MSU-Purdue Open Thread « Spartans Weblog

MSU-Purdue Open Thread

February 17, 2009 by kj

NCAA BASKETBALL: DEC 20 Michigan State at Texas

Is he quicker than Lewis Jackson?

Mid-week road game against out top rival for the conference championship. I’m expecting record open-chat participation levels tonight, my friends.

Pregame Reading

Conference Check: All-You-Can-Eat Edition
Based on efficiency margin, MSU has been as dominant in their conference as any team in any of the six BCS conferences. (Update: Luke Winn’s noticed this, or something like it, too.)
Big Ten Championship – Tonight!
Geeks hyperbolize (but only a bit).
The No-Stats All-Star
Someone posted this in the comments the other day. The author of “Moneyball” takes on basketball (Shane Battier playing basketball, to be more specific). Give it a read and we’ll discuss later.

Posted in open thread | Tagged purdue | 129 Comments

129 Responses

on February 17, 2009 at 5:46 pm zachary

i enrolled in grad school this year and it stinks because every tuesday game i miss because of class. hopefully we get the W. go green!
on February 17, 2009 at 5:52 pm GroundZeroEastLansing

I hear ya Zach. I’ve got a class that meets every Tuesday and Thursday that goes ’til 8:20. I put the games on my DVR, but I can still hear people in the next door apartments yelling about something.

Luckily, this is the last Tuesday game of the year, I’m pretty sure.

Question for the thread: Over/Under on Raymar’s Boards + Points : 12.5. Take the over or under?
on February 17, 2009 at 6:08 pm NoPo Sparty

GZEL – I’ll take the under, but not by much – I say 6 & 6.

Here’s another one – Which will be higher? Pts. + boards or minutes?

This is a huge week that has the potential to seal it for us or totally derail us – A tough Purdue team on the road and a surging Wiscy team that’s been the thorn in our sides for years (and desperately needs the win for a tourney bid). I’m nervous, but cautiously optimistic. GO GREEN!
on February 17, 2009 at 6:12 pm MooTheKow

I’m going go with the under. Though – maybe he’ll pretend he’s Suton and just come back and have a stellar game and put up like 17 points.
on February 17, 2009 at 6:20 pm MooTheKow

Sweet merciful crap… Refs tonight are Hightower, Burr, and Valentine. God help us all.
on February 17, 2009 at 6:27 pm NoPo Sparty

Is Eddie High-on his own-(p)ower always the head official with the ability to overrule rational calls by the other refs.

I know, I know – complaining about officials again. But it’s so fun!
on February 17, 2009 at 6:28 pm MooTheKow

Hightower is on his 4th game in 4 days in his 4th different state… how does that man do his day job? And this is what.. 8 MSU games now he’s done? He apparently loves MSU.
on February 17, 2009 at 6:32 pm Chris

I’m actually not worried about Hightower tonight. His crew took a lot of heat last night for a couple of bad foul calls against Thabeet.
on February 17, 2009 at 6:33 pm MooTheKow

I’m more concerned with the unit as a whole… Valentine seems to have it in for Izzo and I think Burr is just a bad ref in general. C’est la vie – hope MSU plays well enough reffing one way or another doesn’t even come in to play. I want them to thump them like they did Minnesota .
on February 17, 2009 at 7:02 pm kj

Painter things reffing will be a factor. In his pregame speech (the bit shown on ESPN), he told his guys to keep their hands off MSU because the refs will call the game tight early.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:03 pm mk

Dicky V doesn’t sound good, why doesn’t espn let erin andrews take Vitale’s place? …
on February 17, 2009 at 7:05 pm NoPo Sparty

rrr…. darn Pacific Standard Time….
on February 17, 2009 at 7:09 pm Ben

Having a lot of trouble with the interior passing so far.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:10 pm Ben

Blown at least 3 or 4 layups already . . .
on February 17, 2009 at 7:11 pm kj

Rushing our offensive putbacks. Roe had a dunk there if he just gathered himself.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:12 pm Saltwater

Hasn’t come into play thus far, but I think if MSU can keep Purdue’s offensive rebounds below 10 or 12, they’re looking good.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:14 pm mk

stupid foul on gray… what was that!!!
on February 17, 2009 at 7:15 pm kj

Raymar isn’t being shy with the ball.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:17 pm SpartanDan

Everyone’s cold so far, for both teams.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:18 pm kj

I don’t like the way our 3-point shots are looking.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:19 pm SpartanDan

Scratch that: Everyone except Hummel is cold. Not good.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:21 pm kj

Izzo has to go small. Hummel’s going to kill us all night if his back doesn’t give out.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:22 pm Adam

Summers needs to be shooting.

