BriefCap: Michigan State 66, Minnesota 61: Yakkety Sax'd
by Pete Rossman on Feb 22, 2012 10:07 PM CST
in Michigan State Spartans Basketball
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PrintEXCLUSIVE VIDEO OF MINNESOTA'S OFFENSE IN THE FINAL FOUR MINUTES -- MUST CREDIT THE ONLY COLORS:
Boy, it didn't feel like Michigan State won this game as much as Minnesota lost it, am I right? With about six minutes left in this game, I had a completely emo post prepared for you. Not just Dashboard Confessional emo, like "Swiss Army Romance Dashboard Confessional while we draw X's on our hands, pretend we're straight edge, and cry ourselves to sleep" emo. It was that bad. Minnesota was making nearly every drive to the hoop, knocking down a fair amount of threes to boot, and generally frustrating MSU inside with a 2-3 zone into dumb shots.
So what changed the game around? First, Brandon Wood. While his teammates appeared to be frustrated, Wood maintained his cool, making drives to the basket and had a key steal and dunk late in the 2nd half to bring the defecit to two. Wood had 13 points in the game. Second, MSU kept pounding inside in the second half and drawing fouls; even when the inside offense wouldn't work, the Spartans made enough free throws (17-23) to keep it close throughout most of the second half.
Lastly and most importantly, the turnovers. Michigan State only turned it over five times today, whilst the Golden Gophers turned it over 14 times, with five of those coming in the final four minutes. The final four minutes were a sight to behold, as MSU played calmly and within themselves, and the Golden Gophers made bad pass after bad pass to give the ball back. Eventually he Spartans had the ball with less than 40 seconds left, the game tied, the shot clock under 5. It was then when lo, the angels did give MSU a gift in the form of Rodney Williams committing a blocking foul on Keith Appling, who didst sank yon free throws from yonder to help the Spartans prevail.
In short: MSU played mediocre, they still won, and they're still in sole possession of first place. Draymond Green continued his march toward Big Ten Player of the Year honors with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. All is still well.
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+1
Major props to them from coming back when it looked like they were dead in the water.
especially since they couldn't close out comebacks...
…at illinois and UM. it’s good to have them play badly and still win.
What does that mean?
I see it all the time, but don’t get the reference
Scientists say the universe is made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. They forgot about morons.
It is Tom Izzo's philosophy.
They put it on the back of the Izzone sweatshirts as late as 2005, I believe.
If you own a current style jersey
Look at the back, and in the bottom of that funky little screen print design it’s printed there too.
by StickyGreen on Feb 23, 2012 3:18 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
If you want a 1-seed...
…this is exactly the kind of game you have to be able to grind out, even when you’re not at your best — late Feb. on the road against a bubble team desperate for a signature win. It was an ugly game, but it pretties up going into the win column.
Hey! I'm tryin' to eat lunch here!
by McGarnagle on Feb 22, 2012 10:24 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Hope this was just a below average game
And not due to being worn out. Cause if it is, the Indiana game is going to be a tough one.
Too many guys play
I’d be surprised if we were fatigued, one of the many benefits of being “Izzo Deep” is that we shouldn’t be as tired or beat up as other teams.
and there was much rejoicing.
That is all.
by my2fish on Feb 22, 2012 10:26 PM CST via iPhone app reply actions
We have frequently struggled
(and occasionally dominated) against the 2-3 zone over the years. Never surprised when it baffles us any more.
wake up call?
Big win, in what could have been a trap game. Hopefully, it is a wake up call; for the first time in a while, MSU’s defense seemed no more than decent — at least until the end. Either they were looking ahead to the last two games of the season, or they were starting to believe the hype.
Kudos to Wood, who played a really aggressive, solid game; I also thought they missed Trice tonight. Thornton’s stroke seemed off, and Appling really can’t throw it into the ocean from three. Trice would have been good for one or two against the zone.
I agree this team is vulnerable against a zone.
I don't think they were looking ahead at all.
The team’s schedule has been insane. Minnesota was ready and stuck to a good game plan.
Long post warning
There’s just something about this team. I can’t quite put my finger on it.
