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Let's talk Mich St

Posted on 3/25/19 at 9:44 am
Posted by HoopyD
Member since Nov 2004
3270 posts
Posted on 3/25/19 at 9:44 am
One thing is for certain. This game, like every LSU game, will be a nail biter.

Izzo teams are always well coached and he has a week to break down LSU. That's scary. Mich St is typically a man-to-man team but LSU has really struggled against zone. Will MSU break tendencies or will they stay with what's comfortable?

Mich St. is usually a gritty, physical team but I think LSU actually holds the physical/talent advantage in this one. MSU also doesn't have any NBA locks. JR Cassius Winston is their leader and is a great college guard but not sure he's a NBA player.

Going to be a great game against a great team.
Posted by TheCaterpillar
Member since Jan 2004
76774 posts
Posted on 3/25/19 at 9:46 am to
They didn't play a lot of zone this year (basically never), but Tom Izzo, who I think might be the greatest X and O coach in the college game, has nearly a week to get his guys ready.

My guess, we're going to see a lot of zone.

His teams play excellent team ball. Great ball movement, great fundamentals, etc. They always have experienced players and a mix of young talent, which always helps in the tournament.

Posted by Clyde
Member since Jul 2010
1548 posts
Posted on 3/25/19 at 9:46 am to
Don't think it'll be close at all honestly. Lose by 10+
Posted by The Torch
DFW The Dub
Member since Aug 2014
19425 posts
Posted on 3/25/19 at 9:48 am to
In game adjustments will be a problem, Izzo is a master at this
Posted by TheCaterpillar
Member since Jan 2004
76774 posts
Posted on 3/25/19 at 9:48 am to
Honestly, I don't know if there is a coach in the college game I'd least rather face after he has a week to watch our film and game plan.

Izzo v. Benford

I believe we have the raw talent advantage, while they have a huge advantage in coaching and experienced players.

I think we'll go up, but they're going to frustrate us with the zone, discipline, and hustle. We're going to get in foul trouble and they pull away at the end of the game because of all those reasons.

Posted by stapuffmarshy
lower 9
Member since Apr 2010
17507 posts
Posted on 3/25/19 at 9:49 am to
LSU wins a nail biter or it's Wisconsin in 2000 all over again.


I have 3 more days to convince myself on one or the other.
Posted by CajunChops
Austin, TX
Member since Oct 2015
279 posts
Posted on 3/25/19 at 9:52 am to
I'm hoping Izzo loses his shite early in the game and gets ejected!
Posted by DallasTiger45
Member since May 2012
8445 posts
Posted on 3/25/19 at 9:53 am to
I agree, LSU will have the physical advantage with both size and athleticism and needs to use it. We need to pound the rock inside constantly like the first half of both tourney games so far.

We need to play disciplined defensively. We love to gamble and go for steals and blocks, but Sparty, and Winston in particular, will make us pay if we get too aggressive.
Posted by Alt26
Member since Mar 2010
28470 posts
Posted on 3/25/19 at 10:11 am to
I suspect they will start in man and stay in man unless forced to play zone (like LSU did to Maryland). Their defense is always great

Tremendous rebounding team and always one of the most physical teams in the nation. This is a group that will be very similar to the Florida team LSU played this year (albeit much more efficient on offense)

Despite their physicality, LSU probably has more length overall. Their frontcourt is mostly composed of 6'7 - 6'8 guys. Ward (6'9) is their best inside player, but he's missed a lot of time this year due to injury and he hasn't played huge minutes thus far in the tournament.

Winston, like Waters, is their engine. Like Waters, he doesn't "look" like a tremendous athlete. However, he's a guy that can just flat get it done. On Sat. Minnesota had a great start to the second half and were cutting into the MSU lead until Winston went on a 9-0 run by himself. After that, Minn. never threatened again.

LSU is a team that is scary because they can overwhelm you with great athletes to go along with a savvy backcourt. When it all clicks LSU is very tough to stop because they have multiple guys who can beat you one on one. Mich. St. is easily the more disciplined team. While maybe not as athletic as the Dukes, UK's or even LSU's of the world, they know how to win and find ways to make big plays when they have to.

As we've seen all year, a focused LSU can beat ANYONE. But as we've also seen all year, this team is prone to stretches of inexplicably dumb basketball (Waters can giveth and Waters can taketh away).

At this point the only result that would surprise me is a blowout either way. I think we are in for another heart pounding finish. As my wife who watched her first LSU game this weekend said, "I don't see how you handle this. I don't even like basketball or LSU, and that was nerve racking!"
Posted by PiscesTiger
Concrete, WA
Member since Feb 2004
53696 posts
Posted on 3/25/19 at 10:13 am to
Well the obvious is that Taylor is going to guard Winston.

Izzo might be a man to man guy, but he would be a fool to not switch to 2-3 zone with about 12 min left to play.

We need Emmitt and Darrius to give us quality off the bench. One if not both the bigs are going to be in foul trouble.

FWIW, I would love to have the same crew we had for Yale game.
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