Postgame Thread: MSU 64, Michigan 54
by SpartanDan on Feb 5, 2012 2:26 PM CST
in Michigan State Spartans Basketball
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Full recap will be coming later. For now:
- It's the end of Michigan's short-lived winning streak over us. Michigan never got closer than eight in the second half; I wouldn't necessarily call it a comfortable win, but at no time in the second half was there cause for real panic.
- Knee injury? What knee injury? Draymond Green had had a lot of quiet games against Michigan before today; not anymore. He led all scorers (tied with Zack Novak) with 14 and outrebounded Michigan. That's not a typo. Green had 16 rebounds; the entire Michigan team had 15.
- Rebounding as a whole: going from the ESPN box score, we got 50% of possible offensive rebounds; Michigan got 10%.
- Held Michigan under 0.9 points per possession. Keith Appling in particular was making great defensive plays all afternoon, but the team as a whole deserves a lot of credit for contesting almost every shot. A few layups off of miscommunication, but on the whole Michigan spent the day mostly chucking up prayers and not having them answered.
- Still within a game of Ohio State for the conference lead, and we'll have two opportunities to take them down. An outright conference title remains within our own control; split the OSU games and we need a little help to share the title (the most likely help being their return trip to Michigan).
Celebrate here.
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I have to say...
I’m pretty happy that I never have to see Novak in the Breslin Center again. I have respect for some of their players, but that dude is such a tool. He looked like he was about to cry when he fouled out.
That being said, I’m pretty sad that we’re going to be seeing Burke for a while. Here’s hoping that he has a phenomenal end of season and heads for the pros as well. What’s the chances that they have three amazing Freshman point guards in a row.
Great team effort though. The team’s defense with Appling at the helm was pretty much as good as you could hope. Seems like it was a combination of great effort from all players involved and some good adjustments by Izzo on handling their offense.
And man oh man am I going to miss Green next year.
Go Green!
I don't understand the Novak hate.
Maybe it’s the thing The Journey did on him this year, but he seems like a great person with a passion for basketball.
Yeah I hate to say it, but
guys like him are great to have on the team. He plays above his ceiling and definitely leaves it all on the floor. Wouldn’t want to have to rely on him for 40 minutes, as M did tonight, but he’s a guy that would find a place on most team.
by MSUDersh on Feb 5, 2012 5:51 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Hating Novak
You hate him because he’s a ball buster with his hustle plays, and wears a Block M. Not because of the type of person he is.
It's definitely a little of this
but when his defense consists of him sliding underneath the basket and standing straight up and down – it makes him a little easier to hate.
Yep
And then he makes those whiny looking facial expressions.
by StickyGreen on Feb 6, 2012 7:17 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Wait - are you accusing Novack of...
gasp… flopping?
I'm even more glad I don't have to see Novak at Crisler anymore.
That guy just seems too easy to hate.
by Drew Perkins on Feb 5, 2012 5:37 PM CST via Android app up reply actions
It's like the Brian Cardinal/Joakim Noah effect
You really hate them when they’re on the other team, but you absolutely love them when they’re on your team. At least that’s the kind of hate I have for Novak, hate and respect about how much of a competitor he is. That being said I laughed with glee when he fouled out.
by Chitown Spartan on Feb 5, 2012 7:55 PM CST up reply actions
yeah, that makes sense
I actually think that’s the best kind of hate, the respectful hate. It’s what my Duke hate has turned into after meeting Duke fans at the Indy final four.
Yea, pretty much that...
I suppose I respect his play in the last couple years although I suspect he thinks he’s better than he is. He’s a competitor no doubt but really feasts on the penetration of others…defenders forget about him and he hits an open 3. Or maybe because he’s been the face of UM bball recently and I pretty much have to hate that guy.
My favorite Novak/MSU play
2 years ago, needing a win to clinch a tie of the B10 title in the last game of the year, we put a pasting on Michigan, including 2 dunks (!!!) from Dahlman on his senior day. At some point, Novak got into a held ball tie-up with Raymar. Neither let go of the ball, and Raymar (RAYMAR!) ripped the ball with Novak clinging to it and basically bodyslammed him into the court. I loved it because it wasn’t dirty, it was just a good hard play by both where our guy made him look absolutely foolish.
