~The next two are must-wins for MSU, along with a decent showing in the Big Ten tournament. Here's what I don't get: How does Michigan get an entire week off before they play us??? I was pissed that we had to play at Minnesota a couple days after our Saturday game against Illinois (Minnesota had been off since Thursday), and now Michigan gets to rest and prepare for a home game while we play TWO games in-between? Ugh, bullshit. I feel completely hosed by this year's schedule.
~I really don't understand why we can't hit shots from the outside. It's kind of perplexing how an entire team can just shoot brick after brick. I mean, it's not like we don't have the talent. I'm watching other guys on other teams- guys who aren't recruited that heavily and are just mere role players- knock down shots all the time. Why can't we? And some of the sets that Izzo draws up are fantastic. There are some plays he draws up that leave guys wide open for short 12-foot jumpers, that they just clank. As a coach, you can only do so much.
~I'm still perplexed that Austin Thornton got significant minutes in the first half against Purdue. What MSU has done the last few games is limit Thornton's minutes (5 or less) and given Kebler significant time. And that's how it needs to be. So why is Thornton playing at the very beginning of the game? Why is he taking three shots (and two threes)? Not to mention, he is probably our worst perimeter defender, as evidenced when Moore blew right by him. I'm sorry, but he's a last-resort guy.
~Lucas and Green tried to do too much today. Lucas took some crazy-ass shots and obviously felt the need to carry the team. I think the same goes for Green. The easy bunnies that he missed down low I think were a product of him just forcing it too much. It must be tough to be those two guys because there isn't a lot of help for them. I mean, you look around the court and see Kebler (a walk-on), Sherman (undeveloped), and Summers (slump), and it's almost understandable. Still, I think you need to run some plays for those guys to get them involved. I love what MSU did with Summers against Minnesota in allowing him to penetrate the lane. And the way they used their three big guys against OSU was fantastic. More of that, please.
~Man, if I was an opposing coach the game plan would be pretty darn simple. Box-in-one zone defense that limits Lucas and forces Michigan State to shoot it from the outside. Eek. Or, if you have JaJuan Johnson, just let him demoralize our entire offense.
~I seriously thought last season was as low as it could get for MSU basketball, as far as the on the court play and drama off it. Granted, we won a share of the Big Ten title (although not in a dominating fashion) and made a Final Four run, but the year was exhausting. Even if we somehow make a run in the tournament this year, which would be awesome to see, this still has not been an enjoyable year to watch, and in fact, has been worse than last year. I could not have predicted that.
Oye, I'm tired. Today was really depressing.
~Mikey D
Whenever I hear of "Ryder" trucks, I think of the Oklahoma City bombing.
I find that ridiculously fascinating. My memories of an event that riveted me when I was a kid are triggered by a moving truck that I pass on the highway. And honestly, if it were not for those trucks, the event itself would be placed on a shelf in the back of my mind, rarely dusted off. How does that happen? How does such a significant event in recent American history become synonymous with a moving truck?
I thought about this a lot during a recent long car ride. I was curious if I was the only one who viewed Ryder trucks in the same manner. I asked Grace, and she said she thought of moving. Adam said two of Ryder's colors. But Kevin proved to me that I'm not alone in this thought.
I wonder what a nationwide poll would say? I wonder what Ryder executives would say? Let's say we kept up our 50% rate of people connecting Ryder to the bombing. That can't be a good thing for business, could it? Maybe for some people it wouldn't matter when choosing a moving truck, but for folks like me, well, all things equal, I'd rather go with Budget or some other truck company. Yeah, just because I think of that truck detonating in front of that building back in 1995. Crazy.
That also got me thinking about other things that I associate with major events. There are plenty of plane crashes I can think of. Whenever I hear TWA, I automatically think of TWA 800. Obviously the 9-11 crashes. But you know what's a weird one? Sticking with the transportation theme, whenever I see a white economy van with tinted windows I think of the DC Sniper. Every time a van like that passes me on the highway (only the white ones) I literally cringe and slump a bit in my seat. I just think "what if"...
But back to Ryder. Now I am curious to know the next time Adam or Grace see a Ryder truck if their minds will think of this post and Oklahoma City, or will Ryder trucks still remain relatively insignificant to them. Or the next time I see a Ryder truck, I wonder if I will immediately think of Oklahoma City, or will I think of Adam and Grace and wonder if they are thinking of Oklahoma City??? Interesting...
Is there anything that triggers a distant memory every time you see/hear it?
~Mikey D
Alright, clear your minds for just a second and tell me the first thing you think of when you hear the following:
Ryder Moving Truck
That's it.
~Mikey D
I refuse to give up on this team, no matter how rough it gets.
But let me just say, watching Wisconsin beat us up, down, and sideways...well that was tough to do for 2 hours (But I did it, so, um, moral victory for me?). I did, however, keep a level head throughout. Deep down I knew we weren't going to win, I just wanted to see some fight. I think for the most part- yes, even in a 26-point blowout- we fought hard.
