Article: What's wrong with MSU hoops

I'm not sure who Hoops Habit is, but here is a decent article about MSU's issues.

I don't find the author to just belt out that MSU sucks, but more takes the route of pointing out where the issues are, and what needs to be done to correct them, or at least work on them. 

The Spartans are getting to the free throw line at their lowest rate while also making the least amount of free throws in the last decade. On the flip side, their opponents are consistently getting to the line and getting there late in games.
This was evident during the Maryland game, when there was only one bucket scored in double overtime for the Terrapins, but they still won due to free throw shooting.
As the trend has been all season, more than 74 percent of opponents free throw shooting comes after halftime. For Maryland all 32 free throw attempts were after the break. This means either Michigan State is fouling to keep the game close late in games or the Spartans are getting tired and playing lazy defense, not a typical staple of a Tom Izzo-coached team.

Aren't we also taking more three's and outside shots? If we are, wouldn't that be a reason why our free throws are down?

We do suck at the line though. I think we might have two more victories if we were just average there. It's going to become psychological.

Getting to the free throw line has been a problem even for the most talented Izzo teams, like last year. And when we do get there, we seem to miss too many of them.

In reality, this is a down year talent wise, but when Dawson returned there was absolutely no reason this team shouldn't make the Dance. That is unless Dawson and Valentine--two guys who are supposed to be high level players--dont consistently play at a high level which is what has happened.

Denzel NEEDS to be THE GUY we go to. Not off balance fade away hack shots by Trice.

The_Dude wrote:Getting to the free throw line has been a problem even for the most talented Izzo teams, like last year. And when we do get there, we seem to miss too many of them.

In reality, this is a down year talent wise, but when Dawson returned there was absolutely no reason this team shouldn't make the Dance. That is unless Dawson and Valentine--two guys who are supposed to be high level players--dont consistently play at a high level which is what has happened.

Denzel NEEDS to be THE GUY we go to. Not off balance fade away hack shots by Trice.

Agreed on the last part. Trice's green light needs to be reduced to last years levels. Dude has the worst shot selection of the izzo era

What's wrong will start to get fixed tonight.

NigelUno wrote:What's wrong will start to get fixed tonight.

It should. Iu is not very good

NigelUno wrote:What's wrong will start to get fixed tonight.

The Izzone has been infiltrated:

Nothing.

LoneWolfSparty wrote:Nothing.

Loss to Texas Southern was terrible. I get that. But where the other four losses all that bad? Each one came against  a team currently ranked in the top 15, and MSU was not horribly embarrassed in any of those four games.

Edit: ND just won @UNC.

The Dude can't be happy with last night's game. Poor fella. Maybe will get a hockey rant today.

I like what I saw last night. Watching the game, I guess I came to the conclusion, that its not the wins or the losses that bother me, but the amount of effort given. Last night the team was hustling for the ball and playing hard. Although it was a blowout, they didn't stop until maybe the last couple of minutes. Also, finally, Izzo didn't tell the team to let up with about 5 - 8 minutes left, even though they had a 20 point lead.