2015/16 MSU Women's BB Official Thread

[Guest]

We need a place to talk about Suzy's team. Things are looking up for them.

There was at least one thing Merchant was certain of as she left the Chicago area — that she has the makings of a special team in 2015-16.

"I think we're gonna be really, really good, we have a chance to be really good — have to stay healthy," said Merchant, whose 2014-15 team was riddled by injuries and finished 16-15. "It's exciting. These kids are motivated and they've got the grind going."

And she has a recruiting class headlined by point guard Morgan Green, joining with a talented group of returnees led by guard Tori Jankoska and wing Aerial Powers. Powers set MSU records for points (678), rebounds (375) and scoring average (21.9) as a sophomore, earning All-America honorable mention and giving herself a chance to finish as the program's greatest player.

Merchant: MSU women could be special in 2015-16

[Floyd Robertson]

Being healthy is the keyword. Could have done a lot more last season if they if they didn't drop like flies.

[Guest]

Being healthy is the keyword. Could have done a lot more last season if they if they didn't drop like flies.

True. And god bless her but Madison William's schollie is back available. 4 ACLs is just cruel and it would have been so nice to see her play a couple healthy years.

[Turtleneck]

Loose, you know I think you're a good guy and top notch poster. But this is just a blatant disregard for the rules.

[Guest]

Spartan Basketball ‏@MSU_WBasketball 38m38 minutes ago
Spartan Nation welcome Nathy Dambo to our family!! #Classof2015 #GoGreen

6-3 center Nathanaelle "Nathy" Dambo, Junipero Serra HS (Gardena, CA), joins a huge 2015 class at Michigan State.

[Guest]

Loose, you know I think you're a good guy and top notch poster. But this is just a blatant disregard for the rules.

Will Suzy work?



Or did you want Madison?

[Turtleneck]

I was looking for Suzy, but double points for you.

[Guest]

I was looking for Suzy, but double points for you.

I think I already love Nathy.....6'3" and that hair...

[Herbie Green]

Powers might be the best player they have ever had. And Suzy is so smoking hot. Yes, I am a fan.
Although now that I think about it I am kind of pissed. My daughter had a school project where she writes a letter to anyone in the world and she chose Aerial Powers. She follows her on Instagram. She could have at least given her a like or something.

[Guest]

MSU's Aerial Powers leads USA in win over South Korea

By now, Michigan State junior Aerial Powers understands when it is time to assert herself onto a basketball game.

In Team USA's opening game of the World University Games Sunday morning in South Korea, it came in the second quarter with USA trailing Italy by a point.

Powers scored 12 of her game-high 22 points in a 15-3 USA surge that gave USA the lead for good and led to an 80-68 victory.

[Guest]

MSU’s Powers helps USA women stay unbeaten

Aerial Powers continued to make her mark on the international stage and helped the United States women’s basketball team advance in the World University Games.

The Michigan State standout helped the U.S. remain unbeaten in South Korea this morning, scoring 17 points and adding seven rebounds in a 92-54 victory over the Czech Republic.

The win sends USA to the medal round quarterfinals Thursday where it will face either Hungary or South

[Robert J Sakimano]

[Guest]

Powers And World University Games Squad Reach Semifinals With Win Over Hungary

DONGKANG, South Korea - With an overwhelming second-half performance, the World University Games team led by Michigan State women’s basketball player Aerial Powers reached the semifinals with an 84-43 win over Hungary on Thursday. With the win, team USA remains undefeated overall with a 4-0 record.

“Our defense is what separated us,” said Powers after the win. “At first, we couldn’t buy a bucket, and we were missing easy shots that we usually make. Today our defense is what separated us and helped us.”

The United States will move on to the semifinal round where it will face Japan, a team that upset Australia, 83-71. The game between the USA and Japan will be played on Saturday, July 11, once again at Dongkang College Gymnasium, at 8 p.m. local time (7 a.m. EDT). The last time the two teams met on the hardwood at the World University Games, the USA won 106-66 in Beijing, China in 2001. “They’re obviously playing really well after beating Australia tonight,” said McKeown. “We’re going to have to defend outside the 3-point line and off the dribble. It’s going to be another challenge defensively to guard them. It should be a fun game.”

In the game against Hungary, Powers scored eight points with three assists, two rebounds and two steals. She also added a block shot in her 16 minutes of action. The forward was a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. Powers has scored in double digits in three of the four World University Games. She is averaging 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

[Robert J Sakimano]

Powers might be the best player they have ever had. And Suzy is so smoking hot. Yes, I am a fan.
Although now that I think about it I am kind of pissed. My daughter had a school project where she writes a letter to anyone in the world and she chose Aerial Powers. She follows her on Instagram. She could have at least given her a like or something.

[Cym Jim]

What's with all these sports threads on here lately. Isn't there a separate board for that?

[Turtleneck]

What's with all these sports threads on here lately. Isn't there a separate board for that?

