Losing Drew Neitzel won’t be as catastrophic for the Spartans as it would be for quite a few other quality teams in the country. Izzo had some depth to work with last year and that allowed fellow guard Kalin Lucas, now a sophomore, to really gain a wealth of experience. As one of the fastest players in the country, Kalin often does not need anyone to accompany him on a fast break. He’s an up tempo player of the A grade variety. He can also shoot a little too (36% 3pt). Crafty defensive veteran Travis Walton also returns, as does sharp shooter Chris Allen and athletic do it all wing Durrell Summers. All of those guys finish in transition and bring intangibles to the table that every really good team must have.

Wing/forward Raymar Morgan is the most polished player on the team. He will certainly be asked to add to his 14ppg total of last year. If he can be a legitimate threat from downtown (just 33 attempts last season), there’s not much Raymar can’t do on offense. He’s solid. He needs to be more spectacular.

The obvious strength of the Spartans is the backcourt and wing position. It might be under the radar, but it’s budding for sure.

But what about the front court?

Don’t count on Tom Herzog or Idong Ibok to sufficiently replace departed senior Drew Naymick. Let’s not over blow Drew’s importance. Firstly, it took the once offensively challenged Naymick about 7 years to contribute and while it’s important to give credit where credit is due (Drew came a long way in that time and really played like a competent Big Ten big man his last two seasons), the Spartans will miss his defensive presence, but not much else. They can do better. But the question remains, can Gray, Ibok, and Herzog actually do it?

The upside on Herzog seems high still, but similar expectations were put on Marquise Gray, a 5 star recruit four years ago.

Gray has been a bust to say the least.

Gray has all the athletic attributes a player needs, but he doesn’t seem to yet be able to grasp Izzo’s concepts. He’ll have his shining moments for sure, although Izzo will likely remember the head scratching-hair pulling moments he’s endured because of Gray the most.

Izzo only a minute away from taking large, thick chunks of hair out his skull while pleading with Marquise Gray on why he fouled the other team 60 feet from the hoop

Herzog, if he has gained any more weight, should be good for more than 13 games at 5 minutes a pop. He has the reputation of being somewhat competent on the block, whereas Gray and Ibok do not, but Herzog does not possess the strength to stay on the block at this level yet. It’s apparent, just look at the numbers, Ibok played in 13 more games and gives you nothing on offense. The future sure looks shaky for Herzog.

Video from a couple of years ago-

As far as Ibok is concerned, heck, he’s on the books for just one more year. Ibok has shown an inconsistent work ethic and furthermore has instilled little to no confidence into Izzo. Ibok is not what you call a basketball player yet. He’s a project still in the developmental stage. But better yet, he already has his degree, so, he has something a lot of college basketball players will never obtain.

It’s imperative for the bench bigs to overachieve, if you will, since it’s a foregone conclusion that Goran Suton will look like Bill Walton one play and then an immobile Christian Laettner the next six.

Put Suton down for 10 and 8 and be done with it. Throw it aside. He is what he is. Serviceable.

Delvon Roe, while a stud in my view, may come along slower than expected because of his injury difficulties. But soon enough he should be starting along with Morgan and Suton up front. Those 3 complement each other very nicely. You got some flash and sizzle in there, some inside-outside flavor and some quality post action to count on as well.

Overall the team, on a national level, mind you, might not be considered top 5 caliber, but I see them as a formidable top 5 team. The pieces are in place to become elite, but when push comes to shove, the impressing play they will exude in the regular season will come to a sudden halt somewhere in the 2nd or 3rd round of the tourney.

Unless freshman Draymond Green or junior Isaiah Dahlman, two, as of now, unlikely rotational players, have something in store to add to this team, like something significant, then the Spartans will be about one impact player short of a final four caliber team.

Thinking back a little, I’m tempted to proclaim that this might be the year the Spartans get back to that elite level. It would be the perfect year to do so.

Actually, kidding aside, it would be perfect this year.

The Final Four is in Michigan– Ford Field.

Think the Spartans wouldn’t be the favorites?

Ha.

I’d take em.

Post from: EveryJoe

MSU Spartans #3

Now the Worldwide Leader in Sports is seeking to find out which United States city is TitleTown USA.

All this month they are visiting places like Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Massillon, OH, Parkersburg, WV, and Valdosta, GA with entertaining and interesting stats ranging from some high school with a boatload of state championships to professional franchises with a long history of winning to justify them being named TitleTown USA.

Whatever!

When it comes to college basketball there’s only one TitleTown USA.

You guessed it – LOS ANGELES!

Just head north on the 405 freeway from L.A. International Airport, exit Wilshire Blvd. and you’re there.

UCLA!

With 11 national championships, 40 conference titles, a legendary coach, legendary players, dozens of players sent to the NBA and numerous hall of famers, there’s no question that Los Angeles and UCLA is TitleTown USA for college basketball.

John Wooden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lew Alcindor during his playing days with the Bruins), Bill Walton, Marcus Johnson, Gail Goodrich and Reggie Miller are some that have become household names in the world of college basketball.

UCLA continues to be a college basketball power with three consecutive final four appearance, and many believe (including yours truly) that a fourth appearance and another championship could happen next year.

I know many of you in places like North Carolina, Kentucky and especially Indiana are frowning and think you can make an argument for your town and school to be called TitleTown USA.

Go right ahead.

I would never disrespect other great college basketball programs such as North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, Indiana, Kansas or Connecticut or the people who live and attend the schools there. I’m actually a big fan of some of those programs. I’m just stating a fact. No other school has had a greater impact on college basketball than UCLA.

Some of you will also try to make an argument that UCLA’s 1,642 wins doesn’t come close to Kentucky’s 1,966, North Carolina’s 1,950 and Kansas’ 1,943 on the all-time wins list.

But I’m not talking about wins. I’m talking about titles baby!

Kentucky is second behind UCLA in national titles with seven, Indiana has five, North Carolina has four and Kansas and Duke have three each.

Kentucky has seven titles overall. Hey, UCLA won seven straight from 1967-73! During that period the Bruins had an 88-game winning streak. They also have an NCAA record four undefeated seaons (1964, 67, 72 and 73).

We’ll have to wait until July 28 on ESPN’s SportsCenter to find out who will be named TitleTown USA (my bet is that it’ll be the small town with the boatload of high school state championship).

But college basketball’s TitleTown USA is in Los Angeles and UCLA!

Post from: EveryJoe

College Basketball’s TitleTown USA