Going into today's game, Spartan head coach Dantonio and the rest of his staff touted their New Year's Day match-up with Alabama as a measuring stick for the program's success, as well as a tremendous opportunity to see just exactly where they fall. After the game, it's clear that the Spartans are far below the level of Alabama, in terms of talent and also performance.
On defense, the Crimson Tide swarmed the football play after play, bottling up Le'Veon Bell and Edwin Baker for a total of 27 yards, and knocking starting QB Kirk Cousins out of the game with a vicious hit. They also held MSU scoreless for nearly four full quarters, forced a goal-line fumble, and busted through State's O-line for four game-changing sacks. On the offensive side of the football, 'Bama pounded the Spartans 44 times for 275 yards rushing as a team, including six scores on the ground, and threw for 220 yards. Those stats, combined with their speed and talent all across the board, made a huge difference in this game, and ultimately decided the Spartans' fate.
Even more disturbing was the lack of toughness and drive that State played with. All throughout this season, MSU battled back time and again, winning games with and without their head coach, on fake field goals and rushing touchdowns. Yet, neither that classic Spartan toughness nor drive rose to the forefront today. This led to stalled drive after stalled drive, and merciless maulings by the Alabam offense. In fact, the way in which this game was won directly reflects the way the Spartans played in so many of their games.
Nick Saban's crew ran the football with abandon, mixed in the pass well, and put points on the board early and often. But, even after giving up two quick scores, the Spartans were still in the game, and after driving inside the 10 in the second quarter, MSU was in position to score. But, as was the case for much of the game, State blew their chance, quite literally fumbling their opportunity away. After that, they never established any kind of offensive rhythm until the game was out of reach.
Given the chance to seize greatness, thrust themselves into the national conversation for next season, and cap off a tremendous season with a huge win, Michigan State put forth their worst effort this season. Not only do the Crimson Tide have more talent across the board, they also executed their gameplan to perfection, and that made all the difference today. Now, the Spartans know exactly what it takes to reach the elite level that Alabama and so many others play at. Victories not only require outstanding play-they also require all the intangibles that transform good football teams into great ones: things like toughness, focus, and heart. The Spartans played with all of those traits this season. Yet, today, they played without any of those attributes, and for a squad that needed nothing less than their best effort to win, that qualifies as a disappointment. Until next year, they'll have to wait for redemption.
--Beau
Showing posts with label College Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label College Football. Show all posts
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Previewing the Capital One Bowl....
The season's biggest challenge (and yet also the biggest reward) looms for Michigan State on Saturday. After pulling off incredible victories over Notre Dame and Wisconsin, then powering through the rest of a challenging Big Ten season, the Spartans have earned a much-deserved trip to a New Year's Day bowl game. They now find themselves closer than ever before to reaching that elusive plateau dominated by college football's top teams-a victory over Alabama, coupled with the return of their entire offensive backfield, could turn heads, and put the Spartans in the early national conversation for next year. For a coach that places huge emphasis on tangible success and recognition, that would be a huge accomplishment for a Spartan program that's struggled in their climb to the top.
A much bigger accomplishment in the present though, would be to knock off that aforementioned Alabama team, and that looks to be an extremely tough test. The 16th-ranked Crimson Tide ripped off five straight wins to start the season, and if not for losses to South Carolina and LSU, would be in the top 10 right now.
'Bama is extremely talented across the board, and has depth at key skill positions, including running back. Trent Richardson and a recovering Mark Ingram have combined for 248 carries, 1,474 yards, and 16 touchdowns this year. What's more, both backs have prototypical NFL size, and share the load well-in the three games where both Richardson and Ingram got double-digit carries, the Crimson Tide won by an average of 23 points. With Ingram having had plenty of time to recover and prepare for this bowl game, the Spartans defense should see a heavy dose of the former Michigan State recruit. The head-on collisons between those two backs and experienced Spartan LB's Greg Jones and Eric Gordon should be both hard-hitting and fun to watch, and with 755 career tackles between them, the two should fly to the ball often.
Alabama isn't simply a two-man show, though. The man under center, Greg McElroy, can definitely play ball as well-he's completed over 70% of his passes this year, and has delivered long throws of over 50 yards in five games this season. His 166.9 passer rating is also impressive, and in his second year under center he's looked a great deal more comfortable in the pocket. To boot, he's throw at least one score in 10 of Alabama's games this season-if he finds top target Julio Jones open as often as he has this season (the junior wideout has 41 more receptions than his closest teammate), Michigan State's DB's are in for a long day.
MSU has faced no greater challenge than the one that's in front of them in Orlando on New Year's Day. We've seen the Spartans' resiliency, toughness and heart all throughout the season. The reason that formula's worked though, results from not only their talent level, but their performance. How will they respond to the pressure of a huge bowl game? How will they handle a pro-Alabama crowd? How will they deal with the loss of receiver B.J. Cunningham? Those are all questions that beg asking, but on Saturday, we'll know the answers. For more on the Spartans' trip to Orlando, check out Beau Knows later this week, and if you can't get enough of MSU football, head to greenandwhite.com, an excellent MSU athletics website ran by the Lansing State Journal.
--Beau
A much bigger accomplishment in the present though, would be to knock off that aforementioned Alabama team, and that looks to be an extremely tough test. The 16th-ranked Crimson Tide ripped off five straight wins to start the season, and if not for losses to South Carolina and LSU, would be in the top 10 right now.
'Bama is extremely talented across the board, and has depth at key skill positions, including running back. Trent Richardson and a recovering Mark Ingram have combined for 248 carries, 1,474 yards, and 16 touchdowns this year. What's more, both backs have prototypical NFL size, and share the load well-in the three games where both Richardson and Ingram got double-digit carries, the Crimson Tide won by an average of 23 points. With Ingram having had plenty of time to recover and prepare for this bowl game, the Spartans defense should see a heavy dose of the former Michigan State recruit. The head-on collisons between those two backs and experienced Spartan LB's Greg Jones and Eric Gordon should be both hard-hitting and fun to watch, and with 755 career tackles between them, the two should fly to the ball often.
Alabama isn't simply a two-man show, though. The man under center, Greg McElroy, can definitely play ball as well-he's completed over 70% of his passes this year, and has delivered long throws of over 50 yards in five games this season. His 166.9 passer rating is also impressive, and in his second year under center he's looked a great deal more comfortable in the pocket. To boot, he's throw at least one score in 10 of Alabama's games this season-if he finds top target Julio Jones open as often as he has this season (the junior wideout has 41 more receptions than his closest teammate), Michigan State's DB's are in for a long day.
