MSU Boxscore

[CentralIAHawk]

I finally got time to look at the boxscore from Thursday night, and now I am even more confused about Izzo's rotation than I was on Thursday.

As my son and I were watching the Michigan State game, it looked like that Davis kid was kinda dominating the game in the first half...and then we didn't see him for most of the rest of the game after he went out. We were trying to figure out why he was on the bench the whole time.

It also felt like Costello was really, really effective when he was in the game, and the box supports that (17 pts in 23 mins)...but why only 23 mins?

That Clark dude was pretty scary, and felt like he could go off at any time also...and he only played 14 minutes as a starter.

So what really felt like 3 very good, very effective F/C types combined for 33 pts, 15 rbs & 4 blocks in only 48 minutes...and only 2 fouls between the three of them. Does anyone know why those guys weren't on the floor more?

I saw that Izzo had some comments about "playing hard", was he pointing his finger at those guys? Was this some kind of statement game to his players that the Coach was willing to lose in order to make some kind of point to his players?

Their rotation felt strange Thursday night, and it feels even stranger after seeing the numbers. Any idea?

Go Hawks!

 

[DanL53]

Only if perhaps Izzo was trying to lose to Oakland as well. The three guys you mentioned played a total of 47 minutes in that overtime game. Those are the only two we can accurately compare as they are the games that Valentine has been out.

The only real clue I have is that we get to look at the Box Score. Izzo has to make decisions that end up IN the Box Score. Dang him, and all the other coaches in the world who don't have a crystal ball.

 

[ZumaHawk]

As I watched the game......i was continually saying where is Davis for them? He was blocking everything in sight the first part of the 1st half. Then on the bench. Hmmm? Totally agree with you.

 

[HawkLogic]

As I watched the game......i was continually saying where is Davis for them? He was blocking everything in sight the first part of the 1st half. Then on the bench. Hmmm? Totally agree with you.

Good point.

Yes, it does seem strange Davis didn't play more. I don't know if that short effort was an unusual burst of effort out of guy or if he can consistently effect a game like that.

MSU playing Davis more might have done in our inside game and taken away Gesell's drives. He looked like an incredible athlete, on offense probably not skilled to do much but get the ball and dunk it. What do you do with Davis on offense if you already have a skilled low post guy like Costello? Maybe offensive spacing is hurt.

MSU's problem is they didn't have any guards that could shoot the rock. Their starting PG Nairn looked terrible, Clemmons shut down the shooting guard. MSU ended up playing that freshman PG that looked like somebody you would pick up from Corral Ridge shopping mall.

I keep thinking MSU looked terrible, but if that Flynn is hot from 3pt line and Valentine is out there, then they have 2 3pt shooters. They have two Freshmen Harris and Davis that look terrific. Costello abused Iowa's post defense. I think Iowa can play a lot better if Uthoff is making 3s, but winning at MSU is probably a pipe dream.