Michigan St

College Hoops Friday Recap: Cornell Advances

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:56:29 -0400

Even though many acknowledged that the Cornell Big Red were underseeded in the aftermath of Selection Sunday, it was still a toss-up in regards to whether or not they would beat Temple. But in a game matching mentor (Fran Dunphy) and one-time assistant (Steve Donahue), it was Coach Donahue's team that took control of the game for good in the second half via the three-point shot (Ryan Wittman) on their way to the 78-65 win in Jacksonville. It was the first win for the Ivy League in the NCAA Tournament since 1998 (Princeton), and more amazingly the first win for an Ancient Eight team not named Penn or Princeton in more that forty years.

Louis Dale led three Cornell players in double figures with 21 points and as a team the Big Red shot 56.3% from the field (72% on two-point shots). And when they weren't scoring from the field Cornell was doing so from the foul line, making fifteen of nineteen foul shots to just nine (making six) for the Owls. And while Cornell was very good offensively their defense shouldn't be overlooked. The Big Red alternated between man to man, 2-3 and 1-3-1 zones in order to keep Temple from getting the ball into the paint.

"I think when we're playing good defense, we're playing aggressively," said Wittman. "You know, I think when we struggle on the defensive end, it's because we're too passive. But in terms of getting on their guards and being aggressive, if you let guys like Fernandez feel comfortable, they're extremely good, not only making plays for themselves but making plays for others. I think it was just a matter of trying to make them feel uncomfortable."

Ryan Brooks and Juan Fernandez scored 14 points apiece but despite shooting 51.9% from the field the Owls could do little to put a dent in Cornell's lead early in the second half. Temple would go down and score...only to watch the Big Red do the same and after a while that began to weigh on the Atlantic 10 champions. "We just could never get over the hump," said Temple head coach Fran Dunphy. "Every time they needed a big basket they got it." That's what awaits Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon; Cornell's an experienced team that seems to be making up for the missed opportunities of their prior two trips to the NCAA Tournament. And that can make for an even more dangerous opponent.

Key Happenings

Buffalo: Missouri picks up their 5th straight first round win. Going into their game against Clemson conventional wisdom was that Missouri would struggle with Clemson's size, especially that of senior Trevor Booker. But on this day even Booker was no match for "The Fastest 40 Minutes in Basketball", a style that forced 20 turnovers (every Clemson player who saw time had at least one) and limited the big man to 11 points (5-11 FG) and 11 rebounds on the afternoon. Missouri scored 20 points off of those turnovers and outscored Clemson 42-28 in the paint thanks in large part to Keith Ramsey, who scored 20 points while also defending Booker on the other end of the floor.

"He [Ramsey] really put his stamp on the game," said J.T. Tiller. "Just being able to guard one of the best players in the ACC and hold him to 11 points, that says something about his effort. That says something about his pride, his integrity and his character." With Ramsey doing the job on Booker and both David Potter and Demontez Stitt being saddled with foul trouble, Clemson would have been in serious trouble if not for their three-point shooting (12-24) and Andre Young. Young scored 19 points for the game, getting 12 of those in the first half. But when you turn the ball over, especially in the way of live-ball turnovers, you're going to be in trouble against a team like Missouri. Mike Anderson's team is more than capable of using their defense to upset West Virginia on Sunday.

Jacksonville: Cal jumps Louisville and moves on to face Duke. As much as talent and matchups have to do with games this time of the year, the simple act of showing up ready to play can go a long way in determining which team is going home. Such was the case in the final game of the night in Jacksonville, as California got out to leads of 12-0, 22-4 and 30-12 in the first half of their game against Louisville. And while the Cardinals were able to close to within six before the half was over, Jerome Randle provided the first dagger with a runner from three-point territory as time expired to give the Golden Bears a 41-30 halftime lead. The second half provided much of the same as the Cal backcourt found open looks against the Cardinals' pressure, keeping Louisville at bay in what would eventually be a 77-62 victory.

