- I have a problem. When I watch UM football and basketball games on TV, it is an intense experience. My daughters prefer to leave the house because I get very emotional and yell at the TV. Overall, it's a stressful experience for me. A few weeks ago (starting with the Wisconsin game on 2/11), I decided not to watch the games live. Instead, I'll find something else to do during the game and record it. After it's over, I'll look at the score . . . then I'll watch the game. The good news is that UM hasn't lost since I started that. So I won't be watching live again today.
- I didn't think we played our "A" game offensively yesterday. We missed a bunch of open shots . . . especially in the first half. We were better from FT line but still not great. I don't think MSU is a great defensive team and they certainly underachieve on offense. The final score was probably closer than the game actually was.
- Miles Bridges should be a player of the year candidate. He should be averaging over 20 points/game. He is an athletic freak. He can get off his jumper anytime he wants. But Izzo really doesn't use him well. He also doesn't use Jackson well. I am very happy watching Jackson jack up 6 three pointers. He's a guy who you want on the low block cleaning up the glass. As the announcers noted, MSU should have been getting the the ball to Bridges, Ward and Jackson in the post . . . if they did that, they may have forced UM to play some zone which then could have freed things up on the perimeter for a guy like Winston and also given MSU more offensive rebounding opportunities. Either Izzo is not doing a good job coaching or his assistants are not helping him out enough.
- We all know Simpson is a great defensive player. But what is underrated is his ability to finish drives. He is strong, crafty and has underrated athleticism. IMO, he's a better finisher than either Walton or Burke were. He just needs to develop that jumper.
- One of my friends was sitting close to the floor yesterday and against Iowa. He said he was working Steratore pretty good. He also said that during the Iowa game, after he complained to the refs about all of the calls against Michigan, McCaffrey's wife who was sitting right in front of him got all angry and responded "that's because you guys keep fouling us". Later in the game, after the refs made a call against Iowa, a UM fan shouted out "thank you for finally making a fair call", a guy sitting with McCaffrey's wife yelled back at the UM fan "go f yourself". The problem was, an usher was standing right next to him. The usher dressed down the guy and neither the guy nor McCaffrey's wife made a peep the rest of the game.
- I don't have a great feeling about today's game. 4th game in 4 days and coming off what was an emotional win vs. MSU. This will only be Purdue's 3rd game and they didn't just play against a big rival. But if we somehow win, I think there is a legit argument that we deserve a 2 seed. We would be 28-7. Two wins away from home against MSU. Neutral court win against Purdue. Wins against OSU, PSU (on the road), Maryland (on the road), Texas (on the road), Nebraska (neutral court), UCLA, Wisconsin (on the road). Nine wins in a row. Top 8 in Ken Pom.
- MSU fans have to be worrying about the future of their program. Obviously, there are the various scandals they are dealing with. But Izzo (if he returns) will likely have his least talented (and certainly least athletic) roster next year in perhaps two decades. Bridges will be gone. Jackson is likely gone. It wouldn't surprise me if Ward left. So who do they bring back? Winston, Langford, McQuaid, Tillman and Goins. They bring in some good freshmen but nobody exceptional. I would not bet on them making the tourney next year (assuming they are eligible).
- I didn't think we played our "A" game offensively yesterday. We missed a bunch of open shots . . . especially in the first half. We were better from FT line but still not great. I don't think MSU is a great defensive team and they certainly underachieve on offense. The final score was probably closer than the game actually was.
- Miles Bridges should be a player of the year candidate. He should be averaging over 20 points/game. He is an athletic freak. He can get off his jumper anytime he wants. But Izzo really doesn't use him well. He also doesn't use Jackson well. I am very happy watching Jackson jack up 6 three pointers. He's a guy who you want on the low block cleaning up the glass. As the announcers noted, MSU should have been getting the the ball to Bridges, Ward and Jackson in the post . . . if they did that, they may have forced UM to play some zone which then could have freed things up on the perimeter for a guy like Winston and also given MSU more offensive rebounding opportunities. Either Izzo is not doing a good job coaching or his assistants are not helping him out enough.
- We all know Simpson is a great defensive player. But what is underrated is his ability to finish drives. He is strong, crafty and has underrated athleticism. IMO, he's a better finisher than either Walton or Burke were. He just needs to develop that jumper.
- One of my friends was sitting close to the floor yesterday and against Iowa. He said he was working Steratore pretty good. He also said that during the Iowa game, after he complained to the refs about all of the calls against Michigan, McCaffrey's wife who was sitting right in front of him got all angry and responded "that's because you guys keep fouling us". Later in the game, after the refs made a call against Iowa, a UM fan shouted out "thank you for finally making a fair call", a guy sitting with McCaffrey's wife yelled back at the UM fan "go f yourself". The problem was, an usher was standing right next to him. The usher dressed down the guy and neither the guy nor McCaffrey's wife made a peep the rest of the game.
- I don't have a great feeling about today's game. 4th game in 4 days and coming off what was an emotional win vs. MSU. This will only be Purdue's 3rd game and they didn't just play against a big rival. But if we somehow win, I think there is a legit argument that we deserve a 2 seed. We would be 28-7. Two wins away from home against MSU. Neutral court win against Purdue. Wins against OSU, PSU (on the road), Maryland (on the road), Texas (on the road), Nebraska (neutral court), UCLA, Wisconsin (on the road). Nine wins in a row. Top 8 in Ken Pom.
- MSU fans have to be worrying about the future of their program. Obviously, there are the various scandals they are dealing with. But Izzo (if he returns) will likely have his least talented (and certainly least athletic) roster next year in perhaps two decades. Bridges will be gone. Jackson is likely gone. It wouldn't surprise me if Ward left. So who do they bring back? Winston, Langford, McQuaid, Tillman and Goins. They bring in some good freshmen but nobody exceptional. I would not bet on them making the tourney next year (assuming they are eligible).