"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 6, 2012 8:06 AM CST up reply actions
Dirty Player
I hate Novak because he’s a dirty player and he gets NBA superstar treatment from the refs. I’ve yet to re-watch this game on TV, but from the stands it was clear that this was another game full of cheap-shots from Novak. Check out the Arkansas game, or just google it and you’ll see the clip.
A few thoughts
Green’s the man. (Getting the obvious out of the way first.)
Appling’s defense on Burke was really impressive. Forced him in to one bad shot after another. Made even better by how good a player Burke is and is going to be. That will be a fun matchup to watch the next two years.
We rebounded really well, but this game also exposes Michigan’s biggest weakness, and that should concern them.
Love seeing Kearney get some more minutes. I finally saw glimpses of the Steve Smith comparisons and that can’t ever be a bad thing.
The Izzone really stepped it up today. it would be awesome for them (and us) if they had a chance to rock the house in a winner takes all game against Ohio St in the last game of the season on Green & Thorton’s senior night.
I’ve seen a lot of ‘Order Restored’ comments on my Facebook feed. I know we lost 3 in a row, but was it ever really lost?
I Bleed Green.
In terms of them surpassing us as a program?
Absolutely not. But losing 3 in a row to them is/was a big deal. A definite sign that they are improving
this game is always important, but it does feel a little different for me when we hadn’t beaten them since March 7, 2010.
by trivialstuff16 on Feb 5, 2012 2:39 PM CST up reply actions
No Doubt
A big win. But also a big win because it keeps us on pace with Ohio St.
John Beilien is a great coach, hard to see us ever dominating them like we did for the Amaker/Ellerbee eras, but also hard to see them coming close to our success in March, when it really counts.
I Bleed Green.
by eriksmithdotcom on Feb 5, 2012 2:41 PM CST up reply actions
Order is restored since there's no reason we should ever lose three in a row to THEM
Beilein is doing a really good job down there, but I’m still expecting to win 3/4 against them. They might be a B1G contender, but we should be competing for that, and bigger things.
We should never lose to Michigan.
Ever. People have been far too quick to anoint the Michigan program as being “back”. They aren’t back. They can’t win on the road. They aren’t our equals. Their fanbase will unjustifiably be all over Beilein if all that results from this season is another “Round of 32” or “NCAA Participant” banner when all he’s done is get that ragtag inconsistent shooting bunch rounded into a half-decent team, but not one that’s going to qualify for the Sweet 16 anytime soon.
And as for their little win streak, 2 of 3 games were officiated by Ted Valentine. Both in Ann Arbor. Do the math.
http://pittsfieldindex.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsfield-Ratings-Index/142673082487903
by PittsfieldIndex on Feb 5, 2012 3:33 PM CST up reply actions
Beilien a Great Couch HAHAHAHAHAHA
Seriously, he has never won the Big Ten. I don’t think he won a Big East title and WVU sorry if I’m wrong, and has never been to a Final Four.
Pump Ya breaks kid. He has made Michigan competitive again that is all.
he would make a good couch for sitting on to watch MSU's patented March runs
Especially since, per his Wikipedia page, he’s been a D1 coach for 20 seasons, but only has 6 tourney appearances.
Another fun fact – Draymond in three seasons has more career wins in March Madness (9) than does Beilein (8) in 20 seasons.
by MSUDersh on Feb 6, 2012 9:07 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
WVU made it in 2010, but that was after he left.
They did get as far as the Elite Eight in ’05.
I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left-hand side.
Bradley-Terry rankings for college football and basketball: because there aren't enough computer rankings already.
More like Larry Brown, imo
Except significantly less succesful.
by MSUDersh on Feb 6, 2012 9:12 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Another vote against Beilien
I will give him credit for figuring out that Izzo was not going to base his offense on 5 guys gunning 3’s rotating around 1-2 guys who will go to the NBA (or attempt to) before graduation. Hey, it’s not far off the OSU model.
