Mikey D

~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