He goes 2 for 2, hits a 3 that doesn’t get counted, and then he’s on the bench. What’s going on?!
on February 17, 2009 at 7:23 pm SpartanDan

Kramer already has five boards, and Purdue has three blocks.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:24 pm Ben

Ugh, absolutely horrible shooting thusfar.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:24 pm Ryan

17 MSU shots vs. 9 for Purdue. Keep that up and everything works out.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:27 pm Ben

Yeah, I really wonder if the cold shooting thusfar is a result of the long layoff. Hopefully Suton’s jumper portends good things.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:27 pm SpartanDan

Only if they miss a few, Ryan. Part of the reason we’re getting more shots (besides turnovers) is that we’ve missed so many. If you make all your shots, you can’t get any offensive rebounds.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:30 pm SpartanDan

For a small team, Purdue is getting a ton of blocks.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:30 pm mk

Get the ball inside!
on February 17, 2009 at 7:30 pm MooTheKow

Kind of painful to watch so far. Think the good news is MSU can’t play any worse the rest of the game.. shooting can only improve at this point. Not in a hole so deep they can’t get out of it either. Also – anyone notice that Kalin is taking some awful shots?
on February 17, 2009 at 7:30 pm kj

Summers has two fouls.

Could/should be down more. I think that’s a good thing.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:31 pm Adam

If we win it’s because of the layoff, if we lose that’s why too.

We just don’t look sharp right now, and if you notice, the Purdue players are playing their guts out. Diving harder for passes, jumping extra high to block shots, playing with extra hustle in transition.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:31 pm Saltwater

Hey, you know spring is almost here when it’s time to indifferently ignore televised fishing. Thanks, ESPN!
on February 17, 2009 at 7:32 pm SpartanDan

Summers back in, and he immediately hits a 3.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:35 pm SpartanDan

Purdue has as many blocks as we have baskets. It’s like our guys can’t get any height on their shots.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:36 pm SpartanDan

STOP MISSING OPEN LAYUPS!
on February 17, 2009 at 7:37 pm Ben

Purdue also plays fantastic interior defense. The layups they don’t block, they alter.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:38 pm Saltwater

Here’s a thought: Spend some money on a court that isn’t from 1943.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:38 pm Adam

Summers should have been dunking. He was already four feet higher than his defender. Dang!
on February 17, 2009 at 7:38 pm Ryan

Just keep taking it inside and let ‘Tower do his thing.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:41 pm Ben

Good Lord, I know that these calls are mostly going our way, but Hightower is ridiculous.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:42 pm Adam

Morgan might be hurting more than helping at this point. Let the sick kid sit.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:42 pm MooTheKow

Thank god MSU is only down 3…. if they can start playing better on the offensive end and actually start getting some defensive rebounds MSU has a shot I think.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:42 pm Ryan

Purdue looks like they’re getting a bit of the tired legs already. Looks like all that flying around the court for the first ten minutes may not have been a great plan.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:46 pm mk

GRAB THAT BALL, ROE!!!
on February 17, 2009 at 7:46 pm kj

Hummel blatantly shoved Suton to get open for that basket. Now I’m OK with someone giving him a hard elbow to his back.

We are simply awful at feeding the post.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:47 pm SpartanDan

Beautiful block by Draymond. Too bad Purdue keeps it on the arrow.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:47 pm mk

Allen, should have hit the 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WAS WIDE OPEN!!!! why drive in>?
on February 17, 2009 at 7:48 pm kj

Allen’s gotta take that shot. It was a charge as soon as he put the ball on the floor.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:49 pm Adam

Allen’s got confidence issues. The Drew Neitzel type.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:51 pm MooTheKow

Allen needs to sit a lot more than he has.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:56 pm Ryan

Playing like that, on the road, against a good team, and only down by three? I’ll take it.
on February 17, 2009 at 7:58 pm Andrew

Purdue can’t be happy with only a 3 point lead at half.

