Chris Flanagan
Premium Members
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2012
- Messages
- 950
1. This Michigan State team is very good. They deserve to be in the Top 5. However, I felt like the Longhorns could have won this game. The moment was too big for them at this time. That doesn't mean the young Horns won't learn from this defeat, they just weren't ready for it on December 21st.
2. Cameron Ridley had his best offensive game of his short career on the 40 acres but his defense on Adreian Payne was not that impressive. Maybe that's because Payne is likely the best player in college basketball so I might give Ridley a pass because he asserted himself in this game and he got 17 points. If Ridley does this against teams like Iowa State and Kansas State, he might be 1st or 2nd team All Big 12.
3. Isaiah Taylor. At this point, I don't need to say much. He is the best player on this team. His scoring ability is outstanding.
4. I don't understand why Demarcus Croaker didn't play at all in the second half. I have to agree with Big Mike on this one. If he wasn't in the doghouse, there was no reason why he didn't play in the second half. He had 8 points in only 8 minutes of action. There is no guarantee he would have continued to be that hot but if you don't give him the minutes, how do you know?
5. 13,874 was the attendance today. Yes, there were a number of Spartans in the arena but there were a lot of Burnt Orange. Maybe they can get that for OU in a few weeks.
6. Rebounding was the difference in this game. In the second half, Michigan State started to pound the boards and was able to gain a sizable margin in the second half. The total rebound number is 41-28 but at one point in the second half, Michigan State had a 2 to 1 advantage on the boards over the Longhorns.
7. Don't look into North Carolina struggling with Davidson until OT, it was still a huge win for the Longhorns.
8. Let's assume the Longhorns beat Rice. That will put them at 11-2 heading into the Big 12 season. They start at home against OU and then go to Stillwater to play Oklahoma State. They must split those two games. Then they play Texas Tech and West Virginia. If they can start 3-1 in Big 12 play, that would be huge in getting into the tournament. That might get them safely in the field so if they fall to a Big 12 team like Kansas State, who does well against Texas, it won't hurt them much.
2. Cameron Ridley had his best offensive game of his short career on the 40 acres but his defense on Adreian Payne was not that impressive. Maybe that's because Payne is likely the best player in college basketball so I might give Ridley a pass because he asserted himself in this game and he got 17 points. If Ridley does this against teams like Iowa State and Kansas State, he might be 1st or 2nd team All Big 12.
3. Isaiah Taylor. At this point, I don't need to say much. He is the best player on this team. His scoring ability is outstanding.
4. I don't understand why Demarcus Croaker didn't play at all in the second half. I have to agree with Big Mike on this one. If he wasn't in the doghouse, there was no reason why he didn't play in the second half. He had 8 points in only 8 minutes of action. There is no guarantee he would have continued to be that hot but if you don't give him the minutes, how do you know?
5. 13,874 was the attendance today. Yes, there were a number of Spartans in the arena but there were a lot of Burnt Orange. Maybe they can get that for OU in a few weeks.
6. Rebounding was the difference in this game. In the second half, Michigan State started to pound the boards and was able to gain a sizable margin in the second half. The total rebound number is 41-28 but at one point in the second half, Michigan State had a 2 to 1 advantage on the boards over the Longhorns.
7. Don't look into North Carolina struggling with Davidson until OT, it was still a huge win for the Longhorns.
8. Let's assume the Longhorns beat Rice. That will put them at 11-2 heading into the Big 12 season. They start at home against OU and then go to Stillwater to play Oklahoma State. They must split those two games. Then they play Texas Tech and West Virginia. If they can start 3-1 in Big 12 play, that would be huge in getting into the tournament. That might get them safely in the field so if they fall to a Big 12 team like Kansas State, who does well against Texas, it won't hurt them much.
