Before Michigan State’s loss at Indiana a week ago, I didn’t picture the Spartans as realistic contenders in the Big Ten, not at the level of Michigan or Indiana.
Strangely, after losing at Indiana and playing poorly for a half against Illinois, I do.
And, after Hoosiers wins over Michigan and MSU have Indiana as the likely No. 1-ranked team in the country come Monday, I see Indiana as the third-best team in the Big Ten.
All of this is based solely on the last week of basketball. Not records or Dick Vitale’s skewed view of what’s what.
It’s not as if there’s much of a gap between these three (on the standings or on the floor). And things could change over the next month.
But Indiana won twice at home. You’re supposed to win at home. And I don’t think the Hoosiers win either game if Jordan Morgan is healthy and Keith Appling avoids foul trouble.
Indiana (8-1 Big Ten) is a terrific basketball team, with a couple of studs and a few nice complementary pieces (even if Cody Zeller is over-hyped; Victory Oladipo is the Hoosier’s best player).
But I’d take the collective pieces and difference-making athletes on Michigan or MSU (both 7-2) over what Indiana has. And, with the best player in the Big Ten in Trey Burke, I’d probably still pick the Wolverines over the Spartans, though Adreian Payne, Derrick Nix and Branden Dawson is a stronger inside trio than Michigan’s crew, even with a healthy Morgan.
What’s nice about this Big Ten schedule is that all three of these teams have to play against each other at home and on the road, so the title will be determined on the court. But Indiana would be smart to build a cushion. It’s hard to see the Hoosiers walking out of Breslin or Crisler with a victory. Indiana is the only one of the three to have a home loss in league play already. That could be the difference.
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Graham, do you think it matters to Izzo whether he finishes second or third if we dont get a piece of it, the way I see it the seeds are 1, 2 and 3. If we finish 13-5 and tied for second or even third its hard to imagine MSU getting a 4 or 5 seed I see us as a 3 seed than. Its all about matchups and I dont think Izzo gives a rats arse of whether he is a two or three seed. What do you think?
Good question. I tend to think Izzo is a win-it-or-place-doesn’t-matter kind of coach. I do think finishing ahead of Michigan would matter to him. I think at 13-5, MSU is a top-3 seed in the NCAA tourney and beginning its road in Auburn Hills. And, you’re right, it is all about matchups at that point. Louisville last season, for example, was an awful matchup for a MSU without Branden Dawson.
The notion that Izzo doesn’t care whether or not his team wins the Big 10 is ludicrous. I think he deeply cares about the fact that he’s won or shared 7 Big Ten titles.
Question was not whether he cares about winning , of course he does just look at the rings in the Hall of Fame Cafe. The question was does he care if he is second or third if he does not win. Answer is no unless the other team is Michigan than he does care.
Thanks, in regard to your column, when Izzo is watching Tyus I get a tip email and get to the gym to say hi to Izzo as one of thes fans who “cant do shi.. for me” quote the last time from Izzo to me. I dont think its warped as I am not there to scout just like seeing Tom and watching a prospect for myself.
MSU looked a hell of a lot better vs IU than Michigan did, and if you think Zellar is overhyped, Jordan Morgan really is. He only scores on putbacks, the offense never goes through him.
I agree that UM was not impressive last night, other than perhaps McGary. MSU is square in the thick of things, but there are a lot of really tough games for everyone coming up. Injuries (or lack thereof) will be critical for each team.
McGary might have scored 10, but he gave up some big putbacks to Zeller also…
egree, MSU is much better at losing than MICH
I agree with you on the over hype for Zeller; from what I saw against MSU’s front line. What other games have you seen him in that back up your stance?
Last night, for one. And watched him against Butler and Wisconsin. He’s an exceptional college player. But I don’t see the translation to the next level. I’d be hoping my team didn’t draft him. Average explosiveness, doesn’t dominate physically and against Butler at least, struggled with decisions in the high post. If he weren’t hyped as such a golden prospect, he’d look a lot better. But more is expected because we’re told he’s great. People like Dick Vitale aren’t helping. It’s like the difference between going to a movie with low or high expectations. How you perceive it is often in how you built it up in your head.
Good point about the movie; I saw it in the Butler game too. Vitale also said that Indiana did a great job against Appling, I didn’t think so, maybe a good job of making him start the offense from further out, but the foul trouble was the biggest reason.
As much as I dislike Vitale, he did give some love for us towards the end of the UM/Indiana game. That was nice thing for him to do for a change.
yeah I heard that too, Vitale knows IU and scUM both have to come to the brez yet
There is a scheduling factor that could play really big for MSU at the end of the season. UM and IU only play Wisconsin once this season, while we play them twice. IU has already lost to the Badgers, and UM could possibly lose to them in a single trip to Madison. If we defeat Wisconsin here, we will own a potentially huge tie-breaker over UM and Wisconsin which could ultimately lead to a #1 seed if we end up tied with either or both of these teams. Of course, there are many other factors to be considered, but this tie-breaker could help us come tournament seeding.
Yeah, the win in Madison was really, really big. Ugly. But big. And it’s always fun beating Wisconsin at their own game (slow ball).
We need to hold serve on our court. Period. That and the Wiscy double dose gives us a slight edge, if we don’t take a powder against any of the underdogs we have left.
That Indiana vs MSU game was one of the best college games I have seen in a long time. Punch – Counter Punch, big play after big play. Really a fun game to watch and I came away thinking both IU and MSU are top 5 teams, or can be on any given night. The Spartans lacked effort and focus against the Illini; I don’t think that will happen again.
You know, the best thing about that Illini game was simply winning. Just about everything that could go wrong went wrong. Nix, Trice, Harris. Payne and BJ were asleep. Still, we found a way to win. I love that we have players like Appling who seemingly refuse to let us lose. I think this team has that kind of grit because most of the players played under Day Day’s tutelage.
For the second straight year MSU has the toughest schedule. They play every first division team twice. Last year there were six Big 10 teams in the NCAA tourney and the Spartans were the only one of the six that had ten games against the other five. Same schedule this year and the same four teams we play once are all in the second division again. Winning the conference tourney validated that the Spartans were the best of the three tri-champions.
very true, unfortunately a lot of people don’t realize that
Your points are all well taken, but how can the media and coaches vote a team as high as the dancing Paris Hiltons who have played 2 teams that are still ranked and lost to those 2 teams. It’s known as validating your opinion. I said they were good therefore, they have to be good. FORTUNATELY, unlike football which lives or dies with these jokers opinions, the dance committee has said things like going 14-4 in the toughest conference means x, but playing or not playing a quality non-conference schedule either adds to or subtracts from that seeding. It’s also fun that they remember what happened last year, I don’t think Ohio is rolling this year, but if they were you know they’d be the Hiltons round 1 game. I think in the same light, the Spartans will see the Fighting Patino’s. (anyone who lost to Jelly last year doesn’t have to worry about seeing them this year, unless the seek SEC lets them in by winning that tourney.) Florida has the same kind of resume as Paris Hilton, have lost to the only teams that are still ranked and unlit the B1G, the SEC has no other ranked teams now.
You are wrong Chief, Michigan is too strong for us glad you are back on my bandwagon Chief
I never got to be a Chief, always an indian
go away Jalen