GhostofBTT
Banned
1. While moral victories don't show up in the win-loss column, they still stand for something. For a team that has become accoustomed to getting their brains beaten in, putting up an effort like that is worth something. I would guess their legs feel a little fresher late in future games because they know they can compete if they try. Additionally, opposing coaches will be telling their players before the Hawkeyes come to town that they cannot afford to go to sleep on them.
2. The Spartans obviously went to sleep in the 2nd half. You really can't deny that they stopped trying as hard. Even the crowd didn't seem to care as much. However, that makes the fight Iowa put in all that more impressive. Often in sports, there is kind of an unwritten code that when there is a big lead, one side lays off, and the other lays off as well. The Hawks failed to get that message, and good for them. The easy thing would have been to slow down.
3. It is hard to think of what could have been. As crazy as it seems, we could have won that game. As good as Aaron Fuller played, I can't help but think of the layup and two free throws he missed with about 4 minutes left. If he conencts on that, it is a two point game, and we have a legit chance of cashing that one in. However, he missed them, MSU's offense recovered, and we let it slip away.
4. Cully Payne needs to start making better decisions. I understand that he is young and these things take time, but I have not seen any other freshman guards throw multiple passes out of bounds. And regardless of how good you feel about it, a 30 foot three pointer is never a good shot.
5. Jarryd Cole really impressed me tonight. After picking up a dumb third foul about half a second into the 2nd half, I figured he would "Worley" it and ride the pine most of the game. However, Lick kept him on the floor, and he stayed out of foul trouble and continued to produce. Without his defensive presence in the lane, MSU wins this by double digits easily.
6. Responding to games like this is how coaches make their bread. I promise you Izzo will have his team frothing at the mouth when they play their next game at Minnesota. How will Lick get his team to respond at Indiana? Is this game a stepping stone, or just an abboration. As crazy as it may seem, Lick has a golden opportunity to win some converts and gets some butts in the seats. Let's see how he and the team responds in Bloomington.
2. The Spartans obviously went to sleep in the 2nd half. You really can't deny that they stopped trying as hard. Even the crowd didn't seem to care as much. However, that makes the fight Iowa put in all that more impressive. Often in sports, there is kind of an unwritten code that when there is a big lead, one side lays off, and the other lays off as well. The Hawks failed to get that message, and good for them. The easy thing would have been to slow down.
3. It is hard to think of what could have been. As crazy as it seems, we could have won that game. As good as Aaron Fuller played, I can't help but think of the layup and two free throws he missed with about 4 minutes left. If he conencts on that, it is a two point game, and we have a legit chance of cashing that one in. However, he missed them, MSU's offense recovered, and we let it slip away.
4. Cully Payne needs to start making better decisions. I understand that he is young and these things take time, but I have not seen any other freshman guards throw multiple passes out of bounds. And regardless of how good you feel about it, a 30 foot three pointer is never a good shot.
5. Jarryd Cole really impressed me tonight. After picking up a dumb third foul about half a second into the 2nd half, I figured he would "Worley" it and ride the pine most of the game. However, Lick kept him on the floor, and he stayed out of foul trouble and continued to produce. Without his defensive presence in the lane, MSU wins this by double digits easily.
6. Responding to games like this is how coaches make their bread. I promise you Izzo will have his team frothing at the mouth when they play their next game at Minnesota. How will Lick get his team to respond at Indiana? Is this game a stepping stone, or just an abboration. As crazy as it may seem, Lick has a golden opportunity to win some converts and gets some butts in the seats. Let's see how he and the team responds in Bloomington.
