MSU-Northwood Game Preview
by KJ@theonlycolors on Oct 31, 2009 3:59 PM CDT
in Michigan State Spartans Basketball
60 comments
- 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%).
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.
0 recs |
60 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
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.
And now at Beyond the Boxscore and Project Prospect!
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
No problem
Forgot to mention the Big Ten Geeks, who have done some great stuff in their even-briefer-than-mine existence.
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 2, 2009 11:28 AM CST up reply actions
RCMB'ers...
are reporting that Raymar is in a walking boot w/ crutches and Chris Allen isn’t dressed today.
Rough start on the video feed for me
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 3:07 PM CST reply actions
Sherman
looks active in the post, and he looks big as well
sherman seems to be making ineffective movements on offense
draymond green looks much quicker now – first look at nix
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
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
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
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
Did they mention...
What the deal with Raymar or Allen is?
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
wow
that is WAY too aggressive for a preseason game
If Morgan's injury is serious...
this is officially one of the worst weekends in MSU sports in years.
herzog isn't showing me much right now
how does a guard shoot over a 7 footer in the lane?
Team in general..
isn’t showing much I don’t think. Looks like the other team is playing harder to me.
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
Izzo going to have a lot of film
of failures and things they need to improve to show this team after this game.
lucas looking good
wish nix had better conditioning – he was playing well
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
Did they say that?
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 3:55 PM CST up reply actions
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
Delvon Roe on the floor for warmups
Whew.
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 4:09 PM CST reply actions
State News confirms injury situations
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 4:23 PM CST reply actions
Nix continues to impress
Nice post move followed by a steal and outlet pass that lead to a transition hoop.
Or a scoreboard
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 4:34 PM CST up reply actions
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
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.
Herzog showing more aggressiveness
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 4:53 PM CST reply actions
Hopefully just hurts from banging it against somebody else's knee
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Nov 1, 2009 4:58 PM CST up reply actions
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.
So...
That was the most devastating exhibition ever from an injury standpoint.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
