Feb 17: #8 Team in the Country (Michigan State) is in 8th place in the B1G

[OnceAhawk]

What a weird season. The national championship is up for grabs. Who wants it?

Feb 17, 2016 B1G Standings:

TEAM CONF OVERALL

#4 Iowa 11-2 20-5
#6 Maryland 10-3 22-4
#22 Indiana 10-3 20-6
Wisconsin 8-4 16-9
#17 Purdue 9-5 21-6
Michigan 9-5 19-8
Ohio State 9-5 17-10
#8 Michigan State 8-5 21-5
Nebraska 6-7 14-12
Northwestern 5-9 17-10
Illinois 4-9 12-14
Penn State 3-9 12-13
Minnesota 0-13 6-19
Rutgers 0-13 6-20

 

[QChawks]

Just tells you the Big ten is a damn fine league

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Glad to see them lose

 

[mazda1]

It amazes me WI is tied for 4th. Once they got rid of Bo they really came on.

 

[mazda1]

It amazes me WI is tied for 4th. Once they got rid of Bo they really came on.

Just going by the loss column.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

It amazes me WI is tied for 4th. Once they got rid of Bo they really came on.

They have a gauntlet ahead of them

 

[EduNeerHawk]

They have a gauntlet ahead of them

Yes gauntlet......ouch.

02/10/16 NEBRASKA 6:00 PM
02/13/16 at Maryland 5:00 PM
02/18/16 at Michigan State 8:00 PM
02/21/16 ILLINOIS 12:00 AM
02/24/16 at Iowa 8:00 PM
02/28/16 MICHIGAN 12:00 AM
03/02/16 at Minnesota 8:00 PM
03/05/16 at Purdue 1:00 PM

 

[LuteHawk]

Tom Izzo is suffering Coach K fatigue.

 

[CadeHawk]

MSU season is kind of crazy. Undefeated in nonconference, 2 beat downs by Iowa.

But their 3 other losses were by 1 point each.

 

[hawkbleeder]

Every loss by MSU just makes the Spartans that much better than Iowa. Sincerely, Jay MF Bilas

 

[Vbeachawk]

If MSU loses on Saturday they could possibly double down on 8's.......ranked 8th in the country and in 8th place (bottom half) in the Big 10.

 

[slipHawk]

Like every year, MSU will be a tough out in the tourney you can count on it. Agreed that MSU is having a bizarre season and we helped

 

[DanL53]

All those one point losses. Weak. It is so nice to say that about an Izzo coached team. But we need these guys to beat some teams for us, or we might, so they should.

Once again though isn't is weird how the new rules and emphasis on freedom of movement sees Iowa take a leap forward and Michigan State struggle?

 

[Steve Waite]

I'm so sick of MSU. It's amazing what they still get away with, illegal screens, arm bars, traveling & jumping on the back. #34 is the biggest hacker I have ever seen.
They are overrated as usual.
BTN was blowing them the previous night on how they would make elite 8.
How they won 6 in a row blah, blah blah..

 

[MNHawk]

Like every year, MSU will be a tough out in the tourney you can count on it. Agreed that MSU is having a bizarre season and we helped

Agreed - they have terrific players that could cause problems for a lot of teams. Valentine is a star that plays a little sloppy at times in the clutch, like his super off-balance 3 point attempt last night near the end of OT. But he can turn it on and take over games, and a lot of teams don't have a guy like him.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Like every year, MSU will be a tough out in the tourney you can count on it. Agreed that MSU is having a bizarre season and we helped

Depends on matchups in the tournament. If they face someone in the 2nd round thats a bad matchup, theyre done. If they had landed where Iowa did a year ago as a 7, Gonzaga beats them in Seattle. Instead they get a favorable matchup with Virginia. Its all matchups

 

[anon_snp6dc585nnj4]

Just tells you the Big ten is a damn fine league

This but also the media/coaches/ncaa will do all they can to protect their golden boy Izzo.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Love to see MSU lose... And yes, 40% of their losses are to IOWA by a combined THIRTY POINTS. The other three losses are by a combined THREE POINTS. Are you listening, America? LOL

And yes, it's OK if MSU wins a few more games that would help Iowa. Otherwise, Sparty doesn't look so good at basketball when they kind of have to play by the rules. HaHaHa.

