Mikey D

I don't usually read the messageboard comments (especially after a loss...or three losses in a row), but I was curious to hear what other fans are saying and thinking. Here's some of the comments from the State News messageboards:

-"I don’t have a problem with losses, they’re expected in our conference. What I do have a problem with is the obvious lack of effort or caring by our team."

-"The team is still overrated; they haven’t beaten anyone of substance this year and hang onto their ranking based on reputation only."

-"This is reality.
1. We are way to inconsistent, sometimes we look amazing, our athleticism is unmatched… other times we look lost.
2. Summers disappears. A player with more pro potential being benched for the entire second half in the biggest game of the year… something is going on with him.
3. Lucious turnovers. Key turnovers at critical times, he’s only a soph. but still, the pass into the second row when it was a 6 pt basically made a dagger moment.
4. Our defense is bad… really bad. This is the worst Defensive team I have seem. I used to think teams shot really well against us and it was just a fluke… after the last two games, its us. These guys are wide open."

-"I love the Spartans but can’t understand the lack of effort by some..What is the deal with Raymar Morgan ? He is a senior..looks uncoachable to me..sick of his dissapearing and whining, lack of taking the ball strong to hoop, and general uselessness..Love that "Whatever" look he gets when Izzo tries to talk to him..Bench Him..Let someone who will give effort play..He is one of the best athletes on this team..That is what is so sickening !!"

-"This team won’t go far in the tournament if Raymar Morgan doesn’t start playing with some conviction. He just doesn’t play hard for 40 minutes. If a call goes against him he pouts and whines instead of playing hard. Then he pushes off or reaches on defense, and gets into foul trouble. Time to buck up, Raymar. You’re a senior, there’s no next year. If Raymar plays as hard as Draymond does every night, this team will go far."

-"Izzo can’t play defense for them. It’s 90% effort and it’s obvious when they don’t even try."

-"My only confusion during the game is why Morgan didn’t get benched right alongside Summers. When he was in, we might as well have just been playing with four players."

-"The expression on Izzo's face at the end of the game said it all. The team just seems out of sync right now- if they lose at Penn State Tom is going to implode."

-"Wow – this team is 9 and 3 in a conference that is beating the tar out of each other and you all have complaints? Really? Come on just buck up and be a fan. There’s no whinning in Basketball – ‘specially Big 10 basketball."

For the most part, I think I'm with the fans here. Perhaps all of us State fans are a little over-emotional after three straight conference losses, but at the same time the reality is that this team has not gelled or played together like we've hoped. We wrote off the Florida, UNC, and Texas losses as early-season losses, ones in which we'd grow from. But now it's February, and if anything we've done more growing apart than growing together as a team.

As I mentioned to Kev last night, there's no way I'd pick this team for a National Championship right now. Sweet 16, at best. Of course there's still time for improvement...but it's running out.

~Mikey D