LATEST STORIES FROM SPARTANS WEBLOG
The end of the beginning
April 20, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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Barring future developments of an unforeseen nature, this is the final post of the Spartans Weblog.
I won’t repeat everything I said when I first announced the transition to the new site, except to say how much I’ve appreciated everyone’s kind words about my work...
Tom Izzo: A Numerical Summary
April 19, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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14 seasons as head coach
14 .500-or-better Big Ten regular season finishes
12 NCAA Tournament appearances
12 first-team all-Big Ten player selections
10 20-win seasons
8 Sweet Sixteens
6 Elite Eights
5 Final Fours
5 Big Ten regular season championships
5 former assistants currently...
Friday Morning Links
April 17, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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Anatomy of a Basketball Possession
Super sweet flowchart. (Hat tip: UMHoops.)
A Tough Decision
Why Mike Kebler didn’t get to play in the national championship game.
Big Ten in 2010
Beware Purdue.
It’s never too early to predict the 2009-2010 Big Ten basketball standings...
Breaking down the defense
April 14, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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A couple months ago, KenPom added something called “defensive fingerprint” on each team page.
Just how good was MSU’s rebounding this season?
April 12, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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From a four factors perspective, rebounding was clearly the dominant strength of this year’s MSU basketball team.
The Top Ten Performances of the 2008-09 Season
April 09, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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I’ve decided not to post any commentary of a forward-looking nature until we get over to the new site. For now, let’s revel in the season that has been.
One of the things that made this season so special was the number of guys who stepped up at various times during the...
The last DVD goes out the door
April 09, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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Amidst all the excitement of MSU’s tournament run, I haven’t been posting updates on our NCAA Tournament contest. Here are the final standings, courtesy of the incomparable SpartanDan:
1. Seer 151
2. DP99 137
3. Alex 122
4. Mark in Chicago 113
5. Chris 112 (tiebreaker...
Post-Tournament Links
April 09, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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Lucious, Allen break bones
Talk about a game going as badly as it possibly could have.
National Championship Game Recap (4/6/09)
April 07, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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North Carolina obliterates Michigan State 89-72 in a 76-possession game.
National Championship Game Recap (4/7/09)
April 07, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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North Carolina obliterates Michigan State 89-72 in a 76-possession game.
The Turnovers Strike Back
April 07, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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76 possessions
21 turnovers
Turnover percentage: 27.6%
I don’t think this North Carolina team was going to be beaten under any circumstances tonight, but I sure would have liked to see the MSU team that played with such poise and precision in the two previous game give the Tar...
National Championship Game Open Thread
April 06, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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(I must say, it’s really fun typing in blog post titles that include the words “National Championship Game.”) The time for analysis and prognostication is over, my friends.
Pregame Reading
April 06, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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Is destiny enough to win a national title?
Luke Winn with some behind-the-scenes stuff.
To Ibok or not to Ibok?
April 06, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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Thursday Night Links
Final Four: The Ultimate Viewers’ Guide
Mr. Gasaway says to watch out for Kemba Walker.
The Walton method
Travis Walton is watching tape right now.
Learning process: Thabeet tries to keep blocks in bounds
Thabeet says he and Stanley Robinson will rotate...
Blogging with the Enemy: Final Four Edition
April 06, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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Samuel Greenberg of The Center of the Universe (a UConn-centric blog) suggested exchanging thoughts about our respective teams ahead of tomorrow’s big game.
Avoiding the swat
April 06, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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The scariest piece of UConn’s statistical profile is the number of shots they block. The Huskies swatted away roughly one out of every six (17.2%) shots their opponents attempted from two-point range this season.
MSU, meanwhile, improved somewhat this season in avoiding...
Final Four Eve Links
April 06, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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Suton’s Final Four trip a miracle
On the front page of ESPN.com at the moment.
Don’t dismiss Spartans; they’re redefining elite
Fun fact: Since 1999, MSU has been to more Final Fours than the entire SEC or Pac 10.
Heathcote and Johnson To Be Inducted Into National...
MSU-UConn Open Thread
April 06, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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It’s been a long and winding road, but we’ve arrived at our destination–at least geographically speaking. Two more enormous steps remain if we are to reach the ultimate basketball destination.
The Spartans Weblog clan will be hitting the road shortly to make...
A dunk (and game) for the ages
April 06, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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I guess we can run a little, eh, Digger?
Raymar Morgan: 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists.
UConn Game Recap (4/4/09)
April 06, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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The Spartans run, not walk, past the Huskies 82-73 in a 74-possession game. StatSheet box score.
At this point, it’s hard to find more words to describe how well this team is playing. This game was almost a carbon copy of the Louisville game in terms of scoring flow: It...
Championship Game Eve Links
April 06, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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Heels, Spartans playing for school of the ’00s
Just to add to the pressure.
First thoughts on the Tarheels
Short rest may give us an advantage?
Izzo Is a Master of the Quick Turnaround
14-2 in the second games of NCAA Tournament weekends.
Lucas-Lawson, Walton-Ellington
Makes sense to me.
Pop Quiz
April 06, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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Question: What was the defensive play that preceded The Dunk?
(While you’re thinking about it: I’ve decided that Summers’ throwdown is definitely worth of being labeled “The Dunk.” The combination of the spectacularness of the play and the stage...
National Championship Game Preview
April 06, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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Monday night, 9:21. Ford Field, Detroit. CBS.
This has become a routine for me now: Overanalyzing the statistical profiles of #1 seeds we’re about to play and convincing myself we’re massive underdogs. I’m going to try to keep this preview short...
I Tom Izzo
April 01, 2009 by
Spartans Weblog
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Don’t mess with the Big Ten:
If you’re a great defensive team, you aren’t going to score as many points just because you don’t have as many possessions, because it’s going to take– if you’re a great defensive team and a great offensive team...
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