UMHoops is doing a tour of the Big Ten, gauging the preseason expectations of bloggers for each school. He selected yours truly as the first guest contributor. Click through to read my thoughts on the outlook for our Spartans and let us know if I’ve accurately summed up our collective expectations at this point.
Mateen Cleaves has signed a traning camp deal with the Denver Nuggets. Hard as it may be to believe, Mateen is now 31, so this may be his last real shot at sticking in the NBA. At least one Nuggets observer likes his chances. If he doesn’t make the team, might it be time to start thinking about that assistant coach gig Izzo has always said he’ll have for Mateen when his professional career is over?
Statistical evidence that Izzo should be cautious with Delvon Roe’s return to the basketball court (as he’s signalled he will be): BP’s Kevin Pelton finds that NBA players undergoing microfracture knee surgery performed better post-surgery the longer they waited before playing again. From everything I’ve read, Roe’s injury wasn’t as serious as most of the NBA players who have undergone the procecure, but caution is still warranted–even if it costs MSU a couple nonconference wins.
Around the Big Ten:
- Tom Crean has joined Thad Matta in the “overbooked recruiting club.”
- Paint the Town Orange has further reason to be concerned about the Illini’s front-line depth (or lack thereof): Mike Tisdale will be out 3-4 weeks after minor foot surgery.
kj I would say you were spot on with that summary of Spartan Nation’s (not Hondo’s website) expectations go towards this year. With the team Izzo has assembled a Big 10 title should still be very attainable if Roe is not healthy most of the year, however shots for a NC would take a serious hit. I am expecting to enter conference play somewhere in the 13-20 range in the national polls because I think the Spartans will split, or go just under .500 in the “big” non-conference games.
You really should have stuck to football for another week or two…my blood is pumping very fast right now as I get more and more excited thinking about the upcoming bball season, you are just making it worse!
Cant it just be 11/05 tomorrow? Honestly, who would actually miss Halloween?