Indiana Open Thread « Spartans Weblog

Indiana Open Thread

March 3, 2009 by kj

Get ready to pop open the champagne, my friends. (I myself have a bottle of Chimay I’ve been saving for such an occasion.)

Pregame Reading

Fun with seeds
Mr. Rexrode breaks it down. Being the last of the #1 seeds really isn’t any better than being the first of the #2 seeds.
Michigan State, take 2
The Hoosier Report’s take on the game (and final post before movin’ on up).
Taber talks senior night and Michigan State
IU’s only senior.
College Basketball Chronotope
A Big Ten power poll from our friend Devin.
Wisconsin can still get the No. 2 seed (we think)
Fun with tie-breakers.
What? The Duke game isn’t on TV?
The internet backlash against Ed Hightower is “out of proportion”? Ludicrous!
Spartans OLB Greg Jones in the 2009 Offseason: Follow The Leader
Bonus football link; The Rivalry, Esq. says Jones shouldn’t bulk up.

Posted in open thread | Tagged indiana | 83 Comments

83 Responses

on March 3, 2009 at 7:12 pm mk

I guess everyone is looking forward to the Purdue game already?

I hope to see everyone play today and some sign of Allen’s recovery.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:12 pm TMadison25

Lock ‘em up boys!

I think DeChellis deserves COY, especially after they beat Illinois at home. Of course Izzo is a close second.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:15 pm mk

Allen’s defense isn’t good….. Three continuous points by IU players when Allen defended
on March 3, 2009 at 7:21 pm donaldo

I’d like to see more intensity on the defensive end. We started well and now have lapsed.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:22 pm TMadison25

Someone please try to defend Izzo playing Gray… ever.

Although he stepped out of bounds, Morgan’s steal is proving that he’s getting closer and closer to game shape.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:29 pm donaldo

You just can’t let a lesser team stay with you at their house – that’s treading in dangerous territory.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:29 pm Tman

Looks like we are looking ahead to Purdue…….we need to start clamping down on D and finish this thing!
on March 3, 2009 at 7:30 pm NoPo Sparty

Are we really getting out-rebounded by Indiana? I know they hustle & it’s Senior night and everything, but come on…..
on March 3, 2009 at 7:31 pm kj

Raymar’s jumpshot appears to be back in synch.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:33 pm donaldo

Agree on Morgan. He is playing in the flow of the game and shooting well.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:35 pm TMadison25

I think they are banking on running them to death.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:35 pm Chris

How does a non-athletic team like IU get to the rim at will against us?
on March 3, 2009 at 7:41 pm donaldo

This is when you ask – Is this the same team that played Illinois?
on March 3, 2009 at 7:42 pm TMadison25

Same team, on short rest… thinking this game would be a breeze. Izzo hopefully will light a fire at halftime.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:44 pm MooTheKow

MSU defense parting like the red sea every time Indiana drives to the hoop… disappointing.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:44 pm donaldo

We can play 10 or 11 players, so we should have enough gas in our tanks.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:47 pm kj

We’re hitting a very high percentage of 3-point shots we don’t airball.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:49 pm donaldo

We are missing the passion I expected from a team playing for the outright championship. Indiana is outhustling us.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:51 pm TMadison25

Suton seems the most out of sync… Do you think Izzo cares about the long two-pointers?
on March 3, 2009 at 7:53 pm Ben

God, I love Kalin. What a way to end the half.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:55 pm kj

34-27 lead in a 31-possession half.

I think you have to chalk up the sloppy offensive play (8 TOs) to the short turnaround (29 hours between games)–and the fact Crean is using some junk defenses to keep us from getting into a rhythm.