Unfortunately, in the end what you get is what happened on Sunday. Even with considerable help from their extra three players in black and white, if they can’t hit 3’s they’re done. And when Burke goes to the NBA, maybe after this year, certainly after next, they’re back to 6th in the Big Ten.
Undun
The Rock says
“take your win streak, turn that sumbitch sideways and shove it…”
You know the rest.
All is right with the world again.
Digger’s #1 pick looked good today, bum leg and all.
Finally got on track against the Piss Boys.
Had to feel good.
"Long range from the baseline, Swish!"
Would Be Awesome
You’re absolutely right that it would be awesome for the Izzone to have a chance to create a crazy atmosphere for OSU, but won’t happen. The students are on Spring Break and don’t have tickets.
They schedule senior night for Spring Break week?
Thanks a lot Big Ten.
by TheCrestedHelm on Feb 5, 2012 2:48 PM CST up reply actions
That was a fun win
Nice to get that one against them. We played great D on Burke – Appling was good but every time he drove there was a big guy coming to help. He had no chance to finish and couldn’t seem to find or get it to the open guy. No-one else on their team could do much. Very good defensive gameplan overall.
On offense we went inside often, which is what we needed to do. Nix and Payne are both developing nicely. They’re putting the lie to the “our big guys never develop” meme. Also, Dawson is a pogo stick on the offensive glass. Green was great today – the knee must have healed pretty quick because he didn’t seem hampered at all. He did his thing in all phases of the game – defense, rebounding, and scoring. Appling rediscovered his finishing touch around the rim. Wood hit a couple timely threes. Everyone played pretty well – nice to have a solid comfortable win.
by TheCrestedHelm on Feb 5, 2012 2:56 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
great game spartans!
Was on the road so had to listen, am looking forward to watching it tonight after the Super Bowl.
In the meantime, Puppy Bowl VII is on Animal Planet right now!!
by MSUDersh on Feb 5, 2012 3:13 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Great game all around
Who would have predicted after the first two games this season that Austin Thornton would be starting for us this halfway through the Big Ten?
More importantly
Who could have predicted that most of us would be okay with this fact?
"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 6, 2012 8:10 AM CST up reply actions
I'll admit: early on, I was pretty annoyed that AT came back this year
but he has really been improving this season. he works hard, is usually money at the free throw line, is pretty good at grabbing rebounds, and has been able to knock down some shots this year.
What do you think they were saying to each other?
by MSUDersh on Feb 5, 2012 4:10 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Dantonio: Beat the hell out of them
Izzo: Been there, done that
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude
maybe this
Dantonio: rebounding is a skill, Draymond Green has it
Izzo: check out the big basketball brain on Mark!
"Long range from the baseline, Swish!"
Dantonio: I taught that Green kid everything he knows…about playing tight end.
by njd on Feb 5, 2012 4:20 PM CST up reply actions
Dantonio: You know, my 80% winning percentage is way better than your 62%.
by MSUDersh on Feb 5, 2012 5:55 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Izzo : Did you hear that hockey swept OSU this weekend?
Dantonio : Yep, when do you want to start working on baseball?
by CJC1992 on Feb 6, 2012 10:56 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Baseball's got it going!
Defending B1G champs while still not through Jake Boss’s first recruiting class. But I love the cross-sports love!!
If you think Gary Harris is playing football for you, you’re on drugs.
After the game, why not check out www.zazzle.com/donnierocky*
Order is Restored
Glad their streak didn’t match ours in Football, which makes us 9-3 vs them in Football and Basketball over the last 4 years. I’ll take that all day.
Draymond killed it against them finally! Played like a boss! Legacy game for him he needed this performance.
Appling played great defense and won the battle vs Burke head to head couldn’t ask for much more. He just needs to find his J and we’ll be dangerous.
I’m glad we still have OSU twice at least the B1G title is still in our own hands. GO Green!
