MSU narrowly escapes Northwestern

It took everything the Spartans had to win tonight, and then some. In a surprisingly competitive and close game, MSU prevailed by the skin of their teeth thanks to an inspired effort from Draymond Green, (and a solid performance from Kalin Lucas), in a 65-62 win over the host Wildcats.

This game went back-and-forth as  Northwestern kept pace behind ten three-pointers and double-digit scoring efforts from three starters, including an injured John Shurna. The gangly forward played 39 minutes on a bum leg, and while he shot 1-of-11 from the field (including a 1-for-5 effort from beyond the arc), he made eight of the team-high 11 free throws he shot, while at the same time finishing with three assists. More than Shurna though, guard Drew Crawford provided a spark for an undermanned Wildcat squad, as he led the team with 17 points.


Draymond Green dunks during a Spartan away game earlier this year.
Green had 15 points to lead MSU to a 65-62 win over Northwestern
tonight. Photo courtesy of google.com

 
For Michigan State though, the biggest key was Draymond Green. The undersized forward not only led the Spartans in scoring, but looked like a go-to offensive threat in the process. Although he had a late offensive foul and several ill-advised passes throughout the game, the good outweighed the bad for the junior forward tonight. While that hasn't always been the case for the Saginaw native, that's great news for a State team that needs fewer mistakes from him as the Big Ten season continues.

However, Green's late, lead-extending putback after a missed Kalin Lucas free throw shouldn't have been necessary. The Wildcats didn't do one specific thing extraordinarily well (they were outrebounded by the Spartans, shot 31% from the field, and had fewer assists and blocks than MSU), but still stayed within ten in the second half, and actually had a shot to win late.  Looking at the line-up they put on the floor (which featured three starters who played over 35 minutes), the tough Spartans should've put this one away much sooner.

 But, the Wildcats are clearly much better than they've been in the past, and it appears that what was once a sure win has definitely become more difficult. On that note, MSU has to be glad to leave with a conference victory. They also know what kind of a game they're in store for when they meet the Wildcats later this Big Ten season-at that point, John Shurna could be healthy and on-target from long-range.
If that happens, the Spartans could be in trouble. They should consider themselves lucky they avoided that tonight.

--Beau

Spartans-Wildcats Preview

For the third time in as many years, the Spartans open up their conference season playing at Northwestern, in the first three days of January. But, this is no ordinary road trip, and no ordinary Northwestern team. In a conference race as tight as this one promises to be, each game is extraordinarily important-a loss at this juncture could cripple the Spartans' title chances down the road.

The Wildcats are 9-2, and before double-digit losses to St. John's and Purdue, had won nine straight games to start the season. Their tricky 1-3-1 zone has given MSU some problems in the past, and to go along with that, Northwestern has an array of shooters. Michael Thompson, Drew Crawford, and John Shurna all average over 14 points a game, and the 5'10" Thompson put in 18 against the Boilermakers. On top of that, Thompson averages a prodigious 35.5 minutes a game, and has 29 assists on the year. 
The guard has weapons to dish to as well-the 6'8" Shurna shoots above 60% from beyond the 3-point arc, and that could create some serious defensive problems for Delvon Roe and the rest of the Spartans' frontcourt-so far this season, they haven't seen a player with Shurna's combination of size and range.

On offense, MSU would do well to take a page from Purdue's playbook-the Boilers drilled nine threes against Bill Carmody's soft 1-3-1 zone defense, and if they shoot as well as they did in the second half of Friday's game (16-of-26), Tom Izzo's crew should be able to shred the Wildcats. On top of an advantage in athleticism, Michigan State should also have the support of numerous Spartan fans in Welsh-Ryan Arena, and the confidence that comes with six straight wins at that venue.  If State is really the team that talked of a national title at the Izzone campout in October, they'll utilize every possible advantage they possess, and return to East Lansing with a solid Big Ten win. My prediction: MSU, 65-50.

--Beau

MSU-Texas and the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl

Last night, for the first time this season, MSU hosted a ranked team in the friendly confines of the Breslin Center. But, for the fourth time this season, the Spartans fell flat in a big way against a competitive opponent. What's more, with their 52-game non-conference home win streak on the line, they didn't play with heart or toughness.

