MSU - New Mexico St.: Friday at 7:20 pm (EDT).
As shown in the official tournament bracket, available here. (Times on the bracket are shown in local time. Thanks, intrpdtrvlr.)
about 2 hours ago
LVS
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Your First Round Opponent: The New Mexico State Aggies
by LVS on Mar 14, 2010 7:58 PM CDT
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1 comment
I bet those guys voted for the Gadsden Purchase.
Let's do this bullet-style:
- 22-11 (11-5). WAC tournament champions; 2nd place in the regular season, behind Utah State. Ranked 115 nationally by KenPom.
- 3-5 against other NCAA Tournament teams: 11/13 lost to St. Mary's, 100-68; 11/17 lost to New Mexico, 97-87; 12/1 lost to UTEP, 79-58; 12/5 lost to New Mexico, 75-58; 12/13 beat UTEP, 87-80; 1/2 beat Utah St., 55-52; 3/6 lost to Utah St., 81-63; 3/13 beat Utah St., 69-63. Also was manhandled by a terrible UCLA team, 100-68.
- Four factors analysis: 53.4 eFG (26th nationally), 17.9 TO% (48th), 30.4 OR% (254th), 38.0 FTA/FGA (160th).
- They're good offensively (110.5 efficiency, 46th). They do this by shooting a ton of 3s (38.7 3PA/FGA, 49th highest), and they shoot them well -- 37.4%; they're also above-average from the line (70.1 FT%, 138th). They also like to play fast, as their adjusted tempo, 71.8, is 23rd nationally.
- Happily, they're, uh, not so good on defense (104.1 efficiency, 222nd). They: 1) allow opposing teams a 51.3% eFG, on average (277th), 2) don't force many turnovers (18.7%, 267th), and 3) allow opponents to rebound a ton of their misses (34.6%, 261st).
- They rely heavily on their starters (22.9% bench minutes, 321st), and 3 of their starters average more than 14 points per game: guard Jahmar Young (20.5 ppg, 54.1% eFG), guard Jonathan Gibson (17.5 ppg, 56.8% eFG), and forward Troy Gillenwater (14.4 ppg, 56.3% eFG). The other starters are forward Wendell McKines (10.8 ppg, 52.4% eFG) and center Hamidu Rahman (10.4 ppg, 56.3 eFG).
- New Mexico State last appeared in the tournament in 2007, when they were a 13 seed and were bounced in the first round by Texas, 79-67.
The rebounding numbers should make you smile, as State should have a major, major, major advantage on the boards. Of course, a team that shoots as many threes as the Aggies do -- and shoots them well, as the they also do -- is always dangerous. (The Aggies' offensive statistical profile surely makes John Beilein swoon.)
Still, the consensus seems to be that MSU might have dodged a bullet with this matchup, and that UTEP and Cornell are empirically better teams. (Of course, that's made up for by the Midwest bracket placement; it's the most difficult region by a country mile.) KenPom's computer doesn't see this as a close game at all, and predicts an 83-71 Spartan victory. And, if you need more reasons for optimism, let's go to the man himself:
kenpomeroy: Congrats to Michigan State for a relative walkover in a 5/12 game.
. . . and TAFKATBTW:
JohnGasaway: Huge disparity in 5-seed situations. Michigan St. won the lottery. Temple's underseeded (duh). Butler and TX A&M have *very* tough games.
It's March again. Here we go.
1 comment | 0 recs |
The enemy. For more on New Mexico State, head over to Bleed Crimson, or check back here shortly.
about 5 hours ago
LVS
2 comments
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Selection Sunday Open Thread
by LVS on Mar 14, 2010 4:51 PM CDT
in Basketball
137 comments
[UPDATE: MSU is a 5 seed in the Midwest, playing New Mexico State in Spokane on Friday. If we can get through the first round, we're probably looking at Maryland in the 2nd round, and a potential Sweet Sixteen rematch with Kansas in the Sweet Sixteen. Ohio State is the #2 seed in the Midwest, playing the opening rounds in Milwaukee.
My immediate reaction is that this is an immensely unfavorable draw for MSU. Seems like the committee put a lot of emphasis on the conference tournament. Truly, we made our own bad luck here. End update.]
First, congratulations to Ohio State, who put together a national championship-quality performance in throttling Minnesota, 90-61. Whoever ends up in the same region as Ohio State, beware: it's cliche, but the Buckeyes are peaking at the right time and playing as well as any team in the country.
