MICHIGAN STATE
Record: 1-1 (0-0 Big Ten)
Last Game: L, 88-81, vs. Duke 11/14
Last Meeting: First meeting
Listen/Watch:TV: Big Ten Network, 4pm
Michigan State radio:
http://www.spartansportsnetwork.com/Stony Brook radio:
http://www.whli.com/listen-live.aspx (also Sirius/XM Ch. 84)
Notables:6-7/225 so G Miles Bridges 19.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 3.5 bpg, .533 FG%, .417 3-pt FG%
6-8/245 so F Nick Ward 17.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg, .737 FG%
6-11/240 fr F Jaren Jackson Jr. 16.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.5 spg, 3.5 bpg, .563 FG%, .500 3-pt FG%
6-5/210 so G Josh Langford 11.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.5 spg
6-0/185 so G Cassius Winston 7.5 ppg, 9.5 apg
#2 team in the country. Pretty cool.
Needless to say, we are drastically overmatched in this one. We don't have a single advantage anywhere on the floor, and I would not be surprised if we lost this game by 30. They have blue-chip talent, good shooters, high flyers, they're relentless on the glass, experienced, good leadership, the whole nine. It would be nice if we could leave East Lansing with our heads held high, having flown all over the court, not thrown the ball around and popped them in the mouth a couple times.
For the record, though, our worst margin of defeat in our Division I history is 55, when we lost 100-45 at fifth-ranked Auburn back in 2000. Shouldn't get that bad.
Bridges is one of the premier talents in the country. Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, on the short list for the Wooden Award, and a certain high pick (ESPN has him going to the Knicks at 6:
http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/20343849/2018-nba-mock-draft-michael-porter-marvin-bagley-luka-doncic-more). If you didn't see it, here's an excellent story on why he returned to MSU. Seems like an awesome kid and it makes me want to root for them this season.
http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/21275324/why-michigan-state-miles-bridges-decided-return-collegeAnd yet Jackson may go even higher than him. He was a top 10 recruit nationally, and there's no reason to believe he won't be a one-and-done. He's a lottery pick in most mock drafts – unlike his dad, who was undrafted but played 13 years as a pro across a number of leagues.
Athletically, I'm curious to see Saintel and Olaniyi against these guys. I'm also curious to see how this PG situation plays out.