Based on this game and past games, the options in the second half should be:

1.) Summers
2.) Lucas
3.) Summers
4.) Suton
5.) Lucas
6.) Morgan
on February 17, 2009 at 7:58 pm Chris

That last play by Allen might be a blessing. Now Izzo has an excuse to sit him. Did Summers get called for his second foul when the Purdue defender tripped over his own feet?
on February 17, 2009 at 8:01 pm Adam

Halftime Thoughts – I’m pretty happy with the one possession game after that trainwreck. I don’t think I’ve seen so many missed shots from two feet before.

Purdue is already in foul trouble. That bodes well. We can attack the paint with more confidence if we know the other team is afraid of having their “big men” foul out.

Hummel – not a problem, just put Walton on him.

Summers – needs to be shooting 3′s whenever an easy 2 isn’t open. If he misses, he needs to rebound it. Ha.

Morgan – sit down.

Lucas – WTF is wrong with you today? When you drive for the easy layup or pull up for a short jumper, make sure the ball goes near the basket.

That’s all I really have to say.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:03 pm mk

I guess 10 toes pointing to the basket is what Allen needs!!
on February 17, 2009 at 8:03 pm SpartanDan

I’m trying to figure out how we’re only down 3 after that train wreck of a half. The good news is, Purdue gets to shoot at the carnival rim this half.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:04 pm Ben

We played horrible basketball for much of the first half, and we’re only down by three. I firmly believe that we’ll win this game.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:04 pm MooTheKow

In all fairness to Lucas (and other MSU players) — they’ve been getting hacked to hell with no fouls being called. Lot of their shots are not just flat out missing — it’s their arms being hit or their body being jerked around while trying to shoot.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:05 pm Ryan

Chris, I think Summers only has one foul. ESPN Gamecast (if that’s what you’re looking at) always has phantom fouls.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:05 pm SpartanDan

That may have something to do with it, of course. Hightower apparently thinks MMA rules apply as long as you’re in the shooting motion.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:07 pm MooTheKow

Burr is the ref who isn’t calling anything. He was right in front of Hummel when he throw Suton to the ground before that layup and swallowed his whistle.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:09 pm kj

Pretty sure Summers has 2 offensive fouls. Unless they called one of them a travel.

I’m with Ben. This game is ours for the taking.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:10 pm Andrew

You’d swallow the whistle too if you were working with Hightower and Valentine.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:10 pm Chris

Roe is not having a good game. He calls for the ball when he doesn’t have great position and the ball goes out of bounds. He is responsible for at least 3 turnovers. I’m sure Izzo stressed getting the ball down low during pre-game. It’s easy to make a gppd entry pass down low against tough man to man.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:10 pm Jason

We’ve played 10 players in the first half. I think with the tough schedule coming up, keep using our depth and get Allen’s confidence up for March. We will pull away in the last 7-8 minutes.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:13 pm SpartanDan

I’m trying to imagine a way this half could have started worse, short of injury, and failing miserably.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:13 pm mk

This is ours to lose… and it sure seems like it.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:13 pm MooTheKow

So… that was the absolutely worst start to the half imaginable. Think this game may be over – I feel a blow-out coming on
on February 17, 2009 at 8:15 pm SpartanDan

Not so sure, Moo – we’re good for a run at some point. I don’t think we can shoot 25% for the whole night.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:16 pm MooTheKow

I hope you’re right – but we’ll see. I’m not feeling confident being 10 down against this defense with these refs letting ‘em play super tough D.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:17 pm SpartanDan

Well, that’s one way to avoid missing. Throw it down!
on February 17, 2009 at 8:19 pm SpartanDan

Five offensive fouls to none? I wish I could say I was surprised.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:22 pm Ben

Well, this is garbage. But I still think we win.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:25 pm Mark in DC

I know Purdue has good FG defense, but we couldn’t hit water if we fell out of a boat, which is one of our two main problems. The other is we’d drop the boat long before we got to the lake.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:26 pm Ben

All right, Walton got HACKED there.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:26 pm MooTheKow

Why does Izzo insist on playing Allen over Summers?