Although they did get 17 points from Kalin Lucas, as well as solid defensive play from their senior point gurad, few other Spartans came to work. That was evident in final stat line, which shows that State shot an abysmal 29 percent from the floor, and gave up a double-double to Tristan Thompson. MSU continually had no answer for either him, Gary Johnson, or Jordan Hamilton, who put in 52 of the Longhorns' 67 points.

At this point in the season, MSU seems to have issues in many areas, which is unfortunate considering they open Big Ten play next Friday. Defensively, they don't seem to have a reliable post force, as evidenced by the performances of Texas' three bigs. On top of that, when things go cold on offense, the Spartans struggle to stay in games. In this one, a 7-rebound edge and an accurate night from behind the free-throw stripe were negated by their awful efforts shooting the ball.

State needs players like Lucas to not only perform well, but also carry others (like Korie Lucious and Keith Appling), with him. They need more reliable play from Draymond Green, who, when consistent, can provide a great catalyst for the offense. When he's off though, his play hinders the Spartans.  Right now, they need to re-group, get better in practice, and gear up for a tough, physical Big Ten season. That's easier said than done, but Tom Izzo has players who've been through the rumble, and those Spartans should be ready for the challenge that a top-15 Minnesota team will present.

Out in Las Vegas, in college football's MAACO Humanitarian Bowl, the Boise State Broncos didn't disappoint viewers, unlike many who attended last night's MSU contest. Even after being shutout in the first quarter for the first time since 2009, Chris Petersen's crew came roaring back to dominate Utah by 23 points. They drove the football up-and-down the field on their way to 543 total yards, in the process reminding us all why they hung in the BCS conversation for so long.

They delivered an entertaining game for Broncos fans who were no doubt crushed by their team's collapse against Nevada and athough they won't bring back the depth they had this year, they return Kellen Moore and most of their offensive backfield, which puts them in postion to compete in their new league, the Mountain West.

The next bowl game up on the slate: today's San Diego County Credit Union Pointsettia Bowl, between two teams with strong Southern California presences: Navy and the de-facto "home team", the San Diego State Aztecs. In that one, I'll take versatile SDSU. For more on college football's bowl season, read on later this week.

--Beau

Michigan State-Texas Preview

When the schedule was released for this upcoming season, Spartan fans (including myself), circled four things on the pre-conference portion of the schedule: the Maui Invitational (a tough pre-season test for any squad), a visit to Duke (home of the defending national champs), a duel with Syracuse at Madison Square Garden (perhaps the biggest stage in the game), and tomorrow's home date with Texas.
Unfortunately, the Spartans have bumbled and stumbled through those first three challenges, turning the ball over and missing shots on their way to three losses that were undeniably tough to swallow. Tomorrow, however, they get a shot at redemption, and on their home court, no less.

The Longhorns are no Prairie View A&M, and on that note, it's great news that the Spartans have their fearless leader back after his unexpected suspension. On the court though, both Korie Lucious and Keith Appling have been hobbled by injuries, and as a result, haven't practiced this week. Despite that, the  Spartans need both of them to be ready to go-those two can provide Kalin Lucas with much-needed rests in spurts, and provide a reliable sidekick to No. 1 when on the floor. Another key to a Spartan victory is Durrell Summers. His world-class jumping ability and improved deep jump shot were on display throughout his 25-point effort against A&M on Saturday, and MSU needs that type of performance from him not only tomorrow, but through the Big Ten season.

Looking ahead to the near future, this is MSU's final pre-conference tune-up before they tip off Big Ten play against Minnesota on New Year's Eve-to head into that game with confidence, the Spartans need to perform at a high level in a big-time game.
The opponent standing in their way is definitely a big-time team,though. The Longhorns are on a three-game winning streak, and that tear includes a last-second defeat over UNC on a neutral court. Before a Dec. 5th upset by USC,  Texas had won six of seven to start the season,with the lone loss coming by two points to then-fourth-ranked Pitt.
Jordan Hamilton leads the way for Rick Barnes' crew, having scored twenty points five times this season. The athletic 6'7" swing man will be a tough match for Durrell Summers, or anyone else the Spartans put on him.
Texas is also getting greater contributions from freshman guard Cory Joseph, who's scored 18 or more points in the last three games-those totals include a clutch, game-winning turnaround jumper to knock off the Tar Heels on Saturday. But, the quickness and ability of MSU's trio of guards is enough to bring down the young star, and State should be able to keep him in check.

