Four Day Layoff Comes at the Right Time

[eyekwah]

The postponed game with Indiana really affected the end of the season. Too many games and being on the road so much took its toll. Iowa's shots were coming up short in the last week and a few on Sunday as well. Generally this is a sign of fatigue. The fact that the game with MSU is a Thursday is very beneficial as the team will have had six days in IC before having to go to E.L. I think we will see a better defensive team as Iowa has appeared a half-step slow lately. MSU is having its own problems now and so it might be Iowa's night.

 

[Benddontbreak]

Completely agree but I worry that we will see a different Spartan squad. The key to beating them right now is playing physical/smothering defense. Appling is a shell of himself, and Payne/Dawson are about 70% healthy. Just need to find Harris in transition and not let Trice get open looks.

 

[eveningnewsteam]

I totally agree. I thought this team looked like they hit a wall in the 2nd half at Indiana and the entire game yesterday. They gutted out that win, but they were dragging.

 

[WindsorHawk]

It's a good time for a break. There's never a good time to visit East Lansing...IMO. I'm hoping Indiana beats Nebraska Wednesday night. If Nebraska loses Iowa almost certainly just has to win 1 of the last 2 to get the 4 seed. They could go into the Michigan State game very loose knowing they can clinch the 4 seed against Illinois on Senior Night.

 

[HawkIPA]

This is why I was in favor of playing the game last Thursday as opposed to playing it on March 10.

Get it over with and get them back on a normal schedule ASAP instead of doing this so close to tourney time.

 

[vgshwk]

The postponed game with Indiana really affected the end of the season. Too many games and being on the road so much took its toll. Iowa's shots were coming up short in the last week and a few on Sunday as well. Generally this is a sign of fatigue. The fact that the game with MSU is a Thursday is very beneficial as the team will have had six days in IC before having to go to E.L. I think we will see a better defensive team as Iowa has appeared a half-step slow lately. MSU is having its own problems now and so it might be Iowa's night.

Although Illinois will have extra rest for us as they play Tuesday night and we play Thursday.

 

[HawksMN]

That rescheduled IU game was garbage. I think it messed more up that we believe.
I wanna play them again somehow in the BTT. And deliver a deserved beatdown.

 

[okeefe4prez]

That rescheduled IU game was garbage. I think it messed more up that we believe.
I wanna play them again somehow in the BTT. And deliver a deserved beatdown.

When I went back and re-watched the videos of it, I think it was staged and designed to catch us at just the right time. Crean's reactions just don't like those of an innocent man gathering facts. It reminded me of this:

[video=youtube;qtK0KMH-8xs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtK0KMH-8xs[/video]

 

[SteveGarvey]

Completely agree but I worry that we will see a different Spartan squad. The key to beating them right now is playing physical/smothering defense. Appling is a shell of himself, and Payne/Dawson are about 70% healthy. Just need to find Harris in transition and not let Trice get open looks.

Izzo's gonna regroup their guys on senior night there. The way we've been playing defense, yeah, it doesn't look good for us. I can see us being double-digited on Thursday for the first time all season.

Hope not of course.

 

[BlacknGold19]

Nebraska and Illinois won at MSU playing a slow down 1/2 court offense, take care of the ball type of game, while playing great defense and rebounding with some luck that Sparty shot poorly.

We play a different style of game that plays right into their hands..we play uptempo while forcing quick shots more often than not..Dev and Mikey G drive into the lane out of control too much and force the issue. We need to slow down and play tough with the ball, box out, get the loose balls, play as a team and not force bad shots quick in the shot clock unless it's a high percentage look. Force MSU to play defense and get back on D, don't play zone, and dont run the 1-2-2 press..get back and make them earn it.

I just don't like the way our style of play allows teams to get out and run. I hate when we have a 6 or 7 point lead and chuck up a 3 with 25 seconds on the shot clock. I think in order to beat MSU Thursday..we need to slow the game down completely and take our time with the ball

 

[EMik21]

I think that our ability to run doesn't mean that we have to, especially on the road come this Thursday. Teams generally play better and shoot better at home, see Minnesota and Indiana.

I think that come tourney time, it would be good for us to have played a game against a defensive minded team at a slower pace, which could happen this Thursday. We need to focus on running our offense, fluid ball movement and taking shots in the last 10 seconds of the clock at times. The opportunity on Thursday provides us with all of the above options.

There will be times to run, which we will do, as will Michigan State. I think for once if we can get some consistent shooting out of Dev, Mike and Josh on the same night, as well as good defensive rebounding, we can really put the pressure on Michigan State on senior night.