Wow Ohio State looked great in the first half and let me tell you everyone around me was on their seats and quiet for the first half. I expected Michigan State to come back and they did and let me tell you that crowd was really in it the whole second half. It was my first trip to the Breslin Center and I'll admit I really really liked that arena

Classyposter58 wrote:Wow Ohio State looked great in the first half and let me tell you everyone around me was on their seats and quiet for the first half. I expected Michigan State to come back and they did and let me tell you that crowd was really in it the whole second half. It was my first trip to the Breslin Center and I'll admit I really really liked that arena

I was quite surprised with how quiet the Breslin Center was throughout pretty much the whole first half as well. Only when Kid Rock was announced as being in attendance did the arena explode. Once they hit their run, though, the arena acted as if they'd won three straight titles. During that second half it was one of the loudest places I've been. Great college basketball atmosphere. The funniest thing I saw was a giant size Maurice Clarett mug shot that was held up in the upper deck after State scored the go-ahead basket late in the second half. Funny stuff considering how long ago that was and two different sports. Random.

The arena itself was neat. All the concrete and feeling as if I was in an ice chest reminded me of an old-school Boston Garden. Drafty old basketball barn. I love those types of places.

Huge win.

Need MSU to knock off Purdue.

OSU has a favorable end to their B10 schedule.

Great win.

I understand that complaining about only playing 6 players is redundant, but IMO Matta needs to get Simmons and Hill on the court for at least 5-10 min to give a couple of the other guys at least a breather. The big 4 are logging some serious minutes and that is going to be there downfall. They won't have the legs to make deep runs in both the Big10 and NCAA tournies. Those two (Hill, Simmons) cannot be that bad considering they contributed before. In the upcoming games, PSU especially, give the studs at least a breather so they don't get completely drained before the tourney runs.

Thunder70 wrote: Great win.

I understand that complaining about only playing 6 players is redundant, but IMO Matta needs to get Simmons and Hill on the court for at least 5-10 min to give a couple of the other guys at least a breather. The big 4 are logging some serious minutes and that is going to be there downfall. They won't have the legs to make deep runs in both the Big10 and NCAA tournies. Those two (Hill, Simmons) cannot be that bad considering they contributed before. In the upcoming games, PSU especially, give the studs at least a breather so they don't get completely drained before the tourney runs.

THe big 4? Turner sat out an entire month. Fatigue should not be an issue with him. Look at what he did today playing ill.
Buford has had some minutes on the bench, most recently logging only 20 min vs Ill.
Matta is also only practicing them a little over an hour, and the big 4 are not doing many reps during this time either. 2 games per week, with limited practice...at their ages, I honestly think the fatigue thing is overrated. I mean, who looked more fatigued at end of game today, OSU or MSU? At this point, all teams are more mentally tired then anything else. The only issue that may arise because of the bench...is if OSU gets into foul trouble.
And if fatigue was that big of a deal...I think it would have hit easily by now. Just my two cents.

The Breslin Center is a great place to see a game, but Lansing is one of the shittiest towns, as a whole, in the Midwest.

cbus4life wrote:The Breslin Center is a great place to see a game, but Lansing is one of the shittiest towns, as a whole, in the Midwest.

Pretty ghetto. It's not Gary, but what else is.

If you want to eat inside anything other than an ethnic/Mediterranean cesspool, you'll get on 127 and not look back.

Where did you sit reclegend?

Thunder70 wrote: Great win.

I understand that complaining about only playing 6 players is redundant, but IMO Matta needs to get Simmons and Hill on the court for at least 5-10 min to give a couple of the other guys at least a breather. The big 4 are logging some serious minutes and that is going to be there downfall. They won't have the legs to make deep runs in both the Big10 and NCAA tournies. Those two (Hill, Simmons) cannot be that bad considering they contributed before. In the upcoming games, PSU especially, give the studs at least a breather so they don't get completely drained before the tourney runs.

Ohio State would have lost today if both Hill and Simmons played 10 minutes. Only those of your ilk and Big Ten coaches want to see Hill and Simmons playing.

Classyposter58 wrote:Where did you sit reclegend?

We were way up in 217. Not a bad view from up there, though.

Thunder.....don't even try the "get some other guys involved" argument. I had the same thought after watching the Minnesota game at home but was ostracized for even considering such an outlandish thought. I'm with you though - I still think we get some minutes out of Hill and Simmons and are still in a similar position for a solid tournament run. I understand where Big Gain and CBF are coming from though - we are definitely a much better team with our starting 5 on the court. I think the Purdue game we definitely ran out of gas and I thought we were on a similar path today, but the Bucks looked more fresh down the stretch than MSU did. Only time will tell whether this is the right move or not. If we fight deep into the Big 10 tourney, fatigue could be a definite issue come NCAA tournament time and an early exit would be a sure dissapointment. However, i'm behind Matta in his decision. We will either see the Bucks come out looking dead when it matters most and everyone will complain about the decision or we will see a consistent team that makes a nice run and Matta looks like a genius. Irregardless, Bucks looked great today and I foresee an undefeated finish.