Three times this season, Michigan State has stood in the national spotlight, and three times thus far, they've faltered. If these Spartans really have learned their lesson, put in the work, and improved as a squad, the efforts of that hard work will show tomorrow. Even though they've won two in a row since that loss to Syracuse, it remains "gut check time" for these players. Tomorrow's game is clearly a huge test for MSU, and it's one they best not fail.

--Beau

Michigan State-Syracuse Game Recap

From Maui, to Durham, to New York. After the type of pre-season competition and hectic travel schedule the Michigan State Spartans have faced so far,  it's a safe bet that they'll at least be ready for those two elements when March Madness rolls around. However, if MSU keeps playing at the level they have been, they might not even advance very far when it comes down to that.

On the national stage that is New York City's Madison Square Garden, the Spartans fell to Syracuse, 72-58, in a game that at the end didn't even feel that close. State trailed for much of the game after the opening minutes, allowing the Orange to break open the contest with an early 18-5 run . Right from the start, they struggled to find seams against 'Cuse's zone 'D', which led to missed shots and more offensive possessions for Jim Boeheim's crew. Based on the Orange's success with that type of defense against State, I wouldn't be surprised if at least a team or two tries to replicate that effort later on this year.

Reduced to swinging the ball around the perimeter and settling for deep shots, they tallied a dreadful 38.9% from the field, and converted just 7of their 24 three-point attempts on the night, many of which came from beyond the NBA stripe.

Things weren't much better on defense, as 'Cuse scored 26 of their 39 first-half points from inside the paint, and went on to best the Spartans 42-24 in that category. MSU found themselves outrebounded by eight to go along with that, giving up 16 to Syracuse forward Rick Jackson alone. They also pulled down just six offensive boards.
Coach Izzo certainly had a lot of thoughts about that, saying that  that the Spartans were "taking it like a sissy and they were taking it up like men."

However, it's fair to note that Michigan State's losses have all been to teams ranked in the top 10. On top of that, if and when they meet a team like Duke again later on, they should certainly be at full-strength, and much better prepared to face whatever's thrown at them. But, that day is a long way in the future. For right now, as Coach Izzo said last night, "it's gut check time."

--Beau

Spartans-Falcons Game Recap

For much of the first half of today's MSU-Bowling Green contest, the Spartans looked as if they were still stuck in the doldrums that followed their Wednesday night loss to Duke. They shot 30% for much of the game's opening period, turned the ball over frequently, and carried a mere 6-point lead in the locker room against a MAC team that had dropped five straight games. So far, not so good.

But MSU came alive in the second half, outscoring Bowling Green 49-18 on their way to a much-needed, 74-39 win.  That scoring explosion was keyed by Korie Lucious, who drilled two straight three-pointers, and Draymond Green, whose early putback allowed MSU to extend their advantage to 22 within minutes. After a slow start both offensively and defensively, State ramped up their intensity, and showed us what's possible when they hit shots in bunches and put pressure on opposing teams. They ended the contest hitting a respectable 42% of their shots from beyond the arc, while allowing the Falcons to score just 20 points. They actually had open misses from three-point land as well-if they capitalize on more of those opportunities, they'll be able to put teams away even quicker.

However, in what could be the defining characteristic of this season so far, MSU again faced massive challenges with ball protection. The Spartans should consider themselves lucky that their 21 turnovers proved inconsequential, because as we saw on Wednesday night, giveaways can make all the difference in certain games, and it's safe to say that any one of MSU's upcoming battles with Syracuse or Texas could be decided by that stat.

But, on a positive note, they got valuable contributions from their budding young stars, Keith Appling and Adreian Payne.  Appling gave Tom Izzo 25 solid minutes, while scoring 11 points, dishing out three assists, and demonstrating command of the offense. Payne, on the other hand, ignited the Breslin Center crowd while at the same time filling up the stat sheet. Two of his four points came on a thunderous putback-dunk following a missed shot, and he fired up the Izzone with two gravity-defying blocks.
Another perennial leader and hustle player also keyed the Spartans victory, as Draymond Green recorded a double-double, netting ten points while pulling down twelve boards.

