Keys to beating Michigan St.

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march madness

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1. Being physical without making stupid fouls. We will be undersized at pf, sf for sure. We need Sampson to have a good game and Rodney to really play Green well without fouling.
2. Do not double down on the post. Mich st has lots of good 3 pt shooters.
3. Pressure the sophmore pt guard. Consider putting Austin on him instead of Welch.
4. Staying aggresive on offense even if you get a few charges.
5. Try to rebound with mich st.
6. Run and get to the foul line.
7. Take care of the ball.
8. Might have to sub in EE when Nix enters the game. A mountain of a man.
 

Appling

I think Appling's the key.

He's well on his way to being another stud Spartan PG, but he's still learning the position. He has streaks where he turns it over a lot, as do their other guards, and Green. Keep him from killing us in transition, then keep him out of the lane in their half-court sets. Can't let him break us down at the end of the shot clock.

Also look out for Austin Thornton. He's playing (and shooting) with a ton of confidence, confidence he's never had until this season. One of the most improved players in the B1G so far this season.
 

Rebound
Force turnovers
Take care of the ball

If we can't do those three things, match-ups don't matter.
 

Turnovers
Rebounding
Hope they miss open shots
 

Hope the B1G Home Cookin' is kept to a minimum.
 


Keys to beating Michigan St.

Score more points than the Spartans.
 



Limit MSU's offensive boards/limit them to 1-shot possessions.
Smart defensive basketball.
Capitalize on MSU's turnovers/mistakes.
Make the open jump shots and shots around the basket (or at least draw a foul).
Get to the line a lot!
 



1)Take care of the basketball...10 or less turnovers required.
2)Rebound the basketball and finish even or better in that category.
3)Make our FT's especially 1 and 1's.
4)Play with same fire and tenacity we showed at Bloomington, getting after all loose balls.
5)Someone in the back court other than Coleman must chip in with good shooting and production.
6)Sampson must play smart and score 10-18 points while grabbing 8 rebounds.
7)Rodney plays great defense on Green without fouling.
 

Beyond just "they need to play well"...

I know it's kinda simple, but shoot well (including FTs). Keeps the crowd out of it, gives players confidence to be aggressive and do other things on the court well. When you hit shots, everyone gains confidence.

Don't turn it over, especially ones leading to the fast break, energy creating dunks on the other end.
 

Dr.Don said:
Thank you zambam. i am not as dumb as some people think I look. :)
Click to expand...

I don't know why, but I've always envisioned you as being just like Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory, Dr. Don. A smart-ass genius.

<img src="http://cdn.buzznet.com/assets/imgx/1/2/5/2/5/4/2/1/orig-12525421.jpg">


As for the game, offensive rebounding and turnovers are the key. Limit their OR, create a bunch of turnovers, and limit ours. Do that and we'll certainly be in the game at the end.
 

Nix does not shoot free throws very well. Rodney seems to be getting better but Nix and Rodney shoot about the same percentage (@56%). Nix plays about 19 minutes or so. Andre Ingram has not played at all during this winning streak except for the last minute on Sunday. We may see more of him on Nix. If Andre picks some fouls on Nix or Green for that matter, it is not as big a deal.

Green shoots about 73% so if Rodney and Ralph fould him a lot it could be a long night for more than one reason.
 



I'd like to see the Gophers unveil that full court trapping press. They have the bodies to do it. I can't imagine that Tubby has not worked on the press. If Michigan State doesn't handle the ball well, then lets make them handle the ball full court. If they're bigger, make them run. I can't think of a better game to reveal the press that we used against Louisville about 4 years ago.
 

killer bee said:
I'd like to see the Gophers unveil that full court trapping press. They have the bodies to do it. I can't imagine that Tubby has not worked on the press. If Michigan State doesn't handle the ball well, then lets make them handle the ball full court. If they're bigger, make them run. I can't think of a better game to reveal the press that we used against Louisville about 4 years ago.
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Agreed. In the few games I've watched this year their guards seem to make some questionable decions when under pressure. Given that and the fact that they are stronger than us inside, it might be smart to at least give the press a try.
 

Refs allow them to play, Williams comes out agressively and doesn't get into foul trouble.
 

killer bee said:
I'd like to see the Gophers unveil that full court trapping press. They have the bodies to do it. I can't imagine that Tubby has not worked on the press. If Michigan State doesn't handle the ball well, then lets make them handle the ball full court. If they're bigger, make them run. I can't think of a better game to reveal the press that we used against Louisville about 4 years ago.
Click to expand...

Bring it!

I am in the camp as I like that type of agressive basketball along with the running game. Tubby has the numbers and I am surprised he hasn't used it that much.
 

march madness said:
1. Being physical without making stupid fouls. We will be undersized at pf, sf for sure. We need Sampson to have a good game and Rodney to really play Green well without fouling.
2. Do not double down on the post. Mich st has lots of good 3 pt shooters.
3. Pressure the sophmore pt guard. Consider putting Austin on him instead of Welch.
4. Staying aggresive on offense even if you get a few charges.
5. Try to rebound with mich st.
6. Run and get to the foul line.
7. Take care of the ball.
8. Might have to sub in EE when Nix enters the game. A mountain of a man.
Click to expand...

Here's the true key. Get a decent team, with a coach who has a clue, to play them.
 


Tough game it was like watching seniors pick on 7th graders.

I really missed Colt, Walker, and Trevor. Not just for rebounding but for being able to set a pick to even free anyone up.

I'm glad Rodney was hitting from downtown or the score could have been brutal. Green is a great player, a few missed travels or not. The first game since Rodney moved to pf that a team used it to their advantage.

Conversly, I wish rodney would have taken green off the dribble. He had the one drive where he dribbled twice from the wing then did a jump stop in the lane. He missed the bunny but its there for him every time if he wants it.

Why do our big men get physical with mich st centers at the top of the key? Has Nix or Payne ever made a shot from there? Just dumb basketball really. Save your fouls for fighting people on the box.

Dawson was also very physical and imposing against our 3 guard lineup. They are definitely a top 10 team. I thought Appling was key and even though we put our slowest defenders on him he had an off game.

If we play this hard against the next 4 we should be ok.
 

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