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By Joel Welser
jwelser@collegehoops.net
Michigan State Spartans
Big Ten (22-11, 8-8)
Seed: #9
East Region
RPI: 24
Big Wins:
11/16 vs Texas (63-61), 12/9 BYU (76-61), 2/20 Wisconsin (64-55)
Bad Losses:
1/4 at Iowa (60-62), 2/7 at Purdue (38-62), 2/27 at Michigan (56-67)
Last NCAA
Appearance: 2006, First Round loss to George Mason
Coach:
Tom Izzo (23-8 in 9 NCAA appearances)
Probable
Starters:
Drew Neitzel,
Senior, Guard, 18.1 ppg, 4.3 apg
Travis Walton,
Sophomore, Guard, 6.6 ppg, 5.5 apg
Raymar Morgan,
Freshman, Forward, 11.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg
Marquise Gray,
Sophomore, Forward, 6.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg
Goran Suton,
Sophomore, Forward, 9.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.4 apg
Key
Roleplayers:
Maurice Joseph,
Sophomore, Guard, 6.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg
Isaiah Dahlman,
Freshman, Guard, 4.0 ppg, 1.2 apg
Drew Naymick,
Junior, Center, 3.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.6 bpg
Idong Ibok,
Sophomore, Center, 2.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.0 bpg
Why They Can
Surprise:
The defense
alone can keep the Spartans in any game. Michigan State is holding the
opposition to just 38% shooting from the floor. That is nothing new for a
Spartan team, but this group has a little more flash on the defensive end
then has been seen in East Lansing lately. Idong Ibok and Drew Naymick have
proved that they can be intimidators under the basket and combine for nearly
three blocks per game. Add Marquise Gray and Goran Suton to the mix and
Michigan State has a bevy of capable big men to eat up fouls and
occasionally provide an offensive spark.
Coach Tom Izzo
has led Michigan State to four Final Fours in the last eight years. This
group might not have as much firepower as the teams in the past, but the
Spartan coaching staff always seems to find a way to get it done when it
counts the most. The Spartan backcourt has suffered from a barrage of injury
problems. Raymar Morgan, Maurice Joseph and Isaiah Dahlman have all missed a
handful of games throughout the season. Yet, with everybody healthy, MSU is
deep enough to make a run.
Why They Can
Disappoint:
They might be
deep enough, but is Drew Neitzel fresh enough? The junior guard averaged
over 35 minutes per game on the season and, if the sharpshooter has an off
game, the Spartans are in trouble. Morgan is the team’s only other
double-digit scorer and it may be too late for somebody else to develop into
a consistent offensive threat. Suton, Gray and Joseph all have the potential
to compliment Neitzel and Morgan in the scoring column, but inconsistency in
that department has plagued them the entire season.
Who To
Watch:
Travis Walton
is a staple of the Spartan backcourt and he plays just as an important role
as Neitzel. Walton has taken over the point guard job so Neitzel can work
off the ball and find open shots. If Walton cannot handle the March pressure
and Neitzel has to take over the bulk of the ballhandling duties, the
Spartans will struggle to score even more.
Joel’s
Bracket Says: First Round loss to Marquette
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2007 NCAA Tournament Bracket
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