I just have a few random thoughts about this year's team and where they are:
1) What would have happened if MSU were to have played Virginia?
MSU was rolling and UVA was struggling. If MSU were to have played and won, that would sure have been a VERY nice win on the resume. Or, would MSU just have been exposed earlier?
2) How would we view this team in MSU would have not choked in the last 30 sec against Purdue?
If MSU wins that game, we are 5-6 in Big Ten play in the middle of the pack. I think most brackets would still have MSU "in" and the narrative would be that MSU just got rolling after a tough stretch in December, but COVID messed them up for a few games and now they are figuring things out again. All that due to 30 bad seconds
3) If things are going to get fixed, it almost had to happen this week.
MSU has been in East Lansing for over a week. The "late January / early February Bermuda triangle" is now past. COVID or no-COVID, this is Tom Izzo time. He doesn't have the usual full playbook, but it's time to tighten down all the screws that can be tightened. MSU hits the road again next week, but then only leaves the state once more (at Maryland) prior to the BTT. That is enough time (I think) to squeeze some more out of these guys.
4) Will the rotation finally get tightened?
I was looking at some of the box scores over the past few years and it is crazy to compare minutes to this year's team. X and Cash were playing almost the entire game and this year it is like everybody is played 25 minutes. It seems like it is time to pick your top 9 guys and go with it, ride or die.
5) I still believe that we will see some good, if not great moments from this team.
The progress that the bigs showed against Penn State was important. Now, it is time for guys like Rocket and Gabe to get back to a level of consistency. Shooting has been a train-wreck, but all of these guys have proven that they can shoot. The defense has been great at times, the turnover issue has been solved... at times. This team just needs to get it all together at the same time. I think that it can happen. I think that it will happen at some point. I know the schedule is tough, but I see no reason why this team can't get hot and beat 2-3 ranked teams in a row. That still might only be good enough to get to 8-12 or 9-11, but that gets MSU back into the conversation.
I won't be shocked if some day soon this team just has a flat out great night and beats a team like Iowa, Ohio State, Illinois, or Michigan... by a lot. On the other hand, I won't be shocked if they lose all of the rest of their games. But, I think that it is more likely than not that this team flashes, more than once, before the end of the season. The question is, will it be enough to keep the streak alive?
And... if it is and if MSU can beat a few ranked Big Ten teams... why can't they win a few games in March? The season is far from over. I still believe in magic.
1) What would have happened if MSU were to have played Virginia?
MSU was rolling and UVA was struggling. If MSU were to have played and won, that would sure have been a VERY nice win on the resume. Or, would MSU just have been exposed earlier?
2) How would we view this team in MSU would have not choked in the last 30 sec against Purdue?
If MSU wins that game, we are 5-6 in Big Ten play in the middle of the pack. I think most brackets would still have MSU "in" and the narrative would be that MSU just got rolling after a tough stretch in December, but COVID messed them up for a few games and now they are figuring things out again. All that due to 30 bad seconds
3) If things are going to get fixed, it almost had to happen this week.
MSU has been in East Lansing for over a week. The "late January / early February Bermuda triangle" is now past. COVID or no-COVID, this is Tom Izzo time. He doesn't have the usual full playbook, but it's time to tighten down all the screws that can be tightened. MSU hits the road again next week, but then only leaves the state once more (at Maryland) prior to the BTT. That is enough time (I think) to squeeze some more out of these guys.
4) Will the rotation finally get tightened?
I was looking at some of the box scores over the past few years and it is crazy to compare minutes to this year's team. X and Cash were playing almost the entire game and this year it is like everybody is played 25 minutes. It seems like it is time to pick your top 9 guys and go with it, ride or die.
5) I still believe that we will see some good, if not great moments from this team.
The progress that the bigs showed against Penn State was important. Now, it is time for guys like Rocket and Gabe to get back to a level of consistency. Shooting has been a train-wreck, but all of these guys have proven that they can shoot. The defense has been great at times, the turnover issue has been solved... at times. This team just needs to get it all together at the same time. I think that it can happen. I think that it will happen at some point. I know the schedule is tough, but I see no reason why this team can't get hot and beat 2-3 ranked teams in a row. That still might only be good enough to get to 8-12 or 9-11, but that gets MSU back into the conversation.
I won't be shocked if some day soon this team just has a flat out great night and beats a team like Iowa, Ohio State, Illinois, or Michigan... by a lot. On the other hand, I won't be shocked if they lose all of the rest of their games. But, I think that it is more likely than not that this team flashes, more than once, before the end of the season. The question is, will it be enough to keep the streak alive?
And... if it is and if MSU can beat a few ranked Big Ten teams... why can't they win a few games in March? The season is far from over. I still believe in magic.
