Pre-Game Key Components for Sparty

We are hours away from one of the biggest match-ups in the history of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry in any sport. Both teams are coming in ranked in the Top 10 for the first time that I can remember(or find through research) ever. The closest was the 1999 football game where UofM came in ranked #3 and the Spartans were ranked #11. This game has huge implications in the tight B1G as we head towards the end of the regular season. It is a game chocked full of interesting match-ups on the floor, and should come down to a tight finish. Here are the key components that I feel MSU needs to pull off a win.

1. Keep Appling On The Floor- In some of the Spartans' recent games Appling has spent good amount of time on the bench in foul trouble. The Spartans will have a tough time winning this game with Appling spending more time on the bench, than on the floor. They were able to stay in the game at Indiana with a great effort from Travis Trice. However, there is a possibility that he will still be out with concussion symptoms. Denzel Valentine has done an admirable job when he's filled in, but the offense still tends to bog down with Appling not on the floor. So, Appling has to do a great job of trying to contain Trey Burke without getting into foul trouble. That will be a tall task, but as a junior, and co-captain, he has to figure out how to accomplish that.

2. From the Inside Out- This is a very simple concept that has been around since Dr. James Naismith put that peach basket up for the first time in Kansas. The game of basketball functions a lot easier in the half-court when you can work from the inside out. For MSU, that means early, and heavy doses of Adreian Payne, and Derrick Nix.

Payne is starting to show the game of a guy that could be an NBA player for a long time. He is posting strong, and making aggressive moves around the basket. The Spartans need to look to him early, and try to exploit the Wolverines down low. Nix has been a frustrating player to watch during his time at MSU. However, these last few games, he has been getting buckets at a decent clip. He has an array of post moves that are tough to guard one on one. Looking to him and Payne early will open up things on the perimeter for Appling, and Gary Harris. This will be very key for the Spartans in this game.

3. Defending the Three- The Spartans have been pretty inconsistent defensively against the three-pointer. Teams have been getting a lot of good looks from behind the arc. That can not happen against the Wolverines. They are a team that whether they want to acknowledge or not, live and die by the three. Tim Hardaway is shooting 10-17 in his last three games from there. Nik Stauskas is a shooter that you do not want to leave open, and Trey Burke can bury them as well. The Spartans have to close-out strong on the shooters early, and not let them set. Allowing any of these guys to get going could be a recipe for disaster.

4. Keep The Crowd In It- As stated earlier, this is the biggest game between these two that I can remember. The crowd at the Breslin will be ready to go at around 9 A.M. The Spartans have to capitalize and feed off that energy. A good, aggressive start will do just that. As talented as the Wolverines are, they are still a young team, and have shown that they have difficulty on the road. Quality play by the Spartans should keep the crowd involved, and have the Wolverines on their heels.

So, there you have my key components for a Spartan victory. This game has all the ingredients to be a close affair from start to finish. It is my belief that the home court advantage, and edge in experience will lead the Spartans to victory. For fun, I'll throw out a score of 77-73. Feel free to leave a comment if you agree or disagree. Feedback is always welcomed.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson Jr., and I approve this message. 

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Mr. Wilson's B1G 11-12 Men's Basketball Individual Awards

Yesterday, I gave you my All Big Ten conference picks. Check them out here: http://mrwilson42.blogspot.com/2012/03/mr-wilsons-all-b1g-team.html. Now here are my individual awards for the conference season.

Freshman of the Year: Trey Burke(Michigan)- This was one of the toughest picks. Burke and Cody Zeller have been 1A and 1B all season in this race. However, I’m going with Burke based on his play in Michigan’s biggest games, and the steady, consistent way he ran the team. He is a special point guard, and Michigan fans better enjoy this kid while they can.

Most Improved: Derrick Nix(Michigan St.)- After the MSU-Duke game, I posted on Facebook “Derrick Nix just played the worst game of a player getting significant time in Michigan State history”.  Anyone who watched that game borderline felt sorry for him. However since then, he has provided the Spartans with a consistent presence down low coming off the bench. He has shown incredible footwork, touch around the rim, and is even making his free throws now. He is an easy pick for this category in my opinion.

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Craft(Ohio St.)- Craft is one of the peskiest guards to come along in a while. He has shut down many of the best perimeter players in the B1G. The ones he didn’t shut down completely, he made it very difficult for them to get off the way they were used to. That is what you ask from your players, and Craft delivers it every time he steps on the floor.

Comeback Player of the Year: Robbie Hummel(Purdue)- Coming into last season, Purdue had high hopes of Hummel, E’Twaun Moore, and JaJuan Johnson leading them to the national championship. Those hopes faded when Hummel tore his ACL during the first practice. After receiving an injury redshirt from the NCAA, Hummel returned for what seems like his 20^th Big Ten season. He has played like a player who has never suffered any major injury. With averages of 16.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, and 1.2 blocks per game, he has carried Purdue, and has them looking good for a tourney bid.  Great comeback for the young man.

Best Player Many Don’t Know: Tim Frazier(Penn St.) This is a special category, because Tim Frazier doesn’t  receive the acclaim he deserves due to playing at Penn St. I got to see him play at Michigan State, and while the Spartans destroyed Penn State, Frazier did his best to keep it a little entertaining. He’s a player that can score a variety of ways, and it’s a shame that his talent is being hidden in State College, PA.

Player of the Year: Draymond Green(Michigan St.)- Easily the most important player on a team that went from unranked in the preseason to winning a piece of the B1G regular-season championship. Green has been a leader on the floor, and a strong force in the locker room.  He has had one of the most impressive individual seasons in recent memory, including the first triple-double by a Spartan since Charlie Bell and made sure that he will go down as one of the best Spartan players ever.

There are my picks. Do you agree, disagree, think I should have put someone else? Feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.