Randle and Theo Robertson scored 21 points apiece while Patrick Christopher added 17, and Cal shot 51% from the field (53.3% from three) and assisted on seventeen of their twenty-six field goals. Instead of passing the ball around simply to get the ball across halfcourt against Louisville's pressure, Cal attacked it for good looks at the basket and trips to the foul line. Rakeem Buckles led Louisville with 20 points while Samardo Samuels added 16, but they were done in once Edgar Sosa picked up his third foul in the first half. The four starters outside of Samuels all struggled from the field and you cannot beat Cal that way unless they're cold as well. No such luck, and as a result Mike Montgomery and company get their shot at Duke on Sunday.

Milwaukee: Does Georgia Tech have a run left in them? The talent is definitely there, and despite giving up 16 points off of turnovers the Yellow Jackets did enough to beat Oklahoma State 64-59. The key: their defense on Big 12 Player of the Year James Anderson, who scored 11 points while shooting just 3-for-12 from the field. Obi Muonelo wasn't much better for the Cowboys, making just four of eleven shots on his way to ten points. Meanwhile all seven Georgia Tech players who scored finished with at least six points with Gani Lawal (14 points) and Derrick Favors (12 points) leading the way. Georgia Tech, who struggled from the foul line during the regular season, even made twenty-four of twenty-five from the charity stripe. But it was their defense that earned them a date with Ohio State.

"I thought our guys did an outstanding defensive job, and that's even with giving up 50 percent from the floor," said head coach Paul Hewitt. "I thought our guys were tremendous defensively taking them out of some of their pet plays. And after playing against a guy like Anderson, who is clearly one of the top five players in the country, I thought we stayed really disciplined defensively." Next up: probable National Player of the Year Evan Turner, who will be just as much of a challenge for Georgia Tech (if not more) than Anderson. Despite their struggles during the regular season the Yellow Jackets have the physical ability to win more games in March; if they can make smart decisions on both ends of the floor look out.

Spokane: If Purdue's going to have an extended Tournament stay Keaton Grant will be key. Siena was the trendy upset pick heading into the NCAA Tournament, with most people citing Purdue's recent offensive struggles in light of Robbie Hummel being lost for the remainder of the season. Coming out of the locker room to start the second half down 32-29 the Boilermakers needed an offensive spark. And they got just that from senior Keaton Grant, who knocked down some big three-pointers in the first five minutes of the second half. scored all eleven of his points in that barrage while JaJuan Johnson led the way with 23 points and 15 rebounds in a 72-64 victory. For a player who scored just five points combined in Purdue's two games prior this could be the spark that Grant needs to be a consistent scorer in the Tournament.

"They got some run outs and then they started hitting some shots, primarily Grant, and he's done that; it's not like we weren't expecting him to do that," said Siena head coach Fran McCaffery. Lewis Jackson also made key baskets early in the second half while Chris Kramer did a good job of defending Alex Franklin. The Saints were without Clarence Jackson (sprained ankle) and the impact was noticeable on the offensive end; just like the Boilermakers replacing a player the caliber of Jackson is tough to do. "They lost a very good player and they're a little bit short handed, but obviously that's part of the game," said Purdue head coach Matt Painter. "But they're a good team. They are a very good team." If Purdue is to prove folks wrong they'll need Keaton Grant to produce offensively.

Top Games

Buffalo: Missouri 86, Clemson 78 See above.

Jacksonville: Wisconsin 53, Wofford 49 In a game featuring similar styles the Badgers were able to survive the Terriers to move on to the second round in the East Region. Jon Leuer (20 points, eight rebounds) made a pair of free throws with 4.2 seconds remaining to seal Wofford's fate. Jamar Diggs led the Terriers with 13 points.

Milwaukee: Georgia Tech 64, Oklahoma State 59 See above.

Spokane: Michigan State 70, New Mexico State 67 This one ended with a little controversy but the issue should have been regarding the officials not putting time back on the clock with three-tenths of a second remaining instead of the lane violation called on Troy Gillenwater. Kalin Lucas led the Spartans with 25 points while Gillenwater paced the Aggies with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Notable Performances

Buffalo: F Keith Ramsey (Missouri) 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists in Missouri's win over Clemson.