If you're looking for a non-sports thread, there is a real good soccer thread somewhere around here.

[Cym Jim]

What's with all these sports threads on here lately. Isn't there a separate board for that?

If you're looking for a non-sports thread, there is a real good soccer thread somewhere around here.

[Guest]

USA Women’s World University Games Team Survives Double-Overtime Thriller Against Japan, 102-98

“We knew we needed to start it on defense,” said Powers. “We knew we could score and it had to start with stops on defense. After the first quarter, we were all saying that we had three whole quarters left, so there’s no need to panic and no need to get down on ourselves. We’re basketball players. They hit us in the mouth first, but we need to fight back.”
Powers got to the charity stripe early and often in the third quarter and her aggressiveness, plus some clutch free throw shooting, helped tie the game a 45 points apiece with 6:11 remaining in the third period. After Japan had taken back the lead, Wiese got a steal in the backcourt and a bucket to tie the game at 52-52 with 2:23 to go. The USA went ahead 57-54 when Williams beat the shot clock with a 3-ball from the left wing, but Japan scored four unanswered points to close the period, grabbing a 58-57 lead.
Powers also gave her team its largest lead of the fourth quarter, 71-66, when she stole the ball and scored a layup with 5:35 remaining. Japan went on a 5-0 run that would set up the dramatic finish.
Russell poured in a game-high 25 points and she tied Powers with a game-high 14 rebounds to secure her third double-double at the World University Games. She also played a game-high 47 minutes. Powers chipped in with 24 points for her first double-double of the tournament.

[SpartanInNH]

USA Women’s World University Games Team Survives Double-Overtime Thriller Against Japan, 102-98

“We knew we needed to start it on defense,” said Powers. “We knew we could score and it had to start with stops on defense. After the first quarter, we were all saying that we had three whole quarters left, so there’s no need to panic and no need to get down on ourselves. We’re basketball players. They hit us in the mouth first, but we need to fight back.”
Powers got to the charity stripe early and often in the third quarter and her aggressiveness, plus some clutch free throw shooting, helped tie the game a 45 points apiece with 6:11 remaining in the third period. After Japan had taken back the lead, Wiese got a steal in the backcourt and a bucket to tie the game at 52-52 with 2:23 to go. The USA went ahead 57-54 when Williams beat the shot clock with a 3-ball from the left wing, but Japan scored four unanswered points to close the period, grabbing a 58-57 lead.
Powers also gave her team its largest lead of the fourth quarter, 71-66, when she stole the ball and scored a layup with 5:35 remaining. Japan went on a 5-0 run that would set up the dramatic finish.
Russell poured in a game-high 25 points and she tied Powers with a game-high 14 rebounds to secure her third double-double at the World University Games. She also played a game-high 47 minutes. Powers chipped in with 24 points for her first double-double of the tournament.

[Guest]

MSU’s Aerial Powers helps United States win gold

Aerial Powers will be returning home with a gold medal.

The Michigan State women’s hoops standout capped a strong first international playing experience Monday by leading the United States to an 82-63 victory over Canada in tthe World University Games championship match in South Korea.

Powers, who is heading into her junior season with the Spartans, finished with a game-high 27 points and added nine rebounds in the win. She was 9 of 15 from the field in just under 35 minutes of play and helped the U.S. pull away in the fourth quarter for the victory.

[Guest]

MSU's Aerial Powers leads U.S. to gold medal

Aerial Powers is golden.

The Michigan State junior scored a game-high 27 points today, leading Team USA to an 82-63
victory over Canada in the gold medal final of the World University Games in South Korea.

The final score was not indicative of the closeness of the game. Powers scored USA's final seven points of the second quarter, providing a 31-23 lead.

Canada battled back to tie the game, 41-41, with just under four minutes to play, but Powers attacked the basket on the following possession and converted a three-point play to give USA the lead for good.

USA led by three heading into the fourth quarter, when guard Diamond DeShields, who was injured and unable to play, gave the team a pep talk

"When a player says something, you really listen,'' Powers told USA Basketball. "It wasn't just coaches trying to lift us up. She was saying that we were being selfish. We weren't working the ball around enough. We said that, this quarter, we're going to do that. We're going to work the ball around and be unselfish. That's what we know we are. To be able to win, everybody has to do well. We did that in the fourth quarter. In the first five minutes, we really cracked it open.''

[Robert J Sakimano]

Canada has a women's basketball team?

[Guest]

Canada has a women's basketball team?

They did until we kicked their canuck asses.

[Robert J Sakimano]

Canada has a women's basketball team?

They did until we kicked their canuck asses.

they should see if they're available to play in the Big 10 this upcoming season - we might win a few games.

[Herbie Green]

[Herbie Green]

[Herbie Green]

One of my greatest parenting success stories: My daughter set her alarm for 5 am yesterday to watch the gold medal game. She didn't actually get up, but did watch it on DVR last night.

