The 2009-2010 Michigan State basketball team in the national scene

by KJ@theonlycolors on Jun 17, 2009 4:21 PM CDT in Basketball Comment 6 comments

The ESPN basketball commentators have now weighed in with their post-NBA-decision top 25s:

Andy Katz has MSU all the way up at #2, behind just Kansas.
Pat Forde is almost as high on the Spartans--placing them #3 behind both Kansas and Villanova.

My two cents: From a strict addition/subtraction standpoint, you can probably justify the #2 ranking (or #3, considering how much talent Kentucky has). My gut says expectations should be a little lower than that, though: in the 5-8 range, say.

While we didn't lose anyone to the NBA draft, losing two battle-tested seniors like Travis Walton and Goran Suton arguably hurts more than losing a couple underclassmen would. And Tom Izzo teams rely more heavily on depth/cohesiveness than other top college teams do. Most of the parts seem to be there to play Tom Izzo's brand of basketball next year, but it remains to be seen how they all fit together, particularly in the front court.

Where do all of you see the Spartan cagers relative to the other national powers going into next basketball season?

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Based on the way preseason rankings are constructed, MSU deserves to be every bit of top 5.

I think that MSU probably is more in the 5-10 range as you said. I think the loss of Walton is huge because he was just so good defensively for so long. MSU is going to need someone to step up into that role.

http://www.umhoops.com

by umhoops on Jun 17, 2009 4:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Preseason rankings

I’m more comfortable in the 5-10 range. I don’t think we’ll be as strong defensively. In my mind, how Morgan and Allen will contribute offensively is still anyone’s guess, and I wonder how much more offense Roe will be able to deliver. Once again the potential for the team is strong, but it may take some time to develop. I’d rather see the team work their way up from a lower ranking than begin with such lofty expectations.

by donaldo on Jun 17, 2009 7:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Too high

I don’t think replacing what Walton and Suton did last year is exactly automatic. Walton’s defense and not only Suton, but Ibok and Gray providing size in the post.

It’s not like Izzo can’t get other contributions from other players, but if MSU has another excellent season, it won’t be done in the same way.

by witless chum on Jun 18, 2009 8:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Rankings

It will be difficult to maintain a top ten ranking this year with the depth of the Big Ten this year. I look for 6-7 teams to be ranked throughout the year. My guess is we will finish the regular season rankings in the 10-15 range with a 3/4 seed, setting up another deep tounrey run.

by Chris in Kzoo on Jun 18, 2009 10:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Depends on whether the incoming frosh can step up. Not having the one lockdown defender like Walton may hurt too, but if the freshman big guys are ready to contribute immediately (or at least by Big Ten season) we’ll be way up there in the end when it matters.

by SpartanDan on Jun 19, 2009 3:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Preseason Rankings

Although you all make valid points, I’ll be the koolaid drinking slappy, just for fun.

Why the graduating seniors won’t hurt us and why we deserve the #2 pre-season ranking;

Walton –
1. Defensive stoppers are a dime a dozen on a team that values defense top to bottom. The guard roster is deep, maybe someone fighting for minutes will see this as an opportunity to play more.
2. Senior Leadership isn’t as valuable in a disciplined culture like the one Izzo’s has created, or on a team that has lots of players who have gone deep in the tournament and played a lot of games. We have fr and soph that are as tournament (big game) tested as most teams sr’s.

Suton
1. He had more balance than Walton and to me, is the biggest loss, but MSU has played and won with a weak 5 in the past. Great point gaurd(s), very good shooting gaurds and extremely athletic forwards? Sounds like a national championship year to me.
2. A few really good power forwards will take the heat off the center.
3. Who knows, we’ve had non-descript guys grow into being good centers before, maybe Herzog can do the same. (Has he gained any weight?)

Gray – Was he ever anything but an energy guy who got a big dunk at one end of the court and then lost his defensive assignment at the other? Great guy, no big loss.

Ibok – Thanks and good luck in life as something other than a basketball player.

Team
1. Using the tournament as an example, we played different teams with different styles and adapted, and to some degree, imposed our will. We’re a well coached versitile team.
2. Teams have won the NCAA with 1 great player, we may have him in Lucas. Teams have certainly won the tournament with one great and 3 or 4 very good players, and we have those too.
3. This isn’t the same team that was weak with Suton out, we know he’s gone and who we have for next season and we’re preparing for that.

Go State!

by Chris1992 on Jun 22, 2009 1:07 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs