Ignatius L Hoops
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Hoping for a January Thaw
On Sunday, Michigan State (2-1) visits Williams Arena kicking off a stretch of 5 out of six road games. Following the Gopher game, MSU travels to Maryland and Illinois before returning to East Lansing for a rematch with Indiana. Then MSU again hits the road to Michigan and Ohio State. It’s crucial stretch for the Spartans not to mention an important game for the Gophers (1-2).
Suzy Merchant (12-4 overall) continues experimenting with starting lineups. Taryn McCutcheon is the only player to start every game. In the age of four guard lineups, Merchant has been using a two post lineup featuring the 6’4” freshman, Sydney Cooks, and the 6’4” Junior, Jenna Allen. Cooks and Allen combined for 18 points in the runaway win against Indiana, 20 points in the Rutgers loss and 27 points in the rout of Northwestern. With Tori Jankoska graduation, several guards (Colley, McCutcheon, Gussert and Agee) have stepped up to lead the scoring.
It’s difficult to learn much from the last two Michigan State games. Rutgers defeated MSU in East Lansing with a suffocating defense that doubled or tripled teamed Spartan posts whenever they got the ball down low. We won’t see that from the Gophers. In the Northwestern victory, Michigan State, running at every opportunity, rarely acknowledged the Wildcat defense. Defensively, the Spartans overwhelmed the Wildcats by playing man and applying full court pressure.
As usual, Merchant likes players with some physicality. It will be a good test for Destiny Pitts and an essential game for Kiki Bell’s defending.
Notable Spartan wins: In addition to Northwestern, the Gophers and Spartans faced one common opponent: the Rhode Island Rams. It was an 82-38 win for the Spartans and an 82-60 win for the Gophers.
Notable Spartan losses: There was an over quickly loss in Eugene, Oregon to Uconn 96-62. Five days later, MSU lost at Miami 67-57 with the ‘Canes keeping the lead around ten points for much of the game. Their third loss in four games came at Notre Dame where the Irish sprinted to a 47-16 halftime lead and coasted home.
Last season the Gophers lost to the Spartans twice. In the first game at Williams, the game was tied 40-40 at the half before the Spartans, behind 20 points from Jankoska and 14 from McCutcheon, pulled away to win 93-74. Bell led the Gophers with 24, Fernstrom and Wagner added 18 apiece.
In East Lansing, Minnesota trailed 37-35 at the half before the hot shooting Spartans buried them 85-69. Branndais Agee was unstoppable with 30 points (6-9 from behind the arc). Jankoska contributed 24 points (6-14 from behind the arc) and 10 assists. Edwards led the Gophers with 14 points and Wagner followed with 13.
Probable Starters:
5’5 G So Taryn McCutcheon 7.6 points/game in B1G games
5’9” G So Shay Colley 12.5 points/game in B1G games
6’0” G Sr Branndais Agee 14.3 points/game in B1G games
6’4” F Fr Sydney Cooks
6’4” C Jr Jenna Allen
6’0” G Sr Lexi Gussert
On Sunday, Michigan State (2-1) visits Williams Arena kicking off a stretch of 5 out of six road games. Following the Gopher game, MSU travels to Maryland and Illinois before returning to East Lansing for a rematch with Indiana. Then MSU again hits the road to Michigan and Ohio State. It’s crucial stretch for the Spartans not to mention an important game for the Gophers (1-2).
Suzy Merchant (12-4 overall) continues experimenting with starting lineups. Taryn McCutcheon is the only player to start every game. In the age of four guard lineups, Merchant has been using a two post lineup featuring the 6’4” freshman, Sydney Cooks, and the 6’4” Junior, Jenna Allen. Cooks and Allen combined for 18 points in the runaway win against Indiana, 20 points in the Rutgers loss and 27 points in the rout of Northwestern. With Tori Jankoska graduation, several guards (Colley, McCutcheon, Gussert and Agee) have stepped up to lead the scoring.
It’s difficult to learn much from the last two Michigan State games. Rutgers defeated MSU in East Lansing with a suffocating defense that doubled or tripled teamed Spartan posts whenever they got the ball down low. We won’t see that from the Gophers. In the Northwestern victory, Michigan State, running at every opportunity, rarely acknowledged the Wildcat defense. Defensively, the Spartans overwhelmed the Wildcats by playing man and applying full court pressure.
As usual, Merchant likes players with some physicality. It will be a good test for Destiny Pitts and an essential game for Kiki Bell’s defending.
Notable Spartan wins: In addition to Northwestern, the Gophers and Spartans faced one common opponent: the Rhode Island Rams. It was an 82-38 win for the Spartans and an 82-60 win for the Gophers.
Notable Spartan losses: There was an over quickly loss in Eugene, Oregon to Uconn 96-62. Five days later, MSU lost at Miami 67-57 with the ‘Canes keeping the lead around ten points for much of the game. Their third loss in four games came at Notre Dame where the Irish sprinted to a 47-16 halftime lead and coasted home.
Last season the Gophers lost to the Spartans twice. In the first game at Williams, the game was tied 40-40 at the half before the Spartans, behind 20 points from Jankoska and 14 from McCutcheon, pulled away to win 93-74. Bell led the Gophers with 24, Fernstrom and Wagner added 18 apiece.
In East Lansing, Minnesota trailed 37-35 at the half before the hot shooting Spartans buried them 85-69. Branndais Agee was unstoppable with 30 points (6-9 from behind the arc). Jankoska contributed 24 points (6-14 from behind the arc) and 10 assists. Edwards led the Gophers with 14 points and Wagner followed with 13.
Probable Starters:
5’5 G So Taryn McCutcheon 7.6 points/game in B1G games
5’9” G So Shay Colley 12.5 points/game in B1G games
6’0” G Sr Branndais Agee 14.3 points/game in B1G games
6’4” F Fr Sydney Cooks
6’4” C Jr Jenna Allen
6’0” G Sr Lexi Gussert