Back in 1999, when Cleaves and Mo Pete (mostly Mateen) said they were coming back, I felt like a National Championship was coming. All season long (the next season) I felt that way. It just seemed like a given. That team simply had a will to win and they weren’t going to be stopped when it mattered.
Now, I don’t feel that this team is destined to win it all. I don’t even feel like this team is destined for anything that great, but there is a similar feeling about them. They don’t quit. They don’t stop, they don’t get down, and they keep playing. I feel good about watching them no matter what and I don’t assume they’re done (unlike recent years).
They’ve already accomplished more that we all hoped for. — Honestly, prior to the season I expected somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 wins with a few blowout losses along the way and an NCAA berth with perhaps a sweet 16 trip if we were lucky or maybe a top 25 ranking.
We’ve already surpassed all of that other than the tourney results. Our worst loss (score-wise) is by 12 points in the first game of the season to one of the best teams in the country in a game where we didn’t shoot well. (and played outside on the Pacific Ocean)
This may not be the most talented MSU team in recent history, but it’s certainly the best “team” in recent history.
This team has “IT”, whatever “IT” is. No matter what happens the rest of the way, I absolutely love this team.
I dunno what else to say… I haven’t felt this good about an MSU team since 2000. Most years I feel: “ooh, they could just be so much better…”
Thoughts?
by wbrianr on Feb 22, 2012 10:42 PM CST reply actions 7 recs
Not a team of destiny, but a team of me-likey
They pull together and they’ve got great intangibles, but this team doesn’t have the shooting skills to go all the way. Still, a fun team to root for. Kudos to Wood for sticking with it over the season and making an impact.
While I'm not ready to annoint this team as any sort of favorites to win it all
I’m also not ready to write them off for not having the shooting skills. Our eFG% is adequate at 52.0%. Compare this with ’09 (49.8), ’10 (51.6), ’05 (54.6), ’00 (53.2) and ’01 (52.6), and I think it stacks up pretty well with our past FF teams, especially considering that the 3 point line got moved back after the 2005 season. Heck, UConn won it last year at 48.2%.
My point is, Tom Izzo’s teams don’t rely on great shooting to win, they rely on maximizing scoring chances on our end and minimizing them on the other end, mostly through rebounding. Combine that with stellar defense, keeping our opponents eFG% down (which we’re at a very respectable 42.7, good for 5th in the nation) and allowing the 3rd fewest points per trip at 84.4 (3rd, behind OSU and Wiscy), and you have a team that has as good a chance as anybody to go all the way.
bingo.
I felt exactly the same way in ‘00. I looked at the schedule and said, ok, so this is the day Matteen cuts the nets down. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind. This is as close to that feeling as I’ve had since. Just like you explained. Maybe not a NC, but no uninspired performances.
My frustration level watching MSU basketball is at a post-cleaves low. Last year, and even the two final four years I needed a bottle of bourbon and a soundproof room to get through a game. This year I haven’t raised my voice outside of the Indiana rollercoaster. To me, there has really only been 3 or 4 really frustrating games, and after last night, we’ve won two of them. Wow.
I think the “IT” you are referring to might be 6’7 and wearing #23. Guy is an all-timer. Magic, Mateen, Draymond, everyone else.
uh
Look, I like Draymond as much as the next guy, but can we please stop with this “all time great” business? You realize that you are listing him in a 3 person list with MAGIC JOHNSON right? If we win the tourney this year then we can talk about your list above, but right now I think its way early for that.
Just MHO. I think the thing that is missing is that “non temperamental leader” factor. You can like Green’s passion for the game, but he has a tendency to get that “Raymar Morgan I-can’t-believe-you-called-it-that-way face” which is pretty unhelpful for a guy with such a hugely touted “leadership edge”.
Not saying that this team doesn’t have a long tourney run in them, but I am still a bit more concerned about possible points of adversity being our undoing that I was in ’00
"It's a trap!"
by AdmiralAkbar on Feb 23, 2012 7:17 AM CST up reply actions
yeah, but.
he doesn’t disappear the way raymar did after a couple of those calls. i love raymar, so i’m not trying to knock the guy. i think raymar was drastically under appreciated.
i also think it’s foolish to say draymond is an all-time great if he wins the championship, but not if he doesn’t. i mean dude already has been to two final fours. if he reaches a third, he has to be at least eligible for top five. apart from magic and mateen, who else is there? johnny green, and?
