MSU - size advantage
- Thread starter Scangg
- Start date
And yet, other than the Duke game, I've not been impressed with their Low Post play. After watching the Nebraska game, although I thought they had a decided advantage on the boards, I checked out the stats and Nebraska evened out the Rebounds with them. That shouldn't happen as Nebraska is not a good rebounding team. I also don't see much scoring from Michigan State near the rim.
I’m thinking we lose tonight, but we have gained some important size back with McConnell - defensively it really helps.
Time for Jacob to be healed up and carve through the Spartans D like butter.
I don’t expect interior presence to be an issue in this game. The MSU starting line up in the OP is being presented somewhat out of context.
Kithier only averages 14 minutes a game. I know nothing about him or his game, but from a height perspective, if you assume Douc and Rieber combine to match those 14 minutes we’d have the height advantage there. He’s not contributing much more than them on a PT basis statistically.
ESPN says Langford is 6-5. That means Paul and Caleb are both bigger than him.
They also have a kid Watts who is 6-2 (same a JY) and comes off the bench for 23 minutes.
The issue with Michigan State is that at some point every season they just seem to “click” and go on a lights out winning streak. Let’s hope their Nebraska win wasn’t the start of that.
Kithier only averages 14 minutes a game. I know nothing about him or his game, but from a height perspective, if you assume Douc and Rieber combine to match those 14 minutes we’d have the height advantage there. He’s not contributing much more than them on a PT basis statistically.
ESPN says Langford is 6-5. That means Paul and Caleb are both bigger than him.
They also have a kid Watts who is 6-2 (same a JY) and comes off the bench for 23 minutes.
The issue with Michigan State is that at some point every season they just seem to “click” and go on a lights out winning streak. Let’s hope their Nebraska win wasn’t the start of that.
One thing about this season with Young being a starter and now Geo back in the starting lineup is that we are a smaller team swapping 6'6/7 Mulcahy out and Harper already being an undersized 4. This season we haven't been as dominate on the boards.
Our bench is very tall... Paul Caleb Reiber Mag Palmquist Cliff/Myles (whoever doesn't start)
Our bench is very tall... Paul Caleb Reiber Mag Palmquist Cliff/Myles (whoever doesn't start)
I.e. Kithier. I said Myles has the advantage there and the position was the one we did have the size advantage with.
I.e. bench players. The post was about starting lineup. Our bench is huge
I actually believe Michigan State's Bench height is really good with Hall (6'7"), Bingham (6'11"), Marble (6'8") and Brown (6'8") all coming off the bench and getting minutes.
The issue is these bench players don't always play Big. For example, Gabe Brown is much more of a 3 point shooter then a Low Post player. Bingham who has height is still very skinny and not sure how his game has really developed. He doesn't get many minutes and doesn't mix it up down low. I really like Marble and he's got some beef to his game. Hall is the best of these 4 bench players and is more of a driver.
The issue is these bench players don't always play Big. For example, Gabe Brown is much more of a 3 point shooter then a Low Post player. Bingham who has height is still very skinny and not sure how his game has really developed. He doesn't get many minutes and doesn't mix it up down low. I really like Marble and he's got some beef to his game. Hall is the best of these 4 bench players and is more of a driver.
Hauser is playing out of position at the 5. He’s a bad post defender and likes to shoot from outside
For the starting line up, I was considering MJ and Hauser the match up because you listed Hauser at 6-9. My point is that Kithier at 6-8 for 14 minutes as a second “big” doesn’t really add that much relative post presence. He’s not a scorer or big time rebounder. I don’t see him specifically dominating 6-6 Harper at the 4 when he’s in because of those 2 inches. Do you?
I'm hoping we start to correct the balance of W's...we're 0-10. Time to notch one!
GO RU!
MO
Coach Izzo is good. Typically his teams get better as the season progresses. And he is annoyingly complimentary about the opponent after the Spartans win.
A win here by Rutgers would be a significant. We’ve reached the point where we win on the road. A next step is winning a significant road game over a nemesis. Let’s do it.
A win here by Rutgers would be a significant. We’ve reached the point where we win on the road. A next step is winning a significant road game over a nemesis. Let’s do it.
I agree and meant no disrespect to Kithier or any of the MSU players. I think this is a very tough game for Rutgers but not because we’re undersized outside of MJ. I will be very disappointed if Michigan State dominates in the post.
It will be a close game. Even in our bad years had close games against MSU. Coreys miss at the buzzer to win that sent it to OT at MSU when they were top-5, when they were #10 we almost beat them at the RAC a few years ago. Need to find a way against a tough matchup opponent fornus