The bracket selection gets underway in approximately 10 minutes, on CBS. Your Spartans figure to be a 4 or 5 seed (3 if we're massively lucky). The key here would seem to be avoiding the dreaded 5-12 matchup. A quick sampling of expert bracket predictions:
- SBN's own Blogging the Bracket has MSU as the 5 seed in the South region. We'd play Cornell (27-4, Ivy League champs) in New Orleans.
- Joe Lunardi's Bracketology has MSU as the Midwest 5 seed, playing Wake Forest (19-10) in San Jose.
- Jerry Palm also has MSU in the Midwest region, but as the 4 seed, playing Murray State (30-4, Ohio Valley champs) in San Jose.
Other burning questions: will Minnesota be in the field? Illinois? We'll find out soon enough. The best sports week of the year is about to begin.
137 comments | 0 recs |
Big Ten Tournament Final Open Thread
by LVS on Mar 14, 2010 10:34 AM CDT
in Basketball
39 comments
So, Ohio State - Minnesota it is. (If you picked that matchup, you almost certainly won the tournament pool. Also, you are clairvoyant.) Ohio State has looked vulnerable in the past two games -- until the final minute, of course, when either Evan Turner and David Lighty has absolutely taken over. Minnesota, meanwhile, had no trouble getting over playing the late overtime game against Your Spartans, as they absolutely demolished Purdue.
Minnesota is looking to become only the second team in tournament history to win the championship after having to play on the first day. (Iowa did it as a #6 seed in 2001. Also, if Minnesota wins, Pete will eat his hat, which should be entertaining.) For that reason, you might give the advantage to Ohio State, but the Gophers are a very deep team--nine players average more than ten minutes per game, as you might recall--and consequently are reasonably well-equipped to handle four games in four days. Ultimately, as Martin Tyler might say, it's the irresistable force versus the immovable object. Should be great, but I'm not betting against Evan Turner.
So, enjoy the game, and talk about it here. We'll be back with another open thread for the tournament selection show later this evening. (FWIW, Rexrode thinks we're heading out west.)
39 comments | 0 recs |
Minnesota 72, Michigan State 67: Aftermisery Thread
by LVS on Mar 12, 2010 10:41 PM CST
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185 comments
State battled, but some clutch shots by Minnesota--and more importantly, 17-33 free throw shooting by Your Spartans--doomed us to a loss sadly reminiscent of the 03-04 dark years. Minnesota probably punched their NCAA tournament ticket, but our hopes for a 3 seed are now dashed (and we might now be looking at a 5 seed. Bleh).
MSU hockey was also crushed by Michigan, making tonight a crappy evening, indeed. So grab a glass of scotch and drown your sorrows here.
185 comments | 0 recs |
OPEN GAME THREAD: MICHIGAN STATE VS. MINNESOTA
by LVS on Mar 12, 2010 8:17 PM CST
in Basketball
537 comments
Your starting five: Raymar Morgan, Draymond Green, Isaiah Dahlman, Durrell Summers, Kalin Lucas. All week we've heard about how we're putting a bigger emphasis on the conference tournament this year. Time to go out and get it done.
Spartans vs. Gophers -- this is your OPEN GAME THREAD!
537 comments | 0 recs |
Big Ten Tournament Day Two Open Thread
by LVS on Mar 12, 2010 1:49 PM CST
in Basketball
147 comments
[Bumped to the top of the page to keep the discussion going. The Minnesota preview is below. --LVS.]
A little late on the posting here, but we'll go with it. Today's games (all times EST):
- #1 Ohio State vs. #8 Michigan (ESPN, noon)
- #4 Wisconsin vs. #5 Illinois (ESPN, 25 minutes after OSU-UM is over -- probably about 2:30)
- #2 Purdue vs. #7 Northwestern (BTN, 6:30)
- #3 Michigan State vs. #6 Minnesota (BTN, 25 minutes after Purdue-NU is over -- probably about 9:00)
Objectively, the most interesting game here is probably the Wisconsin-Illinois rematch, as Illinois is fighting for their tournament life. (As SpartanDan pointed out, the championship week results from across the country so far have probably improved Illinois' chances.) Your Spartans have the late game, and a preview will be going up shortly.
Until then, enjoy a great Friday of basketball, and talk about it here.
147 comments | 0 recs |
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