And god this is going to be a blowout. How disappointing. Wish they’d call an even game.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:26 pm mk

Can’t anyone shoot the ball? Or a decent pass?
on February 17, 2009 at 8:26 pm SpartanDan

Will they ever call a foul out on the perimeter?
on February 17, 2009 at 8:27 pm Jason

Down by 15 do we quit like the NC game or step up?
on February 17, 2009 at 8:27 pm SpartanDan

I take back the comment about the carnival rim. Apparently Purdue moved it down to the other end.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:28 pm MooTheKow

Does this honestly surprise anyone? Knew going in MSU had an uphill battle w/ this reffing crew against the kind of defense purdue players… MSU was going to have to be on fire to win this and they’ve been super cold.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:29 pm SpartanDan

Will someone please guard that guy? Anyone?
on February 17, 2009 at 8:31 pm mk

Do the D on the perimeter, just like purdue does. Or, set some screen and help the guard. the refs are not calling anything on the perimeter.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:31 pm SpartanDan

Here comes that run I was talking about. Hope it’s big enough to make up for the awful run before it.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:33 pm kj

Lucas losing his composure is the most disappointing thing. Izzo pulled him for Lucious for a long stretch there.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:36 pm mk

What foul on green? stupid ref…
on February 17, 2009 at 8:36 pm MooTheKow

I hate watching this crud… they need to call the same way on both ends of the court.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:36 pm SpartanDan

Stop throwing the ball away! 16 turnovers is way too many.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:37 pm mk

Izzo’s face turning really red… and mine toooooo
on February 17, 2009 at 8:37 pm SpartanDan

Make that 17 on the arrow, mostly because they decided not to call the blatant hack on Suton.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:39 pm Ben

Have we made a 3 yet

EDIT: Yeah, Summers in the 1st half. But it’s been a looooong time.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:40 pm SpartanDan

Seriously, Hightower? That’s a foul and Suton getting tag-team mauled while shooting isn’t?
on February 17, 2009 at 8:40 pm MooTheKow

I hate these games where you watch the entire 2nd half knowing your team is going to lose. Very frustrating…
on February 17, 2009 at 8:41 pm Ben

ABSURD. Where was the foul there?!?!
on February 17, 2009 at 8:41 pm SpartanDan

Vicious dunk by Summers. I like.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:42 pm SpartanDan

Okay, so a nudge by Raymar is a foul, but when he gets flattened going for a rebound it’s a travel. Thanks a lot Hightower.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:43 pm SpartanDan

I’d tell you what I just screamed at the TV, but it’s most definitely not G-rated.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:43 pm Adam

That’s game. Hope everyone else has a good night. Mine has turned into screaming and throwing things.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:43 pm mk

d**m,,, how come no foul call on the perimeter…. lucas is manhandled!!!
on February 17, 2009 at 8:44 pm MooTheKow

Goodnight everyone… I can’t watch this anymore… with good refs maybe i’d give MSU a chance.. not tonight though.. hope Saturday with Wisconsin goes better or this season could go into a tailspin pretty quick.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:47 pm SpartanDan

A Purdue foul! Stop the presses!
on February 17, 2009 at 8:47 pm mk

again,, foul on roe? can’t believe this stupid inconsistent refs.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:48 pm Jason

Hightower foul fest, looks like we’ll be up until 10
on February 17, 2009 at 8:50 pm SpartanDan

Suton, where were you on that play? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone lose their man that badly – probably the Indiana game last year when Sampson was fired and the team stopped trying.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:53 pm Mark in Chicago

We always seem to have one of these road games every year where we get blown out. I just hope we keep it under 25.

The officiating is terrible, but it’s not why we’re getting creamed. We can’t hit a shot, and it’s got very little to do with Purdue’s defense. Open looks, not going in.

And what is it about Purdue’s defense that we can’t even get off a 3-point shot?
on February 17, 2009 at 8:54 pm SpartanDan

Lucas, what were you thinking there?
on February 17, 2009 at 8:55 pm mk

start full court press…. have give it up?
on February 17, 2009 at 8:56 pm SpartanDan

Mark, the officiating is not the reason we’re losing. But it’s part of the reason it isn’t close. If Purdue weren’t getting away with misdemeanor assault on the perimeter, we’d have about half as many turnovers.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:56 pm Adam

Bad passing. That seems to me to be the basis of our problems tonight.