Jacksonville: F Kyle Singler (Duke) 22 points and 10 rebounds in the Blue Devils' 73-44 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Milwaukee: G Jordan Crawford (Xavier) 28 points, six rebounds and five assists in the Musketeers' 65-54 win over Minnesota.

Spokane: F Jordan Williams (Maryland) 21 points and 17 rebounds in the Terrapins' 89-77 win over Houston.

Friday's Scores

East Region
2)West Virginia 77, 15)Morgan State 50
10)Missouri 86, 7)Clemson 78
12)Cornell 78, 5)Temple 65
4)Wisconsin 53, 13)Wofford 49
Midwest Region
10)Georgia Tech 64, 7)Oklahoma State 59
2)Ohio State 68, UC-Santa Barbara 51
5)Michigan State 70, 12)New Mexico State 67
4)Maryland 89, 13)Houston 77
South Region
4)Purdue 72, 13)Siena 64
5)Texas A&M 69, 12)Utah State 53
1)Duke 73, 16)Arkansas-Pine Bluff 44
8)California 77, 9)Louisville 62
West Region
6)Xavier 65, 11)Minnesota 54
3)Pittsburgh 89, 14)Oakland 66
8)Gonzaga 67, 9)Florida State 60
1)Syracuse 79, 16)Vermont 56

Michigan St vs New Mexico St: Preview

Jeff Borzello — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:00:15 -0400

Start: Mar 19 2010 - 7:20pm

Team Previews: #5 Michigan St -- #12 New Mexico St

Vegas Odds: Michigan St by 13 Bet at bodog

Why NMSU will win:

The Aggies come into the Dance on a hot note, winning the WAC Tournament. They have plenty of offensive firepower, led by the backcourt of Jahmar Young and Jonathan Gibson. The frontcourt also has three double-figure scorers, namely Troy Gillenwater and Wendell McKines.

Aggie to Watch:

Jahmar Young, G- 20.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.0 apg

The talented guard hit a number of clutch shots for the Aggies throughout the season, and he will be the go-to-guy again for New Mexico State. The Baltimore native scored in single-digits just once this season, and he will have to come up with a big game against the Spartans.

Why Michigan St will win:

Tom Izzo is a tournament-tested coach who tends to get the most out of his players at the right time. Kalin Lucas is one of the best point guards in the country, and Raymar Morgan and Draymond Green are solid down low. The Spartans have been here before and don't want to go home early.

Spartan to Watch:

Kalin Lucas, G - 15 ppg, 4 apg

Lucas is the key for Michigan State. He needs to control tempo and not allow New Mexico State to start dictating pace. Lucas will also likely take over late in the game if it's close.

How it will go down:

If Michigan State had drawn a better No. 12 seed, the Spartans could be a popular upset pick. However, New Mexico State was likely overseeded at a No. 12. With that said, the Aggies have the offensive weapons to stay in the game and keep it close. However, Michigan State's defense and experience will be the difference.

Betting Pick: New Mexico St

Real Pick: Michigan St

Midwest Region Preview & Predictions

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:58:56 -0400

It’s come to be expected that when a team is named the top overall seed for the NCAA Tournament they’ll receive a favorable draw in regards to the other seeds in their region. No such luck for the Big 12 Champion Kansas Jayhawks, who will begin their run at a second national title in three years against Lehigh. At least Bill Self’s team was taken care of in regards to travel; should open in Oklahoma City, and would head to St Louis should they reach the Sweet Sixteen.

But due to seeding issues the S-curve wasn’t truly followed, meaning that next in the Midwest are the Big Ten champion (Ohio St) and the Big East Tournament runner-up (Georgetown) that boasts a Top 10 RPI and one of the nation’s best schedules in regards to strength. Both teams have significant question marks going into the Tournament; the Buckeyes go no more than six players deep in their rotation, meaning that early foul trouble or an injury could be a concern. But they do feature super-star Evan Turne, named CollegeHoops.net's National Player of the Year. As for Georgetown, their concern will be having a consistent scorer to supplement the trio of Greg Monroe, Chris Wright and Austin Freeman. Jason Clark could have a lot to say about their tourney hopes, as he did in their conference tournament run.