MSU has faced no greater challenge than the one that's in front of them in Orlando on New Year's Day. We've seen the Spartans' resiliency, toughness and heart all throughout the season. The reason that formula's worked though, results from not only their talent level, but their performance. How will they respond to the pressure of a huge bowl game? How will they handle a pro-Alabama crowd? How will they deal with the loss of receiver B.J. Cunningham? Those are all questions that beg asking, but on Saturday, we'll know the answers. For more on the Spartans' trip to Orlando, check out Beau Knows later this week, and if you can't get enough of MSU football, head to greenandwhite.com, an excellent MSU athletics website ran by the Lansing State Journal.
--Beau
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Free Tattoos in Columbus....
By now, you would think college football players would have figured out more ways to stay out of trouble, instead of cause it. But, that's not the case for five Ohio State Buckeyes, who were suspended for the first five games of next season for selling championship rings, awards, and in QB Terrelle Pryor's case, a "gold pants" trinket that OSU players receive for defeating Michigan. That's unfortunately not all-the Buckeyes star and five other teammates also received discounts on ink from a Columbus tattoo parlor, and will miss the aforementioned games as a result (a sixth teammate will miss only the season's first game, for the same infraction). QB Terrelle Pryor posted as recently as this week on his Twitter account that he paid for his tattoos, but this investigation reveals differently.
In terms of the selling of the merchandise (which included Big Ten championship rings, football cleats, and jerseys), it's difficult to say whether all of that money went directly to their families (as OSU officials have claimed), and how discounted tattoos factor into the equation certainly doesn't have to do with that. These players didn't receive free or reduced-cost tattoos because their family had fallen on rough times-they got this service as a result of their stature as big-time college athletes. I'm sure similar things happen at campuses across the country, and yet the lid got blown off of this particular scandal.
In terms of the suspension, it's beyond me as to why the NCAA chose to suspend the players starting next season instead of this bowl game. Although the official ruling says that players may play in a bowl game if they were "not aware they were commiting the violations," surely they knew that receiving tattoos in the manner that they did was against athletic regulations? The players knew full well what they were getting themselves into when they chose to accept those benefits, and while the same thing may not apply to the selling of their memorabilia, those factors should have been taken into account when doling out the punishments.
The NCAA, while doing the right thing in digging into these allegations, got the suspension wrong. Suspend the players for the bowl game for the improper benefits they received, and hand out later suspensions if necessary to deal with the other infractions. Missing games against Akron and Toledo isn't the same as missing the Sugar Bowl, and while their team needs them in contests next year against Miami (FL) and MSU, the NCAA needs even more desperately to send a stronger message than what they have. Maybe next time, they'll get it right. Then again, let's hope their isn't any next time.
--Beau
In terms of the selling of the merchandise (which included Big Ten championship rings, football cleats, and jerseys), it's difficult to say whether all of that money went directly to their families (as OSU officials have claimed), and how discounted tattoos factor into the equation certainly doesn't have to do with that. These players didn't receive free or reduced-cost tattoos because their family had fallen on rough times-they got this service as a result of their stature as big-time college athletes. I'm sure similar things happen at campuses across the country, and yet the lid got blown off of this particular scandal.
In terms of the suspension, it's beyond me as to why the NCAA chose to suspend the players starting next season instead of this bowl game. Although the official ruling says that players may play in a bowl game if they were "not aware they were commiting the violations," surely they knew that receiving tattoos in the manner that they did was against athletic regulations? The players knew full well what they were getting themselves into when they chose to accept those benefits, and while the same thing may not apply to the selling of their memorabilia, those factors should have been taken into account when doling out the punishments.
The NCAA, while doing the right thing in digging into these allegations, got the suspension wrong. Suspend the players for the bowl game for the improper benefits they received, and hand out later suspensions if necessary to deal with the other infractions. Missing games against Akron and Toledo isn't the same as missing the Sugar Bowl, and while their team needs them in contests next year against Miami (FL) and MSU, the NCAA needs even more desperately to send a stronger message than what they have. Maybe next time, they'll get it right. Then again, let's hope their isn't any next time.
--Beau
Thursday, December 23, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
And The Games Continue.,....
If I had to pick one company to sponsor my bowl game, I personally wouldn't choose a restaraunt chain with a name like Beef O'Brady's. But, the organizers of this game have done just that, and tonight, we'll see they can deliver, as Louisville and Southern Missisppi kick off at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
Tonight's game starts a string of four straight days with one bowl game, and after an excruciatingly long (for some, that is) two-day break from college football, why not tune in tonight??
Examining both teams on paper, Louisville has had a fairly unremarkable .500 season, with an OT loss to South Florida and non-conference defeats to bowl-eligible Kentucky and a 5-7 Oregon State team. The major blemish on their record is a 35-27 loss to a four-win Cincinnati squad in which their secondary was burned for five scores through the air-that game says alot about the talent level on that side of the football.
The Cardinals do have some offensive firepower, though. Going into their late-season showdown with West Virginia, they were the Big East's top rushing squad, and even after that game, they still boast the nation's 30th-best ground attack, with a per-game average of nearly 181 yards. RB Bilal Powell will be the Cardinals' workhorse tonight, as he's carried the ball 211 times this year, at nearly 7 yards a pop.
Southern Miss, on the other hand, finished second in Conference USA's East Division, and also has a potent offense-they ranked 15th in the country in average points for. As a team, they also rank in the top third in two other categories as well, and have thrown the ball over 30 times in all but two contests this year. QB Austin Davis will chuck it early and often in this one as well, which usually works for Southern Miss-they've won seven games in which they scored thirty or more points this season, and against vulnerable Cardinal defensive backs, I expect that to continue. On paper, the Golden Eagles can definitely throw, pass, and put points on the scoreboard.
Their Achilles' heel lies in their inability to stop any opposing offense-in their four losses, they've given up 40-plus points. If Louisville pounds the rock like they did throughout the season, and Southern Miss unleashes their full offensive arsenal, the fireworks will fly in St. Petersburg tonight. My prediction: So will the Golden Eagles.
--Beau
Tonight's game starts a string of four straight days with one bowl game, and after an excruciatingly long (for some, that is) two-day break from college football, why not tune in tonight??
Examining both teams on paper, Louisville has had a fairly unremarkable .500 season, with an OT loss to South Florida and non-conference defeats to bowl-eligible Kentucky and a 5-7 Oregon State team. The major blemish on their record is a 35-27 loss to a four-win Cincinnati squad in which their secondary was burned for five scores through the air-that game says alot about the talent level on that side of the football.
The Cardinals do have some offensive firepower, though. Going into their late-season showdown with West Virginia, they were the Big East's top rushing squad, and even after that game, they still boast the nation's 30th-best ground attack, with a per-game average of nearly 181 yards. RB Bilal Powell will be the Cardinals' workhorse tonight, as he's carried the ball 211 times this year, at nearly 7 yards a pop.
