Comments on: USC Game Recap (3/22/09) http://www.spartansweblog.com/2009/03/22/usc-game-recap-32209/ A statistical look at Michigan State basketball, with a dash of football talk Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:34:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Top Ten Performances of the 2008-09 Season | Spartans Weblog http://www.spartansweblog.com/2009/03/22/usc-game-recap-32209/comment-page-1/#comment-22081 The Top Ten Performances of the 2008-09 Season | Spartans Weblog Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:05:10 +0000 http://www.spartansweblog.com/?p=1186#comment-22081 [...] Travis Walton vs. USC 18 points on 8-13 FG shooting, 2 assists, 2 steals From the game recap: “On the first possession of the game–when USC came out employing the box and one–Walton [...] [...] Travis Walton vs. USC 18 points on 8-13 FG shooting, 2 assists, 2 steals From the game recap: “On the first possession of the game–when USC came out employing the box and one–Walton [...]

]]> By: SpartanDan http://www.spartansweblog.com/2009/03/22/usc-game-recap-32209/comment-page-1/#comment-20202 SpartanDan Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:15:18 +0000 http://www.spartansweblog.com/?p=1186#comment-20202 Seer: Regular-season rematches of non-conference games are allowed in the Sweet 16. Only conference matchups are forbidden until the Elite Eight. Seer: Regular-season rematches of non-conference games are allowed in the Sweet 16. Only conference matchups are forbidden until the Elite Eight.

]]> By: Mark in DC http://www.spartansweblog.com/2009/03/22/usc-game-recap-32209/comment-page-1/#comment-20173 Mark in DC Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:45:04 +0000 http://www.spartansweblog.com/?p=1186#comment-20173 OK, Izzo knows more than I do. I was just on Kenpom.com and Suton is shooting over 39 percent from three point land. If he shoots that well he should be out there taking a few. Walton is shooting 60 percent from 3 - maybe we want him to bomb away a little more often. OK, Izzo knows more than I do. I was just on Kenpom.com and Suton is shooting over 39 percent from three point land. If he shoots that well he should be out there taking a few. Walton is shooting 60 percent from 3 – maybe we want him to bomb away a little more often.

]]> By: Seer http://www.spartansweblog.com/2009/03/22/usc-game-recap-32209/comment-page-1/#comment-20168 Seer Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:16:48 +0000 http://www.spartansweblog.com/?p=1186#comment-20168 So, I have a question. Do we have any data on rematches in the NCAA tournament? When the brackets came out, I was pretty annoyed that we'd get matched up for Kansas again in the sweet 16. So, I have a question. Do we have any data on rematches in the NCAA tournament? When the brackets came out, I was pretty annoyed that we’d get matched up for Kansas again in the sweet 16.

]]> By: Mark in DC http://www.spartansweblog.com/2009/03/22/usc-game-recap-32209/comment-page-1/#comment-20167 Mark in DC Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:01:04 +0000 http://www.spartansweblog.com/?p=1186#comment-20167 Getting Taj out of the paint is a good tactic but Suton's been floating out there in a lot of other games recently. If he doesn't start knocking down some of those shots they'll just sag off of him (they actually did that yesterday - he was wide open on a lot of those shots but wasn't hitting them). I don't mean this to sound like a criticism of Suton - he's one of my favorite Spartans. I just think we'd be better off using his back to the basket game more and his perimeter shooting less. But I've never coached a team to a national title so I guess I should just shut up and let Izzo make these decisions. I have to say it's great rooting for a program where you have a 75% chance of still having a vested interest in the tournament going into the second weekend. Not many programs can depend on a 3 in 4 chance of playing in the sweet 16. Getting Taj out of the paint is a good tactic but Suton’s been floating out there in a lot of other games recently. If he doesn’t start knocking down some of those shots they’ll just sag off of him (they actually did that yesterday – he was wide open on a lot of those shots but wasn’t hitting them).

I don’t mean this to sound like a criticism of Suton – he’s one of my favorite Spartans. I just think we’d be better off using his back to the basket game more and his perimeter shooting less. But I’ve never coached a team to a national title so I guess I should just shut up and let Izzo make these decisions.

I have to say it’s great rooting for a program where you have a 75% chance of still having a vested interest in the tournament going into the second weekend. Not many programs can depend on a 3 in 4 chance of playing in the sweet 16.

]]> By: Chris http://www.spartansweblog.com/2009/03/22/usc-game-recap-32209/comment-page-1/#comment-20163 Chris Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:18:40 +0000 http://www.spartansweblog.com/?p=1186#comment-20163 I wonder if Izzo is trying to show off Suton's outside game in front of scouts. He needs to hit the outside shot to play in Europe. I wonder if Izzo is trying to show off Suton’s outside game in front of scouts. He needs to hit the outside shot to play in Europe.

]]> By: kj http://www.spartansweblog.com/2009/03/22/usc-game-recap-32209/comment-page-1/#comment-20161 kj Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:53:27 +0000 http://www.spartansweblog.com/?p=1186#comment-20161 I think Suton floating out to the perimeter was part of the game plan--to try to get Gibson out of the lane and/or take advantage of the zone schemes. Unfortunately, Suton seemed to lose his shooting rhythm when he got a shot blocked early on. I think Suton floating out to the perimeter was part of the game plan–to try to get Gibson out of the lane and/or take advantage of the zone schemes. Unfortunately, Suton seemed to lose his shooting rhythm when he got a shot blocked early on.

