3/21, 12:15pm ET: NCAA First Game: (14) Valpo v. (3) Michigan State Game Thread

[agibson]

It's not a very deep analysis.

But, Luke Winn writing for si.com likes us.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/-college-basketball-mens-tournament/news/20130317/2013-selection-sunday-ncaa-tournament/?sct=hp_t11_a1&eref=sihp

Upset I Like: No. 14 Valparaiso over No. 3 Michigan State. I know, it's in Auburn Hills, and I know, Tom Izzo is not the best coach to pick against in the tournament ... but the Spartans have been inconsistent offensively, and Valparaiso is the No. 1 most experienced team in the field of 68. The Crusaders start five seniors, their entire rotation consists of upperclassmen, and they're coached by miracle-worker Bryce Drew. That's a great Cinderella formula.

[KL31NY]

A Semi-Insane, Semi-Logical Classification of All 68 Tournament Teams

We're #57 w/out much of an explanation, insight, or anything for that matter. Plus, they use a picture of Dority in our section of the article. Plus plus, the word ****ing is used a couple times for teams underneath our slot. Is Grantland ESPN's version of Bleacher Report or Deadspin, because this is lacking any substance. I only found out because my brother posted the link to my wall.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

Is Grantland ESPN's version of Bleacher Report or Deadspin

yes, albeit with better writers.

[agibson]

Is Grantland ESPN's version of Bleacher Report or Deadspin

yes, albeit with better writers.

Huh.  I _only_ know the name because Charlie Pierce, regular guest comedian/commentator (and non-sports ignoramus) on NPR's "Only a Game" apparently writes there.  Never actually visited.

[wh]

Valparaiso is 'coming to win'

http://posttrib.suntimes.com/sports/18946693-556/mens-basketball-valparaiso-is-coming-to-win.html

[wh]

My apologies if this has already been posted somewhere:

NCAA Selection Show Viewing Party

NCAA Selection Show Viewing Party

[Smj]

Good MSU interview:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TlmNTpo6FBk

Or

Michigan State Basketball vs. Valpariaso Preview

[LaPorteAveApostle]

Good MSU interview

Bad MSU spelling

"Michigan State Basketball vs. Valpariaso Preview"

they will know how to spell it come thursday...

[vu72]

At the risk of being "redundant", as I've failing to search high and low as to whether or not this had beenposted previously, here is Coach Izzo's view on our team.

http://www.spartansportsnetwork.com/

To listen to him, you'd think they were playing against Oscar Robertson and some other dudes.  Oh, Erik Buggs has also got their attention.

Clearly, their plan is to stop Erik from getting into the lane (good luck with that) and to keep the ball out of Ryan's hands.  No mention of Kevin or Will or any of the other guys who can score.  They have noticed our experience and it also has their attention.

[jack]

It was going to be tough for VU no matter where they ended up, so it's a bonus that's it's close enough for the fans to make the trek. They just need to play lose, have some fun, and see what happens. If this tournament has taught me anything over the years, it taught me that, anything can happen. It wasn't so long ago, when no one even heard of Gonzaga, or could tell you where Butler was from. Keep the faith, and enjoy the ride, no matter how long it last. Good luck Crusaiders. Make us proud!

[StlVUFan]

They just need to play lose

Please, no!

Freudian slip, much

[jack]

LOL - Ummmm....Yeah......check that...."Loose" Thanks for the correction!

[wh]

At the risk of being "redundant", as I've failing to search high and low as to whether or not this had beenposted previously, here is Coach Izzo's view on our team.

If I'm not sure whether something has already been posted, I just apologize up front for possibly being redundant.  So far, that's been enough to keep our resident "masters of minutia" at bay. 

[covufan]

What are the odds we can beat mich state...id say 1 out of 10

According to Massey, 21% http://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=8361&s=193573

According to Real Time RPI, we lose 62-59  http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_281_Men.html

According to Sagarin, we lose by 13.

I'd say the odds are much better than when we last faced MSU in the NCAA tournament.

[talksalot]

We've played Sparty twice, lost by an average of 28.5 (30 then 27).  This year, we've played in this type of arena with this type of crowd, once:  the Pit in Albuquerque.... scares the crap out of me...

anyway, my OTHER bracket has Miami winning it all.   without a bunch of research, I believe we have a history of losing to the national champion one year before they win it all.

BTW... I'll be in the ballroom watching the game... got too much real work to do after being in Florida for a week...

[agibson]

According to Real Time RPI, we lose 62-59  http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_281_Men.html

Wild!  Something seems broken there.

Fairly consistent ~10.5 point dogs in Vegas?

[agibson]

BTW... I'll be in the ballroom watching the game...

Too bad!

But, does that mean a viewing party at VU has been announced, or is in the works?

[vuweathernerd]

Thank you NCAA for scheduling the game smack dab in the middle of my squadron change of command ceremony...  So unfortunately, I won't be in the chat. I plan on DVRing the game and watching it when I get home from work.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

nerd, i'm in the same boat.

except replace "my squadron change of command ceremony" with "a funeral (not my own)"

and

instead of "DVRing" put "not knowing what the hell to do without a dvr any more"

[LaPorteAveApostle]

Freep:
Ex-Michigan State, -Valparaiso hoopster Brandon Wood has advice for both teams
http://www.freep.com/article/20130319/SPORTS07/303190107/

Efficient offense why Valparaiso can be potent vs. Michigan State (with videos)
http://www.freep.com/article/20130319/SPORTS07/303190105/

No, that doesn't mean "we can be potent with videos!"  the lede:

Apparently, Valparaiso is a combination of Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin, with a forward who is a fusion of Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas and Indiana's Christian Watford, and a center who reminds Derrick Nix of Gonzaga star Kelly Olynyk.
...
There are valid reasons for concern, and not just on the Valpo side ...
"Boy, we've not played against anybody that's started five seniors ever, that I can remember," Izzo said. "This is unique."
...
And that's really the scariest thing about Valparaiso, the offensive efficiency. The Crusaders are sixth in the nation in field-goal percentage (48.9), share the ball and have multiple shooters other than Broekhoff.

"They're like Wisconsin," Payne said, "but they go a lot harder than Wisconsin."

It's no secret how the Spartans will defend the Crusaders. Izzo plays man-to-man defense at all times, though he may have to use a small lineup more often to allow Branden Dawson to guard Broekhoff for stretches.

It's less certain what Drew will do against MSU.

[mj]

If we want to pull the upset I think the magic number is 10. We need to have less than 10 turnovers and hit more than 10 3s. A quick scan of the box scores tells me that it's been done at least once this season.

Also, I think we'll know how this game plays out in the first 5 minutes. If we miss a couple 3s, turn the ball over and allow MSU to run in the first 5 minutes we could be in for a long morning. I think the guys will give them a fight on Thursday though.

[bbtds]

At the risk of being "redundant", as I've failing to search high and low as to whether or not this had beenposted previously, here is Coach Izzo's view on our team.

If I'm not sure whether something has already been posted, I just apologize up front for possibly being redundant.  So far, that's been enough to keep our resident "masters of minutia" at bay. 

Do you know the singular of minutia? Minutia is plural for all who may not have known that.

[valpotx]

Yes, please plan man-to-man defense against us, so that Buggs is not left wide open!

[LaPorteAveApostle]

Do you know the singular of minutia? Minutia is plural for all who may not have known that.

Actually, minutia IS singular...minutiae is the plural for all who may not possess a degree in dead languages.

[LaPorteAveApostle]