Southern Miss, on the other hand, finished second in Conference USA's East Division, and also has a potent offense-they ranked 15th in the country in average points for. As a team, they also rank in the top third in two other categories as well, and have thrown the ball over 30 times in all but two contests this year. QB Austin Davis will chuck it early and often in this one as well, which usually works for Southern Miss-they've won seven games in which they scored thirty or more points this season, and against vulnerable Cardinal defensive backs, I expect that to continue. On paper, the Golden Eagles can definitely throw, pass, and put points on the scoreboard.
Their Achilles' heel lies in their inability to stop any opposing offense-in their four losses, they've given up 40-plus points. If Louisville pounds the rock like they did throughout the season, and Southern Miss unleashes their full offensive arsenal, the fireworks will fly in St. Petersburg tonight. My prediction: So will the Golden Eagles.
--Beau
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Heisman Trophy Preview
The annals of Heisman history contain many greats, and some not-so-greats. But, I believe that tonight's winner will not only continue to make waves in the college game, but also a big splash on Sundays. Each of the candidates is equally impressive in their own respect, and having seen all four play, it's clear that each one of them deserves to be there.
Andrew Luck has quarterbacked Stanford to a near-perfect 11-1 record, completing 20 or more passes in six of those games. The All-Pac 10 first-teamer also possesses a 4-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and a quarterback rating of 166.10. His 70.2% completion rate is extremely impressive, and the fact that he's directed his team to a top-five ranking and BCS berth speaks to his leadership.
While Stanford's loss to Oregon was an unsightly blemish on their season, their manhandling of 15th-ranked Arizona was impressive. Barring an early departure for the NFL, Luck should be back next year, and with this year’s leading rusher, Stefan Taylor, in the backfield, the Cardinal should deliver another fine season on offense.
The second of three QB's to spend the week in New York, Boise State's Kellen Moore has put up ridiculous numbers in leading the Broncos to an 11-1 record. After finishing seventh in the balloting last year, the junior lived up to fans' expectations again, tossing an astounding 33 touchdowns, in addition to 3,506 yards. In fact, in his three years under center, he's thrown for 10,528 through the air, while compiling a 37-2 record as a starter. Until a late-season defeat to Nevada, Moore had topped a 66% completion rate for nine straight contests, and had the Broncos in contention for a BCS bowl. With another year at the helm for coach Chris Peterson, Moore can leave a great legacy in Boise, and possibly earn a return trip to Grand Central Station.
The only running back to receive an invite to New York, Oregon's LaMichael James joins Luck out of the Pac-10 Conference tonight. ESPN experts project him to finish third in the final results, behind Auburn QB Cam Newton and Luck, but James' stats argue otherwise. The Oregon Duck leads the country in rushing yards and touchdowns, and averages a whopping six yards a carry. On top of that, he has nine 100-plus yard games, and at least two touchdowns in eight contests this year. Despite these numbers, James said on SportsCenter yesterday that he would actually pick Newton given a vote in the polling.
As for me, if I were handed the same choice, I'd pick Cam as well. Although he's been embroiled in controversy this season, the Auburn QB’s stats don’t lie. In accounting for 48 total scores (28 passing and 20 rushing), the former junior college transfer has demonstrated electrifying ability. Along with delivering seven 200-plus yard passing games, the 6’6”, 250-pound Newton has scrambled for 100 yards six times, and was the key to the Tigers’ late-season comeback victories over Georgia and Alabama. Newton’s been in front of this race nearly all season, and tomorrow night, he should break the tape first.
With more games to be played for each of these finalists though, the journey doesn’t stop here. If these players have their way, we’ll be hearing about each one of them for a long, long time.
--Beau
Andrew Luck has quarterbacked Stanford to a near-perfect 11-1 record, completing 20 or more passes in six of those games. The All-Pac 10 first-teamer also possesses a 4-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and a quarterback rating of 166.10. His 70.2% completion rate is extremely impressive, and the fact that he's directed his team to a top-five ranking and BCS berth speaks to his leadership.
While Stanford's loss to Oregon was an unsightly blemish on their season, their manhandling of 15th-ranked Arizona was impressive. Barring an early departure for the NFL, Luck should be back next year, and with this year’s leading rusher, Stefan Taylor, in the backfield, the Cardinal should deliver another fine season on offense.
The second of three QB's to spend the week in New York, Boise State's Kellen Moore has put up ridiculous numbers in leading the Broncos to an 11-1 record. After finishing seventh in the balloting last year, the junior lived up to fans' expectations again, tossing an astounding 33 touchdowns, in addition to 3,506 yards. In fact, in his three years under center, he's thrown for 10,528 through the air, while compiling a 37-2 record as a starter. Until a late-season defeat to Nevada, Moore had topped a 66% completion rate for nine straight contests, and had the Broncos in contention for a BCS bowl. With another year at the helm for coach Chris Peterson, Moore can leave a great legacy in Boise, and possibly earn a return trip to Grand Central Station.
The only running back to receive an invite to New York, Oregon's LaMichael James joins Luck out of the Pac-10 Conference tonight. ESPN experts project him to finish third in the final results, behind Auburn QB Cam Newton and Luck, but James' stats argue otherwise. The Oregon Duck leads the country in rushing yards and touchdowns, and averages a whopping six yards a carry. On top of that, he has nine 100-plus yard games, and at least two touchdowns in eight contests this year. Despite these numbers, James said on SportsCenter yesterday that he would actually pick Newton given a vote in the polling.
As for me, if I were handed the same choice, I'd pick Cam as well. Although he's been embroiled in controversy this season, the Auburn QB’s stats don’t lie. In accounting for 48 total scores (28 passing and 20 rushing), the former junior college transfer has demonstrated electrifying ability. Along with delivering seven 200-plus yard passing games, the 6’6”, 250-pound Newton has scrambled for 100 yards six times, and was the key to the Tigers’ late-season comeback victories over Georgia and Alabama. Newton’s been in front of this race nearly all season, and tomorrow night, he should break the tape first.
With more games to be played for each of these finalists though, the journey doesn’t stop here. If these players have their way, we’ll be hearing about each one of them for a long, long time.
--Beau
Sunday, December 5, 2010
College Football and the NFL In Review
This past Saturday, we saw a whole slate of college football games with titles on the line. On the other hand, today in the NFL, no actual championships were played for, yet there were clear reminders that in effect, a title is always on the line in this league-one loss can shift the balance of power, and make or break a team's season.
Looking at college football's Championship Saturday, several teams stayed true to form, and played their way into marquee bowl games. The Auburn Tigers ran away from South Carolina on their way to a 56-17 SEC championship game victory and BCS National Championship berth. That effort was perhaps the most impressive of any all weekend, as the Tigers seized control with three first-quarter scores, and allowed the Gamecocks only 10 points the rest of the way. Despite the controversy surrounding Tigers star Cam Newton, I believe we'll see him accept the Heisman Trophy in New York City next weekend, as a result of his performances in both the title game and throughout the season.
