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Game Thread: Indiana @ Michigan State

by Alex Bozich in Game Threads | March 2nd, 2008

izzo44.jpgOpponent: Michigan State

Date: Sunday, March 2 | 2:04 p.m. EST

Arena: Breslin Center (14,759) – East Lansing, Michigan

Line: Michigan State by 5

All-time series: Indiana leads 64-42

Previous meeting: Indiana won 80-61 on February 16 in Bloomington

TV: CBS (Dick Enberg and Dan Bonner)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Todd Leary and Joe Smith)

Probable Starters:

  • Indiana (24-4, 13-2 Big Ten): Armon Bassett, Eric Gordon, Jamarcus Ellis, Lance Stemler, D.J. White
  • Michigan State (22-6, 10-5 Big Ten): Kalin Lucas, Drew Neitzel, Raymar Morgan, Goran Suton, Drew Naymick

Game notes (Adobe Acrobat required to view):

Gameday reading:

As always, your predictions and analysis are welcome in the game thread.

(Photo credit: puckett10 via Flickr)

Tags:
  • HoosierSmitty
    I feel it today...Hoosiers by four in a tough environment...I know it's not "likely" but I'm feeling positive today!

    Indiana 68
    Michigan State 64
  • jaime gongora
    oh yeah dick enberg is going to banish us to hell, but we will win this game to tick him off. Go Hoosiers.
  • JamesHardy
    76-75 hoosiers...Bassett scores 22...DJ goes for 18 and 12 boards...EJ scores 19 with triples...and Stemler bricks 12 more from downtown before hitting the game-winner at the buzzer. no no...before BANKING the game-winner at the buzzer.
  • JamesHardy
    oops...left out 5 for the number of treys that EJ will drain to go with his 24 turnovers
  • peaychris
    i think you left out the stat line. 0-9 but 19-20 from the free throw line! i hope he can start hitting the jumpers.
  • JamesHardy
    didn't leave it out...i just don't think he'll go to the rack much today. but it will be more like 5-20 from downtown and 4-5 from the line
  • Mark
    63-60 IU over MSU
  • MikeyD
    Michigan State can't "win" this game. Only way they get the W is if IU "loses". We are a way better team than they are. If we can have about an 85%-90% effort towards our best...we win. If we have one of our 3-4 best games of the year...we kill 'em. I feel like EJ is going to get off. When is the last time he has done so? If we stumble badly out of the gate...we could be in trouble. But, I think we will start well and build a lead the entire game to win by at least 8. Go Hoosiers!
  • MikeyD
    BTW, I think we match our average B10 points. What is it...like 73 pts.?
  • MikeyD
    Yikes...76.4...just checked. Man it's so good to see us so high and leading in B10 stats. Last time I remember was Covey and the boys.
  • Tom Coverdale IU Hero
    If Armon and Jamarcus can play defense on Neitzel and Morgan we will win this game but if not it'll be a long afternoon.....we will need Jordan too come off bench and score about 15 points, EJ needs to play under control if and if he starts getting eratic DD needs to pull him out but if Armon does what he does and DJ controls the paint the game shouldnt even be a scare

    IU 69 MSU 57

    Basset-13
    DJ-26
    EJ-17
  • IndianaLee
    MSU is favored by 5? I am a bit surprised by this. I understand that winning on the road is a tough task. But IU won soundly in the first meeting and is playing decent away from Assembly Hall.

    With that being said, I could see the Hoosiers stumbling. Especially with the Spartans wanting revenge and trying desperately to make the NCAA tourney. The struggles against Northwestern and Ohio State leave me thinking we are due for a loss.

    I definitely hope I'm wrong. A Big Ten championship is still within reach.
  • JamesHardy
    There's a reason that MSU is still ranked...all the writers and pollsters think more highly of them than any other team this side of Duke. They're in the tournament, but mark my word...they are ONE AND DONE!