I didn't want to bring this up because I think it makes me sound arrogant, but I played and coached college basketball. And after a 30 game season and then a conference tournament where you will have to play 3 games in 3 days, your body gets worn down. Your legs don't have the hop to them that they did in November and December. The one I'm most worried about is Diebler because his game is all about his outside shot. But also Buford, who, with Diebler are playing the most minutes they've ever played in their lives. It's not about media timeouts and 2 games a week. It's more about the looooooong season. They will not win the conference tourney if they only play 6 games. If they can't go 3 deep, then that is a failure on the coaching staff for not bringing in enough guys to be able to spell the starters for a few minutes. And of course they aren't as good of a team with those guys on the floor, that's why they don't start. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't like the Buckeyes chances of advancing past the Sweet 16.

I am impressed with the Buckeyes workman like effort and the poise they had when the Spartans took the lead late in the game. Turner wasn't great, but he came up big in the second half when OSU really needed him.

Somwething is wrong in East Lansing. This team has the pieces , but the pieces aren't meshing. Maybe, the loss of Walton and Suton is too much.

MSU really misses Suton, none of their bigs can step out and consistently hit a 15 footer, which is needed in Izzo's offense. Morgan has never played to the level it was anticipated he would. Roe's shooting range is no different than last year.

Izzo has been hard on Lucas this year, trying to make him be something he isn't, a vocal leader. He hasn't responded like Izzo would have liked. Today there was no doubt who the Big Ten POY is. I didn't noticed, but the TV announcers said a couple of times that he was limping.. Maybe he was brought back too soon after his sprained ankle, that's when MSU's problem's really started.

Big Gain wrote: MSU really misses Suton, none of their bigs can step out and consistently hit a 15 footer, which is needed in Izzo's offense. Morgan has never played to the level it was anticipated he would. Roe's shooting range is no different than last year.

I agree. Suton was perfect for the MSU offense, and a mismatch most of the time as he was able to step outside and shoot. As mentioned, Roe and Morgan haven't shown they are able to do this consistantly. Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to have both the Ohio boys at OSU...but they are what they are, 2 power forwards. Tough to play both at same time as they are both pretty similar. Someone(Sparty) was spouting off last year how great Roe was going to be this year. I didn't agree and said he was a LONG ways off before being a great player because he has offensive limitations.
MSU is a team full of guards and power forwards. No true post player, and no true wing who can step out and shoot the 3 along with slashing to the basket. They have their limitations offensively.

That MSU has struggled in many of their games isn't a coincidence. Roe and Morgan have not developed as I expected, and that has hurt them. As noted, the loss of Suton was huge for that team's chemistry and makeup.

On another note, Izzo was a total ass when asked about Turner after the game. His comments suggested that Turner isn't anything special and is only putting up the numbers he is because he's playing basically 40 minutes a game.

I guess he's bitter because he knows Lucas has no shot at Big Ten POY this season. I'd say I would hope for more class from this coach, but he's a whining little bitch in most of the games so I don't.

Here's the quote from Izzo (it's from the O-Zone): "He’s a good player and he’s got size. For the most part I thought we did a good job on him. He’s a good player and he plays 40 minutes so his stats are going to be good. He’s deserving of the accolades he’s gotten."

Why even include that comment about his minutes unless you're trying in some way to diminish what he has accomplished.

He said nothing about Turner breaking bones in his spine???

Turner has 3 games that have adversely affected his "numbers" (averages). The game he got hurt he only played 7 minutes. His first game back from the injury he only played 20 minutes. The Illinois game he only played 21 minutes, due to foul trouble. He also missed 6 entire games which affect his totals in statistical categories.

Izzo obviously had a hard on because the 6-7 Turner's defense on the 6-0 Lucas made him look like a high school player.

Sounds like Izzo is a little bitter and embarrassed by the ass beating his team recieved at HOME.

Great win for the Bucks.

Izzo also said this.

"I was shocked that he played the point as well, if you want the truth,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "Last year, they played through him, but it was more on the wing. This year, putting him at the point, I think he's done a great job of controlling tempo, controlling the ball. When you're doing that and still have time for assists and rebounds, that says a lot about you. He's deserved all the accolades he's gotten."

“One on one, he's very, very, very good,” Izzo said, “and I don't think anybody's stopping him.”

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2010/02/evan_turners_proves_preseason.html

I really don't see Izzo slighting Turner. As for his comments on taking on the role of PG, I agree. I thought he would struggle more with the ball handling than he has.

And for the 40 minute comment, although unneccessary, I do agree. If you play 40 minutes a game, you are going to have better stats than someone who plays 30 minutes.

I respect Izzo because he's always seemed like a classy guy, and I'm not going to take some comments after a big lose at home as anything more than what they are.

thedynasty1998 wrote: I really don't see Izzo slighting Turner. As for his comments on taking on the role of PG, I agree. I thought he would struggle more with the ball handling than he has.

And for the 40 minute comment, although unneccessary, I do agree. If you play 40 minutes a game, you are going to have better stats than someone who plays 30 minutes.

I respect Izzo because he's always seemed like a classy guy, and I'm not going to take some comments after a big lose at home as anything more than what they are.

I agree. Although it is a bit uncharacteristic of Izzo to say what he did. But I think he was just very frustrated by a HUGE LOSS AT HOME. And his frustrations got the better of him with a couple of his comments. Although, I have to say i was VERY suprised at how the game ended. MSU stopped fouling. Never seen Izzo "give up" like that. But he came back and said some very nice things.