MSU HC Jonathan Smith is set to have his weekly press conference momentarily. This thread will provide live updates throughout his time speaking.

He is hard to figure out. He was a 5 star recruit who plays like a 3 star. He did not get meaningful play time last year because he was deemed to be too skinny. He put on 20 llbs and was expected to be a more physical player. This is a small sample so far this season but he does not appear to be the dominant player he was touted to be. He appears to be a perimeter player but with his size he should be driving to the basket, getting boards and being aggressive in the paint. Are the rating services that inaccurate in his case?

Going into the Illinois game, I stated that it was a low risk and high reward proposition. My thought was that losing to Illinois on the road would not be the end of the world, but winning would be a tremendous positive. I had a really good feeling going into the game.

Almost from the opening kick-off, the only word that I can use to describe the Spartans' performance is "flat." They looked to me like a team that was tired and beat up and just lacked energy all the way around. The fact that they looked this way coming off a bye week is a major concern.

But all is not lost. Purdue has lost nine straight games and has exactly zero wins over FBS-level teams. Losing to the Boilermakers is simply not an option. Assuming MSU gets to 5-6, the only game remaining is against Rutgers in the post-Thanksgiving season finale. That games currently projects as a pick'em.

Playing the Scarlet Knights at home, on senior, with a bowl game on the line, is a game that the Spartans should to win. It is a game that they must win. It is also a game that I believe that they will win... but after Saturday, my confidence is a bit shaken.

Check out more of my thoughts on the week below in this week's edition of Against All Odds.