Spartan Seniors Graduate

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?

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.

Cup of 'Zo: 05/08/2009

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

• Ganakas overcomes stage fright for Izzo
• The Wealthiest Black Americans
• 2009 NBA Mock Draft (Both Rounds)
• Spartans are loaded, but Lucas must improve

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!

MSU 2010 Verbal: Alex Gauna, Artista

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

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

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.

Suton is a Hot Commodity

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

Meet our 2009 boys basketball dream team

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.

On the Bright Side

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.

:(

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

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.

"I’m Not Sure I’d Walk Through Them.”

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."

Phew...We're Safe!

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

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...

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

Gillespie Out; Izzo In?

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.

New Unis...Pretty Cool

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.

All-Geek Team

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

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.

Cleaves Continues to Impact MSU

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.