The Tigers' opponent in that BCS championship game, the Oregon Ducks, also paved their way to Glendale with a decisive win, knocking off Oregon State in Corvallis by 17. In this instance, there is no BCS controversy whatsoever. The two best teams in the country, both undefeated, will square off in the national title game, a contest which promises lots of offensive fireworks.
In other championship games, Oklahoma delivered an upset by knocking off a highly-touted Nebraska team. The fact that the Sooners got to Husker QB Taylor Martinez seven times on defense is impressive, and the fact that they rallied to win after being down by as much as 17 is equally astounding. Bob Stoops' crew now have until New Year's Day to prepare for a 4-loss Connecticut team coming off a narrow win over South Florida. That could be one of the more lopsided games in BCS bowl history if the Sooners play full-throttle against what should be an overmatched UConn team.
Across the country, Virginia Tech punched its own ticket to a BCS bowl by beating FSU in Charlotte. Hokies QB and ACC Player of the Year Tyrod Taylor was instrumental in that win, setting the Va. Tech single-season record for TD passes with three scoring throws in leading Tech to a 44-33 victory, and a trip to the Orange Bowl.
The weekend's impressive football action didn't stop on Saturday, however. The Saints and Bengals played one of the better games of the day in battling to a 23-20 decision. New Orleans showed toughness and focus in delivering a win, and despite the hype surrounding Terell Owens and Chad Ochocinco, Cincy hasn't been able to win ballgames this year.
In another notable game, the Indianapolis Colts now find their playoff hopes in jeopardy after a narrow overtime loss to the Cowboys. Indy fell behind 17-0 early in uncharacteristic fashion, and Peyton Manning's four-interception effort certainly didn't help their comeback cause. More surprisingly, Manning found his top target, Reggie Wayne, 14 times for a total of 200 yards, and yet still found himself on the losing end.
Looking at other teams who've experienced struggles, the Denver Broncos dropped their eighth straight game this year, falling to the Chiefs in a 10-6 defensive struggle. That team is a far cry from the squad that opened last year on a six-game win streak.
But, next week and later on this season, we might see stories like these reversed-champions will fall, winners will cede control to their rivals, and as always, the games will go on. For more on the world of pro and college sports, keep reading later this week.
--Beau
Looking at college football's Championship Saturday, several teams stayed true to form, and played their way into marquee bowl games. The Auburn Tigers ran away from South Carolina on their way to a 56-17 SEC championship game victory and BCS National Championship berth. That effort was perhaps the most impressive of any all weekend, as the Tigers seized control with three first-quarter scores, and allowed the Gamecocks only 10 points the rest of the way. Despite the controversy surrounding Tigers star Cam Newton, I believe we'll see him accept the Heisman Trophy in New York City next weekend, as a result of his performances in both the title game and throughout the season.
The Tigers' opponent in that BCS championship game, the Oregon Ducks, also paved their way to Glendale with a decisive win, knocking off Oregon State in Corvallis by 17. In this instance, there is no BCS controversy whatsoever. The two best teams in the country, both undefeated, will square off in the national title game, a contest which promises lots of offensive fireworks.
In other championship games, Oklahoma delivered an upset by knocking off a highly-touted Nebraska team. The fact that the Sooners got to Husker QB Taylor Martinez seven times on defense is impressive, and the fact that they rallied to win after being down by as much as 17 is equally astounding. Bob Stoops' crew now have until New Year's Day to prepare for a 4-loss Connecticut team coming off a narrow win over South Florida. That could be one of the more lopsided games in BCS bowl history if the Sooners play full-throttle against what should be an overmatched UConn team.
Across the country, Virginia Tech punched its own ticket to a BCS bowl by beating FSU in Charlotte. Hokies QB and ACC Player of the Year Tyrod Taylor was instrumental in that win, setting the Va. Tech single-season record for TD passes with three scoring throws in leading Tech to a 44-33 victory, and a trip to the Orange Bowl.
The weekend's impressive football action didn't stop on Saturday, however. The Saints and Bengals played one of the better games of the day in battling to a 23-20 decision. New Orleans showed toughness and focus in delivering a win, and despite the hype surrounding Terell Owens and Chad Ochocinco, Cincy hasn't been able to win ballgames this year.
In another notable game, the Indianapolis Colts now find their playoff hopes in jeopardy after a narrow overtime loss to the Cowboys. Indy fell behind 17-0 early in uncharacteristic fashion, and Peyton Manning's four-interception effort certainly didn't help their comeback cause. More surprisingly, Manning found his top target, Reggie Wayne, 14 times for a total of 200 yards, and yet still found himself on the losing end.
Looking at other teams who've experienced struggles, the Denver Broncos dropped their eighth straight game this year, falling to the Chiefs in a 10-6 defensive struggle. That team is a far cry from the squad that opened last year on a six-game win streak.
But, next week and later on this season, we might see stories like these reversed-champions will fall, winners will cede control to their rivals, and as always, the games will go on. For more on the world of pro and college sports, keep reading later this week.
--Beau
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Spartans-Nittany Lions Game Recap
Going into Saturday's tilt with Penn State, MSU had some significant history pressing down upon them. There was the knowledge that no Spartan team had won in Happy Valley in 45 years. There were the memories of their 31-point defeat two seasons prior. And most of all, there was the pressure of capturing a share of the Big Ten title for the first time in 20 years. But, this Michigan State team was able to push all of that history to the backburner, and focus solely on delivering a great effort. In beating Penn State 28-22 today, they defied pre-season expectations, and left all Spartan fans with a regular season to remember.
For the eleventh time in twelve weeks, the Spartans came out on top on a fall Saturday, and in this game specifically, they did it the same way the always have: through toughness and desire. From the very start, MSU established control of the game with a 9-play, 71 yard drive, capped off with a tough Edwin Baker scoring run. They held a chokehold on the game well into the third quarter, and in limiting Penn State to only three first-half points, put together their best two opening quarters of the Big Ten season.
That early cushion would prove to be crucial, as the Nittany Lions roared back to life with a 19-point fourth quarter. Even after Penn State received a lucky break in the form of a Trenton Robinson interception-turned-fumble, the Spartans recovered their last-ditch onside kick effort, and maintained their composure. Although this wasn't a statistically impressive game (State threw for only 152 yards, and ran for 163), MSU came out on top because they avoided penalties and turnovers, while Penn State, on the other hand, committed eight infractions and turned the ball over once late in the game. Despite allowing Matt McGloin to throw for 312 yards, they contained senior RB Evan Royster to just 85 yards on the ground, and that effort in itself was also a key to victory.
Going into the game, MSU knew they would need a stellar effort to escape Happy Valley with a win. But, in playing with heart, tougness, and desire, the Spartans leave Penn State more than just winners. Above anything else, they leave as champions.