Today, the Spartans returned home, re-grouped, and delivered a victory, as expected. Following their previous performances in the national spotlight this season, not many will be picking MSU to roll into Madison Square Garden and leave with a win over an undefeated Syracuse team next Tuesday. But, if MSU plays as hard as they did in today's second half, they'll be right there in the game's final minutes, and they'll absolutely have a shot to win. As fans, that's all we can ask for. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

--Beau

Michigan State-Duke Wrap-Up

Although last night’s final result speaks volumes about the MSU men’s team’s competitive streak in battling to an 84-79 loss to Duke last night, the overall product appears less-than-stellar at this point in the season for coach Tom Izzo’s squad.

Given, going up against the No.1 team in the country is a tough task for any team, much less a Spartan squad that hasn’t realized its full potential yet. However, several troublesome stats tell the tale in this contest.  MSU once again struggled to control possessions on offense, and ended the night with 22 giveaways, 12 of which came in the first half. Off of those 12 turnovers, Duke tallied 22 points, which contributed in part to their 36-34 intermission lead.

On top of turnovers, the Spartans also struggled to contain Blue Devil guard Kyrie Irving, who put in 18 of Duke’s first period-points.  That’s two games in just over one week in which MSU has failed to shut down their opponent’s best scoring threat (they gave up 30 to UConn’s Kemba Walker in similar fashion). The Spartans can’t expect to win if this continues-hopefully, someone will rise from the pile to deliver the shutdown defense they so desperately need.

In spite of digging themselves into a first-half deficit and then allowing Duke to open the second period on a 14-4 run, Michigan State did show resiliency in closing the gap to as little as a point, before falling behind later on.  While a barrage of 3’s closed the gap to five in the game’s waning seconds, it was simply too little, too late. This loss, while a tough early-season blow, does provide a great learning experience for several of the younger players, including Keith Appling and Adreian Payne.  They’ve gone up against a championship-caliber team in the Duke Blue Devils, and they’ll leave Durham with an understanding of what they need to do to win close ballgames.

In order to do that, it’s crucial that the Spartans eliminate turnovers, especially in the game’s early portions, and shut down their opponent’s top scoring options. They’ll also need better performances from their top guns-through nearly 26 minutes of play last night, their “big three” (Lucas, Durrell Summers, and Draymond Green), had combined for only 15 points total. But, in the immediate future, MSU needs to re-focus, gear up, and prepare for a bounce-back win over Bowling Green on Saturday. For more on Spartan basketball and the NBA, look back to Beau Knows later this week.

--Beau

Michigan State-Duke Preview

Tomorrow night is without a doubt the biggest contest of the season for the Michigan State Spartans, and for the first time all year, they're the underdog, in a game that not many are picking them to win. MSU's trip to Durham as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge provides as tough an early season contest as any, and furthermore, it gives us a prime opportunity to see just how well they stack up against top-notch competition.

The defending national champions have ripped off six straight victories to open the season, winning every contest but one by double-digits, and taking down 4th-ranked Kansas State on a neutral court in the process. Five Blue Devils scored 10 points or more in that contest, including freshman guard Kyrie Irving, who put in 17 all by himself. In fact, Irving trails only upperclassmen Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler in terms of points per game on that team, with 14.5. Despite being a true freshman, he'll present a tough opponent for either Kalin Lucas,  Korie Lucious, or Keith Appling from tip-off tomorrow night.

Mason Plumlee has also played a key part in the Blue Devil''s undefeated start, showing a wide of variety of low-post moves in averaging 11 points, including a dominant 25-point performance against Marquette last Monday.  The Indiana native also pulls down 8.5 boards a game, and his presence on the glass makes him difficult to handle. Garrick Sherman, Delvon Roe, and Adreian Payne have a tough job matching up against not only Plumlee, but also his frontcourt mate, senior Kyle Singler. The 6'8", 230-pound forward  averages 16.2 points a game, and has also displayed versatility and shooting touch. If  the Spartans hope to contain that duo, they'll need improved defensive effort and communication, something they've struggled with at times this year.

