MSU lucks into playing Illinois without Cockburn or Curbelo, still loses
This was a game both teams did their best to try and lose. For U of I it’s a bit understandable considering they were missing their 2 best players, but for the life of me I have no idea how Sparty is (was) a top 10 team. They looked *terrible*. Look at this abomination and weep:
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore/_/gameId/401364401
January 25th, 2022 at 11:48 PM ^
Eh, that's fair. I see it more as the former as I'm not sure we're really a contender, but I can see that others might be more optimistic about our chances.
January 26th, 2022 at 9:38 AM ^
We're only six games into the season and we're 3-3. Trend last three is decidedly upward. So...we'll see. Probably can't win the conference but I think getting a double bye in the BTT isn't out of the question.
January 26th, 2022 at 2:32 AM ^
Then maybe don't see it...
It's not that hard.
January 26th, 2022 at 8:39 AM ^
No, that's not my point. I'm not just saying "this thing isn't that interesting to me." I'm saying we shouldn't obsess over MSU like they obsess over UM.
January 26th, 2022 at 12:03 PM ^
I created the thread, and it might be worth noting that I didn't even know this game was being played until I saw it on my YoutubeTV app as I was putting my kid to bed. So I watched the last 6-8 minutes of game time, noticed neither Kofi nor Curbelo were playing, saw the boxscore, watched both teams suck hard for the entire time I watched, and thought it was noteworthy that two top-25 teams, who have both been BB rivals to some degree, played such an ugly game.
Apologies if this offends you.
January 26th, 2022 at 12:03 PM ^
damn double post.
January 26th, 2022 at 7:29 AM ^
When I see threads I'm not interested in, I don't click or comment. Pretty simple.
January 26th, 2022 at 8:26 AM ^
What? I thought those threads were specifically put there for me to go on them and blather about how I'm not interested in them so no one should post them. (Help me! I'm melting!)
January 26th, 2022 at 8:41 AM ^
As above:
No, that's not my point. I'm not just saying "this thing isn't that interesting to me." I'm saying we shouldn't obsess over MSU like they obsess over UM. It's dumb and small and gives rise to all the stupid "we're living rent free" MSU comments.
January 26th, 2022 at 11:56 AM ^
Courtesy of Merriam-Webster:
Obsession: a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling
A single post about one of our biggest rivals losing a basketball game in unusual fashion hardly constitutes "obsessing over MSU." Every fan base of every sports team in the world enjoys seeing their team's big rivals lose in improbable fashion. It's part of being a fan.
January 26th, 2022 at 9:32 AM ^
Nonsensical take.
- They are a rival. They will get talked about on this board more than just "when we're playing them". As will OSU. As will ND. As will a good chunk of the rest of the B1G.
- The topic was clear and wasn't impeding your ability to see all other recent non-MSU posts.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:20 PM ^
I know it's premature after only a couple good games, but I'm starting to wonder "Why not us?" We're a game back in the loss column with Sparty and Illinois coming up. It might be wishful thinking, but what if this team is finally figuring things out?
January 25th, 2022 at 10:37 PM ^
I dunno how we guard big athletic guards still. Our Purdue strategy almost has to be "hope Painter forgets Ivey is on the team in favor of his bigs." Which...I love Painter, but he definitely might do that.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:23 PM ^
MSU's a lot closer to a top-20 team than a top-10 team, and they're only 3-3 against KenPom top-50 teams. They look like a typical Izzo team in that they've got a lot of older guys who know Izzo's system and can execute it reasonably well but they lack a really dynamic PG so they're ceiling is lower than usual. They're still probably the #2/3 team in the conference, and they were a bit snakebitten in this game. But I think UM has more of a chance in that game coming up than I would have thought a couple weeks ago.
January 26th, 2022 at 8:28 AM ^
Maybe Izzo should get some pointers from Coach Howard on how to develop point guards.
January 26th, 2022 at 8:51 AM ^
They were snake bitten in a game where the opposing team was missing their best player ?
January 26th, 2022 at 10:03 AM ^
Exactly! Two best players. And also somehow was in the double bonus with 10min to play while only having 3 fouls called against them.
January 26th, 2022 at 9:25 AM ^
Please explain how they were “snakebitten” in this game?
January 26th, 2022 at 10:49 AM ^
They missed something like 8-9 layups or close shots, which happened to UM at times as well and just felt like bad luck. Also, MSU shot horribly from 3 (it was their lowest of the year, I believe) and only some of that I'd equate to defense from Illinois.
Yes, Illinois was down Cockburn and that was huge, but Maryland basically ran this same team off the court last game and I think MSU is better than the Terps. But MSU isn't a great team and they were #10 mostly because of reputation and beating up on bad teams.
January 26th, 2022 at 11:28 AM ^
Illinois held them to only 14 three point attempts though.
And on the other end Grandison was 1-7 and Frazier just 2-10. I'm not sure how well covered those were but that's pretty "unlucky" as well.
January 25th, 2022 at 11:13 PM ^
This game was brutal to watch. I’m not sure how much of it was bad offense versus good defense. It was ugly no matter what you call it.
- if this is the best our conference has to offer, then I wouldn’t count Michigan out of it yet. I have no clue where we stand in the conference and if we will be making up games, but our team could win the conference tournament if they keep playing well.
January 25th, 2022 at 11:22 PM ^
I definitely feel better about the possibility of winning the BTT than the regular season crown. Trying to win road games at Iowa, MSU, OSU, Wisconsin, Purdue, and more coming up seems especially daunting with such a young team. But getting hot for a weekend in a neutral Indiana gym where you only have to play 4 teams? I could see us being a threat
January 26th, 2022 at 9:26 AM ^
Bad offense imho. Sparty missed their first 10 3’s and a lot of those were wide open looks.
January 26th, 2022 at 1:42 AM ^
Sometimes the ride just keeps going around to no surprise….
January 26th, 2022 at 3:42 AM ^
heard a lot of weird guys crotched in a lot of tough shots.
January 26th, 2022 at 10:29 AM ^
Illinois failed to score in the last 5:33 and still won. Weird game. MSU is overrated.
January 26th, 2022 at 10:36 AM ^
Came on here to say the same thing.
If I'm reading the play-by-play correctly, the teams are a combined 2-10 on FGs in those last 5:33, and 3-5 on FTs. Just putrid offense.
January 26th, 2022 at 11:17 AM ^
And State had the refs in their back pocket...
they were in the double bonus with what 12 minutes left or more and IL didn't get to the bonus until MSU was forced to foul in the last minute.
January 26th, 2022 at 6:30 PM ^
January 26th, 2022 at 2:41 PM ^
Illinois is probably the only team in the country that would rather play with Cockburn than without. #GoldBond
January 26th, 2022 at 4:15 PM ^
Go Blue! Beat Purple!