#69 R.P.I. Michigan State vs. #1o4 R.P.I. Virginia Tech:
#69?!?
Now that’s a fun number the way I figure it.
However, the #1 team in both major polls is the 69th team in R.P.I.? Oh, ok, and this just in: Rain says I’m all wet.
Magic Johnson State is a lotta thing(s); they are #1, they may very well be a #1 seed, and they could even win it all come the third month of the New Year. Although I serially doubt that there are 68 other basketball teams that are superior to them. In point of fact, I serially doubt that there are even eight teams north of these Spartans.
This game may not be at Thermopylae, though these Spartans clearly have a monopoly on hoopology and the skillz that pay the bills. This is a damn good Michigan State hoops team folks: inside, outside, and all-around. The only real question here is … are they still #1 come then end of March?
9:30pm, Friday truTV
Vegas Line: VT is a 15.5 point underdog:
$-Line: bet $16 on MSU to win $1, or bet $1 on VT to win $10.5o
Total: 149 points
Today’s word is …#1
- the best, greatest of all-time
- shortest haircut you can possibly get
- British Naval Executive Officer
- The 2013-2014 Michigan State basketball team???
Michigan State Backcourt: (returning starters=3)
And entire backcourt of all-star or at the very least all-conference candidates dot Sparty’s 1-3 traditional rotation. Gary Harris was only listed as Most Versatile, Branden Dawson was only listed as Most Entertaining; and #11 the loquacious one, Mr. Keith Appling is only on his way to no less than Top-10 all-Big-Ten conference status; all courtesy of Lindy’s pre-season magazine. (and that does not include the frontcourt all-stars, plural). This all from the poor pity-party #1 ranked men’s basketball team that finished runner up to the
services of one Jabari Parker of Duke; ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Harris is second in scoring with 16.5 ppg and yet he is the only one of the big-4 that shoots under .51o from the floor for coach Izzo’s fab-4+; at a relatively mere 43% from the floor. Not half bad for a second-banana with a rebuilt shooting-shoulder who was said to have the potential to become the best all-time Spartan 2-guard coming outta high school and who only nets 93% of his FT attempts.
Appling is the one who has caught my eye and if he every catches some consistency you will have no less than an overseas quality floor-general on your hands in a hurry. Turnovers have been part of the bugbear here; and yet it has been said by those close to State that nobody improved more over the course of the spring and summer than the final year Appling. 15 ppg, 4 boards and 6 dimes showcases a maturing and well-rounded game; and 62% from range thus far may be outta Appling’s career depth; though is sure is a scorching start thus far to the nubile ’13-14 season indeed. Improved leadership and at least a measurable diminishment in turnovers dot this last year Pt.Guard’s budding next level resume.
Branden Dawson is a 6 and a ½ foot swing who could be listed in the front or backcourt alike. Last year Dawson was said to be “half the player he was” prior to making a “freakish” recovery from a devastating A.c.l. blow-out knee injury; coach God Bless on that. If Dawson’s knee is good-to-go solo –and I’m undersold on that- though if his left-knee is right; this is a strong ass looking S/F swing player who is a real match-up problem out on the edge. That caveat firmly in place, 9 ppg and a team leading 9.5 boards is not bad work; if you can get it.
Michigan State Frontcourt: (starters back=1)
#5 Adreian Payne may be a 6’10’’ Center who is 2 inches shy of the prerequisite 7’ tall; and yet he is a true-Center who plays the soon to be extinct dinosaur position in a downright Jurassic fashion. If he maintains his current pace; Payne is a very serious threat to be named the Big-10 most improved player of the year. 17.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg, on 51% from the floor, 82% from the charity-stripe and a nifty 40% from downtown paint a picture of a big-man who is more parts evolved and less parts missing-link. Matt Costello is P/F who brings plenty of voltage to the position along with his burly looking 249 lbs. Costello chips in with 3 points and change; and likewise 3 boards and change as well. However his real value is in being one of the elite screen-setters in the Big-10, as it takes a lot to go over or under this bulky P/F’s broad shoulders.
Michigan State Bench: (depth=4)
- Denzel Valentine: is a nice looking right-sized 2-guard who everyone is waiting in anticipation of him taking the next step. 7, 3, and 3 is really not bad production for a backcourt back-up; and if ‘zel can ever improve his shooting he may not have to check-in off the bench much longer.
- Travis Trice: is the 6 ppg sharpshooter whose range is basically the Gym, if he’s in it; he’s open. Presuming he has put his series of head-injuries behind him for keeps.
- Alex Gauna: is the prerequisite Big-10 big-man sub’, who is more parts shooter or skillful big than he is a true post-player.
- Gavin Shilling: Shilling plays spot minutes at best; as he is mostly just a turn-key right-sized post-body in his first year of voting.
Loading ...Illation, conclusion(s) and OPT digits:
When I asked my one fairly big time college basketball source what he saw in this Michigan State hoops team, he basically said he saw it all. State has a perimeter game, an interior game, defense, rebounding, shooting, experience, youth, et al. Or in other words, this is one complete looking Spartan basketball club with no real apparent weaknesses to exploit, much less to attack.
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Now and that being said, a couple of previews that I read did hint at these Spartans being a bit thinner on the inside than on the outside. I however am not seeing that. At least not on film, and yet this is the quintessential game where Virginia Tech has nothing to misplace (recall I never say the L word); and everything to gain. The Spartans are the big time favorites with big-time reason. And “yes” it would prolly take an A+++ Hokie nite accompanied by a NYC (or even more severe, a Brooklyn) hangover from these Staties for us to have a realistic chance to pull the made for TV Tourney upset in this one.
And yet, against all odds, against Jane Austin, and even against all Sense and Sensibility, that is precisely what I expect.
Methinks that coach J’s boys will mess around, hang-round, and muck-around with big bad Michigan State; at least for a little bit. “Yes”, the Spartans are the better basketball team. And this just in … the Sun is hot, MC-Lyte is chaste and I’m still looking for Bigfoot, or rather he is still looking for me. No news there, however, Virginia Tech is shooting 45% from range to begin the year; Virginia Tech is killing it on the glass (+13 rebounding. margin) and Tech is averaging 8 blocks per contest as well.
However, why will any or all of that even matter you ask? Sources say that stud Center Adreian Payne is nursing a “sore foot” and is now listed as “PROBABLE” for State. Or in other words, even though Virginia Tech prolly won’t win, Virginia Tech’s chances just went up.
Virginia Tech=69, Michigan State=86
“LETS GO!”
“Hokies!”
bourbonstreet**