Here what's bouncing around my head right now after this rough stretch:
~Back off. Seriously, the comments from fans are getting to be ridiculous. I know everyone is frustrated, but come on. The negativity that is surrounding the team right now is awful. I want to win just as much as the next fan, but I refuse to get on a messageboard or blog and just post about how much the team sucks, or how Izzo sucks, or how you aren't going to watch until next year, blah blah blah. Look, nobody is forcing you to watch. If you're not happy with the team, do something else. If you're not going to stick with them through the down times, then keep your mouth closed (I'm sure we'll see you again when times are good). This sense of entitlement that is wreaking from some MSU fans is intolerable. Goodness. Okay, I've said my piece.
~If I told you...What if I told you that before today's game that MSU would have only 7 turnovers inside the Kohl Center? That MSU would hit 13-16 free throws? That they'd be statistically even (or close) in rebounding, steals, and assists? I'd take it in a heartbeat. The only difference in the game today between MSU and Wisconsin was shooting. Wisconsin hit an absurd 60% of its shots. Yes, MSU's defense it partly to blame. From what I saw, and this is from my untrained eye, we really just don't match up well on defense against, well, anybody. We hustled today, but when you have Nix guarding a 3-point shooting forward, that's a mismatch for Wisconsin. Or Green guarding the taller Leuer. Or Appling guarding the stronger Jordan Taylor. Our personnel just isn't great right now.
~The regression of Durrell. Tom Izzo has every right to sit Durrell Summers for the rest of the season, but he needs Durrell out there too much right now, and unfortunately for us, he needs him to be playing at a high level. Here's Summers stat line against Wisconsin: 32 minutes, 3-12 shooting (zero 3's), 1-2 FT, 3 rebounds, 0 assists, and a mere 7 points. Against Iowa, in 26 minutes, he was 2-7 shooting (ALL 3-POINTERS) for 6 points, with no free throws, 1 assist, 3 rebounds and 3 turnovers. For a guy getting the minutes he does, those are simply mind-boggling low numbers. He is no longer a threat to score from the outside, he's not a threat to drive the ball and score in the paint, and he does not get his teammates involved. NBA talent? Sheesh, at this point I think he'd be lucky to get an overseas tryout with a team in Sri Lanka. I wish I had an answer for his play. I mean, is it all just a mental block?
~"Stay out of it, Nick Lachey". If you watch "The Soup" (or I suppose "Gossip Girl"), you know the line. But this line is reserved for Derrick Nix. While I like that guys are being a little more outspoken after recent losses (I'd much rather have guys speak up because they care, rather than just go through the daily motions), Derrick Nix does not need to be one of those guys. Questioning the leadership of Lucas and Summers, on multiple occasions, is okay as long as it isn't from the guy who flaked out on the team earlier in the year in Maui. Just a smidge hypocritical to start talking about commitment to the the team and such.
~I wonder...What effect is this season going to have on recruiting? It is very lucky that Izzo has the next three years wrapped up as far as incoming kids, but I do wonder what the perception of the program is from kids in the Midwest (and, to a lesser extent, nationally). Indiana is playing much better (and has great incoming classes the next few years), Michigan is young and improving, and Ohio State is an NBA-player factory that keeps on winning. If I'm a guy like Gary Harris (shooting guard from Indiana, who we desperately want), what's the appeal? In their current state, OSU and Indiana seem more appealing. And what about in-state recruiting? Does Michigan nab a few more in-state players in the coming years? Maybe I'm just panicking after a few bad losses, I don't know.
~Iowa State- Korie Lucious took a trip there this past Friday. Looks as if he and Allen will be back together (although because Korie would have to sit out a year, they won't play together). If there was any question of Korie coming back next year, I think that answers it. Bye-bye. I'm definitely more hurt over his departure than Allen's. Remember Izzo's press conference to announce he was returning to MSU? When all the players hugged him? Yeah, it was Lucious who had his arms wrapped around Izzo. That stings. Okay, here's the photo:
~There's time, but I don't know how we do it. I'm sure you'll hear from the MSU guys that they're going to do whatever it takes to turn the season around. And there will be plenty of opportunities. We've got OSU, Illinois, Purdue, and Minnesota, all ranked teams. We've got our revenge games against Iowa, Michigan, and Penn State. I hope we do make the most of those opportunities, but man, it's tough to see how with our current personnel. We just don't seem to have the players. I'm hoping Izzo finds some magic switch to hit, that the team gels and the chemistry is amazing, that Durrell starts lighting it up, and (for the love of God) teams start to cool down shooting against us. I suppose stranger things have happened.
Alright that's it. At least the Super Bowl will distract me. Next Thursday at home against Penn State. I'll be watching, like always.
~Mikey D