The region also includes a pair of conference tournament champions who needed the automatic bids in order to get in, and they’ve both got the ability to wreak havoc now that they’re in the Field of 65. New Mexico St has been working towards the WAC Tournament since they regained the services of Troy Gillenwater in early February; the ability to bring a player of his caliber and size off the bench (14 ppg & 6 rpg) is something that many teams can’t match. They face perennial power Michigan St in the 5-12 game, a team that's reached the Sweet Sixteen 8 times in the last 12 years.

And San Diego St, who would have been a close shave to say the least without the Mountain West’s automatic bid, has a talented nucleus that will test Tennessee in the first round. D.J. Gay at the point can more than hold his own with Bobby Maze (if not win that individual battle) and the frontcourt is stocked with the likes of Billy White, Malcolm Thomas and freshman Kawhi Leonard just to name three contributors.

This is a very good region and don’t be surprised if there are a few “upsets” in regards to seeding. Houston, led by scoring-machine Aubrey Coleman could be a tough out for Greivis Vasquez and 4th seed Maryland. Other potential seed upsets could include the aforementioned Aztecs of SDSU and ACC finalist Georgia Tech playing against Oklahoma St. That game features multiple NBA prospects including Big 12 Player of the Year James Anderson and Tech's Gani Lawal & Derrick Favors.

Kansas will be the prohibitive favorite to get to Indianapolis (they're also CollegeHoops.net's official National Champion pick) but they certainly aren’t going to simply roll through the region.

Predictions

Midwest Region Champ: Kansas

Sweet 16: Michigan State, Georgetown and Ohio State

Best 1st Round Game: #9 Northern Iowa vs. #8 UNLV

1st Round Upset Possibility: #11 San Diego State vs. #6 Tennessee

Scary Underachiever: #10 Georgia Tech

Sweet 16 “Crasher”: Georgia Tech

Players who can shoot their team to an upset:

G Aubrey Coleman (Houston), G Armon Bassett (Ohio), G Kwadzo Ahelegbe (Northern Iowa), G Tre’Von Willis (UNLV)

All-Midwest “Team”:

G Sherron Collins (Kansas), G Greivis Vasquez (Maryland), G/F Evan Turner (Ohio State), F Wayne Chism (Tennessee), C Greg Monroe (Georgetown)

Michigan St 2010 NCAA Tournament Capsule

Joel Welser — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:53:29 -0500

Michigan State Spartans

Big Ten Conference (24-8, 14-4)

Big Wins: 11/17 Gonzaga (75-71), 1/6 Wisconsin (54-47), 2/28 at Purdue (53-44)

Bad Losses: 11/27 vs Florida (74-77), 12/1 at North Carolina (82-89), 2/6 at Illinois (73-78)

Last NCAA Appearance: 2009, National Championship loss to North Carolina

Coach: Tom Izzo (31-11 in 12 NCAA appearances)

Why They Can Surprise:

Michigan State teams are known for their outstanding work on the glass and this group is no different. Despite losing quite a few of their top rebounders, the Spartans still rank second in the nation in rebounding margin. Starting big man Delvon Roe has not dominated as much as many have hoped, but he is bringing in 5.2 rebounds per contest and has developed into a decent interior scorer.

Draymond Green is the player who has come out of nowhere to lead the team in rebounding. The 6-6 wide bodied Saginaw, Michigan product is more than just a rebounder though. He averages over ten points per game and is surprisingly nimble around the basket. Most opposing power forwards will have trouble defending him since he can step outside and hit the mid-range jumper with consistency. Perhaps Green’s best asset is his ability to pass from the interior. He dishes out 3.0 assists per contest and rarely turns the ball over. And all of this usually happens after he starts the game on the bench.

Why They Can Disappoint:

Durrell Summers is an explosive scorer who also helps this team out on the glass, but it is not the undersized frontcourt that will lead to a Spartan loss, it is the turnovers given up by the backcourt. Last year the Spartans could lean on Travis Walton to take care of the ball while Kalin Lucas and Korie Lucious were free to score off the ball. Lucas ended up winning the conference’s Player of the Year honors for his efforts during the 2008-2009 season, but he struggled with his ballhandling early in the 2009-2010 campaign. He is a great passer and a superb shooter from anywhere on the floor, but he has to keep his team under control and find targets like Summers or Chris Allen on the wings without turning the ball over if the Spartans want to play in another National Championship game this year.

