ArnoldTPantsEsq

Is LSU having one? Did they have one? Anyone have any info on this?

Loyer has limited minutes, but that is primarily, as I said, because Izzo wants Winston on the floor as much as possible. There is a difference between a walk-on and a fairly highly rated freshman who is a scholarship player. Loyer is not ideal, but he isn't a walk-on. I find the back-tracking from "walk-on" to "I meant walk-on numbers," somewhat eye-rolling.

You are absolutely correct about length. Most of MSU blocks are from help defense on perimeter players, versus blocks in post defense. Tillman, who is arguably short for a 5, has a knack for delaying his help on a driving guard until the guard is committed to a lay-up, and then swatting it out of bounds. MSU has a lot less length than last season, but more blocked shots.

Michigan tried to penetrate as much as possible in the 2nd matchup, and a lot of those shot attempts were blocked. But MSU is not swatting a lot of post-up attempts.

Ultimately I think MSU needs to hang onto the damn ball ball to win. LSU I think needs to get its crap together with shot selection.

That is the typical plan. But easier said than done - if you aren't practiced at it, a team like Syracuse will still f_ck you up. They delay their convergence on the free throw line a half beat or so, and the person receiving the pass at the high post can never tell whether to pass or shoot, and the hesitation results in an awkward shot or pass. By the time you get the hang of it, they have turned you over 15 times.

That forum is a cesspool. Real MSU fans are on the rivals pay site. I'd apologize for the 24/7 site but it isn't worth it.

And if your response to the insults is to quote OTL propaganda, you're demonstrating that you are as ill-informed as they are.

Couple corrections and additions:

Winston's backup is not a walk-on. Winston was in foul trouble in the B1G tournament, and a true freshman back-up point guard went off on Ohio State. That said, he rarely gets enough minutes to make such an impact. Izzo wants Winston on the floor all the time.

It is true that the primary 3 point shooters are McQuaid (2 guard) (shooting north of 43% from 3 in conference play), Winston, and Goins (stretch 4). I believe Goins and Winston are north of 38% in conference play from 3. However, Aaron Henry (3 guard) will take the shot if left open and hit 2 against Minnesota this past Saturday.

The two centers, Tillman and Ward, present completely different games. Ward is a load, and has nice touch around the rim, and MSU fed him from the wing constantly until he broke his hand. He is an average post defender, a marginal ball screen defender, and he is a liability if he switches onto a guard. But he is deceptive insofar as he runs the floor on the break very, very fast.

Tillman is shorter, but very strong, and much faster than Ward. When he is at the 5, MSU plays heavy screen and roll offense, very often screen and re-screen stuff that gets Winston free to drive and leaves McQuaid, Goins, and Henry open for 3 point shots, and Tillman rolls quickly to the rim for lobs. Tillman has been a big scorer for MSU recently, and his season averages don't really tell that tale. If the defense backs off to prevent those things, Winston typically makes it all the way to the rim, or shoots a floater.

Other than perhaps a height issue, Tillman is a superior defender to Ward. He can switch to any position and is fully capable of preventing guard penetration. MSU was able to throw a few defensive curve balls when Tillman began to start in place of Ward.

MSU can present two completely different offensive and defensive philosophies, depending upon who is at the 5, although Ward is noticeably rusty, and wearing a brace on his shooting hand. The bobbled entry passes were the primary culprit in causing 22 turnovers versus Minnesota.

Henry (3) is an X-factor. He is very strong for a true freshman, and leaper. He and McQuaid have become absolutely excellent perimeter defenders. His confidence in his 3 point shot waxes and wanes, but he has excellent passing vision, so that when he penetrates with his speed, he is not always committed to shooting - he can dish. The strength and leaping also translates into rebounds.

You know about McQuaid and Winston.

Goins is at the 4, and he can shoot the 3, and also has good court vision and can dump it down to the 5 on the block effectively. he also rebounds like crazy. I think he had 18 in a game. This is unusual for a guy on an Izzo team. Izzo prefers rebounding by committee, but Goins seems to have the Rodman-esque ability to know where and when the ball is coming off, and seems to dominate MSU's rebounding.

Essentially, the offense can come from anywhere, there are 2 guys shooting 38-40% from three, and one shooting in the 42-45% range from 3, plus Aaron Henry. Tillman (5) shoots almost 60% from the floor in conference play.

But the big thing is that Winston can find them. McQuaid scored 27 in the tournament championship in large part owing to other-worldly cross-court passes from Winston. And there are other good passers on the team. I believe MSU averaged 18 assists per game in conference play, and Winston averages 7 or 8 per game. Shot selection is typically very good.

MSU shoots about 78% as a team from the FT line, but I think the percentage has been rising as the season has gone on. I believe Winston and McQuaid are at 80%+

Issues - Always the same with MSU. Shot attempt disparity. Whenever they turn it over, slack on the defensive rebounding or some combination of both, and give the opponent a decided advantage in shot attempts, they lose.

If the fast break is cooking, MSU can survive more of a disparity. However, the injuries have eroded MSU's depth, so MSU has not run as much later in the season. If Ward is at 100%, and given the 6 days of rest, it is possible Izzo will turn them lose more, but no one really knows.


This is a well-connected team that shares the ball, plays defense and can shoot. When they slack on rebounding or kick the ball all over the place, they can be beaten. The rebounding is unlikely to be an issue in the tournament - that is an effort issue and Izzo has the screws tightened. The turnovers? Unknown. I would expect that would be a focus of the LSU game plan.