This Is Sparta!

Spartan Seniors Graduate

2009-05-14T09:35:00.003-04:00

It's good to see that the Spartan Seniors participated in their respective graduation ceremonies. I couldn't be more proud. My interest was peaked, though, when I saw that two of the three graduates earned degrees in family community services. After a quick visit to the degree's website, I found that the rigorous curriculum involves such classes as "Work and Family" and "Parenting." While my first intuition is to belittle this degree, I think it could be very beneficial for athletes. Even though Marquise Gray and Travis Walton probably won't go on to play in the NBA, there is a good chance that they will latch on somewhere, in some league. Knowing basic parenting and personal finance skills can go a long way to make a college student into a man. With all the travel, various groupies and family members trying to get a piece, young millionnaires have a lot to learn when they enter the League and even though the NBA is continually trying to ease that transition, the added benefit of a four year degree in, essentially, common sense seems like a pretty good idea.

Q: What Do Roy Williams and Barack Obama Have in Common?

2009-05-14T09:24:00.003-04:00

A: Skin Tone.

Come on, isn't that a little creepy? I mean, Roy Williams already has the look and drawl of a car salesman. He doesn't need the fake tan to make him look even more conspicuous.

Anyways, this photo was taken on Monday when the Tar Heels met with President Obama to celebrate their national championship. I wish this photo was of (sufficiently undertanned) Tom Izzo, but what's in the past is in the past.

Here's a link to the Freep article.

Steph Curry Loves College, er, Commons

2009-05-09T07:41:00.002-04:00

Do you love Steph Curry? Do you love Asher Roth? Then I've got the video for you.

I haven't heard many interviews with him off the basketball court, but if his personality is anything like his rapping skills, he better get a PR rep now.

Cup of 'Zo: 05/08/2009

2009-05-08T06:37:00.003-04:00

Here are a few links to start your day off right:

Can Gus Ganakas overcome his stage fright for Izzo and charity? Does Magic make the list of the wealthiest Black Americans? Who the hell is Cammo and I why do I care about his mock draft (Hint: It starts with "Suton" and ends with "gets drafted"?) To find out the answers to these burning questions and more, check out today's Cup of 'Zo links!

Fave Five?

2009-05-07T15:45:00.002-04:00

Dan Shanoff wonders if Calipari is trying create the Fab Five: Part Deux with his incoming class of recruits.

It's hard to argue when he's adding five top 150 recruits, each playing a different position. Here is the list:

PG: Eric Bledsoe
SG: Jon Hood
SF: Darnell Dodson
PF: Demarcus Cousins
C: Daniel Orton

Even though all five players signed and play different positions, the Fave Five (thanks T-Mobile!) may not come to fruition if either Meeks or Patterson come back. I really hope either Meeks or Patterson comes back so that we can avoid all of the comparisons and old video clips that would ensue.

Saints Unis

2009-05-06T18:05:00.003-04:00

Sorry, not sure how to post images in the SpartanTailgate thread directly:

Stick & Move, Stick & Move

2009-05-05T21:55:00.003-04:00

Well, John Wall is a criminal. Not sure what the #5 recruit (according to ESPN) is doing robbing homes, but maybe that's how he keeps his edge. Kinda like Biggie still slanging crack rock, even while he was recording for Bad Boy. Regardless, it seems like a pretty dumb move for a big time recruit. Where were the boosters during all of this? Couldn't they have hired somebody to break in?

He didn't kill anyone and it looks like he didn't even steal anything, so I don't really think this will affect any of his scholarship offers. He's still considering Florida, Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis, Miami, North Carolina and NC State, none of which are MSU, so I could care less. Haha.

MSU 2010 Verbal: Alex Gauna, Artista

2009-05-05T21:46:00.004-04:00

Have you ever looked for Alex Gauna highlights on Youtube? If you, you probably happened across this killer highlight reel. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out:

Looks like the MSU b-ball team is about to get sexy.

Actual Rivals.com profile

Tom Izzo To Make Musical Theater Fans Les Miserables

2009-05-04T16:32:00.002-04:00

Here's a pretty funny take from Deadspin on Izzo's upcoming Broadway-style show. I think it's a great idea, but Dashiell Bennett seems a little bit reluctant.

Look...I love Tom Izzo and I hate cancer, but if a Broadway-style musical extravaganza starring an undersized Yooper doesn't have Bad Idea Jeans written all over it, I'll eat my tap shoes.

Read the full article here.