Coming off of a less-than-encouraging win over Tennessee Tech in which they turned the ball over 17 times, MSU will yet again have to place an emphasis on extending possessions and making smart decisions on offense. If the Spartans can keep their giveaways at or under 13, they'll be in the game late, and if they can pair that effort with stellar performances from their two leading scorers (Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers), they'll definitely have a shot to win. Although MSU hasn't faced a challenge this tough this season, Tom Izzo-coached teams are always prepared to play in big games. On a national stage, under the bright lights, we'll see just how battle-ready these Spartans are.

--Beau

Michigan State-UConn and Spartans-Nittany Lions Preview

For the second straight game in the Maui Invitational, Michigan State found themselves in a dogfight. The only difference was that in this instance, the opponent was a Divison I, Big East ballclub, and not a D-2 school with an enrollment of just over 1,000. In losing 70-67 to Connecticut,the Spartans showed that despite being ranked second in the country, they still have a good deal of work to do to reach the elite levels they aspire to.

Unfortunately, they struggled again in terms of free-throw shooting (75% from the line, only a minor improvement from their previous contest against Chaminade) and turnovers (13, to only 12 assists).  In addition, five Spartans who logged double-digit minutes combined to score only 22 points between them. If State wants to win games going forward, they'll need better balance. However, offensive firepower won't be the only thing MSU will need in the future. Michigan State will have to commit to a better defensive effort. In this particular contest, they gave up 30 points alone to Huskies guard Kemba Walker. Although Walker had been scoring at will in prior games (30.3 points per game on the season), the Spartans can't allow every team's leading scorer to gouge them so mercilessly, especially with a visit to Duke on the way in eight days.
In terms of other key points in the contest, State showed that while they do possess experience, their judgement will need to improve in certain areas. Specifically, a late turnover by Korie Lucious, when the Spartans still had one timeout left, is a prime example. But, a home date with Tennessee Tech  on Sunday presents the perfect opportunity for Michigan State to improve in several key facets, and given the importance of their upcoming games, I think they'll do just that.

As mentioned earlier today, MSU's gridiron warriors have an extremely important contest on the way Saturday. Penn State presents a tough test, despite their four losses. They've posted solid marks across the board in terms of passing (58th nationally), and rushing (148.2 yards a contest), and have a dangerous weapon in Evan Royster. Although the senior running back struggled these past two weeks, with a total of just 97 rushing yards, he ran for 134 on just 25 carries against Northwestern, and posted a total of 150  on the ground against Michigan. In addition to running the football, the Nittany Lions have displayed an improved aerial attack in winning four out of five games with walk-on turned starter Matt McGloin under center. In games where McGloin tops 225 yards, PSU is 3-0. But, with a Spartan secondary coming off of a game in which they limited Purdue's spread offense to just 189 yards through the air, MSU should be well-prepared to defend Penn State.

Michigan State's entire season has led them to this point. After countless hours of training, lifting, practice, and film sessions, the Spartans have finally put themselves in position to win one of the championships their coach talks about so frequently. But, the task won't be easy. To leave Happy Valley ahead on the scoreboard at the end of Saturday, Michigan State will have to deliver a focused, discplined effort. They'll need to step up and perform in crucial situations. And most importantly, in a hostile environment, surrounded by 107,000 ruthless enemies, they'll have be ready to go, right from the opening kickoff. This is their one opportunity at Big Ten glory. Something tells me these Spartans will seize it.

--Beau

The Maui Invitational, Spartan Football, and The NBA

Over the years, the Maui Invitational has become known for many things: great scenery, a terrific atmosphere and excellent pre-season basketball, among others. However, Michigan State most certainly didn't expect competition from Chaminade to go along with their visit to the exotic locale, and that's certainly what they got last night. In scraping out a narrow 82-74 win over the Division II Silverswords, the Spartans advanced to face Conneticut, in the meantime getting a crystal-clear picture of what might happen if they overlook an opponent in similar fashion.

