It’s time for Inside the Hall’s team-by-team breakdown of the Big Ten Conference. Today: The Michigan State Spartans.
Last spring, upon hearing the news that both Durrell Summers and Kalin Lucas would return for their senior seasons, I wrote that the Michigan State Spartans should be considered the favorites to win the 2011 NCAA Championship. Not exactly a bold prediction, but a prediction nonetheless.
A lot has changed since that post was penned, particularly in East Lansing.
Tom Izzo flirted with the Cleveland Cavaliers coaching job. Chris Allen was dismissed from the team and landed at Iowa State. Two unidentified Spartans were accused of sexual assault, but charges were never filed. Korie Lucious was arrested for drunk driving and as a result, suspended for the season opener.
That’s not exactly, if memory serves correct, a typical off-season for the Michigan State program under the leadership of Izzo.
And that brief summary does not include the question marks surrounding Lucas’ recovery from a torn Achilles and the fact that freshman shooter Russell Byrd required surgery and will miss the entire season. There were also these injuries, as compiled over at The Only Colors:
Lucious – arthroscopic surgery for meniscus tear
Summers – “tweaked” knee
Austin Thornton – unspecified back injury
Delvon Roe – offseason knee surgery
Garrick Sherman – screws removed from foot
Adreian Payne – recovering from dislocated shoulder
Despite this laundry list of controversy and injuries, Michigan State enters the season as the unanimous favorite to win the Big Ten.
Their big three — Lucas, Summers and Draymond Green — matches up favorably with any trio in the country. Lucas, if 100 percent healthy, should contend for another Big Ten player of the year award. Summers, although inconsistent at times, put together a remarkable string of performances in last year’s NCAA Tournament run. And Green, the league’s sixth man of the year, is a dynamic big that possesses the ability to step out and knock down jumpers as well as finish in the post.
Big Ten power rankings: Week 8
A delayed version of the Big Ten power rankings this week. We’ve waited long enough — and more importantly, we’ve made you wait long enough, so let’s just dive right in, shall we?
Inside the Hall Big Ten power rankings: Week 8
The CBI is On Line 11. Indiana – NR; 12-14, 3-10; 33 total points
Christian Watford is back, though he’s not going to be 100 percent through the rest of the season. Indiana needs his aggression to be all there, however, with an even chance at grabbing at least a spot in the CBI with a couple more wins.
The Because We Beat No. 11 No. 10: Iowa – NR; 10-15, 3-10; 30 total points
There’s really no other reason for Iowa to be here. Consider that if you take away the two wins against IU, the Hawkeyes are basically atrocious. But we won’t, because the Inside the Hall rankings are too nice. We also have a soft spot in the old heart-ski for Melsahn Basabe.
The We Weren’t Moving In This Direction Before No. 9. Northwestern – NR; 14-10, 4-9; 27 total points
Northwestern had better make the most of its next two games (home to Iowa, at Indiana). After that, the sledding to win another game could get tough. Bill Carmody has an NIT appearance reputation to protect, daggum!
The In Its Rightful Place No. 8. Penn State – NR; 13-11, 6-7; 22 total points
One of the lowest point totals we’ve ever had at No. 8. The Nittany Lions are an exercise in proving the theory that you can’t just sail through your non-conference. Chalk back a home loss to Maine and Penn State is feeling a lot better about its NIT chances than it does right now.
The Some Sweet Day We’ll Be in the Tourney No. 7. Michigan State – Still NR anymore; 14-11, 6-7; 21 total points
Everyone kept waiting for the Spartans to right their own ship. After losing two of their last three (at Wisconsin, at Ohio State) to the conference elite of which they were supposed to be one, perhaps it’s time to recognize that this just isn’t Tom Izzo’s best crew. As it is, everything is a must-win from here on.
The John Beilein Memorial No. 6. Michigan – NR; 16-10, 6-7; 17 total points
Instead of me writing something insightful (unlikely) or hilariously funny (even more unlikely), I would simply ask you to read this incredible story by Mike Rothstein from AnnArbor.com. Thanks.
The Bruce Weber Memorial No. 5. Illinois (tie) – NR; 16-9, 6-6; 15 total points
Does Illinois deserve to be No. 5? Probably not. Does anybody else? Oh no. The Illini won their first three Big Ten games this season. They promptly lost six of their next nine. Never did a team need to beat Michigan, Iowa and Indiana at home in a worse way. And we’re not even sure that’s enough to impress the committee.
The How Far Has the Big Ten Fallen No. 5 Minnesota (tie) – Receiving votes in both polls; 17-8, 6-7; 15 total points
The weekly Big Ten press release is kind to point out that the Big Ten has as many teams (3) in the country’s top 11 as any conference in the country. What it neglects to mention is that those three teams, which coincidentally make up Nos. 1-3 in this poll, are the ONLY three teams left in the Top 25. Minnesota ain’t one of ‘em, just like Illinois or Michigan State. Oof.
Continue reading this post »