Nah
He’s the consummate Spartan – and by that, I mean he’s actually THE consummate Spartan. He has totally gone out and, through hard work, determination, and sheer will, made himself from the Dancing Bear to one of the best leaders the Green and White has ever seen, not to mention a hell of a basketball player.
Some people are born with a freakish talent, and some people have to work their asses off to make the most of their abilities. He deserves all the accolades for not only persevering, but flourishing.
Draymond Green is a treasure. You best appreciate him while there’s still time to.
as a leader
As a leader, there are 3 guys that have separated themselves from the rest. He is one of them. There isn’t any doubt.
I have no idea what you have against Draymond, you were spouting off about him after the Duke and UNC losses, so at least you are consistent. I’ll give you that. This guy wants the ball at the end of the game. He does everything it takes to win. He creates, he defends, he rebounds, he scores, he gets in the face of teammates, he communicates, he goes above and beyond to be an on court general. He’s the pulse of this team. There isn’t a single thing that he does that isn’t about winning. Everything—-everything—-he does is about winning. There isn’t a better team leader in the country.
Green is a legend
Pure & simple, he’s an all-time great. Two final fours, two B1G titles in first three season, very good chance of at least a share of a third title.
Also, he’s currently #4 in all-time rebounds at MSU, will likely finish #2, has a chance at 1 (he’s 102 behind Special K with a minimum of 5, maximum of 12 games remaining). #2 all time in blocks and will finish there, #5 in steals, and will likely finish 2 or 3. Not to mention, all time top scoring, assist, and steals for a big man at MSU.
But besides that, there’s the leadership like Hawks & so many others mentioned. As a true freshman, he addressed the team after it lost to UNC in the title game. He came off the bench as a sophomore, and even some as a junior, because it put MSU in the best position to win.
Anyway you look at it, whether it’s raw stats, the success the team has had while he’s there & captain, or intangibles like leadership, Green is an all-time great legend. It’s a shame that some people refuse to acknowledge it while it’s happening in front of our eyes, I’m glad I’m not one of those people.
by MSUDersh on Feb 23, 2012 10:37 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
+1... and more
I completely agree with you. But don’t completely disagree with the Admiral.
Green is everything Dersh just described. But he can be mercurial, and occasionally a little selfish on the court at times (eg. padding his stats at the end of certain games). But the claim is that he is an all-time great spartan, not that he is a saint.
I don’t agree that Green’s legacy should hinge on the post season success of this team, but of course it will in the eyes of the results oriented public at large.
Finally, no one anywhere, has ever claimed that Green is on Magic’s level as a player. But as a Spartan I certainly agree with the Magic, Cleaves, Green pantheon (though I’ll always privately add Antonio Smith as well).
So should I grovel for "spouting off"
as you so precisely put it above for having the audacity to suggest that Draymond Green does not belong on the same level as someone like Magic Johnson?
When I notice adversity hit him, I see someone who quite literally will stomp his feet, whine and often take shots that are not wise. You credit this to “passion” and “wanting to take the clutch shot”, but I have seen these things be just as negative as positive at times over his career, especially last year.
Again, he is having another great year to cap a great career. His name will probably belong in the rafters when all is said and done. But forgive me for not thinking he is at that highest level quite yet.
"It's a trap!"
by AdmiralAkbar on Feb 23, 2012 11:52 AM CST up reply actions
That's it....
Last year’s troubles were definitely about the visible frustration of Draymond Green, and not about a team who’s coach debating leaving for the NBA in the offseason, a preseason expulsion of a returning starter, a midseason expulsion of one of the more popular players on the team, Nix skipping Hawaii for OCB, our starting PG coming off a debilitating injury, our starting shooting guard going through an awful shooting slump, our starting PF battling yet another year of injuries, having to redshirt the supposed best shooter on the team, Tom Izzo getting suspended one game for a NCAA violation or the graduation of one of the more under-appreciated players (Raymar) in my lifetime. I’m sure that Draymond complaining about a foul call caused last year’s demise.
