The Lima Connection
When Travis Walton laces up his sneaks for the biggest game of his life this afternoon against UConn, he should consider looking south, to Findlay, Ohio, for some inspiration. Led by legendary head coach Ron Niekamp and DII Player of the Year, Josh Bostic, the University of Findlay (37-0) secured its first Division II National Championship last week in Springfield, MA. Niekamp, who sports a jawdropping coaching record of 586-174, happened to coach at Walton’s alma mater Lima Senior (OH) for six seasons before heading North on Interstate 75 to Findlay. For his part, Bostic graduated from Westland High in Columbus, the same school that gave Michigan State former Spartan guard Doug Davis. Tangential coincidence, perhaps. We’ll see in a few hours.
Stepping Up, Boxing Out
Throughout the Tournament, Tom Izzo has plucked players from his bench and gotten results. It’s a testament to great coaching and it’s hallmark of Izzo’s remarkable run in East Lansing. One gets the sense that, if called upon, even Austin Thornton would answer the bell. Thus far, the Spartans have received unexpected explosions from Walton, Durrell Summers, Goran Suton, and Draymond Green (who’s learning curve has accelerated in the past three weeks with Raymar Morgan’s fade). Who’s next, maybe Morgan or Korie Luscious?
Against UConn, the freshmen duo of Green and Delvon Roe, with their ability to rebound and defend the interior, should be factors for the Spartans tonight. Walton gets the assignment of his life as well, guarding AJ Price. Hit the glass and quiet the UConn point guard and the pieces may fall in place for Michigan State, much as they did against Louisville last weekend.
Sweet Music
For Michigan State fans and Big Ten faithful, in yet another season where they’ve absorbed unwarranted barbs from ignorant naysayers, taking out a parade of Floyd, Self, Pitino, Calhoun and Roy Williams would be sweet music.
Enough About Lawson’s Toe
I speak for everyone at Hoopraker when I say I’m really tired of hearing how Ty Lawson is playing through pain. I’m also tired of hearing how great a coach Roy Williams is. Please. His team is loaded top to bottom with McDonald All-Americans and contains at least six caliber NBA players. The PR engine for Duke and Carolina is nauseating. Hope Nova spanks ‘em.
DeChellis Charm
In the wake of its disappointment on Selection Sunday, Nittany Lion faithful justifiably pointed the finger at the decision of Ed DeChellis to configure a very weak non-conference schedule. DeChellis found some level of redemption in his team’s heroic run to the NIT Championship this week where he beat George Mason, Rhode Island, Florida, Notre Dame, and Baylor, quality wins all.
As Hoopraker favorite Jamelle Cornley said to Taylor Battle moments after the Baylor win, “[y]ou and Drew (Andrew Jones) got to keep it going!” Building on these wins, Penn State returns a roster full of confidence and one certainly carrying the expectation of an NCAA berth in 2010.
Cheers to Spartans Weblog
Our friends over at Spartans Weblog are doing great work in preparation for the Final Four. Ta-Ta.
Nice coverage. Didn’t know about Lima’s hoops resume. Northern Ohio produces a lot of good basketball players, but it rarely gets mentioned as a haven for basketball.
Too bad Michigan State lost. I have a contingent of UNC alumni in my family; Heels fans can be insufferable. To give credit where it’s due: UNC fans tend to be very basketball literate, sophisticated college hoops fans. But insufferable nonetheless.
Tom Izzo is probably my favorite coach in college basketball. I’ve always admired the way his teams play (and always admired the way Izzo has been able to a build national powerhouse program without having much access to the kind of elite national-level recruits that UNC/Duke/Kansas regularly sign). But last night MSU didn’t look like a Tom Izzo-coached team. It was pretty ugly.
Michigan State had a hell of a run though. Never really thought they’d get to the Final Four, much less play for the National Championship. MSU played horribly, but North Carolina was clearly the superior team. The Tar Heels had three future NBA first round draft picks in their starting lineup. Mich. St. may not even have a future NBA player on its roster (Lucas/Roe best prospects).
Tom Izzo and his team deserve all the credit in the world for getting as far as they did. But something tells me that the national media will spin MSU’s loss as further evidence that the Big Ten is the most ungodly awful conference in the history of college hoops.
Left by Trashtalk Superstar on April 7th, 2009