" title="Spartans Weblog">Spartans Weblog

North Carolina obliterates Michigan State 89-72 in a 76-possession game.  StatSheet box score.
This four-factor graph does not tell the story:
NCAA Basketball Stats

The turnover differential obviously shows up loud and clear, but the other bars understate the degree to which the Tar Heels outplayed us.  Statistically speaking, this game was played in two distinct phases:

The first [...]

(I must say, it’s really fun typing in blog post titles that include the words “National Championship Game.”) The time for analysis and prognostication is over, my friends.  Now, it’s all about believing.  And what better way to express a dose of irrational optimism than with the opening theme to our favorite late-80’s sitcom?

No [...]

Monday night, 9:21.  Ford Field, Detroit.  CBS.
This has become a routine for me now: Overanalyzing the statistical profiles of #1 seeds we’re about to play and convincing myself we’re massive underdogs.  I’m going to try to keep this preview short, to avoid that danger (and because I need to get some sleep tonight).
The numbers:

Category
MSU Off
Nat [...]

The Tarheels dismantle the Spartans 98-63 in an 83-possession game.  Official box score.
In terms of analyzing the full 40 minutes of the game, the Statsheet “Stat of the Day” sums things up neatly: “Michigan State did not beat North Carolina at any of the 4 factors.”
So let’s talk about the two halves of the game [...]

Tuesday Night Links

Chat: John Gasaway
TAFKATBTW answers your questions Wednesday at 1:00.
Ten sophomores ready to break out
Kalin Lucas makes Seth Davis’ list.
ESPN Analysis of Wisconsin’s Swing Offense
X’s & O’s of Basketball: “Isn’t motion offense just a beauty to watch?”  Not when you’re playing against Wisconsin, it isn’t!
Big Ten coaches will be screaming at you now
Funny ad.  [...]

I’d expect Michigan State will announce the full 2008-2009 basketball schedule for the upcoming season within the next several weeks.  Here’s what we know at this point about the major nonconference games, following the release of Kansas’ schedule:
Note: List is updated per this post.  It also appears we’ll be playing Idaho, Bradley, Alcorn State, and [...]

SI.com’s Luke Winn has a breakdown of the winners and losers from offseason developments, with NBA early-entry decisions having been finalized yesterday. The biggest winner, of course, is North Carolina, which returns all three guys who had been looking at the NBA draft plus player of the year Tyler Hansborough (who didn’t even explore [...]