Who To Watch:

The frontcourt is in good shape, especially late in the year when Roe and Green are more experienced and freshmen Garrick Sherman and Derrick Nix are more comfortable with their roles off the bench. The backcourt has four dynamic scorers and Lucas is developing into a leader. The one player who is still rather inconsistent is Raymar Morgan. Plagued with injuries throughout his collegiate career, the 6-8 senior has been on and off for the last four years and nothing has changed. One day he will put up 20 points, the next day none. If Morgan gets hot in the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans could easily make it back to another Final Four.

Probable Starters:

Kalin Lucas, Junior, Guard, 14.9 ppg, 3.9 apg

Chris Allen, Junior, Guard, 9.1 ppg, 2.1 apg

Durrell Summers, Junior, Guard, 10.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg

Raymar Morgan, Senior, Forward, 11.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg

Delvon Roe, Sophomore, Forward, 6.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg

Key Roleplayers:

Draymond Green, Sophomore, Forward, 10.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 3.0 apg

Korie Lucious, Sophomore, Guard, 5.0 ppg, 3.3 apg

Derrick Nix, Freshman, Center, 2.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg

Garrick Sherman, Freshman, Center, 1.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 72.8 (90^th in nation, 3^rd in conference)

Scoring Defense: 63.4 (51, 5)

Field-Goal Percentage: 47.5 (27, 2)

Field-Goal Defense: 40.6 (57, 4)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.8 (294, 11)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: na

Free-Throw Percentage: 69.0 (166, 9)

Rebound Margin: 9.3 (2, 1)

Assists Per Game: 16.9 (7, 2)

Turnovers Per Game: 14.0 (187, 10)

Follow Joel Welser's Postseason Capsules & College Basketball Previews on Twitter @Joel_Welser and on his Facebook page. Joel will be back in June for his annual Top 144 Teams in 144 Days preview on CollegeHoops.net

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Big Ten Tournament: Predictions & Preview

Paul Elkins — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:14:02 -0500

With four clear-cut big-dancers, the Big Ten oozes front-end quality. But with lower-seeded teams providing late season scares to perennial powers – see Michigan State barely escaping Penn State in East Lansing last week - look for some drama to unfold this Thursday thru Sunday in Indianapolis.

Round 1

#8 Michigan vs. #9 Iowa: Coming off a spanking from Michigan State, look for the Wolverines to bounce back and rally around their two stars, Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims. Too much talent for the Hawkeyes, as Michigan triumphs.

PICK: Michigan.

#7 Northwestern vs. #10 Indiana: After falling in overtime to a team that had not won in 11 games, look for the Wildcats to avenge their recent road loss to Indiana, and win their 20^th game of the season for the first time in school history.

PICK: Northwestern.

#6 Minnesota vs. #11 Penn State: After losing by 2 at Michigan State and by 4 to Purdue in the same week, Penn State is ripe for a big game to fall their way. Look for Chris Babb, who scored 16 against Michigan State and 17 against Purdue, to combine with Talor Battle to spearhead the upset of the Gophers.

PICK: Penn State

Round 2

#8 Michigan vs. #1 Ohio State: Unanimous Big Ten Player of the Year Evan Turner and company will be too much to handle for Michigan.

PICK: Ohio State.

#4 Wisconsin vs. #5 Illinois: Wisconsin avenged their only home loss of the season with a convincing win last weekend in Champaign. Look for Wisconsin’s stingy defense and combination of veteran leadership dismantle the Illini, who appear ready to implode on their own.

PICK: Wisconsin.

#2 Purdue vs. #7 Northwestern: The Wildcats are fighting for their tournament lives, and have a good opportunity for an upset in a second-round game with Robbie-Hummel-less Purdue. Look for the ‘Cats, who have already beaten Purdue once, to rally behind senior Jeremy Nash for the win.

PICK: Northwestern.