    This Kalin Lucas is a star in the making at PG for MSU...he worries me a bit today
  • BrianK
    Yeah I don't see how but the pollsters love them. How could Duke be in top 25 after losing to Wake and MIami in one week? Pollsters and writers need to come off their teets once in awhile.
  • Don D
    Minnesota yesterday beat OSU by fourteen at home. IU beat both Northwestern and OSU by only three. We need to step it up today if we are going to beat MSU. The Spartans have lost to Iowa and Penn State with this game so important to them. Stemler, Thomas, Crawford, Gordan and Ellis needs to pick it up big time. DJ and Bassett will be fine. Does not surprise me that MSU is favored by 5. You would have to say they are the biggest disappointment of the Big Ten this year.
  • BrianK
    Ok guy I got the bets of the day. 1. Over/Under when Stemler gets his first foul and we get the" look" i'll say 3:30 minutes. 2. Will Thomas get his 2 pts before or after he gets his first foul.
  • JamesHardy
    i've got 0:02 into the game on Stemler...i got a feeling about the tip-off today! Your Thomas bet is easy money...you need to make it something like this...what does he finish with more of....PFs, TOs, or Points???
  • BrianK
    If he would step up. Could you imagine how much tougher we would be. It would be unreal.
  • tberry
    This year's team has a lot of true athletes but is undisciplined and erratic. Given more maturity and experience they will be good but right now MSU may be too good at MSU. We have been squeaking out wins over poor teams but MSU is a good team.
  • dizzydee
    MSU is overrated this year, but our recent history in the Breslin Center is a cause for concern.
  • btown40
    http://wsucougars.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/... http://goxavier.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/mi... http://wsuraiders.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/... http://baylorbears.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt... Here is a list of top young candidates to take over at IU these sites give the respective coaches profile and list of accomplishments. The list is Brad Brownell/Sean Miller/Tony Bennett and Scott Drew....................
  • HoosierSmitty
    Figures we'll miss the start on TV. I hate CBS. Schedule some time between games for crying out loud!
  • TXHoosier
    Breslin Arena? Really?
  • HoosierSmitty
    When I'm down 16-7, I turn to Jamarcus Ellis to shoot a 3....right, nice decision.
  • Scott
    No movement on offense. Not getting back on defense. Awful start. I had a feeling we might get blown out. I hope I am wrong.
  • Scott
    Nice transition defense. Could we please start setting picks for Gordon?
  • Matt
    Team LOOKS TERRIBLE
  • Scott
    They look like they could care less.
  • Scott
    Mike White is the answer.
  • HoosierSmitty
    DeAndre and Mike White are worthless....Where is Taber?
  • Ryan_Btown
    Good thing we're so fast in transition..........
  • Mac
    The hoosier defense appears to be god awful this afternoon.
  • mini
    if we can force them to shoot from outside of 3 feet i think we can pull this one out...
  • Matt
    Lance Stemler SHOULD NEVER GET OFF THE BENCH
  • BrianK
    Why does Thomas take a tribble?
  • drode
    Deandre needs to put the weight back on and try out for the football team because thats the only way he is going to have a positive impact on IU sports.
  • BrianK
    You see Bassett look at Students after he made that 3
  • Scott
    We will never go far in the tournament because we CAN'T play defense!!!! I would bench everyone but Basset
  • BrianK
    The problem is we are scoring how much your supposed to to in a half and they're trying to show off by scoring more than your supposed to.
  • Ryan_Btown
    wow...what do you say to taht...missed layup, bad transition D, they hit a three and get an oop...couple good possessions for us over all...what the hell is goin on!
  • dabig
    This is disgusting. Bench the starters for the rest of the half.
  • Scott
    Until they learn how to play D.
  • HoosierSmitty
    Nice sequence Crawford...let Neitzel get wide open, then go shoot an airball, then brick a dunk, then loaf back on defense...nice work...the old Crawford has returned...
  • Shoney
    is anyone contemplating turning the game off? I have never seen the Hoosiers look this terrible..
  • Don D
    Terrible, terrible defense. Same thing all year long. Damn shame Nascar race on not on.
  • Scott
    I am.
  • dabig
    Nobody is moving without the ball. Suppose that Dakich drew it up like this? Did he run out of dry-erase markers or something?
  • Scott
    Bench Gordon.
  • Don D
    Another great 3 point shot by EJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Don D
    How about a good ole ass beating by MSU.
  • Ryan_Btown
    and gordon's shooting woes continue...he's not very good right now
  • Matt
    EMBARRASSING..............
  • Scott
    Maybe this will wake them up that they NEED to play defense to win game. I haven't seen DEFENSE played from this team all year.
  • HoosierSmitty
    What else is on TV...
  • Scott
    Bench everybody.
  • Don D
    Twister is on Indy Channel 23.
  • hysteric
    i pity the gm that wastes a lottery pick on gordon...i hope he is working on his application for unemployment insurance right now
  • BrianK
    Holy shit. Thats all I got.
  • Matt
    WORST THING TO COME TO IU.... DAN DAKICH guy cant coach players miss SAMPSON ... WE WERE LUCKY TO WIN THOSE TWO OTHER GAMES
  • drode
    Oh yeah we deffinetely need sampson on the sideline to tell gordon "shoot it evertime you get it" that would help.
  • Don D
    46-19 - Only 9 three pointers down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • BrianK
    Dj is getting pwnd, EJ getting pwnd.
  • dabig
    There's a show about Alaska on the History Channel.
  • BrianK
    MSU shooting 81% is beyond ridiculous.
  • Scott
    piss poor defense.
  • KJ
    laziness, stupidity and selfishness...this is unreal
  • Don D
    Good defense who stop that.
  • Scott
    I would bench everyone for the rest of the game. Maybe some pine time would get through to some of those kids.
  • BrianK
    Ok it's Finkelmeijer time. BRING OUT FINK!!
  • Don D
    Michigan State going for 60 points by half-time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How about watching Waterboy?
  • kelin
    I think the players should write defense on their shoes....in rememberance of what Indiana teams use to play

    This sucks ............EJ 25ft or 1ft...........
    Dj Man up get over KS and play dammit
  • Don D
    Compare this team now with the 93 Hoosier team - No way!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a way to choke today Hoosiers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • drode
    maybe dak should suit up and go out there to play defense
  • Matt
    DAN JUS WROTE HIS STORY AT IU ENJOY YOUR FIRST AND LAST TIME IN THE BRESLIN CENTER AS IU'S HEAD COACH
  • kelin
    At this point I say hire Kellen Sampson tomorrow so these guys can get inspired and play .....geez. They got a pass for the northwestern game but this is ridiculous...........

