One Z-Pack, two refills of penicillin, one bottle of Advil (maybe more) and a room scattered with Kleenex.  It’s been a deep and dark December at Hoopraker.  In two weeks marked by our infirmity, a few simple truths have become self-evident for the basketball teams at Purdue, Wisconsin, and Michigan State. 

Purdue Needs Grant

For Purdue, the answer to the question is imperative: Where’s Keaton Grant’s jump shot?  If he doesn’t find it, Purdue might lose It.  While Robbie Hummel and E’Twaun Moore are great ballplayers, the Boilermakers need Grant to stretch defenses with his smooth stroke to keep the team balanced.  Last season, as the young Boilermakers found their footing, it was Grant who took the big shots.  They need him to find that confidence again.  Grant could learn something by defending another confident shooter this Saturday in West Lafayette: Davidson’s Stephen Curry.

Where’s Wilkinson

One of the hallmarks of Bo Ryan’s tenure in Madison has been the development of the unsung post player.  The pride of Blue Mounds, Mike Wilkinson, epitomized it.  Hoopraker vividly recalls the 2004 Big Ten Tournament where Devin Harris and a bevy of crafty post moves by Wilkinson, relentlessly cheered on by Mike’s little sister, ruled Conseco and the Flying Illini.  This season’s team needs a Wilkinson infusion.  While Marcus Landry and Trevon Hughes are good, the Badgers need a consistent and tough third wheel.  Perhaps they can find it in the young, big and athletic Jon Leuer who has demonstrated streaky yet potent offensive capabilities.

Toughen Up Sparty

The sulks and sighs directed toward Coach Izzo seemed more passionate and apologetic when he was a Freshman, but as a Junior, it would behoove the Spartans if Raymar Morgan restrained the grimaces and toughened up.  Leadership is an intangible and is regrettably oft-dismissed because it’s hard to quantify on a stat sheet.  But no doubt, it’s what made Mateen Cleeves so valuable to his Championship team.  For Michigan State, its absence was evident in not just the losses, but the bad, blow-out losses, to Maryland and Carolina.

The Spartans are a talented bunch but, apart from Travis Walton, they still appear replete with individuals who possess the notion that each alone can carry the team offensively (notwithstanding the assist happy game against Alcon State).  And while Kalin Lucas is an offensive point guard, he needs to defend his counterpart with more intensity.  He’s too quick to let his opponent run the offense with little interruption, whether it’d be steals, deflections or pure pressure on the ball. As Walton knows, defense matters.

From shooting when they should pass, from reaching with their hands instead of moving their feet, the Spartans need to play some team ball and tough defense if they’re going to compete on Saturday against Texas. The Spartans are good enough to learn from the ACC losses.  Against the Longhorns this weekend, we’ll see if they have.

Posted by TD Lawlor on Tuesday, December 16th, 2008 at 11:32 am.