#3 Michigan State vs. #11 Penn State: The Spartans got a scare from Penn State last week – you can bet they will be ready for the Nittany Lions this time around. Look for Kalin Lucas to point the way to victory for Izzo’s crew.

PICK: Michigan State.

Semi-Finals

#1 Ohio State vs. #4 Wisconsin: Look for Turner to help the Buckeyes avenge a thrashing the Badgers applied to them when they were without their then-injured star. Look for Jon Diebler, William Buford, and David Lighty to pull their weight in the Buckeyes victory.

PICK: Ohio State.

#7 Northwestern vs. #3 Michigan State: The Wildcats luck runs out as the Spartans frontline proves too deep and tough to overcome.

PICK: Michigan State

Finals

#1 Ohio State vs. #3 Michigan State: While the Spartans don’t have one player who matches up with Turner (who does), look for them to come together at the right time in typical Michigan State fashion. Izzo’s tactics – publicly criticizing his captain Lucas in the middle of the season – always have a purpose, and his latest move – benching guard Chris Allen for undisclosed reasons – will likely spur the team forward. Look for the Spartans to beat the only team they failed to in the regular season, and build momentum heading into the Big Dance.

PICK: Michigan State.

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the Big Ten Tournament?

Paul's Predictions:

Round 1, Thu Round 2, Fri Round 3, Sat Round 4, Sun

	#1 Ohio State

	VS	#1 Ohio State
#8 Michigan
VS	#8 Michigan
#9 Iowa
		VS	#1 Ohio State

	#4 Wisconsin

	VS	#4 Wisconsin

	#5 Illinois

			CHAMPION!	#3 Michigan State

	#2 Purdue

	VS	#7 Northwestern
#7 Northwestern
VS	#7 Northwestern
#10 Indiana
		VS	#3 Michigan State

	#3 Michigan State

	VS	#3 Michigan State
#6 Minnesota
VS	#11 Penn State
#11 Penn State

Poll: Who Will Win the Big Ten Tournament?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:14:18 -0500

Poll: Who Will Win the Wide-Open Big Ten?

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:38:22 -0500

College Hoops Tuesday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:07:03 -0500

Injuries can be the great equalizer in sports, turning a race that looks to be all but over into a contested sprint to the finish line. Michigan State can attest to that, with point guard Kalin Lucas (ankle) going down against Wisconsin and being unable to play at Illinois in a second consecutive loss on Saturday night. Tuesday's matchup is in East Lansing but none easier, especially if Lucas is unable to go. Matt Painter's Purdue Boilermakers suddenly find themselves with a chance to move to 8-3 in Big Ten play while handing the Spartans their third conference loss, which would mean that four teams (Illinois visits Wisconsin) would end the night with three losses.

Purdue's won five straight, most recently squeaking out a three-point decision at rival Indiana, and their depth's received a boost in the form of point guard Lewis Jackson returning from injury. With Jackson out (he's played just under 14 minutes per game in three games) the Boilers lacked a true point guard to initiate their offense. And as he rounds into form a team that features the versatile Robbie Hummel and big man JaJuan Johnson becomes that much better. Add a defensive star in Chris Kramer (who likely will draw Lucas should the All-American play) and youngsters gaining experience and you've got a team that still should be considered as a Final Four possibility.

Michigan State will need consistent games from Chris Allen and Durrell Summers on Tuesday if they're to take care of Purdue with out without Lucas. Keep an eye on the rebounding numbers; if Purdue can't keep Draymond Green and company off the boards while also keeping Johnson out of foul trouble it's going to be a long night for the visitors. Also of importance in the Big Ten is Illinois' trip to Madison; despite beating Michigan State Bruce Weber's team could use a big road victory (Clemson's diminishing the value of that comeback by the game) on their resume. Vanderbilt hosts Tennessee in the first of two huge games for the Volunteers (at Kentucky on Saturday) and a pair of bubble hopefuls currently on the outside looking in get together in Norman (Texas Tech and Oklahoma).