--Beau
For the eleventh time in twelve weeks, the Spartans came out on top on a fall Saturday, and in this game specifically, they did it the same way the always have: through toughness and desire. From the very start, MSU established control of the game with a 9-play, 71 yard drive, capped off with a tough Edwin Baker scoring run. They held a chokehold on the game well into the third quarter, and in limiting Penn State to only three first-half points, put together their best two opening quarters of the Big Ten season.
That early cushion would prove to be crucial, as the Nittany Lions roared back to life with a 19-point fourth quarter. Even after Penn State received a lucky break in the form of a Trenton Robinson interception-turned-fumble, the Spartans recovered their last-ditch onside kick effort, and maintained their composure. Although this wasn't a statistically impressive game (State threw for only 152 yards, and ran for 163), MSU came out on top because they avoided penalties and turnovers, while Penn State, on the other hand, committed eight infractions and turned the ball over once late in the game. Despite allowing Matt McGloin to throw for 312 yards, they contained senior RB Evan Royster to just 85 yards on the ground, and that effort in itself was also a key to victory.
Going into the game, MSU knew they would need a stellar effort to escape Happy Valley with a win. But, in playing with heart, tougness, and desire, the Spartans leave Penn State more than just winners. Above anything else, they leave as champions.
--Beau
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
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
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
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
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Michigan State-Purdue Recap
For much of Saturday, Michigan State played like a team coming off of a bye week, facing a 6-loss opponent in a game that didn't seem to matter much. At other points, they played like a team set on fire. Let's hope that we'll see more of that Michigan State team,who rose up to knock off Purdue 35-31 on Saturday, despite surrendering 21 points before intermission
Unlike the Spartans' last on-field effort, in which they controlled Minnesota from the start in rolling to a 23-point win, MSU struggled well within the game's opening minutes. Purdue's second drive lasted a grand total of 2 plays, and culminated in an 80-yard touchdown scamper by RB Keith Carlos. Following a poorly-thrown Kirk Cousins pass-turned pick six, MSU found itself down by 7 in the first quarter, at home, on Senior Day.
However, in what has come to define the Spartans' Big Ten season, they rallied to outscore Purdue 22-3 over the game's final two quarters, getting a much better effort from Cousins along the way. In fact, the Spartans' junior QB played a part in all 3 touchdowns, delivering two scores through the air and one two-point conversion, while rushing for MSU's final points. In playing with an injured shoulder and ankle, he showed true grit, much as the rest of his teammates did in coming up with huge plays. Among the many players who stood out, seniors Mark Dell (with two TD's and a fingertip catch on a two-point conversion ), and Chris L. Rucker (with a late interception), rose up to the challenge of delivering a comeback, and in doing so, propelled the Spartans to victory.
In addition to those efforts, State also got a huge play on special teams, courtesy of LB Denicos Allen. For the first time all season, MSU delivered a blocked punt, which resulted in a short field and the ensuing Cousins TD run. Yet again, Michigan State used any and all means necessary to win.
In spite of being down by double digits twice in the game's final quarter, and in spite of facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, these Spartans once again found a way to emerge victorious. The box score might show low rushing yardage and a less-than-stellar first quarter effort, but the end result speaks volumes about State's focus and determination. More than anything, it shows that the Spartans are winners. On any given Saturday, sometimes that's all that matters.
--Beau
Unlike the Spartans' last on-field effort, in which they controlled Minnesota from the start in rolling to a 23-point win, MSU struggled well within the game's opening minutes. Purdue's second drive lasted a grand total of 2 plays, and culminated in an 80-yard touchdown scamper by RB Keith Carlos. Following a poorly-thrown Kirk Cousins pass-turned pick six, MSU found itself down by 7 in the first quarter, at home, on Senior Day.
However, in what has come to define the Spartans' Big Ten season, they rallied to outscore Purdue 22-3 over the game's final two quarters, getting a much better effort from Cousins along the way. In fact, the Spartans' junior QB played a part in all 3 touchdowns, delivering two scores through the air and one two-point conversion, while rushing for MSU's final points. In playing with an injured shoulder and ankle, he showed true grit, much as the rest of his teammates did in coming up with huge plays. Among the many players who stood out, seniors Mark Dell (with two TD's and a fingertip catch on a two-point conversion ), and Chris L. Rucker (with a late interception), rose up to the challenge of delivering a comeback, and in doing so, propelled the Spartans to victory.
In addition to those efforts, State also got a huge play on special teams, courtesy of LB Denicos Allen. For the first time all season, MSU delivered a blocked punt, which resulted in a short field and the ensuing Cousins TD run. Yet again, Michigan State used any and all means necessary to win.
In spite of being down by double digits twice in the game's final quarter, and in spite of facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, these Spartans once again found a way to emerge victorious. The box score might show low rushing yardage and a less-than-stellar first quarter effort, but the end result speaks volumes about State's focus and determination. More than anything, it shows that the Spartans are winners. On any given Saturday, sometimes that's all that matters.
--Beau
Thursday, November 18, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
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
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
Sunday, November 14, 2010
College Football Weekend Review
From the start of the first game of this past weekend, Friday night's Boise State-Idaho tilt (which the Broncos won resoundingly), to the last games on Saturday night, the world of college football experienced a rollercoaster-like series of ups-and-downs, and shocking victories and defeats.
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Most notably, top-ranked Oregon narrowly defeated California, 15-13 in Berkeley. The Ducks escaped thanks to a missed 29-yard field goal following a false start by kicker Giorgio Tavecchio late in the game-Oregon should consider themselves incredibly lucky that they won despite scoring only one offensive touchdown, and both polls reflect that, as they lost a total of 14 votes between both the Associated Press and coaches' polls, despite holding on to the top spot.
Across the country, the second-ranked Auburn Tigers faced similar on-field adversity, rallying to defeat Georgia 49-31 after trailing 21-7. Despite dealing with an intense investigation by both the NCAA and now the FBI, QB Cam Newton accounted for four total TD's and 153 rushing yards-that statline looks extremely impressive, regardless of whether or not the allegations surrounding Newton are true, although most of the evidence points towards his guilt at this point. That news, however, pales slightly in comparison to the rest of the day's college football action.
In seeing other hourly updates throughout the evening, pollsters and football pundits were undoubtedly shocked to see another upset brewing, this one in Fort Worth,Texas. There, third-ranked TCU was also forced to come back from an early deficit,and throughout that game, San Diego State gave the Horned Frogs all that they could handle in losing by a mere five points On that note, the Aztecs might be one of the most underrated 7-win teams in the country.
Looking at the Big Ten race, Northwestern delivered a crushing blow to Iowa's conference title hopes in winning 21-17. QB Dan Persa was key in carrying the Wildcats to a victory, and that Hawkeyes loss eliminates them from the series of ties atop the Big Ten, which bolsters MSU's own position. Among the teams involved in that tie, Ohio State also rallied to win, knocking off Penn State 38-14. For a look back at that game, see my wrap-up of OSU-PSU below.
