Previewing Big Ten Basketball: MSU

As we arrive in East Lansing, we are nearing the completion of this early preview series on the Big Ten.  I've talked about some teams that I think will play a big role next year like Indiana, some that should drop-off like Ohio State, and teams that should have little to no impact like Nebraska.  The Spartans present an interesting scenario for next season.  They have living Big Ten legend Tom Izzo as coach and haven't missed the NCAA Tournament since 1997, but will need to make some key replacements for next season.  MSU had its low points during last year, but ultimately entered the NCAA Tournament as a #1 seed and had a pretty decent tournament run, even considering the team's high seeding.


Expectations were low to begin 2011 and there weren't many out there that thought MSU would be a big factor both in the Big Ten and the nation.  However, as the season progressed, MSU really started to excel. They began the year with an 0-2 record, but those were against ACC powerhouses North Carolina and Duke.  MSU dominated following this poor start, winning the next 15 games, including their first 4 Big Ten games.  Many thought OSU would be the Big Ten favorite throughout all of last year, but after the first few games, MSU was certainly the front-runner.  OSU, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan all had losses in the first few games.  On the other hand, MSU was undefeated and had beaten Indiana and Wisconsin.  What made this even more impressive was that Indiana had already beaten OSU and Michigan as well.

2014 Prospect Drake Harris Chooses MSU Over Michigan

Michigan's most interesting 2014 prospect has decided he will attend MSU over his other finalists, Michigan and Notre Dame.  Harris announced these finalists earlier in the week along with his desire to play both college football and basketball.  He is one of the few athletes in the nation that is planning to play both sports at the next level, which made him extremely intriguing to college coaches and fans alike.  We actually debated his ability at both football and basketball before his decision, which is something that I'm sure Spartan fans will now engage in before Harris arrives on campus.

In some ways, this is a major loss for Michigan. The ability to have a 4* recruit on your basketball team without using a scholarship is a pretty major advantage.  Tom Izzo is probably getting the most talented walk-on in the nation for 2014.  That's a pretty big advantage for MSU and Michigan missed out on that chance.  Michigan's basketball recruiting is in fine shape, but I don't think anybody out there will deny that adding a 4* walk-on will probably help the Spartans pretty significantly.

2014 WR/SG Drake Harris To Decide Wednesday

One of the key 2014 recruits in the state will announce his decision this Wednesday.  He's from Grand Rapids and is one of the most interesting recruits you will see anywhere in the nation.  Not only has he received major offers for football, but he's also received major offers for basketball.  Now, whether he will play both sports in college is still up in the air, but that is still extremely impressive.  Plus, it really changes up the way in which schools recruit him.


Instead of having to offer him two scholarships, a school can get away with giving him one scholarship and having him walk-on the basketball team.  Michigan and MSU have taken this route with Harris, which could potentially save them one scholarship.  This means that if Harris goes to MSU or Michigan and decides to play both sports, he would have to walk-on the basketball team, but it's doubtful he would miss it since he's rated as a 4* recruit in basketball.

Trey Burke And Michigan Stiffed In Big Ten Awards Show

Well, the results are finally out.  Trey Burke is Big Ten Freshman of the Year...kinda.  Burke won Freshman of the Year in the media poll, but Cody Zeller from Indiana won in the coaches' poll.  Zeller had an outstanding year, but Burke definitely seemed to have a better resume, especially if the voters were to consider that Michigan won the Big Ten Championship and Indiana finished in 5th place.

Along with this, Tom Izzo was named the Coach of the Year for the Big Ten in one of the most surprising picks I've ever seen.  Certainly Michigan State was not predicted to win the Big Ten, but it's not as if anybody predicted Michigan to finish better than last year with a freshman point guard and actually win the conference championship.  Beilein has done a fantastic job with this team and it's a shame that he hasn't gotten more appreciation for his work.  Simply having the "best" team should not make you the coach of the year.  Beilein's team is composed of players that most teams wouldn't even recruit, let alone win a conference championship in the best basketball conference in the country.

However, even though Burke did not win Freshman of the Year outright and Beilein was overlooked in shocking fashion, the All Big-Ten team selections were very, very questionable.  Obviously, players like Sullinger and Green should be instant inclusions, but somehow the media and coaches decided that Jordan Taylor from Wisconsin and Tim Frazier from Penn State were better than Trey Burke.  There is always room for opinion, but I was simply amazed by this selection.

Frazier was certainly a solid player on a horrible team, but that's important to note.  Penn State was horrid this year in Big Ten play.  They beat no Big Ten team of significance in 18 attempts.  Burke was the key factor Michigan was able to defeat teams like Michigan State and Ohio State and won its first Big Ten title since 1986.  Team success should not be the only factor, but it's not as if Burke didn't have the stats to back him up.  He was consistently good all year.

I mean, look at the stats on that.  Not only are Burke's stats comparable with Frazier''s, but his are actually better than those of Jordan Taylor.  It simply does not make sense to pick Frazier or Taylor over Burke because he not only had individual success, but his team did great as well.  Even look at the results.  Neither Taylor nor Frazier were listed on both the Media and Coaches' All-Big Ten teams.  That's right, Taylor was 1st All-Big Ten for the coaches, but didn't even make the media poll.  Frazier did the same on the reverse.  To me, this clearly shows how the inconsistency of these selections.  The best point guard in the Big Ten is Jordan Taylor or Tim Frazier, but they don't even make the Top 3 on the other list?  Something doesn't add up there.

Regardless, it was still a good night for Michigan as Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway were both listed as All-Big Ten selections and Burke won Freshman of the Year in the Media Poll.  Perhaps in the future these selections will be less random, but Michigan will still have its championship rings to show, even if it didn't fare as well in these awards.

