After watching the game and then breezing through it a second time I saw a weakness in the Iowa D that MSU failed to exploit. Costello, Davis and Goins all had the better of the Iowa guys in the post but yet the trio only played a combined 47 mins. The trio scored 29pts grabbed 14 rebounds and shot 80% from the field. I was surprised how MSU didnt try to slow the game down and work the offense through the post. Instead they let Iowa run fast and stay in rhythm. Izzo really needs to trim his bench he still plays a few guys that dont play all that well when playing against solid competition. He does this at the expense of guys that are playing well and getting hot but getting taken out of the game just before the get in a rythym. All that said Iowa was the better team last night and played a very complete game. Its going to be hard to beat this team when they play nearly perfect basketball.
Izzo should have went through the post more.
- Thread starter Auger
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I'm sure Izzo has his reasons, but I was shocked D. Davis didn't start and only got 11 minutes last night. I had seen bits and pieces of a couple Spartan games earlier this year, and Davis was by far their most impressive front line player. He is so athletic and long, is solid on the boards, blocks shots, runs the floor well, rebounds and is a monster around the rim. Maybe he isn't giving the effort Izzo demands in practice, etc. but Davis playing only 11 minutes last night was huge.
They abused the zone defense. Pass to guy in the lane and then a dump down for a flush. Costello has some hops--dude is a strong finisher down low.
They had a few good plays, well after Fran's zone stymied their offense for ten minutes after half time. Hardly "abused"
I'm interested to see how well the zone plays vs PD. In that game, I could see putting Sapp on the hot shooter with the rest packing it in and it might be effective.
Izzo watches Davis dominate for a few possessions and gives great effort with 3 blocks and proceeds to take him out. Let the guy play through a few struggles. At the very least he is going to effect the game with his shot blocking and rebounding.
A lot of the money that MSU made in the post was made late when Iowa decided to just play straight up no foul defense. We didn't try to deny passes to the post. We were trading baskets (which is fine when you are up 14). Izzo should have gone to an outside in offense and try to get some 3 pointers to cut the lead. His team got outplayed and he got out coached. No two ways about it.
I'm afraid we are going to regret seeing more of Davis in the future. The young man looks like a future star in this league.
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