TV GAMES

7p ESPN Tennessee at Vanderbilt
7p ESPN2 Georgetown at Providence
7p ESPNU Virginia Commonwealth at George Mason
7p BTN Illinois at Wisconsin
9p ESPN Purdue at Michigan State
9p ESPNU Alabama at Kentucky
10p MTN Colorado St at Air Force

OTHER GAMES

7p Vermont at Boston University
7p Akron at Central Michigan
8p Texas Tech at Oklahoma

ONE PREDICTION

Michigan State over Purdue: Definitely a risky pick should Lucas not be able to go or be limited in his return. But it's tough to pick Tom Izzo's team to lose three straight games. This is a tough group who will be able to feed off of the Izzone's energy in holding off the Boilermakers.

College Hoops Tuesday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:46:46 -0500

Michigan State takes on Madison and the Grateful Red on Tuesday night, and with a win the Spartans take another step towards their goal of winning the Big Ten title. Winners of ten straight, Tom Izzo's team has gotten the job done thanks to four players averaging in at least ten points per game. Point guard Kalin Lucas has played better basketball since being benched earlier in the season due to leadership issues, and forwards Raymar Morgan and Draymond Green have been essential pieces to the puzzle as has Durrell Summers. Morgan should be motivated to produce given his performance in the Spartans' 79-70 win over Northwestern, having played just sixteen foul-plagued minutes before fouling out.

As for the Badgers, who have lost just five Big Ten home games during the Bo Ryan era, they'll rely on senior Trevon Hughes, whose workload grew when forward Jon Leuer went down with a broken wrist. In the first meeting this season the Spartans did a very good job of slowing the point guard down, holding him to seven points on 3-for-13 shooting from the field. With Leuer (21 points, seven boards in MSU's 54-47 win) out Hughes cannot afford to shoot at that rate if the Badgers are to win. Two players to watch for the home team: Keaton Nankivil (21.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg in his last two games) and Jordan Taylor (16.5 ppg in his last two games).

If those two can play at the level they have been this will be a game they can win late. While the Badgers will look to limit the number of possessions (they average fifty-nine possessions per game), they must rebound (rebounding margin: minus-1.9; Michigan State: plus-9.3) and run their offense efficiently (Michigan State leads the Big Ten in defensive efficiency) in order to win this important contest. Other games to keep an eye on include Ole Miss visiting Kentucky and Seton Hall visiting Villanova in two games that the road teams can really use for their NCAA Tournament hopes. And if Miami wants to even sniff the conversation for an at-large bid they'd be well-served to win at Wake Forest.

TV GAMES

7p ESPN Mississippi at Kentucky
7p ESPN2 Miami at Wake Forest
7p ESPNU Seton Hall at Villanova
7p BTN Michigan at Northwestern
9p ESPN Michigan State at Wisconsin
9p ESPNU Northeastern at Delaware
10p CBS-College Air Force at San Diego St

OTHER GAMES

7p Providence at Syracuse
7p Rhode Island at La Salle
8p Kansas St at Nebraska

ONE PREDICTION

Michigan State over Wisconsin: The Badgers are close to unbeatable at the Kohl Center in Big Ten games under Bo Ryan. But if there was any team in the conference with the ability to leave Madison with a win it would be the Spartans. Raymar Morgan and glue guy Draymond Green make the big plays late at Michigan State escapes with the win.

Michigan St vs Minnesota: GameNight Preview

Blake Hofstad — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:06:51 -0500

Start: Jan 13 2010 - 6:30pm

Preseason rankings don’t mean much. Every year, there are at least a few teams who don’t perform like they should. Other teams come out of nowhere and surprise by climbing into the top 25. For example, the team that has started the year ranked #9 has missed the NCAA Tournament four of the last ten years. It’s a crazy stat. This season, the Big Ten was full of top 25 ranked teams. Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State and Illinois were perennially good teams, but for Michigan and Minnesota, this would be the first time in recent memory where they found their way into the top 25 before the first shot was taken. However, both teams were shown the door early. A three game losing streak did in the Gophers, while Michigan has racked up an 8-7 record in its first 15 games. Minnesota, however, has quietly worked their way back up, winning eight of their last nine, the only exception coming in a road beating at the hands of Purdue. Now, they get another conference road test. It comes against #7 Michigan State (3-0, 13-3), who play host to Minnesota (3-1, 12-4), who need a marquee win or two to regain that national ranking.

