After getting routed 88-74 at Northwestern, in a game that was more lopsided than the box score would indicate, Tom Izzo began his postgame press conference by saying he's embarrassed to be a Michigan State Spartan. "They kicked our butt in every physical way they could," he told the media assembled at Welsh-Ryan Arena. "They deserved to win, and we deserved to get our ass … [Read more...] about Tom Izzo Gives Epic Rant Against Analytics, Personal Accountability
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Tom Izzo: “I’m a social media basher, I hate it”
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has been on a roll lately when it comes to press conferences. Last month at Northwestern he told us about how we're in a "soft society." Izzo added "everyone gets a trophy, give 'em a trophy for 23rd place." (full harangue here). Today, on the Big Ten coaches conference call, Tom Izzo was extremely critical of Facebook, Twitter and social media … [Read more...] about Tom Izzo: “I’m a social media basher, I hate it”
Northwestern still needs three wins to make NCAA Tournament
In our latest NCAA Tournament bracket projection, we have Northwestern as a #12 seed, one of the last four teams in. Of course, this isn't a place you want to stay right now as Selection Sunday approaches. Even though this is a supposedly "weak bubble," bracket projections don't and can't factor in the "bid-stealing" that will occur next week when small conference favorites … [Read more...] about Northwestern still needs three wins to make NCAA Tournament
Northwestern’s Surprisingly Good RPI, Tournament Profile
RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) is an algorithm based on opponents' winning percentage, opponents' opponents' winning percentage, and opponents' opponents' opponents' winning percentage. This is the truth, I'm not trying to sound like Dr. Seuss here. So RPI is like the BCS, a very controversial number that certains groups of people ascribe meaning to; other groups of people … [Read more...] about Northwestern’s Surprisingly Good RPI, Tournament Profile
#6 Michigan State Sees Win Streak End at Northwestern!
Was this a huge upset? On one level, yes. Any time the most prominent college basketball program in the Big Ten falls to the program with the least amount of tradition in the conference, it's huge! Not to mention it ended the biggest win streak that prominent On the other hand, Northwestern came in with a RPI of 28 while Michigan State's number is 6, so it's not that big … [Read more...] about #6 Michigan State Sees Win Streak End at Northwestern!
Michigan State on Biggest Winning Streak Since Izzo’s 1st Final Four Team
When the #6 Michigan State Spartans head to Northwestern on Saturday, they'll do so riding a 15 game winning streak=longest winning streak since the 1998-99 season, when they won 22 in a row before losing to Duke in the Final Four. That was Tom Izzo's fourth season at the helm in East Lansing, and the first of his six Final Fours. That team lost to the Wisconsin Badgers at … [Read more...] about Michigan State on Biggest Winning Streak Since Izzo’s 1st Final Four Team
Michigan State Tougher Team than Expected; Back in National Rankings
Last year was no doubt a down year in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans still won 19 games and made the NCAA Tournament, but that's definitely below par in a place like Michigan State- where they went to 6 Final Fours in 12 years. And entering the season as the consensus #2 team in all of college basketball, not advancing in the tourney was a huge disappointment. They had … [Read more...] about Michigan State Tougher Team than Expected; Back in National Rankings
Michigan State could be nation’s top team next year
By Paul M. Banks Michigan State entered this past season ranked #2 in the AP poll. They had their struggles in midseason, but played up to the hype when it counted in March. Without top player Kalin Lucas, the Spartans still finished just one HORRIBLE non-call away from playing in the national title game. Butler star forward Gordon Hayward even admitted it himself, … [Read more...] about Michigan State could be nation’s top team next year
