<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Michigan State went 6-for-6 from the line down the stretch to clinch it. March 19, 2005 WORCESTER, Mass. - Tom Izzo leaned back in his chair, his arms spread out, his lips pursed. The usually volatile Michigan State coach didn't like what he was seeing. The fifth-seeded Spartans couldn't pull away until the final minutes, when Shannon Brown made a spinning layup to start a three-point play that helped Michigan State beat Old Dominion 89-81 on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA tournament. </div> Link Was anyone dumb enough to doubt the Spartans? I feel like this is a legit contender for the Final Four. Although Vermont will be no pushover in the next round, they'll probably be the easiest team to play that's still left in the field. Assuming Michigan State beats Vermont, they'd play the winner of Duke/Mississippi State. If Michigan gets lucky and Mississippi State wins, then I don't think there's much that stands in their way to an Elite 8 bid. Even if the Spartans play Duke, I think they can pull it out. The two played earlier this year and Michigan State almost won, and it was at Duke. I don't think Tom Izzo will lose twice to the same team in one year. When you think about it, Michigan State has a pretty simple road and could very easily be a team that shocks everyone and makes the Final Four. What does everyone think about this?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Link Was anyone dumb enough to doubt the Spartans? I feel like this is a legit contender for the Final Four. Although Vermont will be no pushover in the next round, they'll probably be the easiest team to play that's still left in the field. Assuming Michigan State beats Vermont, they'd play the winner of Duke/Mississippi State. If Michigan gets lucky and Mississippi State wins, then I don't think there's much hat stands in their way to an Elite 8 bid. Even if the Spartans play Duke, I think they can pull it out. The two played earlier this year and Michigan State almost won, and it was at Duke. I don't think Tom Izzo will lose twice to the same team in one year. When you think about it, Michigan State has a pretty simple road and could very easily be a team that shocks everyone and makes the Final Four. What does everyone think about this?</div>Michigan State has a lot of talent, but I still feel like they're soft. Mind you, I loved them and the hard-nosed, strong rebounding style they used to play, but their latest roster doesn't sit well with me. Alan Anderson missing those free throws against Iowa. I still love Izzo and hope they go as far as possible for Big Ten solidarity though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Fast Luck:</div><div class="quote_post">Michigan State has a lot of talent, but I still feel like they're soft. Mind you, I loved them and the hard-nosed, strong rebounding style they used to play, but their latest roster doesn't sit well with me. Alan Anderson missing those free throws against Iowa. I still love Izzo and hope they go as far as possible for Big Ten solidarity though.</div> I think that a lot of Big Ten fans and Michigan State fans feel that this team is soft because of the comparison to the extreme toughness they used to play with. When people are used to a team playing with bangers like Andre Hutson and Zach Randolph, they'll be quick to persecute a team with guys like Paul Davis and Kelvin Torbert as their big men. I personally don't think they're soft. Maybe Paul Davis is a bit on the softer side, but the actual team is not soft. They are, however, a bit undersized. They have a Shooting Guard trying to substitute as a Power Forward. While in the past, they've always had at least two or three 6-11 or 6-10 bangers downlow. This is the first season they only have one real big man, and I think that makes them come off soft. How do you explain the fact that Michigan State is the best rebounding team in the Big Ten if they're soft? As for Alan Anderson missing those freethrows, it wasn't very clutch, but he's still the best freethrow shooter in the Big Ten with around 90% from the line. Last time I checked, Michigan State has something like four out of the top five or six freethrow shooters in the Big Ten, so freethrows aren't a problem. Michigan State does have a bit of a problem with playing in the clutch though. They could have easily beaten Duke, Iowa, Indiana, and Wisconsin this year had they performed better under the pressure. However, tonight they proved that they could handle clutch situations. They were trailing for a large part of the game, and for the most part it was back and forth. However, Shannon Brown hit a clutch layup and Alan Anderson followed that up with four clutch freethrows in a row to seal them the victory.
With Cuse out then I see no reason why they won't make It to the sweet 16 but thats as far As I see them going. Duke are simply a better team. Then again this tourney has been so unpredictable this year..who knows they may surprise me but I doubt It. Their hopes did at least increase abit with Syracuse getting knocked out last night though.
I'm telling you all, Michigan State will beat Duke. Duke has absolutely no bench, and Michigan State does. Michigan State played Duke earlier in the year and really could've won the game, but made some bad decisions toward the end. For the regional championship, I see a Michigan State-Kentucky showdown!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UKOwnstheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm telling you all, Michigan State will beat Duke. Duke has absolutely no bench, and Michigan State does. Michigan State played Duke earlier in the year and really could've won the game, but made some bad decisions toward the end. For the regional championship, I see a Michigan State-Kentucky showdown!</div> I agree with you, and I'm predicting either a Michigan State-Kentucky showdown as you predicted, or a Michigan State-Utah one, just because I like Bogut. Allnet, I know you saw the Michigan State-Duke game earlier this year. How superior did you feel Duke was when it was about a tie game with a minute or so left in Cameron Indoor?
I think Michigan State would have won when they played earlier this year, if it had been at a neutral site. But I don't think they'll win this time.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Allnet, I know you saw the Michigan State-Duke game earlier this year. How superior did you feel Duke was when it was about a tie game with a minute or so left in Cameron Indoor?</div> Duke certainly weren't superior that is true but they still have one of the best coaches in the nation who knows what It takes to win in this tourament and two of the top players in the nation with Redick and Williams. MSU have more depth but on a neutral court in a one off deciding game I would take the big game players everytime. Then again a few other big name players are already out so you can never tell what may happen in march madness.