Pick up tickets to the performance at the Wharton here.

Kailin Lucas is Not Leaving Early for the NBA; is Not a Dumbass

2009-05-02T07:38:00.003-04:00

Bucking the illustrious tradition of MSU point guards leaving school early only to be drafted in the second round and then be cut by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kailin Lucas is staying in school. I would say that is a pretty good move on his part. Lucas is a fantastic player with a bright future, but he needs more time in school because, let's face it, he's probably never going to be a lottery pick.

Staying in school and enjoying at least one more year of fine college living is much better than plying your trade for the ABL's (Armenian Basketball League) Gyumri or working at the QD at Grand River and Milford.

Tom "The Bird" Izzo to Throw Out First Pitch

2009-04-24T21:35:00.002-04:00

The Freep is reporting that Tom Izzo is set to throw out the first pitch for the Tigers on Monday:

Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Monday's Tigers game against the Yankees at Comerica Park.

Izzo will be next door to Ford Field, site of this month's Final Four, where his Spartans beat Connecticut in the national semifinals before losing to North Carolina in the title game.

Better Than Rocky III

2009-04-24T14:51:00.004-04:00

...with UNC playing the role of Clubber Lang.

State v UNC: The Third Serving

The Big Ten/ACC Challenge schedule is out and it looks like State will be playing UNC again, in what is turning into the premier matchup between these two power conferences. It has potential to be a #1 v #2 matchup, so get ready!

Suton is a Hot Commodity

2009-04-21T06:52:00.004-04:00

Goran Suton's flight into the limelight during the 2009 Final Four has left him with an interesting dilemma: which national team does he want to play for? He is Bosnian by birth (and by mother,) but his father is Croatian. Therefore, both Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia are inviting him to play for their teams. Would he have had this problem a year ago? Probably not. Things are looking good for this Spartan.

I'm not really sure why he wouldn't play for Croatia, though. He's been a member of their youth teams for a very long time and doesn't really have a tight link to Croatia. Plus, it's not like Croatia is an elite basketball nation (Toni Kukoc, anyone?) but maybe I'm missing something...Either way, this is not a bad problem to have. It's much better than my situation of getting picked up last in pickup games, after the kid with one leg.

Hat tip to Spartan Sports Page

Really ESPN?

2009-04-20T11:06:00.002-04:00

As if being on the internet wasn't bad enough while at work, now I have to contend with softcore porn ads too! Oh yeah, this is an animation...

Meet our 2009 boys basketball dream team

2009-04-20T06:54:00.002-04:00

The Freep has posted Michigan's 2009 Dream Team, which consists solely of juniors. Keith Appling leads the charge. Go State!

G Keith Appling

Detroit Pershing (Class A) 6-2, junior

Accomplishments: Averaged 23.8 points, six rebound and five assists. Led team to state title, scoring a state-record 49 points against Kalamazoo Central. Committed to Michigan State.

Coach A.W. Canada: "Early in the season he got hurt and then he came back, but he didn't come back like we wanted him to. We got on him about working harder and spending more time on his game. He is one of the best defenders in the state."

Appling: "The biggest game for me this season was the second round of the districts against Henry Ford (a 92-89 win). If I don't hit that shot, we probably lose the game. In the championship game, my teammates kept getting me the ball and told me to stay aggressive."

I think Appling would've won the state's Mr. Basketball if juniors were eligible. Derrick Nix, another MSU signee, won anyways, so I'll let this one slide.

Greg Paulus: The Poor Man's Matt Ishbia

2009-04-14T11:18:00.003-04:00

Apparently, Greg Paulus was an All-America QB in high school, but decided to ride the pine for the Dukies rather than do something he's good at. Now that he's a senior, he has apparently reconsidered his choice and now wants to be a quarterback. I think that this picture pretty much sums it up:

Here's the link to the full article by Chris Mottram over at the SportingBlog.

On the Bright Side

2009-04-13T10:44:00.005-04:00

State landed number two on Andy Katz's postseason/preseason top 25 list. Even he notes that a lot could change, depending on who declares, but this still takes a little weight off of my shoulders:

Only KU is ahead of MSU in the poll and, well, they beat them twice last season. I think I am only going to post positive articles for the next week so that I can personally feel a little better. I may also post articles mocking UNC....haha.

2009-04-07T18:19:00.001-04:00

:(

2009-04-07T10:16:00.001-04:00

I need a little more time to think about yesterday's game before I put up all of my thoughts.