And these are just absolute known facts. This isn’t getting into the debate/rumormill that our PG was a malcontent that was freezing people out, alleged crimes of two players of a sexual nature, girlfriend “issues” between a couple players, and guys playing to get to the NBA and not to the final four. Look, we went through more distractions in 1 year than we have in Tom Izzo’s other 14. If we had Parish Hickman, Scott Skiles and Jeff Smoker on this team, I’m not sure we could have had more distractions than we had last season.
The fact of the matter is that Draymond will always be one of the two names that Izzo talks about when he talks about a leader and Spartan. Magic himself has praised Green publicly countless times. Magic will always be the best player to play at MSU, but he’s got company when talking about the best leaders.
by hawks22gk on Feb 24, 2012 11:11 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Hot dog, we have a weiner
Methinks this is the first time an internet debate about something as subjective as “passion” has been utterly, irrefutably, outright won.
another similarity to 2000.
mateen hit a layup in the last minute of the game to take the lead in what a horribly-played game in williams arena. we had no right winning a game where we were thoroughly beaten, and yet there we were, winning anyway. the same thing happened last night. we got outplayed last night (i’m cringing at what the defense stats will look like), but we won anyway. i really like this team.
Cleaves coast-to-coast was 1999
Which is funny, because even Izzo referenced it as being from the championship season last night. But in ’99, we had 2 road games like that: Minnesota and Penn State, where Cleaves hit big shots late to salvage ugly games.
"It was worth it. Every needle, every dose of medicine that I've taken. That's why you play the game. A chance to be on a Final Four team, a chance to win championships." Delvon Roe
by Ducking Delvon on Feb 23, 2012 8:27 AM CST up reply actions
I lived at 162 Gunson and we had 35 people in our living room listening to and watching that game.
When he hit that shot, everyone started jumping up and down and you could feel the floor shaking.
I went back and checked out this May when I was on campus.
The changes A LOT inside. It wasn’t that nice in 1998-99.
Part of me says, 'Wow, that's way too close to call; they need to do a better job of getting up for every game'
And the other part says, ‘If they’re not going to lose a game like this…what are they going to lose?’
Margin for Error
Last night was the prime example of what Izzo has talked about recently. We’re highly ranked, we’re in sole possession of first place, we’re being discussed as a possible freaking 1-seed in the Dance, and yet, our margin for error is simply very small. Which means we can’t play an average or especially below-average game and still handle teams (like UK, Duke, Cuse, Kansas could). We need to bring it every night, and if we don’t, we’ll find ourselves down 9 late in the 2nd half to a mediocre Minnesota team. Great credit to the team for persevering, locking down on D, and MAKING FREE THROWS. And thank you to whoever sold Izzo that Tubby Smith voodoo doll back in ’99. Black magic, baby.
"It was worth it. Every needle, every dose of medicine that I've taken. That's why you play the game. A chance to be on a Final Four team, a chance to win championships." Delvon Roe
Keep in mind, this was B1G road game.
Most teams are tougher to beat on their home floor. Plus, we now have the bullseye.
I realize that the true definition of the rule
should make it a technical on Appling, but at the same time… if he hadn’t…
(someone posted this last night, either here or on Twitter).
http://youtu.be/j87KEovOAWQ
exactly
Appling was clearly going full speed at the basket, like Turner was here. It really seems to me that this video needs to be shown to Jim Burr & friends. There’s no two ways about it, that was an awful call. Especially since Burr not only didn’t call it, but didn’t even start motioning he was going to make a call until the Minny player turned to him & asked for it.
Burr had problems with that all night.
There was a foul on State (AT, maybe?) on a Minny airballed jumpshot that Burr didn’t call untl the ball landed short and the Minny player told/showed Burr that he got hit.
I was at Williams Arena, so they didn’t replay it — it very well may have been a foul — but it at least seemed like he was waiting long enough to blow the whistle that you could argue he was being influenced by players’ complaints.
by The Birchman on Feb 23, 2012 10:27 AM CST up reply actions
Maybe Old Man Burr was just a little tuckered out
I mean, check out this travel schedule!
