The National Championship game - a great end to a super college basketball season

Wow.  That was one serious basketball game.  Both teams came to play and brought a level of intensity you don't often see.  I was thoroughly impressed with the energy and heart from both teams.  Everything I love about college basketball was on display in this game.

Louisville was the better team, but Michigan pushed them in ways, quite honestly, I didn't think they were capable of.  The team I saw was mature.  They made the right decisions.  They played both ends of the floor.  They didn't settle for jump shots.  They scratched and clawed for every single thing they got.  There were a few times in the game that made the difference for Louisville:

1.  When Burke picked up his second foul, he should not have sat for the half.  You have to trust your best player in the most important game of the season.  Michigan was in complete control of the game, and sitting him for 12 minutes completely killed the momentum, and allowed Hancock to get going with those 3 threes to close the gap.  Louisville then did what they do in the second.

2.  Because Albrecht shot out of his mind in the first half, he got the majority of Stauskas' minutes in the second half.  Another mistake in the second half.  Stauskas is the better player, and should have taken over when Albrecht got cold.  Bench players don't win games; starters do, and Stauskas was capable of more than he was given.

3.  Chane Behanan was a BEAST on the glass.  He looked like a Big Ten player.  He just wanted it more than anyone on the floor.  Some of those rebounds, wow.  Beyond impressed.  him outplaying Draymond Green in last year's game was clearly not a fluke.  That guy has an NBA motor.  Period.  Branden Dawson and he are the same height.  Dawson has now seen what a guy with athletic ability can do in a high-stakes game.

4.  McGary showed he has a way to go.  As questionable as the officiating was, two of those fouls were a lack of experience.  In some ways, he looked very much like the bench player he was earlier in the year.  But most of that was Louisville - they were the more aggressive team.  He will be back, and next year he's going to be a load for anyone and everyone.  I love his fire.  He's got talent and athletic ability.  If he develops a post move and a counter, he will be the best post player in the Big Ten very, very quickly.

5.  Hardaway did another of his disappearing acts.  He was consistently guarded by a player four inches shorter than he was, yet Michigan took very little advantage.  Part of this is the coaches fault (more on this in a second), but if you have someone smaller on you, take them into the post and go over them.  My biggest gripe about Hardaway has been that he has all the tools to be a great player, but cannot consistently put it together game after game.  Even though  his dunk in the second half was SICK, this was the case tonight.  People will remember the dunk, but I will remember the loss.

6.  Beilein was out-coached tonight.  Yes, it was by a hall of famer, but it was clear.  Pitino's adjustments (the back door cuts, when to use the press, using Hancock at the right times) made a lot of the difference in the second half.  The coaches decision to sit Burke, to play Albrecht over Stauskas, not to use Hardaway in the post, and not to foul quicker at the end of the game cost his team dearly.

7.  There's not a team in America that wouldn't want Trey Burke on their team.  Even Louisville.  I hope Michigan realizes just how good he was this year, because his replacement will have HUGE shoes to fill.  NBA lottery picks do not go back to school, people.  Oh, and the play on Siva?  You can't have a more clean block than that.  And millions of people saw it.  Yet, the three guys in stripes didn't?

I am very, very curious to see what the Wolverines and the Spartans look like next year.  Because the route to the Big Ten Championship now goes through both East Lansing and Ann Arbor.

My plea to the NCAA - you're a billion dollar business.  Hire full-time officials.  Give them professional development.  Pay them well.  The integrity of your game is at stake.  These players are too big, strong and fast.   They need qualified people officiating their games.

Great season, capped by one of my finest memories of basketball:  The Michigan game in East Lansing.  Wow.  That one should hold me over till November 2013 :).

Capping a great season.....and some homework for the 2014 Spartan Basketball Team

I've taken a few days to digest Friday night's game against Duke, and seen some of the Elite 8 games in the meantime, including Louisville's convincing win against the Blue Devils.  I remain more convinced that ever that the title is Louisville's to lose, even with the Michigan bandwagon ramping up and gobs of love being heaped on the Wolverines.  Before I get to the Spartans, I should say a couple of things about the team from Ann Arbor, because even though I can't cheer for them, I can give them credit(or non-credit) in a few areas:

BIG POINT:  First Final Four in 20 years.  That's a heck of an accomplishment.  The Florida game was impressive - Michigan's offense was simply far better than anything Florida could do.  It was beyond pretty to see that kind of ball movement and quality offensive play.  I love unselfish basketball, and Michigan was all about that yesterday.

1.  Trey Burke is the player of the year.  There is no question on this point.  He understands how to be a point guard better than most of the players I've seen in college basketball in the last ten years.  That guy could score 20 a game if he wanted and leave his teammates behind, but you see him passing up easy 15-foot jump shots to get his teammates layups.  McGary wouldn't get nearly as many clean rebounds and looks at layups if the entire team wasn't focused on Burke and the other three point shooters.  Michigan fans should enjoy him these last two games (yes, I pick Michigan to make the final), because he's gone to the NBA.  No doubt on this.  Would love to see him in New Orleans throwing lobs to Anthony Davis next year.