The lack of defensive/rebounding intensity is disappointing, though.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:56 pm Chris

Looks like Dumes got hit with a little karma for his actions against us last time.
on March 3, 2009 at 7:58 pm MooTheKow

Last game was 33-26 at half-time. Looks like we’re watching a replay. Hopefully they pull away and blow them out by nearly 30 again. First half was pretty disappointing in the last meeting as well.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:09 pm donaldo

KJ,
For the record, I believe the turnaround time is more than 29 hours. They played Sunday afternoon and now it is Tuesday evening.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:12 pm kj

Oh, yeah. I’m not very good with numbers. 53 hours.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:13 pm donaldo

I guess the halftime chewing out hasn’t kicked in yet.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:19 pm MooTheKow

Again – disappointing. I shouldn’t feel like MSU could very easily lose this game – but I do.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:23 pm Tman

What’s the old saying…….”playing to level of your competition?” Even if we win this one, we can certainly kiss any opportunity at a #1 seed goodbye!
on March 3, 2009 at 8:24 pm TMadison25

Raymar is making some solid shots.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:24 pm kj

Thank goodness we’re knocking down the 3 tonight.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:25 pm donaldo

Too many easy looks for Indiana. I really thought our defense would be more intense.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:27 pm nopo sparty

Got the 3 pt touch back but lost our D along the way
on March 3, 2009 at 8:28 pm MooTheKow

I want offense and defense in the same game just once…
on March 3, 2009 at 8:31 pm donaldo

Dr. Jekyl meet Mr. Hyde.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:39 pm nopo sparty

Does anybody know if Izzo’s ever had a guy who didn’t play much as an underclassman but got significant minutes as a Jr or Sr? I just wonder if Herzog or Thornton really have a future with this team.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:44 pm MooTheKow

Man is Suton off tonight…
on March 3, 2009 at 8:46 pm kj

Can’t think of a direct comparable, nopo. At least in terms of a player who didn’t even play in a majority of the team’s games as a freshman/sophomore.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:47 pm kj

What was Izzo upset about?
on March 3, 2009 at 8:49 pm MooTheKow

I assume izzo didn’t think there was a travel by Kalin on the posession before.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:52 pm Adam

What the heck is going on here? 13 point lead to 2 point lead in 3 minutes?
on March 3, 2009 at 8:54 pm TMadison25

Refs are starting to tighten it up this half… We need to adjust.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:55 pm donaldo

Another opportunity to see what they are made up down the stretch – not what I had in mind tonight.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:55 pm Adam

I’m starting to feel like it’s the ninth inning, and we’re up by one, and we just pulled Todd Jones for Kyle Farnsworth with the bases loaded.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:55 pm mk

can’t believe this is happening. Without Suton (well with off-suton), can’t do anything?
on March 3, 2009 at 8:56 pm kj

I would now like to state that it is entirely possible for IU to win this game and no one should be getting ready to open bottles of champagne.

Need to get Morgan into the middle of the zone.
on March 3, 2009 at 8:59 pm mk

Even with a win, there shouldn’t be any champagne. Is this the game between the 1st in bigten and the last bigten?
on March 3, 2009 at 8:59 pm MooTheKow

This could be one of the worst losses i’ve ever witnessed.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:00 pm Adam

If we lose, I blame Kyle for telling us to open champagne.

(It’s too late to take it back, Kyle. Even though you tried.)
on March 3, 2009 at 9:00 pm donaldo

We may win, but we haven’t done much to deserve it.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:02 pm mk

call time out and gather players… what’s going on???
on March 3, 2009 at 9:03 pm donaldo

This ball shouldn’t leave Lucas’ hands. He has to create.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:03 pm MooTheKow

8 minutes w/o a basket against indiana… MSU doesn’t deserve anything playing like this.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:03 pm Adam

It’s a coin flip at this point. I’m just hoping it’s a green one.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:04 pm Zeke

WOOOO
on March 3, 2009 at 9:04 pm Adam

HOLY CRAP RAYMAR
on March 3, 2009 at 9:04 pm MooTheKow

That… was incredible
on March 3, 2009 at 9:05 pm kj

Raymar.

