Comments on: Ode to Goran Suton

By: Goran Suton: All new media-approved version « Spartans Weblog

Goran Suton: All new media-approved version « Spartans Weblog — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:03:24 +0000

[...] as I’ve commented in the past, some of Suton’s historical inconsistency relates to the nature of the MSU offense. I do [...]

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:23:13 +0000

I think that Suton has received a bum rap for “awkwardness” and other criticisms, not unlike Larry Polec did at MSU a generation ago. But while Suton is not a gazelle like Polec (who frankly only looked clumsy or awkward when dribbling the ball), like Polec he’s much more solid that the average fan gives him credit for being.

Yes, Suton needs to be a bit more driven to excel. But we need to face the fact that he’s a pretty low-key guy. He obviously works hard, as shown by the way he’s reshaped his body as compared to when he was a high school senior.

Like Polec before him, I fully expect Suton to be greatly improved as a fifth year senior. And considering the fact that Suton is already the best rebounder in the league not named DJ White, that’s a very good thing.

Suton has a real chance to AVERAGE a double-double next season, and that’s darn good. I’m glad he’s on our side.

By: kj

kj — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:46:53 +0000

I read somewhere that one way to increase your blog traffic is to “be controversial.” I thought for sure I’d hit the mark on that with this post. But so far everyone agrees with me about Mr. Suton!

Back to the drawing board . . .

By: john rhodes

john rhodes — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:01:03 +0000

I love to see comprehensive analysis from fans. Suton is another example that players mature at their own rate be it slowly or quickly. Kalin Lucas comes in hot as a firecracker and it takes Suton two seasons to mature to whatever you think he is now. But big men especially have a much harder time especially those who have a European influence in their games. The rough and tumble play in the US is much different from the style in Europe but it has also taken until his senior year, for Drew Naymick to be the rebounding force he always should have been.
Izzo’s teams always mature slowly and by the end of the season, they usually surprise people who think they’re not much to worry about, based on those stupid “polls” and “rankings” that people seem to put so much store in. Don’t get me started on that.

By: Spartalytical

Spartalytical — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:52:01 +0000

Great analysis. He’s been a sore spot in past seasons’ Spartan basketball conversations around the water cooler, but this year he’s doing much better. I’ll take his offensive rebounding over a few additional points (although the former should imply some of the latter) any day. I’d also prefer he not speak on camera, but I digress.

By: Hoopraker

Hoopraker — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:47:38 +0000

There you go, Goran! We chatted about Suton’s import a few weeks ago and, as the season’s unfolded, he indeed has made himself one of the most critical wheels in the Spartan train. He was the only guy on the floor for MSU in the Iowa loss who played decent ball, albeit in the second half. As Hubert writes, Suton is more passionate in big games. When he gets fired up, he’s a tough man to guard. From here on out, they’re big.

Hoopraker

By: hubert

hubert — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:27:24 +0000

Interesting analysis, and overdue. The national media has constantly harped about the spartans’ big men and clearly it’s a weakness, but Suton is quietly having a pretty darn good year. Honestly, who is better in, say, the big Ten? I can think of DJ White, Pruitt and the Wisconsin guy whose name escapes me.

Unlike Gray, Suton has improved every year. Perhaps not his scoring, as your numbers suggest, but his rebounding and physical presence has been noticeably better this year. Remember, Suton was perceived two years ago as a guy who would never be physical enough for the Big Ten. The one area I was hoping for more improvement is outside shooting. a consistent 15 foot jump shot would really open up things underneath for Morgan or Gray/Naymick. Perhaps next year.

One final comment — is it my imagination, or does he really seem to get up for the big games more than the easy ones? My sense is that he is just more present out there since the start of the Big Ten season.

By: spartanproducer

spartanproducer — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:30:46 +0000

nice work as usual, Suton is the guy (along with Naymick) who takes an unfair amount of abuse from the “less knowledgeable” fans who like to rant on the internet. These stats prove what he is, a solid big man, who has improved (most people seem to forget he was not a mega recruit out of high school, unlike Delvon Roe or even this year’s class, he came in with “hope” that he’d be good, not necessarily an expectation of success.

Part of his problem is still that Goran’s turnovers are often so ugly they stand out, the one against Purdue where he threw a no-look over the shoulder pass into the stands when doubled in the post, was a classic. But I’m very happy with him (and Naymick’s recent improvement) and there’s no reason to think he won’t contribute even more next year.