We gave 'em hell.

Final Four Floor From Michigan, Again

2009-04-03T09:53:00.004-04:00

Can you tell that I love alliteration?

Anyways, I was not aware of this, but apparently the Final Four flooring was manufactured in Michigan's own Upper Peninsula. Not only can we be proud of the Spartans making it to the tournament semi-finals, but they will be playing on a court that helps provide 100 Yoopers with jobs. This week just keeps getting better and better....

Here is an excerpt from Governor Granholm's weekly radio address:

This is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

This weekend, basketball fans around Michigan and across the country will watch some of the nation’s best college players – including the Michigan State University men and women – continue their march to the NCAA Final Four championships. I think you’ll agree that at a time when the news of the nation’s credit crisis and rising unemployment rates is so painful, the fun and the frenzy of March Madness is a welcome diversion.

For those of us in Michigan, the anticipation of the Final Four is magnified, because for the first time, the men’s championship will be played here in Michigan at Ford Field in Detroit. But as the late Paul Harvey used to say: And now, for the rest of the story. When the men take to the floor in Detroit and the women take to the floor in St. Louis, Missouri, for their championship games – they’ll be playing on beautiful, maple hardwood floors that were manufactured right here in Michigan by Connor Sport Court International in the Upper Peninsula town of Amasa.

As the exclusive supplier of the championship floors for both the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Final Four and the floors for more professional sporting events than any other company in the world, Connor is a great example of the kinds of great businesses that can be found in Michigan. The Iron County plant has been part of the Amasa community since 1872, and the 100 employees who work there embody Michigan’s proud manufacturing tradition. They are using our plentiful renewable resources – in this case, our forests – in ways that honor our commitment to being good stewards of our land, air and water.

This week, as the truck carrying the maple flooring bound for Detroit made the trip from the U.P., there was excitement and pride at every stop. I hope that fans across our state will turn to their friends next weekend and say, “Did you know that floor was made right here in Michigan?”

The pride we feel for Connor and its talented workforce is the pride we feel for all our Michigan companies, companies whose names are easily recognized: Whirlpool, Stryker, and, of course, our Big Three auto companies and their workers that we’re fighting hard for in the face of a daunting worldwide recession.

In the coming days, more than 70,000 people will visit Detroit to see the Men’s Final Four with a direct economic impact to our state of $30-$50 million, which is a great boost to our local economy. Day in and day out, though, it’s Michigan’s workers and Michigan businesses like Connor that keep our state going. They truly are our champions, and they deserve both our pride and our support.

Thank you for listening.

Well, If Magic Endorses Him, It Must Be Good...

2009-04-02T17:27:00.004-04:00

The excerpt on the right is part of an email that arrived in my inbox this morning. While I am flattered to be called a "business leader," I am even more flattered to receive an email from a guy ENDORSED BY MAGIC JOHNSON!!! Oh, and by an author of a book I have never heard of. And by a retired CEO....

"I’m Not Sure I’d Walk Through Them.”

2009-04-02T17:16:00.002-04:00

My friend forwarded my this article about how tough Izzo is and I just could not help but post it. This is a must-read for anybody from Michigan and, honestly, for anyone who loves college basketball. I mean, it contains this quote:

He was asked Tuesday if the Final Four would help him recruit nationally, he shrugged. “It might be able to open up doors. I’m not sure I’d walk through them.”

How can you not love Izzo after reading that? He also talks about why he likes recruiting kids from Detroit and Flint because they don't "have silver spoons in their mouth."

Good Knight and Good Luck

2009-03-31T22:38:00.003-04:00

We're not going to see Brandon Knight in spartan green, but this kid really impresses me. He DRAINS every jump shot in this video clip. It's amazing to see a young kid with game this developed. Oh yeah, he's only a junior and he just got named Gatorade National POY.

Phew...We're Safe!

2009-03-31T22:25:00.002-04:00

John Calipari has accepted the head man job at Kentucky, so it looks like all the media's rumor-mongering about UK pursuing Izzo will be on hold for a while. Until the next job opens up, at least (I am looking at you, Kevin McHale.)

U-M coaches' tips for MSU to beat UConn

2009-03-31T22:21:00.002-04:00

People of Michigan: UNITE!

Haha...It looks like State playing in Detroit during the Final Four is really a galvanizing force. Beilein is offering advice on how to beat UConn...Don't let them dunk or run and marginalize Thabeet.

Thanks for that great insight, Johny.

