Let's see the stats of the two PTPers coming into the game: Green (MSU) vs Sullinger (OSU):
## Player Name FG-FGA 3FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 00 Sullinger,Jared..... f 5-15 1-2 6-8 8 8 16 4 17 0 10 1 2 40-
23 Green, Draymond..... f 5-16 1-4 1-2 1 8 9 3 12 2 3 0 1 34
The biggest difference? Sullinger with 5 more FT, 7 more OREBs, and 7 more TOs. Actually, Sullinger had a 0-10 Assist-to-TO ratio; Green's was 2-to-3. The ES say maybe an even performance, if not give it to Draymond Green because of his ability to run the team and not make mistakes. More impressively was the Spartan bigs:
## Player Name FG-FGA 3FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 23 Green, Draymond..... f 5-16 1-4 1-2 1 8 9 3 12 2 3 0 1 34 05 Payne, Adreian...... c 6-6 0-0 3-4 3 1 4 4 15 0 1 2 2 20 25 Nix, Derrick........ 3-8 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 6 2 2 0 0 19
02 Gauna, Alex......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
Add it up for MSU, that's 14-30 shooting (47%) from the floor, 14 rebounds, 33 pts (or 57% of the team's 58), and a 4-to-6 assist to turnover ratio (0.67). OMG, the ES has a wide smile looking at Payne's coming out party, hitting on 6-of-6 (15 pts), 4 boards, 2 blocks, and pulling down 4 boards in just 20 minutes... NICE.
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 00 Sullinger,Jared..... f 5-15 1-2 6-8 8 8 16 4 17 0 10 1 2 40- 01 Thomas,Deshaun...... f 2-12 0-5 4-6 2 0 2 1 8 0 0 0 1 32 30 Ravenel,Evan........ 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 8
Add it up for OSU, that's 7-28 shooting (25%) from the floor, 20 rebounds, 25 pts (or 52% of the team's 48), and a 0-11 assist to turnover ratio (0.00).
This points to Spartan offensive efficiency dominance in the paint, and superior defense causing 11 Buckey turnovers. Take THAT Sullinger and Buckeye nation.
Look at these TEAM stats, which defines the Spartans' victory:
Points in the paint-MSU 30,OSU 12. Points off turnovers-MSU 16,OSU 12. 2nd chance points-MSU 11,OSU 8. Fast break points-MSU 4,OSU 4. Bench points-MSU 9,OSU 2.
Ummm.... wow, Spartans dominating in the paint (read that, Sullinger?), off TOs, and off the bench. Interestingly, Michigan State played 8 players with 10 or more minutes, Ohio State with just 6.
Brennan from ESPN hit the nail on the head with his notes on the Spartan domination: "Michigan State didn't have to light it up to get this victory. When you defend this well, when you execute your defensive game plan this perfectly, when you thoroughly dominate one of the nation's elite teams in its own building, you don't have to put up points in bunches to get the job done. No team in the country this season has posted 40 minutes of defense this strong against a team this good. So, yeah, Tom Izzo loves this team. Can you blame him?"
Aahhhh, the satisfaction of a big victory on the road. Check out the Big Green, once again on top of the conference race....
| Michigan State | 9-3 | 20-5 |
| Ohio State | 9-3 | 21-4 |
| Wisconsin | 8-4 | 19-6 |
| Michigan | 8-4 | 18-7 |
| Indiana | 7-6 | 19-6 |
| Illinois | 5-6 | 16-8 |
| Northwestern | 5-6 | 15-8 |
| Purdue | 5-6 | 15-9 |
| Minnesota | 5-7 | 17-8 |
| Iowa | 5-7 | 13-12 |
| Nebraska | 3-10 | 11-13 |
| Penn State | 3-10 | 11-15 |
Welcome to the top, Sparty. Time to buckle down hand hold serve. We got the hated Bucky Badger coming to town in five days, and we need to FOCUS AND CRUSH. Proud, PROUD day to be a Spartan.
