan is flying. When I tell you flying -- flying."
    MSU's players, meanwhile, were talking about the importance of making this a halfcourt game. What they mean is, a halfcourt game for Memphis' offense, a fullcourt game whenever possible for MSU's.
    "When they get into a running game, we might get blown out if we run too much with them," Travis Walton said. "So we want to run a little bit because we do run a lot, but we want to take it to a halfcourt game a little bit, too."
    If this one's in the 90s, the advantage goes to Memphis. I expect a close game in the 70s range.
    * Calipari and his guys played the "no one is picking us" card many times. Calipari said it over and over again at the podium. His players see it as a pressure release.
    “It’s great, we’re very relaxed,” Memphis center Joey Dorsey said. “We’re relaxed because everyone is picking us to lose. So much pressure that was on us the last two years is not on us now.”
    Of course, plenty of people are still picking Memphis, but Dick Vitale's MSU pick/Memphis can't hit free throws dig is sticking with this team. I think this could help them early, but there's no question, this team has pressure to make the Final Four. It has been one of the best and most talented teams in the nation over the past three seasons, with two Elite Eights to show for it. If MSU can stay close, the pressure transfers to the Tigers for the game's waning moments.
    * Izzo and Calipari talked about their friendship. As Izzo said, they aren't best friends, but they do talk. Izzo got close with Larry Brown when he was coaching the Pistons, and Calipari is a Brown protege.
    Izzo also called Calipari when he was thinking about the NBA.
    "Basically, I said, 'If you think you can get a better job than the one you have, when you get fired, because you are going to get fired, then do it,'" Calipari recalled. "'And if you think you have the best job ever, then don't do it.' And his comment was 'I don't know if I can have a better job for me than Michigan State.' I said, 'Well, then you're absolutely out of your mind thinking (about leaving), because in that league, it's different.'"
    So MSU fans should probably give Calipari some love.
    * Reliant Stadium is the biggest thing I have ever seen. It's a friggin' space station. It's right next door to the old Astrodome -- once a world-famous spectacle -- and the Astrodome looks like a dingy golf practice facility in comparison.
    Inside, they're going with the configuration inspired by the 2003 "BasketBowl" at Ford Field. I don't like it at all. They used to put the court up against an end zone, on one side of the field, so half of it is surrounded tightly by the actual stands. Then, portable bleachers on the other side and end. Now, it's in the middle of the field, with portables around all sides.
    So if you have a seat in the actual stands, you're way, way far away. There are curtains on both ends, with bleachers in front of them. It's just another way for the NCAA to squeeze more money out of fans, while giving them a worse experience. And, as a colleague pointed out, it allows the luxury suites on both sides of the court to be utilized. Hopefully the old way will return after enough people complain.
    This way also means an elevated court. So the benches are below the court, and the head coaches have a stool they can sit on at floor level. In other words, it's Williams Arena on steroids.
    * In practice today, Drew Neitzel was absolutely on fire. That often -- but not always -- translates to the game. The curtains on both ends are black, and since the bleachers on both ends don't go very high, this is a great backdrop for shooters.
    * In a completely unrelated note, my 3-year-old son begged me to come home last night and said, "A boy needs his daddy." Who, under the age of 4, says that? Where the heck do kids get this stuff? My wife swears she didn't put him up to it. I don't know what to think. It sounds like a line from an after-school special, but we try to keep him to Sprout TV programming. Regardless, nice guilt trip while it's 85 and humid down here and snowing steadily in Michigan.
    *  Memphis' shot-blocking ability is a real concern for MSU. The Spartans had nine shots thrown back at them against Pitt. And Memphis is the best swatting team MSU has played this season, thanks primarily to Joey Dorsey and Robert Dozier, who both have 60-plus.
    "It helps start our break a lot," Dozier said. "When me or Joey come across the lane and slap the ball, usually we're dunking at the other end. It's a piece of our offense, actually."
    MSU's bigs must go right at those two, and go strong. And the guards have to be smart, take short pull-ups rather than trying to go all the way.
    * Tom Izzo is having a blast preparing for this game. That may sound strange, but getting to this point is always a big exposure/recruiting aid for a program. And Izzo enjoys trying to solve a challenge like Memphis.
    "This is the greatest," he said outside MSU's locker room, after interviews were finished. "It really is the greatest."
    Izzo was asked: If MSU wins, would it be a huge upset?
    "I don't think it would be a big upset," he said. "But sure, it would be an upset. ... They have good players but you know what? We've got good players, too. We didn't get here by accident."
    The two things that concern Izzo most:
    1. Turnovers. That's obvious, because it has killed MSU in some games this year. And Memphis presses sometimes. Even when they don't press, the Tigers hound on the perimeter like Illinois and Purdue, two teams that turned the Spartans over a lot.
     MSU will have to be very strong with the ball, and very careful not to telegraph passes. If the Spartans can do that, they can catch Memphis gambling and overplaying. Plenty of good shots can be had.
    In my opinion, if MSU has 12 or fewer turnovers, it'll have a great chance to win.
    2. Memphis' ability to drive. Again, pretty obvious. The Tigers force you to guard their guys one-on-one, and MSU's guards will have to be at their best. But I also think MSU will do a great job of sagging and helping, as it did against Pitt's guards. MSU is going to pack it in and force Memphis to win from the outside.
    Which brings us to another numerical prediction. If the Tigers finish with eight-plus 3-pointers on 33 percent-plus shooting, I can't see them losing. In other words, if Memphis hits 8 of 30 or something, that means MSU is really keeping them out of the lane, and the Spartans might be OK. But if it's 8 of 24 or better, on a sliding scale, the Tigers are in good shape. When they get volume and percentage, along with everything else they have going for them, they're awfully tough to beat.
   

