I can't wait for March! As we approach conference tournament time, I wanted to share a few of my thoughts on what to expect coming up.
Team with the most pressure: Pittsburgh
In a year lacking a dominant, NBA-ready team, the best team in the best conference should be a common pick to win it all. However, Pitt has been the "anti-Michigan State" for the past nine years; one of the best regular season teams but falter in the tournament. Since 2002, Pitt has lost in the Sweet Sixteen four times and only seen the Elite Eight once. To say that coach Jamie Dixon is on the "hot seat" for these failures would be completely ignorant. He has the best winning percentage in Big East history and tied the record for fastest coach to win 200 games. The fact that he has completed this run without a single first round NBA Draft pick is certainly impressive. With three starting seniors on this year's team, 2011 is the best opportunity for a deep run that they're going to get.
Team that will be toughest to project: St. John's
I have seen St. John's play twice now (vs. Pitt, @ Villanova) and they're one of the most exciting teams to watch. Each time they came out incredibly hot and built a big lead before letting the other team back in the game. Since they lost three straight at the end of January, St. John's has gone 8-1 with impressive victories against # 3 Duke, #9 UConn, #4 Pitt, and #14 Villanova. Over that stretch, Dwight Hardy has been averaging 25 points per game. A logical conclusion from this hot streak is that the team has become comfortable with first year coach Steve Lavin's game plan and coaching style. Working in their favor: Experience. Of their 9 players who have got quality minutes, 7 are seniors. Working against them: Experience. None of these players have been to the NCAA Tournament before and the only quality non-conference opponent they faced this season was St. Mary's in their first game of the season. It will be interesting to see what they can do on a neutral court against some of the other quality teams in the country. I could see them going as far as the Elite Eight, but they are also an easy target as a First Round upset if Dwight Hardy has a bad game.
Major Conference Tournament Most Likely to Have a Surprise Champion: SEC
Since 1992, Kentucky has dominated their tournament with 11 victories. Mississippi State and Florida have won the next most with three championships a piece. It has certainly lacked upsets. I think this year will be different because the conference is "Florida" and "Everyone else". I think they will have a lot of upsets in their tournament with someone other than division champions Florida and Alabama prevailing. Regardless of what happens, look for Florida to be the only SEC standing by the end of the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Michigan State HAS COME BACK to Columbus
Before I discuss the game last night, I would like to review a psychological concept.
"Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration. Those with narcissistic personality disorder believe that they're superior to others and have little regard for other people's feelings. But behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism." - Mayo Clinic
The website goes on to list the following symptons:
■Believing that you're better than others
■Fantasizing about power, success and attractiveness
■Exaggerating your achievements or talents
■Expecting constant praise and admiration
■Setting unrealistic goals
■Appearing as tough-minded or unemotional
■Expecting others to go along with your ideas and plans
I mention this because I have learned that all Buckeye fans suffer from at least a mild case of NPD. Living in Columbus has exposed me to a number of them. They may be arrogant about their team and University, but every comment bragging about their success is followed up by saying something to the effect of "although they will say we didn't deserve it." They usually means ESPN (most notably Mark May, Colin Cowherd, and formerly Trev Alberts), Michigan, the SEC, or just sports fans in general.
I think more recently this is due to the University of Florida. They can't erase the embarrassment that the Gators handed them in basketball and football and they think people discredit their recent successes as a result. I think that Buckeye fans secretly also have an inferiority complex in relation to the SEC and can't get over those losses either. (This creates some cognitive dissonance. Yes, I spent too much time researching psychology tonight.)
For example, after the Rose Bowl game last year, many people complained that "they" wouldn't give them credit for that win since they didn't beat an SEC team. This year, leading up to the Sugar Bowl game against Arkansas, people complained that beating them wouldn't matter because it wasn't the top SEC team.
This relates to the game last night because as we left the arena, we walked behind a group of typical OSU students and one of them drunkenly said "We are OHIO...STATE. We're fucking awesome. But of course ESPN hates us. We lost one game to a team that never loses... AT HOME. And we're number 3? We're going to win it all in March and we'll show them".
I enjoy the attitude that most Michigan State fans share. We're proud of our accomplishments, we want even more, but I don't think we overreact when our teams lose or obsess about them. Anyway, let's talk about the game last night.
I think the main strategy MSU had was to be aggressive with Sullinger and rotate around so we're throwing a lot of different guys at him. Diebler is a very streaky shooter, so they did a good job defending him and limiting how open he was. He has attempted 7+ three's nine times this season; Iowa and Florida State were the only two teams to hold him to a lower percentage. We outrebounded them by 10. Kalin looked extremely confident leading the ball upcourt and driving to the basket. Nix, Payne, and Sherman showed us moves in the paint that nobody knew they had in them. The problem, of course, were fouls and William Buford. I have been telling my Buckeye friends for months that he is the most underrated player in the country.
I am satisfied with the close loss if it continues to be a sign of things to come. Izzo said it best:
"I wouldn't count us dead yet. This is a pretty good team if we can regroup down the stretch and get three guys to play together instead of just two."
"Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration. Those with narcissistic personality disorder believe that they're superior to others and have little regard for other people's feelings. But behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism." - Mayo Clinic
The website goes on to list the following symptons:
■Believing that you're better than others
■Fantasizing about power, success and attractiveness
■Exaggerating your achievements or talents
■Expecting constant praise and admiration
■Setting unrealistic goals
■Appearing as tough-minded or unemotional
■Expecting others to go along with your ideas and plans
I mention this because I have learned that all Buckeye fans suffer from at least a mild case of NPD. Living in Columbus has exposed me to a number of them. They may be arrogant about their team and University, but every comment bragging about their success is followed up by saying something to the effect of "although they will say we didn't deserve it." They usually means ESPN (most notably Mark May, Colin Cowherd, and formerly Trev Alberts), Michigan, the SEC, or just sports fans in general.
I think more recently this is due to the University of Florida. They can't erase the embarrassment that the Gators handed them in basketball and football and they think people discredit their recent successes as a result. I think that Buckeye fans secretly also have an inferiority complex in relation to the SEC and can't get over those losses either. (This creates some cognitive dissonance. Yes, I spent too much time researching psychology tonight.)
For example, after the Rose Bowl game last year, many people complained that "they" wouldn't give them credit for that win since they didn't beat an SEC team. This year, leading up to the Sugar Bowl game against Arkansas, people complained that beating them wouldn't matter because it wasn't the top SEC team.
This relates to the game last night because as we left the arena, we walked behind a group of typical OSU students and one of them drunkenly said "We are OHIO...STATE. We're fucking awesome. But of course ESPN hates us. We lost one game to a team that never loses... AT HOME. And we're number 3? We're going to win it all in March and we'll show them".
I enjoy the attitude that most Michigan State fans share. We're proud of our accomplishments, we want even more, but I don't think we overreact when our teams lose or obsess about them. Anyway, let's talk about the game last night.
I think the main strategy MSU had was to be aggressive with Sullinger and rotate around so we're throwing a lot of different guys at him. Diebler is a very streaky shooter, so they did a good job defending him and limiting how open he was. He has attempted 7+ three's nine times this season; Iowa and Florida State were the only two teams to hold him to a lower percentage. We outrebounded them by 10. Kalin looked extremely confident leading the ball upcourt and driving to the basket. Nix, Payne, and Sherman showed us moves in the paint that nobody knew they had in them. The problem, of course, were fouls and William Buford. I have been telling my Buckeye friends for months that he is the most underrated player in the country.
I am satisfied with the close loss if it continues to be a sign of things to come. Izzo said it best:
"I wouldn't count us dead yet. This is a pretty good team if we can regroup down the stretch and get three guys to play together instead of just two."
 |
Kalin leads the ball up court |
Monday, February 07, 2011
Math is Hard
I don't get something.
Michigan's roster currently lists 15 players, none of which are seniors. Their 2011 recruiting class currently is 2 players.
Michigan State's roster has 13 players, 3 of which are seniors. Our 2011 recruiting class is 4 strong.
Why does U-M have 3 more roster spots than we do next season?
Michigan's roster currently lists 15 players, none of which are seniors. Their 2011 recruiting class currently is 2 players.
Michigan State's roster has 13 players, 3 of which are seniors. Our 2011 recruiting class is 4 strong.
Why does U-M have 3 more roster spots than we do next season?
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Friday, February 04, 2011
?
I'm just going to put it out there:
Does the growing frustration Tom Izzo has with his players indicate that he is closer to retiring? Last year, he complained about them "not gelling". This year, he has had to resort to benching and suspending but still experienced the worst performance he has ever seen from his team. So, is he going to retire soon? Ignoring how bad the Cleveland job appears now, do you think he regrets saying he would never go to the NBA?
(When Izzo announced he's staying at MSU, I said, "I think he will step down in as little as 3 years, but very likely within the next 5". I think I look even smarter now).
Does the growing frustration Tom Izzo has with his players indicate that he is closer to retiring? Last year, he complained about them "not gelling". This year, he has had to resort to benching and suspending but still experienced the worst performance he has ever seen from his team. So, is he going to retire soon? Ignoring how bad the Cleveland job appears now, do you think he regrets saying he would never go to the NBA?
(When Izzo announced he's staying at MSU, I said, "I think he will step down in as little as 3 years, but very likely within the next 5". I think I look even smarter now).
Ouch
"If the NCAA tournament started today, Michigan State might not make it. And judging from how the Spartans played against Iowa on Wednesday, this would bother them for at least 15 minutes."
"Summers is averaging one assist for every 58 minutes of playing time. He is three times as likely to give the ball to the other team as he is to pass to a teammate for a basket"
-Michael Rosenberg
"Summers is averaging one assist for every 58 minutes of playing time. He is three times as likely to give the ball to the other team as he is to pass to a teammate for a basket"
-Michael Rosenberg
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