The Michigan State Spartans get back to work on Monday, with the Purdue Boilermakers on the way. For an early preview of that contest and more thoughts from the world of sports, check back here later this week.
--Beau
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Most notably, top-ranked Oregon narrowly defeated California, 15-13 in Berkeley. The Ducks escaped thanks to a missed 29-yard field goal following a false start by kicker Giorgio Tavecchio late in the game-Oregon should consider themselves incredibly lucky that they won despite scoring only one offensive touchdown, and both polls reflect that, as they lost a total of 14 votes between both the Associated Press and coaches' polls, despite holding on to the top spot.
Across the country, the second-ranked Auburn Tigers faced similar on-field adversity, rallying to defeat Georgia 49-31 after trailing 21-7. Despite dealing with an intense investigation by both the NCAA and now the FBI, QB Cam Newton accounted for four total TD's and 153 rushing yards-that statline looks extremely impressive, regardless of whether or not the allegations surrounding Newton are true, although most of the evidence points towards his guilt at this point. That news, however, pales slightly in comparison to the rest of the day's college football action.
In seeing other hourly updates throughout the evening, pollsters and football pundits were undoubtedly shocked to see another upset brewing, this one in Fort Worth,Texas. There, third-ranked TCU was also forced to come back from an early deficit,and throughout that game, San Diego State gave the Horned Frogs all that they could handle in losing by a mere five points On that note, the Aztecs might be one of the most underrated 7-win teams in the country.
Looking at the Big Ten race, Northwestern delivered a crushing blow to Iowa's conference title hopes in winning 21-17. QB Dan Persa was key in carrying the Wildcats to a victory, and that Hawkeyes loss eliminates them from the series of ties atop the Big Ten, which bolsters MSU's own position. Among the teams involved in that tie, Ohio State also rallied to win, knocking off Penn State 38-14. For a look back at that game, see my wrap-up of OSU-PSU below.
The Michigan State Spartans get back to work on Monday, with the Purdue Boilermakers on the way. For an early preview of that contest and more thoughts from the world of sports, check back here later this week.
--Beau
Saturday, November 13, 2010
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
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
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Ohio State-Penn State Preview
With Michigan State in the midst of a much-needed bye week, I've chosen instead to examine another game with Big Ten conference title implications, Penn State's forthcoming visit to Columbus,Ohio,where the ninth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes await.
This year's conference race has been both extremely competitive and incredibly confusing for fans, as a number of different scenarios could play out in this last month, only some of which could be beneficial for the Spartans. Based on both MSU's lower BCS ranking and the lack of a head-to-head matchup with Ohio State, a loss by the Buckeyes would be good news for Michigan State's postseason hopes this fall.
However, the major question remains as to what squad will actually be able to knock off OSU before season's end. Wisconsin has shown us that it's definitely possible, and in order to win, the Nittany Lions will have to replicate the Badgers' efforts. Specifically, PSU needs to contain QB Terrelle Pryor as successfully as Wisconsin did: they held him to 14 completions for a mere 156 yards, and eliminated his threat as a runner, bottling him up for only 3.1 yards per carry in a 13-point win.
Staying on that side of the ball, the Nittany Lions' defense has played down in losses to Alabama and Illinois, surrendering a combined 822 yards in losing by an average of almost 21 points. But, in defeating Michigan and Northwestern these past two weekends, that group displayed better effort, and they'll definitely need similar success if they hope to beat Jim Tressel's group.
In addition to a solid defensive showing, Penn State will have to rush the football extremely well, mainly to keep the ball out of Pryor's hands. In 2 of their 3 conference wins, the Nittany Lions have done just that, running for more yards than their opponent, and in beating U of M, received 150 yards and two scores from RB Evan Royster. Similar numbers from their senior ballcarrier would be ideal on Saturday.
To top that, they'll also need steady play from former walk-on turned starting QB Matt McGloin. In the past 2 weeks, McGloin has delivered rock-solid results, throwing 5 scores against zero interceptions-if the game is close, PSU can't afford an ill-timed turnover from their new starter.
No matter what the statistics, box scores, or game previews say though, Saturday's match-up will be a physical Big Ten battle, and the winner will without a doubt run the football effectively, limit turnovers, and most of all, play tougher to-a-man than their opponent. For once, I'll be rooting for the Nittany Lions.
--Beau
This year's conference race has been both extremely competitive and incredibly confusing for fans, as a number of different scenarios could play out in this last month, only some of which could be beneficial for the Spartans. Based on both MSU's lower BCS ranking and the lack of a head-to-head matchup with Ohio State, a loss by the Buckeyes would be good news for Michigan State's postseason hopes this fall.
However, the major question remains as to what squad will actually be able to knock off OSU before season's end. Wisconsin has shown us that it's definitely possible, and in order to win, the Nittany Lions will have to replicate the Badgers' efforts. Specifically, PSU needs to contain QB Terrelle Pryor as successfully as Wisconsin did: they held him to 14 completions for a mere 156 yards, and eliminated his threat as a runner, bottling him up for only 3.1 yards per carry in a 13-point win.
Staying on that side of the ball, the Nittany Lions' defense has played down in losses to Alabama and Illinois, surrendering a combined 822 yards in losing by an average of almost 21 points. But, in defeating Michigan and Northwestern these past two weekends, that group displayed better effort, and they'll definitely need similar success if they hope to beat Jim Tressel's group.
In addition to a solid defensive showing, Penn State will have to rush the football extremely well, mainly to keep the ball out of Pryor's hands. In 2 of their 3 conference wins, the Nittany Lions have done just that, running for more yards than their opponent, and in beating U of M, received 150 yards and two scores from RB Evan Royster. Similar numbers from their senior ballcarrier would be ideal on Saturday.
To top that, they'll also need steady play from former walk-on turned starting QB Matt McGloin. In the past 2 weeks, McGloin has delivered rock-solid results, throwing 5 scores against zero interceptions-if the game is close, PSU can't afford an ill-timed turnover from their new starter.
No matter what the statistics, box scores, or game previews say though, Saturday's match-up will be a physical Big Ten battle, and the winner will without a doubt run the football effectively, limit turnovers, and most of all, play tougher to-a-man than their opponent. For once, I'll be rooting for the Nittany Lions.
--Beau
Sunday, November 7, 2010
College Football and The NFL
It's certainly been an action-packed two days across the world of football. From high-scoring college games to professional battles around the country, we've seen a great deal of defining moments.
Perhaps the most eye-popping score came right out of Ann Arbor, where the Wolverines knocked off Illinois 67-65 in three overtimes. That score represents the highest number of points ever scored between two Big Ten schools, but despite their alarming lack of defense, U-M finds itself bowl-eligible for the first time under Rich Rodriguez.