Read the full article on the Freep.

Pfft...

2009-03-29T01:40:00.001-04:00

The Lady Spartans got robbed today. Did you see all of that contact? Great run ladies...

Gillespie Out; Izzo In?

2009-03-29T01:23:00.002-04:00

Billy Gillespie has been canned by the University of Kentucky and Pat Forde from ESPN is reporting that these are the top five candidates:

1. Rick Pitino
2. Tom Izzo
3. Thad Matta
4. Travis Ford
5. John Pelfrey

It's really hard for me to imagine Izzo leaving State to go down to UK, but it's not as unbelievable as it once was. Izzo may have reached his peak at State and being the head man at UK is definitely a more prestigious job. It definitely doesn't seem like a big enough upgrade to make the switch, unless he just wants a new challenge. Izzo is MSU basketball, so the slightest thought of him leaving makes me sweat....I'll keep you updated.

What Does "BJ" Stand For?

2009-03-27T14:47:00.004-04:00

Well, well, well, it looks like it's one and done for BJ Mullens. I can' t say I'm really surprised because if he stayed another year he would probably be exposed for the fraud that he is. Right now he looks like a "7 foot project," but in another he would look like "7 foot joke."

Happy trails, Beej, enjoy North Dakota.

Well, that sucks...

2009-03-26T21:18:00.001-04:00

Purdue just went down 60-72 to UConn and Pitt isn't looking that hot...There goes my bracket.

Curry With a Side of Roe?

2009-03-24T19:58:00.002-04:00

Looks like Steph's little bro is leaving Liberty for the Big Time. I know he's from NC with no connections to Michigan, but how nice would he look in Spartan Green along with Mr. Roe et al in the 2010 season? Here's the article from ESPN:

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Seth Curry, the high-scoring younger brother of Davidson star Stephen Curry, says he is transferring out of Liberty to seek a higher level of competition.
Curry, 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, led the nation's freshman with a 20.2 scoring average.
Liberty went 23-12 this season, finishing with an 88-65 loss to James Madison on Monday night in the CollegeInsider.com tournament. Curry scored eight points in the loss.
"This is a difficult decision that I have reached after close consultation with my family and others close to me," he said in a statement released through the school.
He said the decision "is based on my desire to develop as an athlete to the fullest of my potential and take advantage of new opportunities that may be available to me in a higher-rated conference."
There was no indication in the release whether Curry has already decided where to transfer, and the school said Curry would not have any additional comment Tuesday.
Coaches at other schools are not permitted to comment on potential transfers.
Liberty coach Ritchie McKay said he's disappointed with Curry's decision but understands and does not fault him for seeking to play against a higher level of competition.
Like his brother, who is one of the best-known players in college basketball, the younger Curry splashed onto the scene as a scorer.
He scored 23 and 18 points in his first two college games and then had 26 as the Flames won 86-82 at Virginia, just their second victory in eight games in the series.
His season high of 35 points also came on the road, leading the Flames to a 91-80 victory at Virginia Military Institute before the largest crowd in VMI's history.

Through Their Eyes: DOWN AND FOULED OUT

2009-03-24T11:09:00.003-04:00

Here's an article from the Daily Trojan about MSU's Sunday evening victory:

For a USC men’s basketball team that looked as though it had started anew in the postseason, it was an old problem that ultimately served as the Trojans’ undoing.

Saddled with fouls, USC junior Taj Gibson was held to three points before fouling out of Sunday’s game against Michigan State with 5:38 remaining.

Although the Trojans kept it close without their top post player, the Spartans held on in the final two minutes for a 74-69 win in Minneapolis and a berth to the Sweet 16.

Two years ago, it was Gibson’s foul trouble that allowed North Carolina to break away from the Trojans and advance to the Elite 8. His fouls last year against Kansas State were also one of USC’s many problems in the team’s opening-round loss to the Wildcats.

On Sunday, the Trojans once again watched their season end as their man in the middle sat on the bench.
After posting a perfect 10-for-10 performance from the field in the opening round against Boston College, the junior forward from Brooklyn missed both field goal attempts and went 3-of-4 from the free throw line.

Gibson maintained his presence on the defensive end by recording five blocks, but the Trojans’ offense was forced to adapt to a physical Spartan defense.

“They did a fine job on him in the minutes that he had,” USC coach Tim Floyd said in the postgame press conference. “I thought that was a real key to the game.”