]]> By: Mark in DC http://www.spartansweblog.com/2009/03/22/usc-game-recap-32209/comment-page-1/#comment-20159 Mark in DC Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:05:40 +0000 http://www.spartansweblog.com/?p=1186#comment-20159 Walton was definitely the player of the game. He shot fearlessly when they left him open, which was often, and played great D as usual. I'm not sure why we keep floating Suton out on the perimeter on offense all the time. He is a good passer, but he is a rebounding machine and those perimeter shots have not been falling for him this year. He's shown the ability to hit those shots in the past, but this year when he misses, our chance of getting the rebound is diminished considerably because he's not down low to clean up on the glass. I never see us run the pick and roll with him when he's out there on the perimeter - I think that might be more effective. I'm a little concerned that our post players are getting so many shots blocked, but they did draw fouls on the USC post players yesterday which eventually payed dividends. Our depth and the ability to get production from our bench players was the difference in the game. Green, Allen, and Summers all played well on D and gave us some timely points. When they had to go to their bench due to foul trouble their offense stagnated. Kansas is a challenge but we managed to beat them fairly handily once this year so hopefully we can do it again. We won 3 of the 4 factors pretty handily, and shot pretty well at least compared to them. The reffing in the second half was atrocious on both sides - way too many ticky tack fouls and then no calls when guys were getting mauled. It went both ways so I don't think it affected the outcome, but it was a little disrupting and the tournament deserves better. I'm laying in a case of Victory tonight - Victory Brewing Company Prima Pils that is. A little disappointed that none of the underdogs made it through (other than Arizona and Purdue, and I just can't think of either team as a traditional underdog). Sienna and Western Kentucky definitely gave it a good shot but came up just short. I was really pulling for the Flyers but they just weren't big enough to slow down Kansas. I'm disappointed in Wisconsin. Xavier is good this year but I thought the Badgers would be able to take them. Walton was definitely the player of the game. He shot fearlessly when they left him open, which was often, and played great D as usual. I’m not sure why we keep floating Suton out on the perimeter on offense all the time. He is a good passer, but he is a rebounding machine and those perimeter shots have not been falling for him this year. He’s shown the ability to hit those shots in the past, but this year when he misses, our chance of getting the rebound is diminished considerably because he’s not down low to clean up on the glass. I never see us run the pick and roll with him when he’s out there on the perimeter – I think that might be more effective.

I’m a little concerned that our post players are getting so many shots blocked, but they did draw fouls on the USC post players yesterday which eventually payed dividends. Our depth and the ability to get production from our bench players was the difference in the game. Green, Allen, and Summers all played well on D and gave us some timely points. When they had to go to their bench due to foul trouble their offense stagnated. Kansas is a challenge but we managed to beat them fairly handily once this year so hopefully we can do it again.

We won 3 of the 4 factors pretty handily, and shot pretty well at least compared to them. The reffing in the second half was atrocious on both sides – way too many ticky tack fouls and then no calls when guys were getting mauled. It went both ways so I don’t think it affected the outcome, but it was a little disrupting and the tournament deserves better. I’m laying in a case of Victory tonight – Victory Brewing Company Prima Pils that is.

A little disappointed that none of the underdogs made it through (other than Arizona and Purdue, and I just can’t think of either team as a traditional underdog). Sienna and Western Kentucky definitely gave it a good shot but came up just short. I was really pulling for the Flyers but they just weren’t big enough to slow down Kansas. I’m disappointed in Wisconsin. Xavier is good this year but I thought the Badgers would be able to take them.

]]> By: MooTheKow http://www.spartansweblog.com/2009/03/22/usc-game-recap-32209/comment-page-1/#comment-20153 MooTheKow Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:47:39 +0000 http://www.spartansweblog.com/?p=1186#comment-20153 Some good game-related links.. lots of MSU love. http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/11537767 http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4006954&name=marchmadness http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/basketball/la-sp-usc-side23-2009mar23,0,7718432.story http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news;_ylt=Ag.rAlQY98n2.3dKfG_3Fz_evbYF?slug=ys-michiganstate032209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns Some good game-related links.. lots of MSU love.

http://www.cbssports.com/colle.....y/11537767

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....rchmadness

http://www.latimes.com/sports/.....8432.story

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/b.....;type=lgns

]]> By: Sparty Basketball http://www.spartansweblog.com/2009/03/22/usc-game-recap-32209/comment-page-1/#comment-20147 Sparty Basketball Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:42:12 +0000 http://www.spartansweblog.com/?p=1186#comment-20147 Walton's performance was very David Thomas-esque. Remember how in the 2001 Elite Eight Temple chose to leave him open to double team other Spartan players. He went 8-10 in that game with 19 points. Walton’s performance was very David Thomas-esque. Remember how in the 2001 Elite Eight Temple chose to leave him open to double team other Spartan players. He went 8-10 in that game with 19 points.

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