In playing to a halftime draw, Michigan State clearly struggled to get going. Nowhere were these issues more evident than on defense, where the Spartans were torched by 5'6" guard Steven Bennett, who scored 13 of Chaminade's 39 first-half points. Even after the break, Michigan State was unable to pull away, and at one point found themselves down by eight to the host, before going on an 11-0 run to take control of the contest.

Despite an underwhelming effort on the boards,(where the Spartans were outrebounded by three overall), MSU won thanks to stellar senior leadership. Although across the board they have much room for improvement, Coach Izzo should be encouraged with the play of senior point guard Kalin Lucas, who netted a career-high 28 points in carrying State. He'll be a huge part of the Spartans' success against UConn and throughout the season, but Izzo's players will need to first shore up their free-throw shooting (73.7% from behind the line), and ballhandling (13 giveaways versus 13 assists). With a short turnaround, the Spartans should come to play with their weak areas in mind, and I feel they'll get better against the Huskies.

Flying back across the country though, to this very campus, the Spartan football team finds themselves on the brink of at least a share of the Big Ten title, with an intriguing opponent before them. Penn State is 7-4 overall, with conference setbacks to Iowa and Ohio State, and a 20-point loss to an equally competitive and perplexing Illinois team (who surrendered 65 points to U-M and lost to 2-9 Minnesota in consecutive weeks). However, Michigan State has lost eight times in Happy Valley since the inception of the Land Grant Trophy, and recent trips haven't been so kind to the Spartans. In their last visit, they lost 49-18, in a game
that also had Big Ten title implications.
Nearly every current impact player remembers full well the agony of that outcome.That experience should  provide tremendous motivation in itself, and with even more at stake, MSU should be ready for a four-quarter fistfight from the opening bell.

Looking around the world of professional basketball, certain teams are most definitely beginning to rise above the rest. Specifically, the Boston Celtics looked dominant in builiding a 26-point first-quarter cushion
over the eight-win Hawks last night, and at 10-4, they lead the race for the Eastern Conference's best record. If the Celtics continue to get double-figure scoring from four of their five starters (as they did in beating Atlanta by 23), they'll definitely be tough to stop. Outside of Boston though,the San Antonio Spurs sit atop the Western Conference, thanks to an 11-game winning streak in which they topped the century mark eight times. Although it's early in the season, the rate at which they've been winning games is impressive, and they'll certainly be at the forefront of the Western Conference playoff race in the coming months.

But, whether it be MSU basketball, Spartan football, or the world of professional sports, speculation and predictions are one thing. The results show themselves from baseline-to-baseline, and in between the stripes, every single day. That's what we as sports fans look forward to, and that's why they play the games.

--Beau

Michigan State-Purdue and MSU-USC

There are plenty of great, exciting things going on in the world of sports right now, and particularly with Michigan State athletics,especially on a day-to-day basis. The men's soccer team will host the first round of the NCAA Tournament today, the women's basketball (ranked 25th in the country) and men's hockey (currently 17th in the polls) teams have posted fine starts to their respective seasons, and the men's basketball squad improved to 2-0 on Tuesday night, among other things.

But, lookling ahead to the next few days, the Spartans' upcoming Senior Day football tilt with Purdue looms particularly large. As mentioned on Tuesday, the Boilermakers have lost four conference games in a row, but don't count them out. Although the team has struggled to accumulate wins, they do have some weapons, and in particular one defensive threat in Ryan Kerrigan. The 6'4", 263-pound defensive end was named a semi-finalist for the Lombardi, Bednarik and Lott awards this past week, and has the numbers to back those credentials up: 11.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss, both Big Ten-leading marks.
 It'll be particularly interesting to see how the Spartans attack him with their run-heavy offense. If MSU wants to reach the 10-win plateau for just the third time in school history, they must establish the run early, and avoid giving Purdue any hope for a victory by limiting turnovers and mistakes. I think they're up to that challenge.