Including last night, he reffed 5 games in the past 7 days, going from Pittsburgh, to Chapel Hill, NC, to NJ, to Blacksburg, VA, to Minneapolis.
If you ask me, having a ~60 y/o man try to run up & down a floor with elite athletes who are a third (or less) his age for 2.5 hours/night is tough, then add in all that travel. I firmly believe the NCAA way overworks these guys, and that contributes to a lot of the issues that are evident in their work.
Well Mark Emmert's gotta eat
Paying more refs would cut into his salary and the salaries of all the other NCAA bigwigs. We can’t have that. It’s not like bad reffing effects the product.
by TheCrestedHelm on Feb 23, 2012 1:17 PM CST up reply actions
Nice to pull out a close one on the road
After @ U of M and @ Illinois, this one was nice to get. I was beginning to wonder if this team was suffering from the reverse of whatever effect allowed us to win more than our share of close ones in 09-10.
As far as all the “best since 2000” talk – lets wait and see if we actually finish on top of the Big Ten and get to the final weekend before we start going there. I really like this team, but they’re not going to finish with a better B1G record than the 08-09 team did unless they win out. I think the 04-05 team had only 3 Big Ten losses. Granted the B1G may be better this year, and this year wildly exceeded all expectations, but saying we’re one of the three greatest Spartan teams of all time is getting a little ahead of ourselves.
Green is a fantastic player. I’d rank him as an all time great small forward. He does everything well – shoots, dishes assist, plays D – and rebound exceptionally well. Whether that will be enough to get his jersey retired remains to be seen. I think two Final Fours and a share of three Big Ten titles would give him a strong claim as far as team accomplishments go, even if we don’t make the final four this year.
I don't know how we pulled this game out
I didn’t think it was going to happen with the way the 2nd half was playing out. 3 times in the middle/late portion of the second half we cut the lead to 4 and the following things happened;
- Appling get’s T’d up for hanging on the rim
- Draymond commits a foul 35 feet from the basket
- Appling fouls 3 point shooter as shot clock expires
I just didn’t think we’d get over the proverbial hump. It wasn’t pretty and we needed some help from Minnesota, but this team played a great last 4 minutes to get the win.
That Championship Grit
Yeah, it was not pretty for most of the game, but this team did what championship teams will have to do along the way – find a way to dig deep when you have to and rally for a win. Knowing they can do that is important for the stretch run and into the tournament. During the last four minutes, they were solid on defense, limiting Minni to poor shots with the clock winding down, found a way to manufacture a few baskets, and hit free throws under pressure. And they did it in a hostile environment.
In the big picture, I think grinding out a couple of wins like this one will serve the team well.
Tyus Jones
Who else saw him in the stands, hope he makes the right call and decides to commit to MSU. GO GREEN!
After watching that crap fest, I wouldn't blame him for running away screaming
Scientists say the universe is made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. They forgot about morons.
Nice that not only way Tyus there to see us come back vs. Minny
But also, I guess Jaquan Lyle was at Purdue on Sunday to watch us run them out of their own gym. Have we heard anything from Lyle about how his visit to them went??
Don't forget to vote for Green!!
Only a few weeks to go, he has nearly a full 4% lead on Hummel, which is about as big as I can remember. Also, this voting has a mobile friendly site, so remember to vote not just from work, but home computer, phone, iPad, kindle, PS3, Wii, and whatever else you have that’s online!!
I've...
…gotta admit, I’ve been voting Draymond AND Hummel. Maybe I should try to push that to Purdue peeps as a combined ticket. Hummel has to be VP, though.
by witless chum on Feb 23, 2012 10:53 AM CST up reply actions
Huge advantage for the Indiana game...
ESPN shows Indiana plays @ MN on Sunday (Feb. 26) and plays MSU on Tuesday (Feb. 28). That gives them only 1 day to prepare. I thought the B1G did a better job at spacing out games to give every team at least 2 days in between games.
Midterm
We just passed our midterm with flying colors…
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