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MSU-Northwood Game Preview

Your MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS vs. the NORTHWOOD TIMBERWOLVES
THE BRESLIN CENTER, EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN
4:00 P.M. (ET), SUNDAY
RADIO: SPARTAN SPORTS NETWORK (follow link for list of stations)

It's officially basketball season!  The games just don't count yet.

The rundown on the (very fearsome sounding) Timberwolves:
  • Record of 13-15 last season, including 9-13 in GLIAC play.  Lost to eventual Division II champion Findlay 81-52 in the conference tournament to end the season.
  • Picked to finish third in the GLIAC's six-team South Division this season.
  • The team returns its two leading scorers from last season: 6'3" senior guard Chris Johnson (12.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game) and 6'7" senior forward Lionel Sullivan (11.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game).
  • Newcomers (and projected starters) include 6'5" freshman guard Andrew Vandierendonck (AKA "The Basketball Announcer's Worst Nightmare") and 6'0" junior guard Dorian Pierce, a transfer from Saginaw Valley State who last played college basketball three years ago.
  • Glancing at the team stats from last season, the team's strength appeared to be rebounding (33.5% OReb%, 71.6% DReb%).  The big weakness was apparently shooting (32.3% 3pt%, 60.1% FT%).
There's actually an MSU connection here.  From the official game notes:
Northwood is coached by Bob Taylor, now in his 13th season. Among Taylor's previous stops, he was head coach of Oakland's women's basketball team, where current MSU women's coach Suzy Merchant served as his top assistant for three seasons.
Our head coach's fretting aside, the Spartans should roll over the Wolves.  Expect to see all 14 (or 15? Anthony Ianni might be eligible for exhibition play?) active Spartans get significant amounts of PT.

This post will also serve as the open game thread for those readers who opt to purchase the streaming video feed.  I have not yet decided whether I will be joining those ranks.

0 recs  |  Comment 60 comments |

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KJ: I think you’ve seen me around Bless You Boys enough to know I’m a numbers guy. Last year, I couldn’t get myself into college b-ball at all for the first time in forever. So, this year I don’t want that to happen, and I think advanced b-ball numbers like Gassaway and Pomeroy and stuff. I’ve been reading through the Big Ten Wonk archives and whatnot (just haven’t sat down to adjust numbers yet), but was wondering what you thought would be must-reads for me.

by Mike Rogers on Nov 1, 2009 12:49 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Reading Material

Gasaway and Pomeroy are definitely the place to start. Their preseason book for this season should be out shortly. They’re being joined this year by Dan Hanner, whose stuff is also well worth reading:

http://yetanotherbasketblog.blogspot.com/

My best stuff (or at least what I think is my best stuff) from the last two seasons is archived here:

http://www.spartansweblog.com/best-of/

And, if you really want to get into the nitty gritty, you can read “Basketball on Paper,” the seminal work on tempo-free stats. Book review is here.

Happy reading. I, for one, think basketball has the most interesting stats, due to the balance between team and individual performance. (See the book review link for more on that idea.)

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 12:37 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks, man. Going to be reading these.

by Mike Rogers on Nov 1, 2009 5:41 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

No problem

Forgot to mention the Big Ten Geeks, who have done some great stuff in their even-briefer-than-mine existence.

http://www.bigtengeeks.com

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 2, 2009 11:28 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

After last night, I’m tempted to set my viewing on a filter that bypasses all football information. Ugh.
I was also tempted to get a ticket for this game but it’d mean arriving in Athens, OH at about 1am. I’m too old for that stuff.

by intrpdtrvlr on Nov 1, 2009 7:20 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

RCMB'ers...

are reporting that Raymar is in a walking boot w/ crutches and Chris Allen isn’t dressed today.

by MooTheKow on Nov 1, 2009 2:51 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Sherman

looks active in the post, and he looks big as well

by dcspartan1 on Nov 1, 2009 3:12 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

sherman seems to be making ineffective movements on offense

draymond green looks much quicker now – first look at nix

by dcspartan1 on Nov 1, 2009 3:18 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

ATTN: Derrick Nix

You need to call “Pick!” on that.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 3:22 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

never happy to see lucas go down

but nix looks like a monster against these small guys → interested to see how he’ll do against bigger competition

by dcspartan1 on Nov 1, 2009 3:25 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Well,

This is why they play exhibition games, I guess. Get the jittery moments out of the way.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 3:26 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Hope so...

