This one is much bigger for MSU than it is for Texas. Sure Texas will want to win, but beating Texas would give MSU a huge boost of confidence and an unexpected victory over a ranked opponent. I'll be rooting for that to happen however, this one will probably be a big Texas victory.

Texas has what MSU doesn't (yet), athletic guards. I'll take great guards over size anyday. Guards win. Because of that, I'm predicting a 20 point Texas win because of numerous Spartan turnovers and inability to score.

But, don't get me wrong. Sure I'm pessimistic, but I'm gonna be rooting for the boys in green big time. This win would be monsterous and it would be a big time upset. Let's go green!

http://portfolio.statenews.com/users/robert/images/2005bkc/2.jpg

Because of that, I'm predicting a 20 point Texas win because of numerous Spartan turnovers and inability to score.


That's my concern as well.

But it's important that MSU not get blown out by 20. If they can't win they have to keep the game competitive so it can at least qualify as a "good" loss come selection time. I know MSU's dancing shoes may be kept in the closet this year, but this game could go a long way toward helping change that.

The interesting thing with this game is that you predict Texas to win because of turnovers.
I generally cut young players some slack and would expect the more experienced guys to turn the ball over less.
One of Neitzel's strongest points coming into this season statistically was an excellent assist to turnover ratio.
Now you face a team with no seniors, no returning starters, no juniors with significant minutes.....and turnovers could decide it in their favor? If that happens it should be a big concern not just for this game, but for any relatively tough game, especially in conference play.

The interesting thing with this game is that you predict Texas to win because of turnovers.
I generally cut young players some slack and would expect the more experienced guys to turn the ball over less.
One of Neitzel's strongest points coming into this season statistically was an excellent assist to turnover ratio.
Now you face a team with no seniors, no returning starters, no juniors with significant minutes.....and turnovers could decide it in their favor? If that happens it should be a big concern not just for this game, but for any relatively tough game, especially in conference play.

The worries aren't with Nietzel. They are with Walton and Naymick(and Gray) who have been turnover machines.

The worries aren't with Nietzel. They are with Walton and Naymick(and Gray) who have been turnover machines.

Exactly, I'd trust Neitzel handling the rock in any game. It is the fact that we don't have other guards to handle the pressure. I'm worried about teams that have athletic guards that can pressure the wings.

I believe Raymar is the key this game. If he could turn it on and take it to the next level and give us 18 pts, 10 boards then we could have a chance. Suton has to come up big on a smaller team also.

BTW, isn't that Gray pic above sick? I know Im the one who posted it, but I just can't stop looking at it.

I don't know that I've seen a better Jordan copy on a dunk and it came from a PF. Man, if he could just utilize those gifts!

Looks like my old Mateen Cleaves missing link sig...

The interesting thing with this game is that you predict Texas to win because of turnovers.
I generally cut young players some slack and would expect the more experienced guys to turn the ball over less.
One of Neitzel's strongest points coming into this season statistically was an excellent assist to turnover ratio.
Now you face a team with no seniors, no returning starters, no juniors with significant minutes.....and turnovers could decide it in their favor? If that happens it should be a big concern not just for this game, but for any relatively tough game, especially in conference play.

I don't trust Neitzel as much as the assist / TO ratio says I should. He may not cough it up, but Drew isn't going to push thru ball pressure like a PG with some bulk (Mateen) or quicks (Hopefully Lucas). He'll have to give up the rock to somebody that more than likely can be coaxed into a turnover.

Size is in the Spartans favor, athleticism on the perimeter favors Texas. If the Spartans want to win then Morgan, MoJo, and maybe even Dahlman better make some shots.

C'mon Tre! Have more faith in the guys. I told you that MSU could upset Texas.

Awesome game by Morgan and Neitzel tonight. It's amazing that they won considering just how pathetic all of MSU's bigs played on the offensive end. big time credit goes to Izzo though. They came out of the half with a great gameplan to shut down Durant.

This team has a lot more potential that most everyone is giving them credit for. They are a top 25 caliber team. Nothing more. Nothing less.

C'mon Tre! Have more faith in the guys. I told you that MSU could upset Texas.

Awesome game by Morgan and Neitzel tonight. It's amazing that they won considering just how pathetic all of MSU's bigs played on the offensive end. big time credit goes to Izzo though. They came out of the half with a great gameplan to shut down Durant.

This team has a lot more potential that most everyone is giving them credit for. They are a top 25 caliber team. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I was most impressed with the 2 guys expected to do nothing.

MoJo and Ibok. MoJo got 12 points, 4 rebounds, and wasn't abused on D, that is more than you could say about his entire last year(16 points total, LOL).

Ibok definitely contributed some valuable minutes, and showed some of the 'I dunk, I block' stuff that earned him his nickname. He isn't great by any stretch, but was a valuable guy off the bench.

Gray also had some good signs, played quite a bit and only had 2 fouls, not much O, but 7 rebounds too.

But yeah, Raymar and Neitzel were what won us that game.

I absolutely feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel it! I can not believe the performance I just witnessed. Ridiculously surprised and impressed by this big time win and upset over the 18th ranked team in the country. For this young team to come in and do this in the Garden so early in the season shocks me!

It wasn't downplay talk, I really thought Texas by 20. But, it was easy to see about 5 minutes into the game that Tom Izzo Spartan Style Basketball is back. Killer defense and great rebounding, along with patient smart offense. It was a winning combination and it is back. I would way prefer to watch a much less talented team this year playing the right way than last year's super talented team that played no defense.

I really enjoyed watching them share the ball and play like a team. I can't say enough about Raymar Morgan who will be an absolute superstar and the play of Neitzel, Walton, Ibok, and MoJo. All had super games and Ibok brought me to my feet with his blocks. It is going to be fun watching this team try to make the tourney playing the right way.

LIGHTS OUT BITCH!
http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/ncb/2005/0327/photo/a_neitzel_ft.jpg
HOOK THIS

From all that I've read it sounds like this was an amazing game.

I didn't watch any because I was busy watching Pitt's defense open up like a bag of chips for White and Slaton, then I went to bed just as this game's 2nd half was starting.

Screw a 9:00 start.

From all that I've read it sounds like this was an amazing game.

I didn't watch any because I was busy watching Pitt's defense open up like a bag of chips for White and Slaton, then I went to bed just as this game's 2nd half was starting.

Screw a 9:00 start.

You watched freaking Pitt? YUCK!

C'mon bedtime boy! You gotta stay up. haha

It was a great game capped off by Neitzel crossing up a Texas guard and making him fall to the ground as he put the winning bucket in.

Nice win. I watched most of the second half of the game. I hadn't seen them play yet this year but they look pretty decent. I don't think they have a final four run in them this year, but who knows how far they can go with a little experience.

Nice win. I watched most of the second half of the game. I hadn't seen them play yet this year but they look pretty decent. I don't think they have a final four run in them this year, but who knows how far they can go with a little experience.

Man, I'm just hoping for the tournament. I wish our post players especially Gray could finish inside, because this would be a different team. Gray just bulls his way inside, but he can never finish. He'd get himself 10 a game if he could finish those puppies in there.

I hate the fact that stunner dunkers, guys with massive hops, can at times fail to finish inside shots. I'm talking about Gray here but it happens with a bunch of guys on teams I like. Dude, you can jump 9 feet in the air and you're 6'8". You've got the strength to get there, now dunk that shit!

Yeah. Like that layup that Durant missed last night. He could have easily dunked it and he layed it up and missed. in the words of Bill Walton..."throw it down big man"