USC shot 40 percent from the field but went 1-of-10 from three-point range. The Trojans were also outrebounded, 34-24, by the Spartans, who lead the country in rebounding margin.

Junior guard Dwight Lewis led USC in scoring with 19 points while freshman forward DeMar DeRozan added 18 points.

Michigan State’s Travis Walton surprised many by finishing with a career-high 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting. As the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year, Walton had not been known as one of Michigan State’s top offensive threats. Sophomore guard Kalin Lucas was the early focus for USC’s defense, which came out in a box-and-one scheme designed to bottle up the Spartans’ leading scorer.
But Walton found himself open for much of the night and repeatedly drained mid-range jumpers on USC.

“Walton played exceptionally well for them,” Floyd said. “He surprised us with his ability to make 17-foot jump shots.”

Never trailing by more than six points, USC had its chances to top the favored Spartans. With 1:56 left in the game, junior guard Daniel Hackett stole the ball and had a chance to tie the game but lost the ball on his way to the basket.

“The ball just slipped out of my hands. It was unfortunate, that’s all I can tell you,” Hackett said.

Lucas secured the ball, and Michigan State’s Goran Suton was fouled by freshman Nikola Vucevic on a disputed call to send the senior center to the line with 1:13 remaining.
Suton hit both free throws to give Michigan State a four-point lead.

Despite the errors, Floyd said his team did not give the game away.

“The foul trouble did not beat us,” he said. “We got beat by a very good Michigan State team.”

Praise starting to come the Spartans way

2009-03-24T11:05:00.001-04:00

Here's a quick to hit by Mike Trogan @ MLive to pick up your day:

Adding to the abrupt 180 by Jason Whitlock that Phil wrote about earlier, a few experts from ESPN heaped praises on the Green and White today.

The following is from Andy Katz's Sweet 16 preview:

ESPN, March 23: Izzo continues to prove that Michigan State is one of the top five programs in the country under his leadership. MSU has a legitimate chance to get to Detroit and play essentially at home, something that hasn't been done since Duke played in the 1994 title game against Arkansas in Charlotte.

Nice to see State referred to as a top five program in the country. It is also interesting to hear MSU finally being recognized as a legit Final Four contender.

Pat Forde went a step further and recognized Michigan State as one of the top ten programs of all time.

ESPN, March 23: Seventy percent of the programs I'd rank in the all-time top 10 are in the Sweet 16. In no particular order, that's North Carolina, Duke, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan State, Connecticut and either Syracuse or Arizona. The only ones missing: UCLA, Kentucky and Indiana.

Going into the tournament it was en vogue to trash the Big Ten and Michigan State. Now after winning two games that a two seed should be expected to win, Tom Izzo is a master at coaching in March again.

I think that some of these pundits actually talked themselves into believing that MSU was bound to lose on the first weekend.

Good thing is that most have come to their senses, with the exception of Digger who was already picking Kansas about two minutes after the MSU-USC game ended.

New Unis...Pretty Cool

2009-03-11T16:07:00.005-04:00

There's a thread over at SpartanTailgate about the new unis that State will wear during the tourney. They look pretty cool to me, but I can't really see design too well. Here, check it out:

You can make out the Spartan head surround by the Greek shield if you look closely enough. Here's the description from the Freep article:

Spartan battle armour inspired the dynamic pattern running throughout this jersey while the Michigan State logo forms the foundation. An ancient Greek shield design surrounds the Michigan State logo.

It looks pretty cool, but I can't help but compare it to the ill-fated silver unis from the '03 season and how State got blasted by Duke the night of the premiere. I can't even find any pictures of the jersey online. That's how big of a hit they were...haha.

Consistency

2009-03-11T13:59:00.003-04:00

That's what Greg Kelser had to say in a recent chat in response to a question from "Mitch."

11:32 Comment From Mitch: You have been around a lot of college basketball programs. What is special about the program at Michigan State?
11:32 Gregory Kelser: Consistency. And the fact that there has been little turnover at the top. Three coaches in 40 years says it all.

I couldn't agree more. Check out the rest of the chat. It focuses mostly on the Pistons (Greg's current day job is as a Pistons' commentator,) but it's worth a read. He sheds some pretty good insight into the Pistons season; particularly the Iverson situation.