 

[MNHawk]

Depends on matchups in the tournament. If they face someone in the 2nd round thats a bad matchup, theyre done. If they had landed where Iowa did a year ago as a 7, Gonzaga beats them in Seattle. Instead they get a favorable matchup with Virginia. Its all matchups

What the heck? If last year was Izzo's first final four then your theory would be more applicable to MSU. But they have proven time and time again that they can win REGARDLESS of the matchup and reach the final four.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

What the heck? If last year was Izzo's first final four then your theory would be more applicable to MSU. But they have proven time and time again that they can win REGARDLESS of the matchup and reach the final four.

I meant last year.

 

[Ronman]

There was a reason that Izzo was complaining about the emphasis on "freedom of movement" calls this season. Hard for leopards, or in this case spartans, to change their spots.

 

[bravehawks1]

But you know that we will have to play them in the B1G tourney, it happens every year. Iowa has been a victim of very poor officiating against the Spartans in the tourney too. Even with two beatdowns, I would not be thrilled to play them a third time.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

But you know that we will have to play them in the B1G tourney, it happens every year. Iowa has been a victim of very poor officiating against the Spartans in the tourney too. Even with two beatdowns, I would not be thrilled to play them a third time.

Bring it on. Like I said yesterday, maybe Clemmons can actually make Brynn Forbes cry next time

 

[DanL53]

There was a reason that Izzo was complaining about the emphasis on "freedom of movement" calls this season. Hard for leopards, or in this case spartans, to change their spots.

It turns out, "THAT...WAS....A FOUL!!!!!!!"

 

[MTHawkeyes43]

Or maybe they are overrated based on the fact that it is Tom Izzo and MSU.

 

[OnceAhawk]

Love to see MSU lose... And yes, 40% of their losses are to IOWA by a combined THIRTY POINTS. The other three losses are by a combined THREE POINTS. Are you listening, America? LOL

And yes, it's OK if MSU wins a few more games that would help Iowa. Otherwise, Sparty doesn't look so good at basketball when they kind of have to play by the rules. HaHaHa.

MSU just went from #8 to #2 in the country!

 

[OnceAhawk]

OP updated

Feb 17, 2016 B1G Standings:

TEAM CONF OVERALL

#4 Iowa 11-2 20-5
#6 Maryland 10-3 22-4
#22 Indiana 10-3 20-6
Wisconsin 8-4 16-9
#17 Purdue 9-5 21-6
Michigan 9-5 19-8
Ohio State 9-5 17-10
#8 Michigan State 8-5 21-5
Nebraska 6-7 14-12
Northwestern 5-9 17-10
Illinois 4-9 12-14
Penn State 3-9 12-13
Minnesota 0-13 6-19
Rutgers 0-13 6-20

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Or maybe they are overrated based on the fact that it is Tom Izzo and MSU.

 

[olivo]

With all due respect, MSU is not going away. Have you seen next year's recruits?

 

[OnceAhawk]

With all due respect, MSU is not going away. Have you seen next year's recruits?

but getting back to this year, should an 8th place B1G team be #8 in the country?

 

[Carlton]

Love to see MSU lose... And yes, 40% of their losses are to IOWA by a combined THIRTY POINTS. The other three losses are by a combined THREE POINTS. Are you listening, America? LOL

And yes, it's OK if MSU wins a few more games that would help Iowa. Otherwise, Sparty doesn't look so good at basketball when they kind of have to play by the rules. HaHaHa.

Hawks have certainly owned them this season. I hope Greg Gard watched the films.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

but getting back to this year, should an 8th place B1G team be #8 in the country?

Kinda misleading....If they win tonight, they'll be tied for 4th and only go up from there.
Not watching game, but checked and Wi (a team that has been playing well)has 5 points in 9 minutes so far.

 

[UpstreamHawkeye]

Michigan St will be the highest ranked team in Big Ten come next week. I guess the order is restored.

 

[OnceAhawk]

Michigan St will be the highest ranked team in Big Ten come next week. I guess the order is restored.

yet we swept them and they and IU have by far the easiest schedules of the top 6 teams in the B1G

 

[Pepperman]

yet we swept them and they and IU have by far the easiest schedules of the top 6 teams in the B1G

So you'd argue that Iowa State should be ranked higher than Iowa then, correct?

 

[OnceAhawk]

So you'd argue that Iowa State should be ranked higher than Iowa then, correct?

don't put words in my mouth.

i would penalize MSU for all of their losses, just like ISU is getting penalized for their losses

I would also penalize MSU for their easy conference schedule.