    I agree bench ALL of them.
    Once again in every other post I post ..........I am going to say........Brandon McGhee is pissed right now and dont be surprised if he walks.....put him in at this poing what could he hurt?
  • Don D
    Thank god it's half time. Nascar race is on fox 59 at 4:00.
  • Scott
    Go Gordon!
  • Scott
    I totally agree. Start playing McGhee and some other guys. Bench DJ, Gordon, and Crawford.
    Put some people out there that want to play defense.
  • Don D
    McGhee, Ahfield, Finklemeijer - Tim Garl etc.
  • BrianK
    If anyone ever says again DD should be our head coach soomeone please bitchslap them.
  • kelin
    This is the only way IU will stop MSU from scoring is at halftime.......
    Dak thanks for playing, I am sure you could try and stay on as an assistant. I am not sure why he hasn't ripped into these guys during this game.....hell I even saw mike davis do it......

    So lets talk about coaches.....
  • Dale
    its not over yet, if we can shut them out this half we have a chance
  • Don D
    If you watching the same game we just seen - that's a big stretch.
  • kelin
    After halftime starters...

    G. B-FInk
    G. Adam Ahfeld
    F. Brandon "on my way to Depaul" McGhee
    F. Mike "is it too late to red shirt" White
    C. Kyle Tabar
  • Tom Coverdale IU Hero
    its not our players fault that MSU is shooting 84% so how about all of you just stop giving are players crap MSU decided that they would put magnets inside the ball and on the rim so they would shoot good IU will get that rim and ball next half so we will se what happens and there is no way that someof these offensive fouls are really happening against us
  • Don D
    Any team can shoot 84% from the field with this type of terrible defense.
  • BrianK
    What defense?
  • Don D
    yOUR RIGHT - WHAT DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Scott
    It is our players fault. No transition defense. Open shots for Neitzel. Weak ass 2-3 zone. Weak man to man defense. No movement on offense. Turnover after turnover. But DD needs to get in their face and light a fire under their ass.
  • Scott
    By the way it is "giving OUR players crap" Not "giving ARE players crap"
  • BrianK
    It's all going to hell!! we can't hit shots, we can't play defense and we can't spell.
  • Tom Coverdale IU Hero
    thats fyne peple mispel werds al tha tyme
  • Don D
    That''s funny man - I don't care what you say - That's funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Scott
    sorry, I am a teacher. Couldn't help.
  • Don D
    Anyone watching the 2nd half? How about 77.8% FG FOR MSU!!!!!!!
  • BrianK
    Pat Knight beat # 5 Texas> we're getting blown out by 30 by the 15th ranked team and we're 12th
  • BrianK
    I think I just saw us run an offensive play and it worked. Im nut sure but I think so
  • Sam Snead
    this is just sad
  • Don D
    How's the golf swing?
  • Don D
    What out MSU D. Thomas is in the game.
  • Sam Snead
    go ohio state
  • Don D
    4 points of D. Thomas.
  • Tom Coverdale IU Hero
    i cant believe it deandre did something good but didnt get back on defense because his legs were hitting his stomach while he was running


    i think those 4 points might be a career high
  • Scott
    That's pretty funny!
  • Tom Coverdale IU Hero
    i think i just saw deandre running to the concession stand and grab a hotdog during that commercial break
  • Scott
    This is so depressing. Way to go Hoosiers. I WAS looking forward to this game. Not now.
  • kelin
    Why is Dakich so passive with these guys......you are down by 80 and you try an alley oop to EJ that DJ cleans up....NICE.......

    Where the hell is McCallum or anybody....yell at these guys.....
  • Don D
    Great job EJ and Jordan!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • dabig
    In the three games played since Sampson left "for the best interest of the program" this team has played at about half speed. We're looking at exiting in the first round of the NCAA tournament unless Dakich can stir things up. He needs to turn the starters into reserves for the Minnesota and Penn State games for one thing.
  • Don D
    Let's hope IU gets another chance to play the Spartan's in the Big Ten Conference tournament at Conseco
  • kelin
    Not sure if you guys noticed but I don't have KS written on my shoes and I will be glad when I can write Dan Dakich on my shoes....neither of them let me play...

    sincerely Brandon McGhee
  • jgongora
    I don't know if this is rude, but do you think our kids even care that they got their asses handed to them? It just feels that way to me. I was so glad that they changed to a different game, it was just too painfull to watch.
    jaime
  • kelin
    Jgongora.....lets see...you are playing for a big ten title and you get beat by 30..mmmm....I don't think they do....you can bet Purdue or Wisconsin won't bet beat this way
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