Wow.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:05 pm TMadison25

raymar putback!!!!
on March 3, 2009 at 9:05 pm mk

let raymar have a glass of champagne
on March 3, 2009 at 9:05 pm donaldo

That’s the kind of flew I like.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:07 pm Adam

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone do that this year. Just fly up off a miss and slam it home. That was ridiculous.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:08 pm MooTheKow

Not sure MSU deserves this one… will be glad if they pull it off… 7 seconds left and it’s looking good.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:11 pm donaldo

Man, I wish I could do that Raymar move.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:11 pm MooTheKow

Gameball goes to Raymar…. very lucky to have him back and at full strength (even though he, like everyone else, couldn’t rebound most of the game).
on March 3, 2009 at 9:12 pm kj

Outright Champs!

But no Dance of Joy after this performance.

(I am going to have the bottle of Chimay–but mainly to calm my nerves.)
on March 3, 2009 at 9:13 pm GroundZeroEastLansing

ESCAPE. GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS ESCAPE.

That, and becoming Big 10 outright champs. That was pretty awesome too.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:13 pm TMadison25

White, Red or Blue?

Don’t care the score or performance… Raymar is back and a win is a win!
on March 3, 2009 at 9:15 pm kj

Actually, I have one bottle of each, T. (Holiday gift pack.)
on March 3, 2009 at 9:15 pm mk

I don’t think I will ever (in this season) have a chance to enjoy relaxing final minutes of spartan basketball.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:20 pm Mark in Chicago

Wow, that was much more difficult than it needed to be (or should have been). Very uninspired performance.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:21 pm NoPo Sparty

I don’t care if it was ugly…. We got the win and ARE THE CHAMPS baby!!

IU’s been a tough team of late, so I’m not really surprised they gave us a game….
on March 3, 2009 at 9:23 pm TMadison25

Kudos to IU, Crean and the players. They have been playing with some ferocity. Look out when Crean gets his players in there.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:28 pm Ben

Crappy performance? Don’t care. Outright champions!
on March 3, 2009 at 9:33 pm mk

The only reason they didn’t feel like winning is that players didn’t want Izzo to shave his head?????
on March 3, 2009 at 9:41 pm GroundZeroEastLansing

Also for those in the Lansing area:

Attention Izzone:

Show your support for our 2009 Big Ten Championship team by welcoming back Coach Izzo and the Spartan Basketball team to the Breslin Center. Enter through the tunnel entrance of the Breslin Center. (The tunnel entrance is accessed through the Breslin parking lot off the Shaw Lane.) Fans will be admitted at 11:00 p.m. The team is scheduled to arrive at the Breslin Center at approximately 11:30pm. Let’s get as many Izzone members there as possible and show the team that we support them at all times. Bring your friends, roommates, or call your family ? let’s do our part to pack the Breslin and welcome home our 2009 Big Ten Champions!
on March 3, 2009 at 9:41 pm donaldo

They weren’t all pretty, but going 7-1 on the road is what wins conference championships.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:50 pm donaldo

Meant to say 8-1 in conference play.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:51 pm Ben

Donaldo — no kidding. And what a spectacular turnaround from previous years.
on March 3, 2009 at 9:55 pm Mark in Chicago

8-1 on the road in a tough conference is really remarkable. One could argue that if not for ridiculous shooting performances by Kevin Coble (as well as some truly sloppy play on our part) and Talor Battle we could be 16-1 overall….
on March 3, 2009 at 10:06 pm Stuka

Morgan has been a difference maker in the last two games… he’s making it very obvious just how much we’ve missed him for the past few weeks.

Outright champs… awesome.
on March 3, 2009 at 10:42 pm SpartanWoz

Rally tonight at the Breslin. Admission starts at 11pm. The team will arrive at 11:30pm.
on March 3, 2009 at 10:43 pm SpartanWoz

oops – i’m late. someone beat me to it.
on March 3, 2009 at 10:45 pm kj

Have fun, guys. And cheer extra loud for me. This old man needs to go to bed.

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Indiana Open Thread

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