Tubby Smith’s Golden Gophers are one of the few teams who can claim that every player, not suspended or redshirted, sees at least ten minutes of action every game. Although they only have 11 players (Royce White is no longer with the team, Trevor Mbakwe is still sitting out and Dominique Dawson is redshirting), that’s an astounding feat. The Gophers are led by senior guard Lawrence Westbrook and senior forward Damian Johnson. This experience will bode well for the team as March approaches. Westbrook is reprising his role as the team’s leading scorer, a position he held last year as well. Johnson is one of the best defenders in the country, as well as one of the only players who can boast two blocks and two steals per game. Point guard Al Nolen is seventh on the team in scoring, but his assist to turnover ratio is among the best in the Big Ten. In three of the Gophers’ four losses, Nolen has fallen short of reaching his assists average. That’s not a coincidence; his ball distribution is necessary for the team’s success. Junior shooting guard Blake Hoffarber is famous for his acrobatic shots in both his high school and college careers, but this season is making a name for himself for being one of the nation’s best shooters. At 52%, he’s tops for everyone who has taken over 75 threes. Underclassmen Devoe Joseph and Justin Cobbs round out the backcourt. Joseph is one of the team’s most efficient scorers, and does a good job rebounding and passing as well. Cobbs doesn’t see many minutes, at least in comparison to his teammates, but still chips in around 3 points a game. The two big men are Colton Iverson and Ralph Sampson III. Both are only sophomores, but have taken on big roles within the team, especially Sampson III, who leads the team in rebounding and is a formidable shot blocker. High-flying freshman Rodney Williams is known for his athleticism, but after scoring in double digits the first three games of the year, Williams has yet to do that again. His scoring average is just 1.25 points a game in Gopher losses. He needs to step up and regain that early season swagger. Paul Carter has been consistently providing solid play off the bench all season, and with some key players graduating next year, has also proven he can score big, going for 15 against the strong Purdue defense. Devron Bostick was suspended for much of the non-conference season. The senior is on and off, some games he’ll register 8 point, 6 rebounds and a few steals, others he won’t score, won’t rebound and won’t steal. In order to beat Michigan State, Tubby will need able performances from Bostick and Williams.

Michigan State got off to a slow start, but they may be getting their moxie back. Three wins to open conference play was a nice start, but the fact that two came on the road and the other was against #14 Wisconsin is great. They’ve climbed back up to #7, and a three game home stretch starts tonight. The obvious name to point out would be that of reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Kalin Lucas. Lucas is having another solid year. His assist numbers have gone down, but he’s scoring more, and his backup, Korie Lucious, is more than making up for the assists. The pint-sized Lucious dishes out over 4 a game, this coming off the bench. As a sophomore, he’ll have one more year to hone his craft under Lucas before taking over the starting role his senior season. Power forward Draymond Green is built like Charles Barkley, and his consistent scoring and strong rebounding at 6-6 suggest a Barkley-esque skill set. But Sir Charles could always pass, and Green is one of the best passing big men in the country. Delvon Roe and Raymar Morgan, who join Green in the frontcourt, are taller than their counterpart. Roe is a traditional big man, he enjoys getting the ball in the post. Morgan is more versatile, he can put the ball on the floor and take threes, but doesn’t possess the low block skills that Roe does. Two more Spartans join the seven man rotation, with each player averaging over 20 minutes a game. Gunner Chris Allen is Tom Izzo’s best shooter, and Durrell Summers is one of the most athletic players in the Big Ten. Summers was huge down the stretch of the Final Four run last year for Michigan State, and he showed serious NBA potential against Gonzaga in November. Adding frontcourt depth are freshmen Derrick Nix and Garrick Sherman. The monstrous Nix is perhaps best known for his free throw shooting, or lack of. He’s a cool 15% from the charity stripe. The seldom-used Sherman has a similar stat line to Nix.

Minnesota is playing well, but Michigan State has always played well at home, and will continue to do so. The Spartans should continue to cruise in conference play, 67-54.