Photo Credit: AnnArbor.com

Michigan Vs. Sparty (Round 2)

This season, the Big Ten title race's complexity has almost matched that of the US tax code.  In fact, with the leader changing on an almost weekly basis, games have been almost impossible to predict.  For instance, a few weeks ago Wisconsin seemed completely out of the Big Ten title race, but following 6 straight wins they're right back in the thick of things.  These drastic changes has made virtually every game important, especially since we are nearing the end of the season.

On Sunday, Michigan will enter one of its most important games on the schedule.  The Wolverines will travel to face Michigan State in the Breslin Center.  Michigan State is essentially tied with Michigan in the Big Ten race and the loser of this game will have a tough time making any run at the title (not that I really believe either team will win the Big Ten).  However, this game is significant not only for the Big Ten title race, but because it would mean a fourth straight victory over Michigan State for the Wolverines.

Earlier this year, I talked about how this rivalry had changed permanently.  Michigan is no longer a "weak" basketball program that Michigan State could beat up on.  This is a real team that had to be reckoned with.  Along with this, a victory for Michigan would mean that Michigan State not only got swept by Michigan again, but also lost two straight at home.  Michigan State rarely, if ever, loses in the Breslin Center (they're undefeated in Breslin this season) and two losses on their home court against their arch-rival would almost be unfathomable for the Spartan fans.

Michigan State may have more on the line this Sunday than Michigan, which is probably an advantage for the Wolverines, but both teams put a lot of stake into this game.  Winning this game would "lock" up a tournament spot for the Wolverines.  Even if Michigan lost the rest, I really couldn't see them not getting in with as impressive a run as they've had this season.  Having said that, this season does not depend on this game.  Michigan has a very impressive RPI right now and should get a great seed come March, as long as there is no epic collapse.  I'd say the main things riding on Sunday's game for Michigan are the Big Ten title hopes, a better seed, and pride.

I would re-do the breakdowns I did earlier this season for this game, but almost nothing has changed from the two teams first match-up, except the questions surrounding Draymond Green's status.  He was injured in the Spartans last game and although he is projected to play, nobody is quite sure how much he will contribute.  The home court will surely help the Spartans, but if Green is a non-factor their hopes for a victory are pretty low.  He is EASILY their best player; averaging not only the most minutes on the team, but also the most points, rebounds, steals and blocks.  Along with this, he also averages the second-most assists on the team.

To put Green's contributions in perspective, Michigan fans should imagine a player that is like Trey Burke and Zack Novak combined.  He not only is the unquestioned leader of the Spartans (also the biggest whiner), but he makes the most in-game contributions as well.  If he doesn't play on Sunday or plays and makes little contribution to the game, I think Michigan wins this game.  However, if he plays like himself I think the Spartans break the streak.  Michigan will make it close, but the Wolverines been pretty questionable on the road this year and the Spartans are dying to beat Michigan on the hardwood.

My Magic Pick is...

Michigan State 65-60 (assuming Green is himself)

Michigan 69-63 (Green injury a significant factor)

Photo Credit: Tony Ding

Three In A Row Over Sparty

In January of last year when Michigan upset Michigan State by a score of 61-57, I think few would tell you they weren't surprised at the result.  Not only had Michigan lost every game the previous seasons against Michigan State, but they had often lost in humiliating fashion.  It had seemed like years since Michigan had really competed with Michigan State.  However, it only took one night to shatter that image.  Instead of the typical Sparty domination of Michigan, fans got to witness an underdog Michigan team go on the road and beat the Spartans.

One year later, that image has changed even more.  When I first wrote the preview for Tuesday night's game, I couldn't help but be excited at the Wolverines' prospects.  Not only was Michigan a threat to Michigan State, there were many people who picked them to win, or lose by a very slim margin.  In just one year's time, the entire outlook on this rivalry had changed.  Certainly Michigan State was the favorite coming in with a #9 ranking and only 3 losses on the season, but Michigan was not really an "underdog".

The mindset may have changed for most fans and the nation, but there were certainly those in East Lansing that called last year's season a fluke.  "A program like Michigan State would have 'down' years", they all said. Although last year was certainly a "down" year for Michigan State, it's not as if the Spartans were a horrible team or that Michigan wasn't good.  Michigan was simply the better team last year and that seems to have continued into this season.

Michigan may not have dominated MSU tonight, but they proved that they are not only a solid team, but that last year was no fluke.  Some in the media had stated the only way Michigan could beat MSU, at least on a consistent basis, was for the Spartans to be down.  After tonight I don't think there'll be a lot of people using that argument. Michigan is a program that needs to be taken seriously.  Last year was no fluke.  Michigan State is a good team, but so is Michigan.  This state is going to have two good programs competing yearly for a while.

Does tonight's win solidify Michigan as a good program?  Of course not, but let's not forget, Michigan has done a lot more than just beat Michigan State over the last few seasons.  They've won a lot of games and even won a few in the tournament.  Does this win 'lock' Michigan in the tournament?  Not really, but it does help build a resume, which had seemed to be faltering.  Michigan is going to need to win at least a handful of games in its remaining schedule, but I think a tournament trip seems pretty realistic.

Bottom line, this is a big win for Michigan and this program, but it's not everything.  This is not and should not be the win that "defines" this team and this season.  Right now, this team is in the Big Ten title hunt and has a great shot at having a good seed come March.  Enjoy this and what this team has accomplished over the last few seasons, but this game is not the season for this team.  It's a great rivalry between two good teams, but that mindset is gone.  There have been no flukes with this Michigan team, they are for real.

Photo Credit: Thomas Beindit