Reviewing the Spartan basketball team's effort on Tuesday night, several things can be gleaned from their 82-73 primetime victory over South Carolina. Among the most notable occurrences: Korie Lucious' rather-sloppy return to the court, with five turnovers versus 3 assists, and no points in 18 minutes. However, these errors were eliminated thanks in part to 22 points from Durrell Summers, and 12 rebounds from Draymond Green, who stepped up and led the Spartans alongside Kalin Lucas. Despite suffering a second-half ankle injury, Lucas still made an impact with a team-leading 7 assists in 29 minutes. This shows that above all else, the Spartans have a good deal of balance at this point in the season. However, they are also unmistakeable issues that still need fixing.  MSU shot a clanky 50% from the free-throw line over 34 attempts, and let South Carolina close to within six in the games' final minutes despite a large second-half lead.
But, Tom Izzo-coached teams have perenially bounced back from early season issues such as these, and I have no doubt that these will be corrected with more on-floor action.

For now though, both the football and basketball teams can only get back to work, and prepare for their forthcoming battles. I'd be surprised if they weren't ready for the great challenges that lie ahead. They are Spartans, after all.

--Beau

Michigan State-Purdue Early Preview and Spartan Basketball

One last walk across the Red Cedar River. One last trip by Sparty. One last run through the tunnel, onto the field, to the piercing staccato of "Thunderstruck". And, most importantly, one final battle in Spartan Stadium. This is the reality for the senior members of this year's Spartan football team, and on Saturday, they'll get one last chance, and one final shot, at glory in East Lansing.

But, this upcoming contest is more than just Senior Day. First and foremost, it's a terrific opportunity for Michigan State to ease themselves one step closer to a top-notch bowl game. In reviewing their opponent, they certainly have a great chance to do just that. Purdue limps into East Lansing having lost four straight conference games, and carrying the weight of six overall defeats on their shoulders. In fact, they've fallen by double-digits in each of those contests, and boast a 31-20 loss to Toledo, whose defense recently surrendered 65 points....to Northern Illinois.

All things considered, the Boilermakers have struggled in nearly every facet, and this explains their current record. In rotating two quarterbacks, they've averaged a mere 138.6 passing yards per contest, and only put up an average of 17.4 points per game (these marks rank 115th and 113th in the NCAA, respectively).  They've also given up 30-plus points in three of their conference losses, a statistic which favors the Spartans, who've topped that figure in eight of their nine wins this season.

But, while the football team doesn't gear up until Saturday, the Spartan men's basketball team actually tips off later today, at 10pm against South Carolina. That game is the anchor contest for ESPN's 24-hour college basketball marathon, and that time slot actually received the highest ratings of any featured contest over that same time span last year. I expect similar numbers nationwide, and most definitely another Spartan victory. Although the Gamecocks boast Sam Muldrow, (who averaged 3.1 blocks last season and came out strong with 20 points in their season opener), South Carolina doesn't have enough talent across the board to compete with MSU, as was the case with EMU last Friday. I look for a solid MSU win to send the Spartans to Maui next week.

More on Purdue-MSU, Spartan Basketball, and the NBA later this week.

--Beau

MSU-EMU Notes and Ohio State-Penn State Wrap-up

After one game versus an inferior MAC opponent, the Michigan State men's basketball team is right where we expected them to be: undefeated at 1-0. In handling the Eastern Michigan Eagles 96-66 last night at the Breslin Center, this Spartan team showed several promising signs of what could be on the way. Six Spartans reached double figures, led by Kalin Lucas with 18 points. Judging by the way he moved, shot and drove last night, he looks to be almost completely recovered from last season's injuries, which is great news for MSU.

In addition to his impressive night, Michigan State got ten-plus points from five others, including freshman point guard Keith Appling, who filled in nicely for Lucas in several stretches throughout the game. Along with a solid show of team balance, the Spartans also displayed the ability to push the ball, and shot relatively impressively from deep (52.5 % from the field and 46.5% from beyond the arc).

While these statistics are notable, MSU did struggle in two areas specifically: foul shooting and turnovers. State made just 28-of-42 shots from the stripe, good for only 66.7%. In addition, they also gave the ball away 20 times, against 18 assists. The Spartans will without a doubt have to shore up these problem areas , because success in the near future and throughout the season depends on it.

Transitioning to the world of college football, and College GameDay's featured contest, Penn State got off to a strong start in building  a 14-3 first-half lead over Ohio State in Columbus. After 3 significant gains to start the game for Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes, PSU forced a field goal, and responded with their first-ever passing TD in Columbus under Joe Paterno, a stat which is surprising in itself. QB Matt McGloin displayed extreme confidence  in delivering another well-placed scoring strike later in the half, and to top that, the Nittany Lions held Pryor to just 12 yards on the ground, all of which contributed to their early dominance.

