I sat there and wondered…
“How the hell did the lead just go from 4 to 11 so quickly”.
Sure, North Carolina is a damn, fine basketball team but this was absurd. An 11 point lead turned into a 14 point halftime lead.
And then the game was over.
MSU came out of the locker room and missed every wide open look they had. Tom Izzo blamed it on “dead legs” because it was their 4th game in 7 nights or something like that.
But I wonder if the dead legs accounted for the 22 turnovers the Spartans had.
Its funny, if you asked me what the characteristics of well-coached basketball team were, I would instantly say low turnovers.
But yet, MSU has been a turnover machine the last couple of years. 10th in the Big Ten last year and not looking much better this year.
Does the blame fall on Izzo?
Many Spartans fans have coddled Izzo, telling people he can do no wrong.
Often times I am one of those people. If you ever met Coach Izzo personally, you’d defend him till your last breath too.
But State has failed when its counted lately. They haven’t won a big game away from the Breslin in years. And really, outside of a great run in 2005, what does the MSU program have?
All of a sudden this season has become an important one in Izzo’s legacy. Not making the final four would ruin his “every 4 year player has made one” mantra but more than that, this program hasn’t one a BT championship since 2001.
Suffice to say that “big time” programs don’t do that.
Yesterday was more than a L in the loss column, it was a mark on a legacy.
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December 4, 2008
#1
Am I disappointed about the way State lost last night? Sure. But, UNC is by far the best basketball team in the country with by far the best player in the country. Last night was an example of a team with three or four guys who could easily be playing in the NBA right now versus a tired team with maybe one.
Unlike you, I’m not going to overreact here. State lost to a far superior team.
Yes, their recent track record hasn’t touched the Mateen/Charlie Bell/MoPete/Andre Huston/Jason Richardson years, but they’re still a top ten/”big time” program, hands down.
It seems like this topic comes up every year between now and mid to late January. State fans were spoiled during the 1998-2002 run.
Give me Tom Izzo over 99.9% of the coaches in the country (save Mike Krzyzewski).
Every great program has their lulls.
I don’t think you can put too much emphasis on this loss. Disappointing, yes. Catastrophic, not close. If you’re that down on State, give me some odds on them winning the Big Ten this year. I’ll be happy to make a mark in your wallet.
December 4, 2008
#2
someone say my name?
December 4, 2008
#3
its not that they lost, its the way they lost. they didn’t even put up a fight in the second half.
Dating back to last year’s Memphis game, the Spartans have been blown out 3 out of the last 7 games
that’s not good
December 4, 2008
#4
UNC won going away in the second half, yes. Part of it was that they are a superior team and part of it was because State had no legs (cue the Can’t Hardly Wait line).
Bottom line: the loss doesn’t need to be overblown. State played tired and Izzo knew it (hence the early and often substitutions). Shoot, nobody shoots down your eating prowess when you begin to slow down after your 40th chicken wing.
December 4, 2008
#5
Willy T made a Marc on this world.
December 4, 2008
#6
was it tired legs against memphis last year
how about that average maryland team?
this has been happening way way too often
December 4, 2008
#7
The Memphis loss falls into “losing to a superior team” category. Memphis’ best player is already a top five NBA point guard. State’s best player is playing in Germany. Enough said.
The Maryland point differential is unexplainable. State was garbage from the foul line and on defense.
Again, if you’re this down on the team, give me some odds on them winning the Big Ten title this year.
December 4, 2008
#8
I don’t know how you think this team is capable of winning the Big Ten…they would need to win on the road
that’s not going to happen
wouldn’t be surprised to somehow see Wisconsin slip in there
December 4, 2008
#9
As Izzo’s team usually do, this team will get better as the season goes along. I don’t have facts to throw at you as to why I think they’ll win the B10, but I just think it’s theirs for the taking.
Here are a couple reasons why I think State will be there in the end:
1. Delvon Roe will continue to get healthier.
2. I believe that the Lucas/Lucious point guard tandem will continue to grow.
3. Raymar Morgan and Chris Allen will be more involved in the offense since they won’t be allowed to stand around and wait for Neitzel to chuck up a shot clock buzzer beater.
4. The Big Ten just isn’t that good. Granted, it hasn’t been for a few years, but Wisconsin doesn’t scare me nearly as much as they have recently. And Purdue, who I think is the only other team capable of winning the conference, is very vulnerable.