2.  Nik Stauskas is going to be a ballplayer.  That guy is going to be the best long-range shooter in college basketball before he's done.  Still needs some strength, and more confidence in his drive at the college level, but that jumper is smooth like butter.  Effortless.  I bet he has 30-foot range (and that is very, very special).  If Michigan's point guard play suffers in the next few years, I'd run screens for this guy all game - he will make those shots.

3.  Hardaway's still an enigma - he could either go for 20 or 0-20.  You never know.  With his tools, he should crash the boards when his jumper's not going in - easy way to get to the line, make some free throws and regain confidence.  He can be a big-time player, but he has to learn how to impact the game when he is not making a lot of shots.

4.  Ah, McGary.  The new darling.  Everyone's talking about how unstoppable this guy is.  He is making all his shots off putbacks and dunks.  He is simply working harder than everyone on the court, and getting the benefits of that.  If you play him with good post defense, it negates his productivity, and makes it easy for all that energy to result in cheap fouls.  Now, don't get me wrong - I love energy on the basketball court.  It's the only reason I still score regularly on kids half my age - they don't expect the older guy to be outworking them.  But, Mitch needs a post game next year, because Burke will be gone, and all the attention will be focused squarely on him.  Let's wait another year before we anoint him the second coming of Shaquille O'Neal.

AND NOW, TO THE SPARTANS:

Michigan State did not, at any point in time, ever act like the aggressor in this game.  Duke looked like a Big 10 team, and we looked like the team from the ACC.  For those of us that would say the refs screwed us by calling too many fouls, while I agree that too many touch fouls were called on both sides, it didn't cost us the game.  many of the fouls we picked up were because:

1.  We played defense with our feet instead of our hands

2.  We were beat on plays and tried to slow them down

3.  We weren't in proper rebounding position

4.  We fouled jump shooters

And Duke made 24 of 26 free throws.

Seth Curry also made matters difficult - running through screens in a way that would make Neitzel or Respert proud.  State simply didn't make the adjustments they needed to as he rained in points.  By the time Harris had success defending him, it was too late.  Combine that with the lack of adjustments Nix made with the double teams, and it was pretty much curtains for  us.

So, what do we have to look forward to in 2014?  Here's a brief analysis of all returning players that actually played this year, with homework assignments for each of them:

1.  ADREIAN PAYNE:  I've heard all the NBA talk.  He isn't ready.  He can't score, or even hold position consistently with his back to the basket.  All the praise he gets for his three point shot takes away from his ability to crash the offensive glass.  Just like last year with Draymond Green, you cannot have your best rebounder consistently spotting up for 15 footers and outside the three point line, even if he can make those shots.  Athletically, he's exceptional.  Which is why he should work on his dribble and a jump hook this summer, maybe a turnaround jump shot at the block (which would be unguardable, considering his height and length).  I'd like to see him be the number one low-post option for a season, deal with those expectations, then test the NBA.

2.  KEITH APPLING:  YouTube footage from when Keith was a high schooler.  He was a ridiculous scorer.  He set the high school Breslin Center scoring record as a senior in the state championship game.  His jump shot was fluid, elbow in, butter.  Now, look at it.  The MSU coaching staff has wrecked this part of his game.  He's making a better percentage, but his mechanics suck.  He has no midrange game other than a floater.  He is still having trouble breaking down the defense and getting the ball to others in half-court sets.  Because he is not, nor will he ever be, a point guard.  One thing Appling is, beyond all others, is tough.  Seriously tough.  He needs to remember this next year, and play with that energy all the time.  His homework this summer is to work on his midrange, changing speeds off the dribble, and clock/game management.  Like it or not, he will run this team, and if he has games where he scores 16 points, but has no assists, we will lose more than we win.  With that said, if you play basketball, you want a warrior like Keith Appling on your team.  Every time.

3.  GARY HARRIS:  He's a pro.  You can see it in his game.  Fluid.  Even when he's injured, he just moves like it.  His homework is to stay in school and heal up.  Those shoulders are a real concern, one that will only be corrected with rest and strength training.  Without the weight room, this guy won't last in the NBA, because everyone will be bigger and stronger.  Most of the improvement MSU needs centers around getting this guy the ball.  He is the legit Big 10 player of the year if he gets 15 shots a game.  His coaching staff needs to realize this and give him the ball.  Appling's #1 target when he drives to the basket should be Harris on the wing.

4.  BRANDEN DAWSON:  Probably the player in the Big 10 with the highest ceiling athletically but with the most work to do.  Cannot dribble or shoot at the college level.  Still suffering from the affects of the ACL tear.  Is fairly useless outside of 6-8 feet from the basket offensively.  This guy's height and tools should allow him to be a beast.  But he needs to work out 7 days a week on his game from now till when the season starts to have an impact on the game.  I would make him dribble everywhere he goes - everywhere.  As broken as Appling's jumper is, Dawson's is worse.  Looks like a catapult.  He needs to fix his form (bring the elbow DOWN), extend at a 45 degree angle, and work from 10 feet out to 15 feet, 500 shots a day.  Once he gets the form fixed, he needs to shoot it after running a few miles, to get the repetition while tired.  It's not rocket science.  Just hard work.