Comments

[xwing]

joe, thanks for being our eyes and ears in houston. i agree with msu's players: keep memphis to a half court game while at the same time push the ball after defensive rebounds and steals. memphis is a dangerous team out in the open floor. the tigers half court offense is also wide open and they spread the floor alot and rely on a lot of dribble penetration. if msu can stop that and rebound they should be in the game for the long haul.

[B White]

If Memphis is searching for motivation due to Vitale's comments, then they must not be feeling very confident heading into Sweet Sixteen weekend!?! Everyone was picking Pitt over MSU last Saturday too... I didn't hear much "no respect" comments by MSU heading into that game, just a quiet confidence and focus on the game (not the media coverage...).

I believe MSU will control tempo, and the bigs will play BIG. If Neitzel is hitting, look out! I like MSU's chances as well...

Go get 'em boys! GO STATE!

[milwcheesehead]

Just so you know, a lot of us here in Milwaukee--yeah, we're Badger fans and all--still really want to see Sparty kick some Memphis a$$ tomorrow!

Go Green

[xwing]

b white: Joey Dorsey is also the same guy who ripped greg oden before he played him in the tournament last year and then got schooled by him. dorsey is very emotional and very inconsistent. if he plays well though look out.

[Coach]

Het Cheesehead,

Thanks for the support. We still hope you clowns lose.

[Ben Green]

Great article, Joe. I can't refute your observations. The Spartans MUST keep turnovers down. It won't be easy against this quick team given MSU's propensity for double digit turnovers and Memphis's quickness. And the Spartans D HAS to stall Memphis's ability to drive. IMO, Morgan needs his best defensive game of the season against CDR or it could be a long night.

[Rudedog]

Go Spartans & Go Badgers gotta love the BT unless mich. is playing.

Go Green.

[TexasSpartan]

For those going to the games here in sunny H-town a quick reminder that tailgaiting is allowed in the parking lots. The Texas fans will be doing it and its great to grab a cooler, sit on the tailgate and absorb some rays. Have fun in my adopted hometown - we're never leaving the sun.

GO STATE!

[rook34]

It comes down to two things for us tomorrow:

1. Turnovers. Memphis is built on creating them. We've had our trouble with them but have been far better the past 4 weeks.

