I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm pumped for the Spartans' first challenge in the regular season against what seems like an underrated Gonzaga team. Hopefully with our minor injuries, we can fight through and get a convincing win at home to get us off to a good start and help us get through this tough OOC schedule that Izzo has planned.
I know nothing about the Zags this year, so I'm not sure what to expect. No, I take that back. I know what to expect. And that would be the Spartans showing a national audience that we're more than just Kalin Lucas. I don't know how close it'll be, what Gonzaga's strengths are, etc. What I do know is that guys will step up. Unlike previous years where say Neitzel doesn't show up and we lose, guys are already showing they can step up with the early injuries. Again, who knows how good the Zags are, but I'm confident that someone like Green, Nix or Lucious will step up if the "stars" don't shine. Same as last year, except even more options.
As a sidenote, if Draymond keeps this up, he is, to me, officially one of the "stars."
I'm definitely fired up especially after a subpar year on the gridiron. The last time these two locked horns, it was incredible. Mo Ager was dropping everything he threw up to the tune of 30+ points. Unfortunately for us, Adam Morrison had an answer for every big shot Ager hit. In the end, freshman big man Goran Suton missed an easy lay up and the Zags emerged victorious. Not this year though. Is Pargo still on the Zags or is he in the NBA?
I really love this year's team and am looking forward to an unbelievable season.
Hi Spartans fans, sounds like you're a little in the dark on what to expect from this year's Gonzaga team, so I'll fill you in on the details.
Here's some quick notes for you: -Most notable about this team is that they lost 4 of their top players from last year, Josh Heytvelt, Jeremy Pargo, Austin Daye, & Micah Downs.
-Leading this year's squad are Wooden nominee senior Matt Bouldin & hot shooting junior wing Steven Gray - both players can be expected to put in a 15-6-6 performance.
-Sophomore Demetri Goodson, whose last second layup you may or may not remember from last year's NCAA tournament game vs Western Kentucky, is at the point due to the departure of Pargo. Goodson has exceptional quickness and is a tough defender.
-Question marks remain around the Gonzaga big men as they have little experience outside sophomore Rob Sacre, a 7'1" center who provides a lot of energy and physical play around the post.
-20 year-old freshman Elias Harris performed very well in his debut against MVSU and could be the X factor for the Zags in this game.
Zag fans should be happy if they finish within 10 points of MSU.
Great link ndliblnc. I remember watching that game thinking that Ager would be a Wooden Finalist that year.
Thanks Al...but I can't take credit...CorneliusIII, whom I note you've already met, shared that link in another thread. (lol...can you guess why CorneliusIII kept it close?...dang...win for the ages if you were a Zag fan)
For us to win tomorrow our guards will have to play as expected, and Sacre and Harris must have big games inside. We think there is a good chance of this happening. The x-factor is our talented, but inexperienced group of freshman who will be coming off the bench. We hope the bright lights and screaming Spartan fans won't throw them off. If they can play loose, it will be a game. Wish I could be there.
We really respect you guys for scheduling a game with us in Spokane. You're a class program.
Before we all go through our traditional last minute scrambles, does anyone have the Comcast, Verizon, ESPN, CBS, ABC, FOX, BigTen, M.O.U.S.E. broadcast schedules?
Im like the other Zags fan, if we keep it within 10 pts I think we'd have to be happy with that. Losing 4 of our starting 5 from last year, obviously I have no idea what to expect, but this game should be an early indicator of how good we are! And IF the Zags do pull off the win, I would be surprised if we won by more than 5 lol
OMG I loved that team...of course I'm referring to the one that actually lived up to the hype in the 2005 NCAA's.
Dang. Hopefully this team doesn't flop like the trio (Ager, Davis, Brown) did of that very recent era. I don't believe in jinx's, but maybe some of u do, so I won't say it, but...
Yeah, so here's to another ESPN classic and another great Michigan State basketball season. <!-- Session data-->
We may lose a few games this year, but that is college basketball. But we will not flop, we have to many weapons. I am very excited to see this team progress. We have one of the deepest rosters I can remember. Think about it, Lucas, Lucious, Allen, Summers, Morgan, Roe, Green, Nix, these are stars. And then add all the supporting cast, thats why the media is pretty high on this team. I am even shocked to hear the College Basketball media giving the Big Ten some preason hype. Maybe all of Izzo's lobbying on behalf of the Big Ten is working. Izzo should be getting a seperate indorsement check from the Big Ten.
were both carried on ESPN360...free streaming...not a bad feed either.Except that 360 requires a download/software install and this being a (shhhh) government computer, I am forbidden to do such a thing. In fact the (shhhh) security protocols install on the danged thing won't even let me try.
The Spartans might lose a couple along the way and might not even reach the Final 4. Anything can happen. That said, what would you assess the Spartan chances of not only winning the NC but doing so undefeated?