Is it just me....
Or has our offense been struggling due to our bigs focusing too much on setting screens at the tope of the key, instead of posting up and getting the ball down to them? When we were shooting lights out I feel like that was happening all day long, now as I watch the last 3 games it seems we are not getting the ball on the block to Payne Nix because they are standing out at the arc trying befuddlingly to set screens.
Just an afterthought after a beautiful afternoon at Breslin. Go Green!
To be fair
Paynix got fed a reasonable amount versus Illinois, they (he? it?) just missed a ton of layups/dunks.
Nix had some crazy moves near the basket
Including a great drop step, a sick crossover on Smotrcyz, and a really nice spin move on the baseline. He just wasn’t converted in close, that’s happened a lot the last 3 games.
Once he starts connecting again, he’ll be unstoppable. Nobody in the B1G can guard him when he’s on, too big, strong & great feet and he knows how to use his giant body well.
by MSUDersh on Feb 6, 2012 5:10 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Agreed - but those have to start going down.
Sometimes/games I think our team feels like shooting “at” the basket is good enough.
Agreed, on the verge of greatness
Nix has come so far, if a few more of those inside shots spin or roll in, and a few more free throws go, he’ll be the guy that carries us deep in the tournament.
He is getting himself in good position and making the right moves, and hustling all over the place.
I think he's come further along than any other big time recruit we've had in the Izzo era
(except maybe MoPete, he was fat & sassy when he arrived in EL, and an All-American, banner raising, net cutting down 1st round pick when he left).
I never saw him in HS, but I’m just assuming that he dominated on size alone. I’ve read that he had never even lifted weights before coming to MSU! I think it shows a lot of character that he’s dedicated himself to shedding pounds, breaking old bad habits, and taking himself seriously on the floor (and apparently in the classroom, too).
Props to Nix, his dedication should be an example to all recruits coming in that, no matter how great your resume from HS was, nothing is given at this level, and if you want to succeed, you have to make yourself better every day. Also, I think he will pick up the leadership void we’ll surely have going into next season with Green graduating.
Hmm...
Payne was getting pretty frustrated with Appling yesterday for not feeding him when he was down low. That being said, he was getting doubled when he got the ball down there and doesn’t tend to look for the pass out to the perimeter, so a lot of time it results in a highly contested layup or a turnover.
Anyone who thinks we'll get help in our bid for a title when OSU visits AA
is crazy. Look at how UM plays. Against a team like OSU, who will play a lot like we do (rebounding and defense), with a better offense (due to true point guard and established center), I’ll say right now, there is no chance of that happening. I’ll lay as many points as needed to have the Buckeyes in that one. Even at Crisler Arena. Could be a massacre.
I dunno about a massacre
UM plays pretty solid d and without Deibler OSU is not nearly the inside/outside threat they were last year. Still, Sullinger will get his inside against a much smaller frountcourt. UM played them close in Columbus for the first 25 minutes or so, and they are much better at home.
I think OSU will win, but I think it will be a close game (OSU by ~6 points) most of the way.
why yes, I'm slightly drunk at the moment
by Mark in Chicago on Feb 6, 2012 2:17 PM CST up reply actions
Never count out a team that shoots threes as much as Michigan does.
I don’t much like their chances, but high variance is a good way to go when you’re the underdog. (And nobody else is all that likely to give us any help – their other road games, besides us, are Minnesota and Northwestern.)
I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left-hand side.
Bradley-Terry rankings for college football and basketball: because there aren't enough computer rankings already.
+1
Many teams have relied on the 3pt shot because those where the players they could recruit, and it’s worked more than once.
Easy prediction of the day, if UM shoots over 40% from 3, they win. Which could happen.
its real.
yea i watched it, dawson landed on vogrich and then helped him up, but then i paused it and got this picture, i thought it was pretty funny.
I meant was the question facetious.
To second the commenter above me, I thought it was cool that Dawson helped him up too.
Nix and Payne
No one has mentioned the great job that they did on Burke using the pick and roll, that was the key to the game.
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