2. Morgan and the officials. If Raymar doesn't play 30+ minutes, we have no hope to win.

That said, if Raymar and Lucas are strong, that will leave Neitzel open for looks. We are a very good offensive team when we don't turn it over. But if we turn it over, could get real ugly real quick.

I believe. Go Green.

[Curt Peterson]

I am quite worried... I think we have a good chance to win tomorrow, actually a great chance. But I haven't seen our good friend Ed Hightower at any of the regions tonight so I'm hoping that he didn't just happen to get shipped off to Houston with us. Oh well, hope for the best!

[rook34]

Let's hope Hightower is in Detroit.

I don't often enjoy him being in Michigan, but I hope to see him tomorrow night at Ford Field.

[milwcheesehead]

Hey Coach,

I understand what you're saying, but I agree with Rudedog--nothing would be better for the BT than if we BOTH go deep in this tourney.

[griff325]

this hightower guy has no business officiating in the NCAA tournament. Wow, these people must be real dumb if they don't see his bias calls.

[SpartyOn]

Chance favors the prepared mind.

-Louis Pasteur

[jwhite]

Joe, thanks for all the insight. A truly great sport's reporter!

[Skiny]

If we get Hightower, i swear its a conspiracy. talk about being handicapped, dam!!!

[B Knapp]

"A boy needs his daddy."

You sure that's your kid, Joe?

[Michael Motta]

Thanks to milwcheesehead. I'm supporting the Badgers too despite the rivalry. Like Rudedog, I'll support the Big Ten, other than Michigan, most of the time. Of course Davidson isn't the easiest team to root against either. If the Badgers get by them, it will be easier to root for Bucky against 'nova, and especially KU.

"MSU's players, meanwhile, were talking about the importance of making this a halfcourt game. What they mean is, a halfcourt game for Memphis' offense, a fullcourt game whenever possible for MSU's." -J. Rexrode

This is exactly what I've been thinking lately too, but it's also a little bit idealistic. I guess it will boil down to who's sending how many to the offensive glass. We'll need to get at least our guards back, and really we've done a good job in transition "D" this year and most years. Hopefully Memphis gets greedier on the offensive end and doesn't get back so well.

I hope Gray feels better, because we'll probably need him more against Memphis than against most teams. He's probably our big that's best suited to running, though Suton is reasonably athletic in the open court.

On turnovers, the half glass full way to look at this is that our turnovers often tend to be of the blow-whistle-give-other-team-the-ball variety rather than the kind that we had a couple of in the Pitt game, with steals at midcourt. Traveling, double dribble, step-on-the-baseline/sideline aren't fun to get, but they're less dangerous as TO's go.

[NC Spartan]

Any way to find out where Hightower is refing tonight? This will make a difference on betting some coworkers.

[Clown]

Go Wisconsin, I was just kidding. Dammit these library computers are so slow it takes forever to download porn. I love all Big 10 teams including Michigan. I wish I had a girlfriend than I would understand the innuendo of warm, apple pie. Oh well go Sparty!!!!!

[Conrad Mox]

My wife and I were at MSU's practice session yesterday. The whole team was shooting lights out!! We talked to several Texas fans and they all made the same comment: MSU will win because you have Tom Izzo, a really great coach.

[baySTATEr]

Hey Badgers -
I'm predicting an MSU/Wisconsin final on 4/7. How crazy is that? (Oh-by-the-way, I have the Spartans prevailing in that one.)

[Optomistic Realist]

Joe-

You really need to be with your son right now. He's in his formidable years and you never get a second chance on those. On a totally unrelated note, does anyone have an extra press pass for the game tonight?

[TigerRoss]

You guys have probs with Hightower, too? He is a pariah in Memphis. Calipari and Hightower have had lots of run-ins leading to technicals. So it sounds like if he shows up, we may be on equal footing.

[Coach]

I have an extra press pass, but it's in my pants so your going to have to cum get it.