However, it was disheartening for both Penn State fans and myself to see the Buckeyes re-group in the second half and put together a lengthy, 11-play, 96 yard scoring drive to pull within 4 of the Nittany Lions. Shortly thereafter, McGloin delivered his first interception this season, and just like that, a pick six led to a 17-14 OSU lead. That turnover was extremely ill-timed for Penn State, as the Buckeyes reeled off 2 more scores to take a commanding 31-14 lead before delivering the final kill shot, a short rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Ohio State's resounding comeback and eventual 38-14 win re-affirmed several key points. First and foremost, the Buckeyes demonstrated a great deal of toughness in rallying to win.  They also showed why they're perpetually at the top of the Big Ten: they consistently recruit extremely talented players who fit their system, among many other things. Yet, I'd still like to see a head-to-head matchup between this year's Ohio State and Michigan State teams-I'll take Coach Dantonio's Spartans against anybody, any day of the week.

While a Buckeye loss would've helped Michigan State tremendously in the conference race, the Spartans still gained valuable position thanks to to an inspired Northwestern victory over the 13th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes. In order to maintain their conference title aspirations, they'll have to keep winnning....and at least this weekend, sit back and watch others fall by the wayside.

Look back here tomorrow for a wrap-up of the day's college football action.

--Beau

Spartan Basketball and the NBA

Every single year, the opening of basketball season is perhaps one of the most exciting events on this campus, and on Friday, tip-off will finally be here, as the Spartans open play against Eastern Michigan. Both players and coaches have set their sights towards Houston and next spring's Final Four, and considering what we've seen in the Spartans' two exhibition games, anything else than at least a return trip to the group of four would be an extreme disappointment in my mind.

While too much shouldn't be read into MSU's decisive pre-season wins over Saginaw Valley State and Nebraska-Omaha, basketball is still basketball, and clearly this Spartan team can play it at a high level, as they demonstrated in routing UNO 102-72 last night. In particular, we saw double-digit efforts from 5 Spartans, including a 25-point effort by Kalin Lucas, whose intense off-season rehabilitation appears to be paying dividends. On top of that, Korie Lucious contributed six assists in his first live-game action this season, and Durrell Summers demonstrated outstanding athletic ability (as we've come to expect from him) in converting both a spinning lay-up and a high-flying alley-oop.  In fact, at one point he and Draymond Green accounted for all 11 Spartan points on an early, game-changing run. Among others in Green-and-White to top 10 points: Keith Appling with 15, and Draymond Green with 16. Looking at other key figures, MSU rebounded well (a 52-32 edge over the Mavericks), and also pulled down 20 offensive boards.

For Friday's game against Eastern Michigan, I expect we'll see a fast start by the Spartans, and beneficial in-game experience for their young stable of contributors,  including Keith Appling and Adreian Payne.  Although the Eagles do return 11 letterwinners from a squad that finished two games above .500 last year, Coach Izzo will have his team geared against a season-opening upset, and to top that, I feel EMU simply doesn't have enough talent to hang with the Spartans in the Breslin Center.

Transitioning to the world of professional basketball (where we might see some of this year's Spartans in the future), the Lakers and Hornets have ripped off a combined 13 consecutive wins to open the season. In particular, New Orleans knocked off 3 teams in this past week which finished last year .500 or better, and did it all behind Chris Paul, who averaged 17 points in that stretch. The race between those teams in the West will be intriguing to watch as the season plays out, as they won't meet head-to-head until December 29. But, in the immediate future for the Hornets: a four-game roadtrip scheduled to tip off on the 21st, in which they visit both Utah and Portland. Examining the Eastern Conference, both Boston and Atlanta have opened the season 6-2; those teams aren't scheduled to meet until December 16th, but 'til then, the three-way battle for East supremacy between those 2 squads and the Orlando Magic should be fascinating to follow.

Check back here later this week for a breakdown of this weekend's "College Gameday" spotlight contest, Ohio State verus Penn State,as the Spartans have a bye.

--Beau