" title="Spartans Weblog">Spartans Weblog

A statistical look at Michigan State basketball, with a dash of football talk

Archive for the 'commentary' Category

Tom Izzo: A Numerical Summary

kj on Apr 19th 2009

14 seasons as head coach
14 .500-or-better Big Ten regular season finishes
12 NCAA Tournament appearances
12 first-team all-Big Ten player selections
10 20-win seasons
8 Sweet Sixteens
6 Elite Eights
5 Final Fours
5 Big Ten regular season championships
5 former assistants currently coaching Division 1 teams
4 Big Ten player-of-the-year selections
3 30-win seasons
2 Big Ten Tournament championships
2 national championship game appearances
1 national championship
.738 [...]

Read Full Post »

The Top Ten Performances of the 2008-09 Season

kj on Apr 9th 2009

I’ve decided not to post any commentary of a forward-looking nature until we get over to the new site. For now, let’s revel in the season that has been.
One of the things that made this season so special was the number of guys who stepped up at various times during the season to get [...]

Read Full Post »

The Turnovers Strike Back

kj on Apr 7th 2009

76 possessions
21 turnovers
Turnover percentage: 27.6%
I don’t think this North Carolina team was going to be beaten under any circumstances tonight, but I sure would have liked to see the MSU team that played with such poise and precision in the two previous game give the Tar Heels a run for their money.
A disappointing finale to [...]

Read Full Post »

Pop Quiz

kj on Apr 5th 2009

Question: What was the defensive play that preceded The Dunk?
(While you’re thinking about it: I’ve decided that Summers’ throwdown is definitely worth of being labeled “The Dunk.”  The combination of the spectacularness of the play and the stage on which it was made make it the greatest dunk in the history of the program.  The [...]

Read Full Post »

A dunk (and game) for the ages

kj on Apr 5th 2009

I guess we can run a little, eh, Digger?
Raymar Morgan: 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists.  Who’s the bozo that called him a “role player”?
Game recap after I get some sleep.
For now, more of The Dunk:

Read Full Post »

To Ibok or not to Ibok?

kj on Apr 2nd 2009

Thursday Night Links

Final Four: The Ultimate Viewers’ Guide
Mr. Gasaway says to watch out for Kemba Walker.
The Walton method
Travis Walton is watching tape right now.
Learning process: Thabeet tries to keep blocks in bounds
Thabeet says he and Stanley Robinson will rotate on Suton.
Herzog doing his best Thabeet impression
Nice to have a seven-footer on the scout team.
MSU’s Morgan [...]

Read Full Post »

An impressive list

kj on Mar 30th 2009

SpartanDan did the follow-up work.  Coaches who have made the Final Four with (at least) three different completely distinct rosters of active players:
- John Wooden (UCLA ‘62, ‘67, ‘71, ‘75)
- Dean Smith (UNC ‘67, ‘72, ‘77, ‘81, ‘91, ‘95)
- Mike Krzyzewski* (Duke ‘86, ‘90, ‘94, ‘99, ‘04)
- Denny Crum (Louisville ‘72, ‘80, ‘86)
- Adolph Rupp [...]

Read Full Post »

Next »