All-Geek Team

2009-03-10T18:22:00.003-04:00

Here is an interesting excerpt from what is becoming one of my favorite sites: Big Ten Geeks:

Kalin Lucas:
ORtg: 110.2
Shot%: 28.6

Conference player of the year. What's interesting about Lucas is how he adapted his role over the course of the season. Early on in non-conference play, Lucas was a grade-A distributor, with an assist rate around 40.0. But when conference play came around, and Raymar Morgan got sick, and Chris Allen went cold, Lucas became Michigan State's primary scorer. His conference-only numbers make him look like a "shoot first" point guard. The other interesting thing about Lucas is how high his efficiency was despite his lackluster shooting. Lucas posted an effective field goal percentage of 46.1, thanks to a pretty lousy 42% mark from 2 point range. But he made up for it by consuming possessions without turnovers, and by getting to the line at a very healthy rate (where he is deadly). But our modest proposal for Lucas continues - Tom Izzo has a 6-0 player who hits nearly 40% of his three pointers - why is he shooting over 3 times as many 2s? Just imagine if Lucas' shot selection went all Dee Brown. Scary.

It's good to know that what I saw happen is actually backed up by numbers. Lucas went from big time dime dropper to The Man on this Spartans team when Morgan went down. It was great to see the transformation and it's really interesting to look at his con/non-con splits.

Just imagine if Lucas' shot selection went all Dee Brown. Scary.

Scary, indeed.

All-B10 Teams Announced

2009-03-10T12:14:00.006-04:00

It looks like my hunches were a little more accurate than the UM Hoops blog:

MSU got some props, with Lucas (1st Team, POY,) Suton (2nd Team,) Walton (Defensive POY,) Morgan (Honorable Mention,) Roe (All-Frosh) and Izzo (Coach of the Year) all receiving accolades.

I thought that there was a chance that Morgan would be 3rd team, but I knew it was lofty thinking. Hopefully this will help his decision to come back next year.

There's Something Fishy....

2009-03-09T15:57:00.004-04:00

Notice anything strange about UM Hoops blog's All B10 First Team?

Perhaps two UM players on the first team? Come on, what about Johnson or Landry?

Cleaves Continues to Impact MSU

2009-03-09T15:44:00.003-04:00

MLive reports that the new family center at the Brez was dedicated to Frances Cleaves, Mateen's excentric mother who passed on back on 07. Seems like quite an honor. Izzo is actually fronting the money. Seems like a good thing for everyone involved.

Plus, I used to work at the Bres and the hallway to the locker room would be absolute pandamonium while everyone was waiting for their kids to come out. This should alleviate some of this traffic.

EAST LANSING -- Michigan State will celebrate another aspect of its basketball tradition when it dedicates the Frances Cleaves Family Center on Sunday afternoon.

Great to see the Spartans pulled off a victory on such a special day.

Could Mateen Back Up Chauncey???

2009-03-09T15:33:00.002-04:00

Multiple sources around the NBA are saying that the Nuggets could bring in Mateen after he played for them in the summer league. It would be great to see "The General" at least suited up for an NBA team.

Hat tip: Hoopsworld

Weeeeeee Are the Champions, My Friends....

2009-03-09T10:01:00.004-04:00

Great to see this pic of the Spartans cutting down the nets after their big victory over Purdue. Wait, is that Ibok up on the ladder? Of all the members of the team, the Freep puts the pick of Ibok front and center on its sports section? Hahaha...awesome. I guess it goes with the Izzo team unity theme. Notice that he is only on the second rung? The man is a giant.

Suton

2009-03-05T11:09:00.002-05:00

Check out Suton on the cover of the new SI!

100 Most Influential Student-Athletes

2009-03-05T10:48:00.004-05:00

The NCAA has put out a list of the 100 most influential student-athletes and the good news is that Magic Johnson made the list, clocking in at 74. Here is the criteria used:

The NCAA defines the 100 Most Influential Student-Athletes as those who have made a significant impact or major contributions to society.

I would say that Magic has made a significant impact and major contributions, so he definitely deserves to be on the list. But wait, what's that? Who's right above him on the list???

Bird? Are you kidding me? I get the "significant impact" part, but it only applies to "Bird the Athlete." Magic Johnson is still a major sports personality and his charitable work has been hugely beneficial to everyone involved. The fact that they were even paired together is a farce. The guys on the selection committee probably thought it was funny....

Big Ten Champs....BOOM!

2009-03-04T11:04:00.002-05:00

Well, it didn't end that pretty, but MSU looked great offensively for much of the game. They were pretty much scoring at will. Unfortunately, so was an Indiana team with one returning player from last year.....

