10 Questions for MSU basketball

1. Still around’s a good sign. I have a feeling it’s going to be months rather than days or weeks to hear about his final status though.
2. He’s walking at the presser, so that’s a good sign. Hopefully he got hooked to the same rejuvenation machine Robbie Hummel had last year and’ll be good to go.
3. Heart says yes, head says no.
4. I don’t think so. If he can come in and give 10 good defensive minutes while getting a lay-up here and there, that’ll be good enough for me.
5. Let’s hope so, he had good lateral speed last season. If he can play 20 minutes a game he’ll start at center.
6. He’ll have a few off games this season, but he’ll have more good games than bad. Might be hard to tell though if Allen comes back.
7. He’ll play. I can’t remember the last time Izzo redshirted a guard, but then again, I don’t think we’ve ever had this kind of depth.
8. After hearing Izzo say he’s here for life? It’ll be positive.
9. I think two more, but I also think it depends on the ’12 class If Harris and Kaminski both commit in the next couple months, it could be one in the ’11 class.
10. Brian Gregory.

- No questions re: Keith Appling….this guy’s supposed to be a major star, but no questions at all about him. How much does he contribute in the rotation? Does he play point or 2-guard?
- Also, will Garrick Sherman’s role expand at all…this guy has some ability, especially offensively. Is he adding the muscle he needs to be able to play Spartan defense?

1. Allen is a senior…he doesn’t have any realistic options. He needs to suck it up, make nice w coach, and play his butt off if he wants to think about playing after next year. Remember, this guy was supposed to be a top talent coming out of Georgia, was higher rated than Lucas or Summers but didn’t develop like them.
2. Crossing all our fingers..if he’s back 100% we will be very tough to beat.
3. I hope so…I love this kid (plays hard, doesn’t gripe) and want him to have strong junior and senior seasons.
4. No…he’ll hit the ground running…most hyped recruit we’ve had since Zach Randolph.
5. Wait and see…can he make a free throw yet?
6. He kisses away millions if he isn’t
7. Redshirt…there’s no room in the rotation for him unless he’s really that good a shooter. But if Allen transfers…
8. Yes…I could have coached Lebron, but chose to coach you instead (great recruiting line). Plus Tom sounded pissed at that press conf to me…he has something to prove.
9. Hope so…we need an athletic wing ala Mo Pete, Summers….a true small forward
10. Gregory would have been the best bet. Crean would have been great, but hard to see him leaving IU.

I’m excited for Nix. If he can take the next step, he can be the bruising big man we’ve been missing.

1. Allen won’t go anywhere, but if he doesnt shape up he wont be playing
2. Lucas won’t be as good as he can be, achilles tendons aren’t like ACLs, there’s less precedent for conditioning. He’ll be effective, but we’ll rely on Summers and Lucious a lot more
3. I honestly couldn’t see him having another knee problem, mostly because I’m pretty sure this most recent one was a complication from the past one. Part of the ligament wasn’t patched up right. Idk Im no doctor.
4. Payne will give us about 15 minutes a night. Prediction right now: 8 ppg, 4 rpg, 1 bpg
5. Nix will start, but I wouldn’t yet count out Sherman or Payne. Honestly the center position is the biggest wild card we have, thats why we need to go out and get Michael Chandler for 2011, hes a guarenteed star.
6. Summers will be streaky as always, I hope he proves me wrong. He seemed mentally locked in last year, but can he get back into that mindset? I doubt it seeing how much Izzo had to kick his ass.
7. I wouldn’t redshirt him because if even with Allen, theres no reason not to have a 3 point specialist in THE championship season. If Allen or Summers get hurt we’ll need him. The only reason you’d redshirt him is if you thought Austin Thornton (who I love, I saw him in high school) could give you more bang per minute. Prediction: 5 minutes per game 3.2 ppg, 1 rpg.
8. Yeah, it was mostly good press. The more your name is out there the more it helps. HOWEVER Izzo wont be getting many blue chip recruits because hes not dirty like Calhoun or Calipari.
9. Yes. Hopefully Chandler and Branden Dawson. If not one of them I’d be ok with Mike Shaw.
10. Brian Gregory would’ve been decent. But Brad Stevens wouldve been the best bet. I dont see anyone really in the Izzo-tree good enough yet.

Now to respond to some other posts: @Hank Crean would be terrible, look how badly hes done at IU, I dont care how tarnished the school was when Sampson left, he should be getting better recruits in the fookin legendary school known as Indiana!

Also Kieth Appling Prediction for Hank: I think he’ll play both, I can see him paired with Lucious at the 2, and Allen or Summers at the 1. But mostly 2 since Lucious proved his skills in the tourney. Stats: 12 minutes, 6.5 ppg, 1 apg. He’ll be similar to Lucas’s frosh year in that he’ll have some big 17 point games but mostly will just be an effective backup.