Just look really nervous.
on February 17, 2009 at 8:58 pm Mark in Chicago

I can’t wait to see our TO% from this game. 30%? 35%? And PU has truned them into like 21 points. Meanwhile we’ve gotten whopping 3 points off their TO’s. Throw in a few offensive rebounds where we came up empty and dreadful shooting all around and you’ve got a blowout.

Whee.
on February 17, 2009 at 9:01 pm SpartanDan

All you need to know about the game: Second half turnovers: 12 for us, 3 for Purdue.
on February 17, 2009 at 9:02 pm SpartanDan

Make that 13. Mein Gott.
on February 17, 2009 at 9:04 pm Adam

They would have beaten us without Hummel. This I know.
on February 17, 2009 at 9:04 pm mk

Is this the team that we are going to see at Illinois as well? …

Why time out now? with 1 minute to go?

And then we get Allen’s air ball?
on February 17, 2009 at 9:08 pm Ben

Well _that_ was absolutely horrible.
on February 17, 2009 at 9:11 pm Mark in DC

That’s two games in a row that the wheels have come off on offense. We got away with it against Michigan but we seem to be devolving.
on February 17, 2009 at 9:12 pm Josh

The team looks so hurried and out of sorts when tightly defended on the perimeter. Bizarre.
on February 17, 2009 at 9:12 pm rook34

Yikes. Credit to Purdue, they took us apart in the second half.

Izzo has some serious coaching to do.
on February 17, 2009 at 9:12 pm MooTheKow

I feel MSU is going to lose against Wisconsin and @Illinois. I have a feeling the last game of the season will be a 5-loss MSU team playing a 4-loss Purdue team for a chance to create a 3-way tie for first.
on February 17, 2009 at 9:20 pm Fox

This was disgusting. I can’t wait to watch Purdue knocked out of the NCAA Tourney in the first round. They are not, by any definition, a good basketball team. The only thing Purdue proved tonight is they are far superior to State in a 40 minute session of competitive grab-ass.
on February 17, 2009 at 9:27 pm rook34

Disclaimer: I am not blaming the result on the officials. Purdue was better than us tonight.

But Purdue is going to have a hard time ever translating their game to the tournament with their style of grabbing, clutching defense. That will not fly in the tournament. It flies well in the Big 10, though.
on February 17, 2009 at 9:30 pm Seer

Count me as another who feels that the style of defense that Purdue was able to get away with made a loss look worse than it should have. The differences between what Purdue and MSU could get away with defensively was night and day.
on February 17, 2009 at 9:35 pm Fox

I agree State didn’t deserve to win the game tonight. But… Purdue and Wisconsin seem to do this every year. They trot out 5 gumpy hacks and end up winning enough games by a score of 36-32 to win the Big Ten. Then they go into the tournament and “underachieve”. It’s really an embarrassment. I think MSU is the only team in the league whose game will translate come tournament time.
on February 17, 2009 at 10:34 pm Mark in Chicago

I really can’t stand Kirk Kramer. He reminds of the guy at the end of Karate Kid who’s yelling at Lawrence to put LaRusso in a bodybag. So irritating it’s unbelievable.

I just want to punch him repeatedly.
on February 17, 2009 at 10:58 pm SpartanDan

I understand that feeling, Mark. So do Big Ten players, apparently – he’s been on the wrong end of at least one of the recent plague of elbows, I think two of them (Krabbenhoft and Harris). He’s an absolute pest, which would be a complement if I wasn’t 90% sure he gets away with an absurd number of fouls in the process.
on February 17, 2009 at 11:02 pm rook34

Kramer is a hack, but he’s convinced the refs that he’s a “hustler” so he gets a ton of calls. He’s also a bully. I remember the Duke game this year when Kyle Singler laughed, with his mouth wide open, at Kramer’s act and Kramer then ran and hid for the rest of the game.

We could use someone with Singler’s arrogance.
on February 18, 2009 at 3:53 pm kj

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MSU-Purdue Open Thread

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