Iowa is a bad matchup for MSU

[RocknRollface]

I was worried we might lose for a minute, (not really) but then I realized they are a very below average offensive team.

Costello is solid but overall they are nothing special on the interior and not capable of handling Iowa.

 

[eb_sports]

You might be right. Even with Valentine, as shocking as it is to say, I think we are more athletic, as evident with the Hawks' 10 blocks tonight.

 

[essessmsu]

Without Valentine, yes. With Valentine, no.

 

[pkaul666]

I was worried we might lose for a minute, (not really) but then I realized they are a very below average offensive team.

Costello is solid but overall they are nothing special on the interior and not capable of handling Iowa.

Without Valentine, yes. With Valentine, no.

I thought the same after first ten minutes. Msu looked smaller than Iowa and it was clear early Iowa would cause problems defensively and on the boards. Msu no.1? If that's the case then down year for men's bball.

 

[DarkThunder#61]

Without Valentine, yes. With Valentine, no.

Lol

Iowa > MSU

 

[pkaul666]

I was not aware Valentine was considered to be such a historically great Baller? Iowa lead game by double digits for 30/40 minutes. Yet Msu would have won with Valentine? Yes it would have been more of a contest but an above average player like Val wouldn't have changed the final outcome which is defeat.

 

[paladinhawk]

I was not aware Valentine was considered to be such a historically great Baller? Iowa lead game by double digits for 30/40 minutes. Yet Msu would have won with Valentine? Yes it would have been more of a contest but an above average player like Val wouldn't have changed the final outcome which is defeat.

Was Magic Johnson an "above average player"? Maybe you missed the stat comparison, but Valentine is averaging 18.5 ppg, 8 rbns, and 7 assists. Iowa played a great game, but any team would struggle to replace Valentine's production IMO. I hope he's healthy enough to play against Iowa in a couple of weeks.

 

[SCHawkFan]

I will wait until after the game in East Lansing before I crow.

 

[icwesthawk]

They seemed to be getting to the rim with regularity at the end of that game. I'm not sure we are the great Iowa match up you are seeing.

 

[itsyaboimil]

You might be right. Even with Valentine, as shocking as it is to say, I think we are more athletic, as evident with the Hawks' 10 blocks tonight.

We got to the game pretty early on Wednesday and saw both teams warm up even before going back into the locker room. Iowa may or may not be a better team, but we certainly are not more athletic. Each and every one of their guys (including McQuad) were doing circus dunks before the game with ease. I love the Hawks, but if it was a contest on which team is more athletic Michigan State would crush us. Fortunately for us, athleticism isn't the only determining factor in a basketball game and because of that I think we have a shot in East Lansing.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

MSU was cold from perimeter, minus their best player who is a triple double threat every night and yes, Iowa's D gave them fits. As far as bigger or more athletic, pretty sure they had double digit dunks and we had one. They will pay us back in East Lansing.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Without Valentine, MSU relies on Tum Tum to run the offense and create shots. Tum Tum is a big step down from what MSU has had at PG for a long time. Mike recognized the difference. Iowa still has problems keeping MSU off the boards, and that will get worse with Valentine. Forbes will be more of a factor, because Valentine can create open shots for him. Hawks will have their hands full playing at MSU, and I think Uthoff is going to have to play much better for us to win.

 

[HawkLogic]

Without Valentine, MSU relies on Tum Tum to run the offense and create shots. Tum Tum is a big step down from what MSU has had at PG for a long time. Mike recognized the difference. Iowa still has problems keeping MSU off the boards, and that will get worse with Valentine. Forbes will be more of a factor, because Valentine can create open shots for him. Hawks will have their hands full playing at MSU, and I think Uthoff is going to have to play much better for us to win.

Clearly Uthoff has to play a lot better on offense if we hope for a sweep. 8 TOs is killer + early foul trouble due to two borderline calls.

 

[RocknRollface]

They seemed to be getting to the rim with regularity at the end of that game. I'm not sure we are the great Iowa match up you are seeing.

MSU was cold from perimeter, minus their best player who is a triple double threat every night and yes, Iowa's D gave them fits. As far as bigger or more athletic, pretty sure they had double digit dunks and we had one. They will pay us back in East Lansing.

Cold? They were what they always are, not good at shooting outside of Forbes.

As far as dunks, don't give a fug.

For the most part Woodbury controlled the paint when he was on the floor.

 

[RocknRollface]

MSU was cold from perimeter, minus their best player who is a triple double threat every night and yes, Iowa's D gave them fits. As far as bigger or more athletic, pretty sure they had double digit dunks and we had one. They will pay us back in East Lansing.

They're so athletic.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

Without Valentine, yes. With Valentine, no.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

MSU was cold from perimeter, minus their best player who is a triple double threat every night and yes, Iowa's D gave them fits. As far as bigger or more athletic, pretty sure they had double digit dunks and we had one. They will pay us back in East Lansing.

Another.....

 

[BBHawk]

Great game by the Hawks. I guess we now know which team is better this year. Good luck to the Spartans the rest of the B1G season.

 

[backinblack23]

Iowa is about the same as MSU this year in terms of athleticism. The one thing MSU is missing this year that they have had every other year is that one guy that can just go get rebounds and clear out the lane. Costello is all they have inside and he is a solid player but he can't do it alone. The other thing that people are overlooking is Iowa is paying 4 seniors who have been playing together since they were freshmen and sophomores. They have been through the tough times of losing these games and they have learned together to win the big games.