She also has gone to Moneyball games with me and follows players on Instagram. At 10 years old I can start grooming her to become the next JWeibs.

[Guest]

One of my greatest parenting success stories:  My daughter set her alarm for 5 am yesterday to watch the gold medal game.  She didn't actually get up, but did watch it on DVR last night.

She also has gone to Moneyball games with me and follows players on Instagram.  At 10 years old I can start grooming her to become the next JWeibs.

Better to be the next Suzy and make $1M a year.

[Guest]

Brian Calloway ‏@brian_calloway 15m15 minutes ago
Gold medal run with USA hoops helps MSU's Aerial Powers add to game. http://on.lsj.com/1JbGOqR  via @LSJnews

EAST LANSING – Aerial Powers made quite the rise in what was a down season for the Michigan State women’s basketball program last winter.
The forward followed an All-American, record-setting sophomore season by making an even bigger statement while representing the United States at the World University Games in South Korea.
Powers started every game and was the leading scorer while helping the U.S. capture the gold medal last week.
“The mindset I had was just like killer instinct,” said Powers, who averaged a team-best 18.0 points and shot 51.4 percent during the six wins for the U.S.

[Guest]

Graham Couch ‏@Graham_Couch 10h10 hours ago
MSU women's hoops lands Wyoming PG Claire Hendrickson (@claire_hondo) for 2017. Story from @MickMcCabe1: http://on.lsj.com/1Ty6EvJ  via @LSJnews

[Guest]

GreenandWhite.comVerified account ‏@LSJGreenWhite
MSU women's hoops lands Wyoming PG Hendrickson http://on.lsj.com/1J42pNc 

[GRR Spartan]

Had my doubts about Merchant who was at EMU when she was hired in spring 2000 to replace McCallie.  I was wrong.  Suzy Merchant continues to dominate instate recruiting which McCallie got going in the '90's.  
That picture says it all.  Hendrickson started showing up for MSU games in grade school.  Merchant and her staff make huge efforts to be available for meet and greets, making positive impressions on parents and as shown photo ops (which is huge for a 3rd or 4th grader).  
Last year it was the Yooper Lexi Gussert who was being recruited by UConn, Maryland and ND.  Gondrezick from Benton Harbor chose MSU over ND.  Freeland's Jankoska is another Miss Basketball who chose MSU.
Merchant took over a very solid program and hasn't missed a beat.  The biggest obstacles she's faced has been injuries to players like Madison Williams and last year's concussion to Hines.

[Guest]

Suzy Merchant continues to dominate instate recruiting which McCallie got going in the '90's.  
That picture says it all.  Hendrickson started showing up for MSU games in grade school.  Merchant and her staff make huge efforts to be available for meet and greets, making positive impressions on parents and as shown photo ops (which is huge for a 3rd or 4th grader).  

Plus Suzy is hot, that never hurts.

[GRR Spartan]

Players don't give two shits if "she's hot".

Now go put on a lobster bib so you don't drool all over your keyboard.

[Robert J Sakimano]

Players don't give two shits if "she's hot".  

Now go put on a lobster bib so you don't drool all over your keyboard.

she still looks like Eddie from Iron Maiden fame to me..

[Giant Moose]

Players don't give two shits if "she's hot".

Must resist urge to make a stereotypical women's sports comment...

[Guest]

Chris Solari ‏@chrissolari 4m4 minutes ago
Chris Solari retweeted KSTPSports
Major recruit for Suzy Merchant and MSU women's basketball.

RT
Chris Solari added,

KSTPSports @KSTPSports
The decision is in... Nia Hollie picks @MSU_WBasketball. Watch the pick and interview here: http://kstp.mn/8d0m7

[Robert J Sakimano]

Chris Solari ‏@chrissolari 4m4 minutes ago
Chris Solari retweeted KSTPSports
Major recruit for Suzy Merchant and MSU women's basketball.

RT
Chris Solari added,

KSTPSports @KSTPSports
The decision is in... Nia Hollie picks @MSU_WBasketball. Watch the pick and interview here: http://kstp.mn/8d0m7

is it the dude on the right or the left?

[Guest]

Schedule

[Guest]

Taylor ready to finish what she started at MSU

It wasn’t the kind of script Akyah Taylor envisioned when she enrolled at Michigan State in 2011.

But she’s glad to have an opportunity to finish what she started.

Taylor is back in the MSU women’s basketball program after spending the last two years at the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind.

“I felt like when it came time for me to decide if i wanted to stay there that i had accomplished some of the things I wanted,” said Taylor, who earned NAIA first team All-America recognition after averaging 20.8 points and helping St. Francis reach the Elite Eight last season.

“I felt like this was an opportunity (at MSU), so why not take it. I’ve been able to experience both levels of competition and a lot of people don’t get that opportunity. I felt like this was my last year and I should just go for it. With those girls’ support as well at St. Francis, it made it even more of an opportunity that I wanted to fulfill.”

[Sponsored content]