Anyways, here's link to the ESPN coverage of the game in case you missed it: ESPN

2009-02-24T10:51:00.002-05:00

Good to see Charlie Bell getting the job done for the Bucks with Redd out for the season:

8. Charlie Bell, not Charlie Villanueva, was the player of the game for the Bucks. Bell continued his hot/cold play with a hot day on both ends of the court. Statistically, he was the biggest reason the Bucks won. Oh, he actually rebounded, too!! Mark your calendars.

Maybe he's developing into more than just a nice shooter. Him hitting the boards is going to take him a long way in the League.

New Rankings Out

2009-02-23T15:36:00.004-05:00

Well, State dropped to #9. That sounds about right after the shelacking they took at the hands of Purdue earlier in the week. The resiliency they showed against Wisco probably kept them in the top 10.

#14

2009-02-22T17:56:00.003-05:00

Mr. Suton looked a lot like the last #14 at State with that jumper in the waning seconds. It felt eerily similar to a Charlie Bell mid-range jump shot.

Clutch win. It was great to see them get the victory after the beat down from Purdue earlier in the week.

Raymar v. Brandon Roy

2009-02-21T14:23:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure what exactly spurred this comparison between Raymar Morgan and Brandon Roy, but, not surprisingly, Brandon Roy holds the advantage. What did surprise me, however, was that the stats are pretty comparable. Remember, Roy only started 26 games his Junior year. Hopefully, the Sheet thinks Morgan is going to have a huge breakout next year and that's why they compared him to Roy. Fingers crossed!

As always, thanks Statsheet.

2009-02-20T16:18:00.002-05:00

At first I was surprised to see that Mateen was the all-time leader in turnovers, but when I really think about it, I remember how he played...So up-tempo. I don't have the # of possessions info on hand, but they pushed the ball a lot more than the Spartans do nowadays. More possessions means more turnover potential. Still an interesting stat. Thanks Statfix!

Stats Don't Lie

2009-02-18T14:36:00.005-05:00

Does anything stand out here? Maybe the two 3 pointers made? How about the 22 turn overs? Or how about eight total assists? Even the pretty colors cannot make this easier to handle....

P.S. I can't get the active chart to install yet, so here's a still image until I can...Thanks to Statsheet.com and to SpartansWebLog for leading me there.

The Big Ten Race Just Got Friskier...

2009-02-18T12:19:00.002-05:00

Well, MSU can still win the B10, but it is going to take some work. Here's what Big Ten Geeks has to say:

So it appears that there's still some life left for the chase for the conference title. Michigan State still has the inside track, of course, but Purdue also controls their own destiny. Win out - including the season finale against the Spartans in East Lansing - and they will secure at least a tie for the Big Ten title. Now that Robbie Hummel appears to be healthy, they have a reasonable shot.

Hopefully this was a wakeup call to the Spartans to get their sh*t together. Purdue's D is good, but they made State look ridiculous. I bet Izzo has the boys running a little harder today....

2009-02-18T12:12:00.002-05:00

Ugh...that got ugly fast. I tried to quell my fears that State would choke like usual (during the regular season,) but I guess I shouldn't have...

image via freep

Bama Fans Waste My Time

2009-02-13T11:28:00.003-05:00

Looks like our good friends over at TideFans.com are discussing the merits of hiring Tom Izzo to be there next head coach. Sometimes I daydream too, but it doesn't mean that I shouldn't make fun of these guys for considering for even a millisecond that Izzo would leave one of the "top four basketball schools" (thanks Pat Forde!) for the sinking ship that is Alabama basketball. Well, if you're bored, maybe you should check this out....

http://www.tidefans.com/forums/basketball/84129-official-tom-izzo-thread.html

Highlights include:

I definitely agree he has a few good years left. But, the past five years makes me wonder if [Izzo] has any "great" years left. Of course, let's be honest - at Alabama, most people would settle for ONE great year.

and

Tom Izzo is an outrageous concept -- but that's partly because our expectations have been kept so low that it feels borderline delusional to think a coach of his level might look our way.

I would probably keep those expectations low for the time being....

Big Ten Earns a 2 Seed

2009-02-12T18:37:00.000-05:00

Interesting story posted today on SLAM comparing the all-conference teams from each of the major conferences....It's a two part series; you should check it out. The Big Ten is the 2 seed (out of 12,) which is not too shabby, but on Lucas makes the team. Battle, Turner, Landry...household names if you follow the B10, but no Suton? Hmmmm...We will see how this season finishes up and then revisit this list.