In looking at games with bigger implications than just bowl eligibility, TCU thoroughly dominated Utah, 47-7, to keep a firm grasp on the third BCS spot. This was the last major hurdle for TCU, and should they finish undefeated, there'll be a gridlock among two no-loss mid-majors, assuming Boise State runs the table in a weak WAC. I'm curious to see how that scenario will play out, as is the rest of the Top 10, I'm sure.
Of the teams who round out that group, LSU helped itself the most this weekend by beating Alabama 24-21. Their incredible team speed (which they used again to great effect, with 275 yards on the ground) is a huge asset in an already-fast SEC, and they've now put themselves in position to claim an SEC division title. In the Big Ten, Wisconsin moved up to the 7th spot nationally by defeating Purdue by 21, and Iowa made a late push to knock off the Hoosiers-as the season progresses, a Hawkeye loss would be extremely beneficial to the Spartans' Big Ten title hopes.
Switching gears to examine the NFL, I was perhaps most surprised by the Browns' 34-14 defeat of the Patriots. In leading his troops to victory, Eric Mangini has done something few other Bill Belichick products have done: beat their former boss. With a 6-2 record, there's no denying that the Patriots are right in thick of a tight AFC East race, but the loss must still be troubling to Pats fans. Around the league, both the Vikings and Jets pulled out narrow victories-I was shocked to see New York go into an extra period with Detroit, and yet this points towards a return to competitiveness for the Lions, who might've let such a game get out of hand in past years.
Look back here later this week for analysis of the NBA and also Spartan basketball.
--Beau
Perhaps the most eye-popping score came right out of Ann Arbor, where the Wolverines knocked off Illinois 67-65 in three overtimes. That score represents the highest number of points ever scored between two Big Ten schools, but despite their alarming lack of defense, U-M finds itself bowl-eligible for the first time under Rich Rodriguez.
In looking at games with bigger implications than just bowl eligibility, TCU thoroughly dominated Utah, 47-7, to keep a firm grasp on the third BCS spot. This was the last major hurdle for TCU, and should they finish undefeated, there'll be a gridlock among two no-loss mid-majors, assuming Boise State runs the table in a weak WAC. I'm curious to see how that scenario will play out, as is the rest of the Top 10, I'm sure.
Of the teams who round out that group, LSU helped itself the most this weekend by beating Alabama 24-21. Their incredible team speed (which they used again to great effect, with 275 yards on the ground) is a huge asset in an already-fast SEC, and they've now put themselves in position to claim an SEC division title. In the Big Ten, Wisconsin moved up to the 7th spot nationally by defeating Purdue by 21, and Iowa made a late push to knock off the Hoosiers-as the season progresses, a Hawkeye loss would be extremely beneficial to the Spartans' Big Ten title hopes.
Switching gears to examine the NFL, I was perhaps most surprised by the Browns' 34-14 defeat of the Patriots. In leading his troops to victory, Eric Mangini has done something few other Bill Belichick products have done: beat their former boss. With a 6-2 record, there's no denying that the Patriots are right in thick of a tight AFC East race, but the loss must still be troubling to Pats fans. Around the league, both the Vikings and Jets pulled out narrow victories-I was shocked to see New York go into an extra period with Detroit, and yet this points towards a return to competitiveness for the Lions, who might've let such a game get out of hand in past years.
Look back here later this week for analysis of the NBA and also Spartan basketball.
--Beau
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Michigan State-Minnesota In Review
Going into today's game, the Spartans knew that they would have to start quickly and shake off last week's battle wounds to take the first steps towards a victory. The initial challenge came in actually doing that, but after Minnesota's first drive ended in a missed field goal and MSU responded with an Edwin Baker score, they had provided just the response Spartan Nation needed.
MSU took care of businesss today by doing exactly what they've done so well in earlier games: outrushing their opponent and playing capable defense while limiting offensive mistakes (minus one late Kirk Cousins interception). It was encouraging to see Baker pile up yardage in big chunks on his way to 179 yards and four touchdowns, and it appears he has a chokehold on the starting spot. That's good news for a team that averaged under 80 yards on the ground in their past three contests, and even better for a team entering its last two Big Ten games this month.
It was also encouraging to see the offense score twice on fourth-and-goal gambles, while the defense came up big with a fourth-down stop of its own. Throughout the rest of the game, the Spartans held Gopher QB Adam Weber to 167 yards (55 below his season average),and picked him off once. Considering Iowa threw for three touchdowns against MSU last week, this is a great recovery by the State defense.
Across the board as well, the Spartans appear to have recovered. There were no major turnovers or penalties, long scoring drives by the opposition,or depleting mental mistakes, all of which cost them a shot at victory against the Hawkeyes.
Throughout the week, Coach Dantonio and his staff emphasized the need to bounce back against Minnesota, while improving in all areas of the game. In watching today's effort, it's crystal clear that this team did just that, and in a big way. They came out firing on all cylinders from the start, ran the football with abandon and unwavering commitment, and minimized every issue that morphed into a problem in Iowa City. These are all extremely positive signs going forward, and in particular, into battles with Purdue and Penn State.
But first, the Spartans get a week off. For now, glory will wait.
--Beau
MSU took care of businesss today by doing exactly what they've done so well in earlier games: outrushing their opponent and playing capable defense while limiting offensive mistakes (minus one late Kirk Cousins interception). It was encouraging to see Baker pile up yardage in big chunks on his way to 179 yards and four touchdowns, and it appears he has a chokehold on the starting spot. That's good news for a team that averaged under 80 yards on the ground in their past three contests, and even better for a team entering its last two Big Ten games this month.
It was also encouraging to see the offense score twice on fourth-and-goal gambles, while the defense came up big with a fourth-down stop of its own. Throughout the rest of the game, the Spartans held Gopher QB Adam Weber to 167 yards (55 below his season average),and picked him off once. Considering Iowa threw for three touchdowns against MSU last week, this is a great recovery by the State defense.
Across the board as well, the Spartans appear to have recovered. There were no major turnovers or penalties, long scoring drives by the opposition,or depleting mental mistakes, all of which cost them a shot at victory against the Hawkeyes.
Throughout the week, Coach Dantonio and his staff emphasized the need to bounce back against Minnesota, while improving in all areas of the game. In watching today's effort, it's crystal clear that this team did just that, and in a big way. They came out firing on all cylinders from the start, ran the football with abandon and unwavering commitment, and minimized every issue that morphed into a problem in Iowa City. These are all extremely positive signs going forward, and in particular, into battles with Purdue and Penn State.
But first, the Spartans get a week off. For now, glory will wait.
--Beau
Friday, November 5, 2010
Rebound Saturday in East Lansing....
If any one trait needed to be emphasized going into tomorrow's Michigan State-Minnesota matchup, it's the Spartans' resiliency. Following an excruciating loss last weekend, it's finally time for the Spartans to bounce back, and I'm sure the team is truly looking forward to this opportunity. They still have so much to play for, and a share of the Big Ten title (or an outright championship, depending on how Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa finish the season) still hangs in the balance.