5.  MATT COSTELLO:  In my opinion, the easy choice at this point for fifth starter.  That's because you don't have to run plays for him yet; he just has to rebound, play defense and give energy.  Basically everything McGary does for Michigan.  The difference is, Costello's a little small.  Needs at least 10-15 pounds of muscle to not get pushed around as much.  For him, I'd also work on some back to the basket stuff, the side 15-footer, confidence with a spin move.  He's got some ability, now it's just about playing regularly at high speed, and not turning the ball over on offense.  But, I love his hustle and fire, and as his high school career proves, he can do some things on the basketball court.  

6.  TRAVIS TRICE:  Needs to stay injury-free, and continue to work on breaking down defenders off the dribble, both for layups and midrange jump shots.  He's great with the ball, and knows how to run a team.  He can't change how short and small he is, but I'd like to see him get in the lane more - he can then get more teammates involved in the offense.  The biggest thing is to stay injury free.

7.  DENZEL VALENTINE:  The best pure point on the team.  By a mile.  Understands where to get the ball to people, and sees the game a play ahead.  His court vision is amazing.  He is a joy to watch, as he makes difficult plays look easy.  As he said after the Duke game, he needs to work on his quickness and shot.  Absolutely correct.  He needs to be able to create a jump shot for himself at this level off the dribble.  The quickness improvement will allow him to be in the game more, because even with his height, he's not fast enough to guard point guards, which is why he most likely won't be the #1 point for Izzo's team, even though he's the best choice.  He, other than Dawson (because he has so much room for improvement) has the biggest upside.  Denzel's stat line as a senior could easily be 15 points, 8 assists and 8 rebounds.  He has that potential.

8.  ALEX GAUNA:  Took a step back this year, even with more experience than Costello.  Even though he's almost as big as Nix, plays six inches smaller than his height.  Everyone seems to want to anoint him as another Goran Suton, but people forget that Suton, in addition to having a great jump shot, was a true low post player, and a good rebounder.  Gauna is neither, at least not at this level.  He needs lots of defensive work, rebounding drills, and a go-to post move.  He should be royally pissed that Costello is taking minutes from him - that's the sign of someone that wants to be great.

9.  RUSSEL BYRD:  Feel terrible for this guy.  His confidence is shattered.  Those three foot injuries cost him, and I hate to say it, and I could be wrong, but I think he won't be more than a spot player for this team.  He simply doesn't have the time to improve enough to impact the game consistently.  I hope I'm wrong, because we desperately need shooters, but I think he's the second coming of Isaiah Dahlman (who by the way, was destroying everyone in front of him in practice when I observed a few years ago).  A nice guy who everyone roots for, but can't win you the game.

And, my last critique, is for the coaching staff.  All know my respect, love and admiration for Coach Izzo.  He epitomizes everything about MSU Basketball.  The best of the best.  And yet, there are things I saw this year that are part of this team's DNA that need changing:

1.  We supposedly have 150 plays and set options.  Yet, we can't ever seem to score more than 60 points a game unless we get a lot of transition baskets.  With the athletes you have, you could run a free-flowing offense that puts the ball in the post AND frees shooters and slashers.  Face it, our guys are too easily guardable, and don't adapt to defenses well.  Our offense should look to clearly establish Payne and Harris, with Appling breaking down his defender.  Dawson should be slashing from the weakside wing to the basket EVERY SINGLE PLAY; that's how he picks up the majority of his rebounds.  Harris should be given a green light to shoot 15 times a game.  Payne should flash the high post and get the ball there every time he's open - it's an easy jump shot, or two dribbles and a dunk.  Costello's job is to clean up the misses.  Simplify the offense, run downscreens for shooters (you know, like Duke did), and let your players create some offense at the end of a half sometimes.  Running a set play all the time doesn't allow your players the freedom or confidence to adapt if they see something.  Basketball is the most intuitive of commonly-played sports; we should treat it as such.

2.  We should send three guys to the glass ON EVERY SINGLE PLAY.  The best MSU teams simply outworked the other team on the glass.  We've not been able to do that because we've had rebounders lately who were undersized or couldn't jump.  MSU's heritage is to get great position, get the rebound, and score or re-set the offense.  Period.  With Appling and Harris penetrating, that's another dimension that will create rebounds.  Rebounding the ball is who we are.  Simple as that.

3.  Our help defense used to be the best in the country.  Now, we have guys getting beat routinely.  Go back and watch tapes of Kalin's sophomore year - the defense was NASTY.  We can get there again, because we have more athletes now.  We had some really great games last year defensively, but make no mistake, defense can create offense.  Look at Syracuse and Louisville.  Defensive Juggernauts.

So, assuming no one takes the cash and leaves before they're ready, we have the makings of another Big 10 championship team.  A lot is to be determined on that score (namely, if Trey Burke shocks everyone and stays), but it will be fun to see how everything develops.

Loved watching the Spartans this year; that Michigan game at Breslin goes down as my favorite basketball experience that didn't involve Michael Jordan.  Wow.  GO GREEN!!