Original SLAM story

Who's Your Daddy?

2009-02-11T15:21:00.000-05:00

At the risk of sounding like too much of a homer, I really liked this:

It was a reminder the big-brother, little-brother syndrome is alive and well and still kicking in this rivalry. Michigan State has owned college basketball in this state for more than decade.

Phil Caputo and I are going to be very good friends if he keeps saying things like this.

Delvon Roe Is Better Than Lou Roe

2009-02-11T14:05:00.000-05:00

It looks like Roe's knee might finally be feeling better. He might finally be coming into the form that we Spartan fans have been waiting to see. Microfracture knee surgery is no joke, so it’s good to see the big fella coming around. If he can carry that intensity over 40 minutes, he is going to be a beast. Here's what MLive had to say,

"Delvon Roe came to Michigan State with the credentials to be a freshman phenom.
When a knee injury in high school and another during the offseason stunted his progress, Roe could have become one frustrated freshman.
To his misfortune, he didn't become the first.
To his credit, he didn't become the latter.
On Tuesday night at Crisler Arena, he finally was vindicated.
Roe scored 11 of his career-high 14 points in the first half to keep Michigan at bay. He also added 10 rebounds to help ninth-ranked MSU come away with a critical 54-42 victory.
"In the first half, the difference was Delvon Roe," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said. "This is getting exciting for me because that kid worked so hard and has been through so much in the last year-and-a-half.
"He never complains and just keeps working. I'm proud of him and happy for him. I said it would probably be the beginning of February before we started seeing the real Delvon. I don't think we've seen it yet, but we're starting to see stages of it.
"He had 10 rebounds and a couple big ones late."
Roe, who played a career-high 29 minutes, credited his work on the offensive boards for getting him going.
"I think I showed what I can do for 40 minutes, or however minutes I'm out there playing, and that I can be an impact-type player," Roe said. "But I've got a lot of work to do.
"It's always about the offensive rebounds, crashing the boards and running the lanes.""

About this blog

2009-02-10T21:35:00.000-05:00

Hi Guys,

This blog is obviously a work in progress. I was planning to start blogging at the start of March Madness, but I was so pumped about State's victory today that I didn't want to wait any longer. For now, I am just concerned with aggregating State basketball news from various sources, but unique content is in the pipeline.

Morgan Still Out; Does Not Matter...MSU Wins

2009-02-10T21:28:00.000-05:00

ANN ABOR, Mich. -- Freshman Delvon Roe scored 11 of his season-high 14 points in the first half and Kalin Lucas had 13 of his 15 points after halftime, leading No. 9 Michigan State to a 54-42 win over Michigan on Tuesday night.

The Spartans (20-4, 10-2 Big Ten) have won three straight to open a 2½-game lead over Illinois and Ohio State, moving closer to their first conference championship since 2001.The Wolverines (15-10, 5-7) will have to finish the season strong, after beating Duke and UCLA, to play in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998.Michigan, which trailed by eight at halftime and 12 early in the second half, pulled within four with 4:48 left but couldn't get closer.

DeShawn Sims scored 18 points while leading scorer Manny Harris had just seven on 2-of-10 shooting for the Wolverines after saying it was a must-win game.The Spartans have won 16 of 19 in the series.Michigan had won its last two home games against Michigan State but led the latest matchup just twice in the opening minutes.The Spartans were without second-leading scorer Raymar Morgan, who missed his third straight game recovering from a batch of illnesses, but are expecting him for their next game Tuesday night at Purdue.

Michigan State is 7-0 in true road games, joining Connecticut, Louisville and Utah State as the only undefeated Division I teams on opponents' home courts.The Wolverines have lost seven of their last nine and might've been tired against Michigan State, playing their third game in just six days.The Spartans scored the first five points of the game, then Michigan outscored them 8-2 to take the lead.One of Roe's four field goals in the lane put Michigan State ahead for good midway through the first half. His 11 points before halftime surpassed his previous best in a Big Ten game and were just two short of his previous career high. He finished with 10 rebounds, one short of his season best.

The Spartans led 23-15 at halftime despite a six-plus minute scoring drought that ended with Lucas' first points with 1:08 left in the half.Michigan made a meager 32 percent of its shots in the first half, made just two 3-pointers on 10 attempts and gave up nine points off eight turnovers. The Wolverines made 35 percent of their shots overall and missed 20 of 24 3-pointers.

via ESPN.com