And while the offense has had issues, the defense perpetually finds itself facing even bigger problems. As I mentioned earlier this week, the 'D' ranks 105th in points allowed, and that's not the only telling note about this squad. This particular unit of 11 also gives up 201.6 rushing yards per game, while the Spartans have averaged 193.8 yards on the ground at home-this stat clearly leans in MSU's favor on paper, and if they hope to win on Saturday, they'll need to make it a reality.
Last week, Coach Dantonio lauded the toughness and character that this team possesses, and continually stressed how the Spartans would bounce back. If they hope to keep their season alive and stay relevant in the Big Ten championship battle, they'll certainly have to heed their coach's words. But, a win Saturday won't come easily, as we saw last week. Victory will be had only if they play with a high level of concern, focus and intensity right from the start. If they do just that, they'll put themselves in positon to finish off the Gophers. And, if these Spartans are truly resilient, when the time comes to strike the final blow, they'll show no mercy.
--Beau
 |
| Weber has completed 55.1% of his throws on the year. Photo courtesy of flickr.com |
The Golden Gophers do bring some talent to the table, although their record doesn't reflect it. QB Adam Weber has topped 2,000 yards despite Minnesota's inability to win games, and actually has more touchdowns than Spartan signal-caller Kirk Cousins (17 scores to Cousins' 15). But, in looking at other telling statistics, the Gophers' winning percentage is harmed not only by their defense, but also their rushing offense. Just as Michigan State's ground game has allowed them to prosper, the Gophers' struggles in establishing the run have harmed them to no end. With only 8 rushing touchdowns between four running backs and a weak average of only 3.6 yards per attempt, Minnesota has struggled to possess the ball for long periods on offense, and had even bigger issues in diverting pressure from Weber, who's had to throw the ball nearly 31 times on average over 9 contests-by comparison, Cousins has topped that number only once this entire year.
And while the offense has had issues, the defense perpetually finds itself facing even bigger problems. As I mentioned earlier this week, the 'D' ranks 105th in points allowed, and that's not the only telling note about this squad. This particular unit of 11 also gives up 201.6 rushing yards per game, while the Spartans have averaged 193.8 yards on the ground at home-this stat clearly leans in MSU's favor on paper, and if they hope to win on Saturday, they'll need to make it a reality.
Last week, Coach Dantonio lauded the toughness and character that this team possesses, and continually stressed how the Spartans would bounce back. If they hope to keep their season alive and stay relevant in the Big Ten championship battle, they'll certainly have to heed their coach's words. But, a win Saturday won't come easily, as we saw last week. Victory will be had only if they play with a high level of concern, focus and intensity right from the start. If they do just that, they'll put themselves in positon to finish off the Gophers. And, if these Spartans are truly resilient, when the time comes to strike the final blow, they'll show no mercy.
--Beau
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The NBA and Michigan State-Minnesota
One of the best things about the NBA is not only the astounding skill and ability of the athletes that play across the country, but also the number of storylines that converge on any given night. Even this early in the season, in games that might not matter much to some fans, we already get the chance to see top-notch contests and eye-popping stats. For example: tonight features 2 of the best players in the game tipping off at the same time, yet playing vastly different opponents and bringing extremely unique storylines to the court.
Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant will both open up their fourth regular-season contest apiece tonight at 10:30, and both of them air nationwide. Durant has already hit 30 points twice this young season, and Bryant has dropped an average of 23.8 per game-if both continue to play deep into the season at their current pace, an MVP discussion might heat up. Looking at the Lakers' schedule, its' safe to say they could rip off 5 more wins before a November 14 showdown with fellow Western Conference nemesis Phoenix. But, these 2 stars aren't the only ones making headlines.
One can't possibly bring up this year's NBA without mentioning Celtics guard Rajon Rondo. The fourth-year vet is averaging an absurd 16.8 assists per game, and with 67 dimes in his first four contests, now holds the all-time record for most assists in the season's first four games. What's more, he has a good chance to further improve his average when the Celts tip off against the Bucks tonight.
However, despite so many impressive storylines in professional basketball,it's nice to maintain a local sports perspective as well, and to that end, I'll offer my thoughts on Michigan State's upcoming opponent, the visiting Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Gophers have dropped eight straight after a narrow season-opening victory over Middle Tennessee State, and have surrendered more than 30 points in six of those losses.Additionally, this defense ranks 105th in the country in terms of points allowed. While WR's Da'Jon McKnight and MarQueis Gray have done their part in combining for 13 touchdowns on the offensive end, its clear that their efforts haven't been enough to pull the Gophers out of this slump, nor have they allowed them to outscore anyone.
Following last week's sickening defeat, it seems that a home date with Minnesota is just what MSU needs to get back on track. But, they'll need to establish balance in terms of both their ground and aerial attacks, and start out quickly to quell any lingering unease after the Iowa City debacle. Most importantly, the Spartans need to play as if their season depends on this game, because in all reality, it truly does. If every week is the league championship game, then MSU has already backed itself into a one-loss hole. This week, they need to dig themselves out.
--Beau
Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant will both open up their fourth regular-season contest apiece tonight at 10:30, and both of them air nationwide. Durant has already hit 30 points twice this young season, and Bryant has dropped an average of 23.8 per game-if both continue to play deep into the season at their current pace, an MVP discussion might heat up. Looking at the Lakers' schedule, its' safe to say they could rip off 5 more wins before a November 14 showdown with fellow Western Conference nemesis Phoenix. But, these 2 stars aren't the only ones making headlines.
One can't possibly bring up this year's NBA without mentioning Celtics guard Rajon Rondo. The fourth-year vet is averaging an absurd 16.8 assists per game, and with 67 dimes in his first four contests, now holds the all-time record for most assists in the season's first four games. What's more, he has a good chance to further improve his average when the Celts tip off against the Bucks tonight.
However, despite so many impressive storylines in professional basketball,it's nice to maintain a local sports perspective as well, and to that end, I'll offer my thoughts on Michigan State's upcoming opponent, the visiting Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Gophers have dropped eight straight after a narrow season-opening victory over Middle Tennessee State, and have surrendered more than 30 points in six of those losses.Additionally, this defense ranks 105th in the country in terms of points allowed. While WR's Da'Jon McKnight and MarQueis Gray have done their part in combining for 13 touchdowns on the offensive end, its clear that their efforts haven't been enough to pull the Gophers out of this slump, nor have they allowed them to outscore anyone.
Following last week's sickening defeat, it seems that a home date with Minnesota is just what MSU needs to get back on track. But, they'll need to establish balance in terms of both their ground and aerial attacks, and start out quickly to quell any lingering unease after the Iowa City debacle. Most importantly, the Spartans need to play as if their season depends on this game, because in all reality, it truly does. If every week is the league championship game, then MSU has already backed itself into a one-loss hole. This week, they need to dig themselves out.
--Beau
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