Not looking so swell thus far.

by MooTheKow on Nov 1, 2009 3:27 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Added a new 1957 Final Four banner

Don’t see a 1979 banner, though. In the works, hopefully.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 3:27 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Did they mention...

What the deal with Raymar or Allen is?

by MooTheKow on Nov 1, 2009 3:28 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Not since I've tuned in

Only that they’re out.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 3:28 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Raymar is in a boot with crutches.

Allen, apparently, looks as if he could play.

by rook34 on Nov 1, 2009 3:31 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

wow

that is WAY too aggressive for a preseason game

by dcspartan1 on Nov 1, 2009 3:31 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

If Morgan's injury is serious...

this is officially one of the worst weekends in MSU sports in years.

by rook34 on Nov 1, 2009 3:33 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

herzog isn't showing me much right now

how does a guard shoot over a 7 footer in the lane?

by dcspartan1 on Nov 1, 2009 3:35 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Team in general..

isn’t showing much I don’t think. Looks like the other team is playing harder to me.

by MooTheKow on Nov 1, 2009 3:38 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Shots we cannot make

1. 3-pointers
2. Layups

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 3:41 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Izzo going to have a lot of film

of failures and things they need to improve to show this team after this game.

by MooTheKow on Nov 1, 2009 3:42 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

lucas looking good

wish nix had better conditioning – he was playing well

by dcspartan1 on Nov 1, 2009 3:48 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

3-pointer, finally

Not good that Lucas is having to take the game over, though.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 3:49 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Allen with a hip flexor or groin.

Morgan “tweaked” an ankle. Given his immune system I would have guessed he’d had the flu already.

No word on Delvon.

by rook34 on Nov 1, 2009 3:56 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

They said Allen

had the hip flexor/groin injury, and that Morgan tweaked his ankle. Both of them might miss some time, but neither sounds too serious.

by Pete Rossman on Nov 1, 2009 3:57 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Halftime: MSU 33 Northwood 30

Less than inspiring.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 3:55 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Not pretty

First of all, hopefully Morgan, Allen and Roe aren’t injured badly. Pretty ugly half so far…sloppy play on D and lots of missed shots, although most of them were good looks.

I was impressed with Nix around the basket. He seemed to have good hands and nice touch around the hoop. His game reminded me of Duajan Blairs, I think they have similar style. In no way am I saying he’s even close to as good as Blair, just that they have a similar way of playing.

by Stones1981 on Nov 1, 2009 3:59 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

Nix about the only real bright spot from the first half.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 4:03 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Stats

1-9 on 3-pointers
10-28 on 2-pointers

Second stat concerns me more than the first.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 4:06 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Bograkos

Doing a nice job on color commentary.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 4:07 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Nix continues to impress

Nice post move followed by a steal and outlet pass that lead to a transition hoop.

by Stones1981 on Nov 1, 2009 4:32 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

Although his new and improved jumpshot doesn’t look all that improved.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 4:38 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Yup.

but his versatility and overall feel for the game more than makes up for it.

by rook34 on Nov 1, 2009 4:39 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

His shot will come. I’ve been real impressed by him defensively, especially on the perimeter. I think he can defend the SF position, which I could see him playing a decent amount next year with Raymar leaving.

by Stones1981 on Nov 1, 2009 4:44 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Uh oh

Summers hurt his knee

by Stones1981 on Nov 1, 2009 4:57 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Thats what I'm hoping

He did walk off on his own power, although it was very gingerly. If he tore something they wouldn’t want him to put any weight on his knee.

by Stones1981 on Nov 1, 2009 5:02 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

So...

That was the most devastating exhibition ever from an injury standpoint.

by MooTheKow on Nov 1, 2009 5:07 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

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