Not only did lightning quick (tell that to Ty Lawson) sophomore guard Kalin Lucas struggle, virtually no points came from Michigan State’s frontline, and to make matters worse, the Ford Field crowd had the intensity of a mid-August Royals crowd at Kauffman Stadium.

Spartans Weblog author kj was actually at the drubbing,

…the environment at Ford Field didn’t help. The sparse crowd (relative to the size of the arena) never gave the team any kind of emotional lift. At one point in the second half, the crowd gave a Bronx cheer after a made field goal–something I’ve never witnessed in my years of attending MSU basketball games.

So we’ll give the team a gigantic pass on the final twenty minutes of the game.

Watching the Spartans from time to time so far this season, I get the feeling this team is missing one ingredient. I believe that one ingredient is a healthy and explosive Delvon Roe. Once he gets back that extra lift he had prior to the knee surgery, look out. He’s currently averaging 5.5 rebs/gm and 1.2 blk/gm. He’s shown some flashes. He has a high basketball IQ.

Unfortunately for State fans Delvon won’t be back at full strength until next season. Wait, actually that’s a great thing.

Just think about next season …

Jr. Kalin Lucas
Jr. Chris Allen
Jr. Durrell Summers
Sr. Raymar Morgan (iffy)
So. Delvon Roe
So. Korie Lucious
So. Draymond Green

Not even counting the couple solid freshmen coming in.

I know I know, it’s not always about next season. Predictable trap everyone gets sucked into at certain times.

But next season does look good for Sparty.

Post from: EveryJoe

Spartans not looking so mighty

Hold it– 52… 52.

Nix that.

52 votes have been cast and 22 of the votes went to MSU’s Delvon Roe.

I think this polling thing is getting to Delvon’s head a bit.

Newscom

Thinking big: MSU freshman Delvon Roe believes the Spartans will national title contenders in his first season. “I think we can go all the way. We have everything in place – size, talent, athleticism,” he said.

source

Hold it right there…

Will they be able to post a solid enough record to warrant a top two or three seed in the tourney?

MSU’s schedule might be the “toughest” one yet, so says Tom Izzo.

Nov. 19- IPFW away
Nov. 27- Maryland in Orlando (Old Spice Classic)
Nov. 28- Gonzaga/Oklahoma St.
Nov. 30- Tennessee/Georgetown/ Wichita St.
Dec. 3- UNC in Detroit
Dec. 13- Alcorn St. home
Dec. 20- Texas in Houston
Dec. 27- Oakland in Detroit
Jan.10- Kansas home

Delvon Roe talks the talk, but can he walk the walk?

Izzo isn’t ready to make predictions on what Roe will give MSU on the court as a freshman. He has a good idea, though, what Roe will give off the court.
Moments after MSU’s season-ending 92-74 loss to Memphis, Roe sent text messages to every one of his future teammates, telling them to stay positive and start thinking about next season.
“I mean, who does that?” Izzo said. “They say leaders aren’t made, they’re born, and I think he might be one of those guys. I think he can lead for us right away.”

source

If Raymar Morgan doesn’t have an all conference type of season, it might not matter. Unless your name is Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose, leave the leading up to the experienced guys.

New poll is up, please vote.

Post from: EveryJoe

Polling is closed, top pre-season freshman crowned

Usually Izzo recruits pan out.

Look for this kid to be fantastic come the Big Ten slate.

Post from: EveryJoe

Delvon Roe dunk!

My crystal ball I dust off every July or August is acting abnormally insane, as, for the very first time, the Northwestern Wildcats have scratched their way to the front of my lopsided prediction formation… via the crystal ball.

I need to listen to the ball.

You can’t not listen to the ball.

It’s like the Tommyknockers.

Apparently Kevin Coble and his band of international scholars, not so much ballers, are going to be getting some help of the vertically gifted variety this next season. Four 6’8 or taller players are included in this year’s class.

Last year, not even one player on the squad was taller than 6’8, leaving star Kevin Coble, more of perimeter oriented player, to be the only real Wildcat threat on the boards.

The Bill Carmody led team should be able to crack the top 7 in the Big Ten this season provided Coble plays the entire year and the bulk of the rotation improves.

Could a postseason appearance be in the cards for the first time since Carmody has been in Evanston?

Hell yes, surely now that there’s a 3rd postseason tournament.

No excuses!

So ten teams, players or college basketball ingredients are to be predicted upon by me

After the tenth and final prediction, you can categorize me as either a

A) moron
B) racist (races)
C) Dwight Howard cornbread non-apologist
D) genius
E) homer
F) D and E

Prediction # 1

1) The Michigan State Spartans will once again let down their exceptionally loyal and passionate fan base with a less than impressive run in the NCAA tourney. This means they will not advance past the Sweet 16. Underachieve has become a common word thrown around in East Lansing lately and it makes you wonder whether Izzo can get it done anymore.

Izzo is a fabulous recruiter, but he doesn’t seem to be able to mesh his roster together at the right time.

This year’s team, no different from most Izzo teams, has a wealth of depth and athleticism. The team can play small and fast, or also big and long, provided prized recruit Delvon Roe is in good enough shape to hold his own and whether or not Marquise Gray or Tom Herzog can show consistency.

Don’t count on it.

I cannot easily forget the team that lost to George Mason in round 1 three years ago. Shannon Brown, Maurice Ager and Paul Davis wore the Spartan green that year. To go out that way left a bad taste in a lot of fan’s mouths.

While I lean towards the Michigan Wolverines side for rooting purposes in-state, I still like to see the Spartans succeed.

Oh well, I just remembered being very shocked and let down by that loss. I probably had them going to the Elite 8 or something, like I do every year.

Damn.

$10 would be helpful right about now.

Punctual predictions 2-10 coming up in later posts.

Also I’ll explain the Northwestern Wildcat squad and why they got a mention on this blog.

Actually I’ll have to refer back to the crystal meth, I mean ball about that.

(50-20 at the half)

?

Post from: EveryJoe

Prediction one, actually there’s two in here