Michigan State teams steer clear of academic penalties

MSU's Academic Progress Rates (APR) for all its sport teams steered well clear of the NCAA minimums for fear of reprimand and any loss of scholarships or postseason ban -- unlike the University of Connecticut, whose men's basketball team's 889 APR score led them to a loss of practice time and disqualified them for the 2012-2013 NCAA men's basketball tournament.

What is the APR and why does it matter?
As the ES has noted in previous posts (here and here), the APR is published as a four-year average which generally measures the retention (staying at MSU) and academic eligibility (above the schools minimum cumulative GPA) of every scholarship athlete on a team.  This measurement is far from perfect, as there are many situations (health, family, returning to finish after six-years, etc) that are or are not built into the APR calculations.  But, this is the accepted policy today.  Thus, the NCAA figures a 50-percent graduation rate over six-years is a reasonable benchmark for college athletes (and that is higher than the general regular, non-athlete student body average). A 1000 APR is a perfect score, with 100% projected graduation rates.  For years, the NCAA projected an APR score of 925 to be approximately a 50% average for an athlete to get a degree in six years. If a team fell below a 925 (now the mark is 930), then a team would be subject to sanction - that sanction now includes a mandatory post-season ban (including conference championships) for both men's basketball and football.  This 930 minimum for sanction will change over the next few years as the NCAA moves this average up to an APR of 940; and the measurement for sanctions are a bit more complicated...(link here). 

What about MSU?  Men's Hoops one-year score dips in 2011
This year, the Spartans came across in flying colors in all their sports.  Football was a concern a few years ago as it teetered the 925-benchmark, but a 943 average shows a significant improvement, especially with the largest scholarship roster size (of 85)... which means one player who struggles academically and leaves the institution does not impact the APR scores as much as one men's basketball player on a roster of 13. What is interesting is what the ES predicted: a one year drop in MSU's men's hoops APR down to 902 because of various defections (Korie Lucious and Chris Allen, most notably).  However, as this is a four-year average, it has a minimal impact at this time, so long as these defections are not a commonality.  Notably, Delvon Roe's leaving the team did NOT affect the APR because he remained a student at MSU (retained) and was academically eligible. 

AND, what you will notice - is the one year lag in APR scores, because it takes a year for APR to go through the NCAA's system of checks and error corrections before it is reported.  Anyways, here are the Spartans' most recent APR scores:

Baseball    984          
Field Hockey    972          
Football    943          
Men's Basketball    981          
Men's Cross Country    974          
Men's Golf    944          
Men's Ice Hockey    967          
Men's Soccer    978          
Men's Swimming    988          
Men's Tennis    1000          
Men's Track, Indoor    954          
Men's Track, Outdoor    953          
Men's Wrestling    991          
Softball    983          
Women's Basketball    1000          
Women's Cross Country    986          
Women's Golf    979          
Women's Gymnastics    995          
Women's Rowing    990          
Women's Soccer    992          
Women's Swimming    977          
Women's Tennis    984          
Women's Track, Indoor    981          
Women's Track, Outdoor    982          
Women's Volleyball    980

Pics of Spartan Stadium scoreboard retrofit...

For those of you who are not aware...  Spartan Stadium is undergoing renovation of its scoreboards - both the large board at the south end, and the two tiny boards will be replaced by larger video boards on the north ends.  Here is what it looks like as of June 14....

MSU #12 in ES Top 25 Preseason Consensus Football Poll

Here is the 12th annual ES Consensus Top 25, preseason for the 2012 college football season. It's 90 degrees in East Lansing today, and as we enter the dog days of summer, the national media is falling in love with the hungry, dominating Spartan defense.  MSU right now stands at #12 in the consensus polls - with a high rank of #10 by SI.com and a low rank of #19 by, who else, yes the Spartan-hater Phil Steele.

How does this work?  The ES has been calculating a preseason consensus way back since he started in 2001.  He takes some of the more highly touted rankings in national magazines and websites and gives each football program a point based on their preseason rankings by the media outlet, 1 point for #1, 2 points for #2.... 25 points for #25..  If a team is not ranked, it receives 26 points.  The final points are then averaged by the number of publications to come up with a consensus point ranking.  

This year, the 11 media outlets considered (to date) are: ESPN, Fox Sports, About.com, Athlon, NCChamps.net, CBSSports.com, SI.com, CFN Scout, Rivals Yahoo, Lindy, and Phil Steele

Below, each ranking is listed by the media outlet; an "x" indicates no ranking of that team within the Top 25, thus receiving 26 pts.  The ES may add a few more as the regular season draws nearer... but it is not surprising that each year, the ES consensus top 25 fairly closely mirrors the preseason USA Today and ESPN media polls. Click on the image below to download the full graphic.

Kirk Herbsreit and his #13 Michigan State Spartans

Cupcake schedule in 2013 & 14... but not this year.  If you didn't see Herbstreit &  Co. with their 2012 College Football Preview of Michigan State - well, it is a worthwhile looksie.  Kirk picks the Spartans as his #13 preseason football team.  He concludes with... "All eyes will be on Andrew Maxwell and what he can prove.  Because with the defense that Michigan State brings back, if the offense can excel, they'll have another great season."  The nice this of the video is the discussion of the change in tone, the change in culture under Mark Dantonio to make Herbie a believer in Michigan STATE.


Kickoff just 3 months minus 1 day away!  Go GREEN!

MSU Football schedules cupcakes in 2013, 2014

Spartan Nation:  let's grade the football non-conference schedules for the next three years. The ES gives a high grade of a B- for 2012.  Then, 2013 and 2014 are pathetically uninteresting and uncompetitive.  Jacksonville State in 2014? Come on.  Which team would you schedule for MSU to play in the open date of September 6, 2014?  Hopefully another major BCS-caliber football program like the Oregon Ducks.  The ES hates scheduling revenue-generating bottom-feeders.

2012: Grade = B-.
Aug. 31 BOISE STATE
Sept. 8 at Central Michigan
Sept. 15 NOTRE DAME
Sept. 22 EASTERN MICHIGAN

2013: Grade = C-.
Aug. 31 WESTERN MICHIGAN
Sept. 7 SOUTH FLORIDA
Sept. 14 YOUNGSTOWN STATE
Sept. 21 at Notre Dame

2014: Grade = C.
Aug. 30 JACKSONVILLE STATE
Sept. 6 TBD
Sept. 13 at Oregon
Sept. 20 EASTERN MICHIGAN

Spartans in the NCAA baseball tourney? ???

For the first time since Kirk Gibson roamed the Spartan Stadium sidelines and the dugouts at Kobs Field, the Michigan State Spartans have advanced to the NCAA championship baseball tourney!

The first game in the Stanford Regional is tomorrow, Friday, June 1, at 4 pm ET (1 pm PDT), where #3 seed MSU (37-21) will play #2 seed Pepperdine Waves (34-21) at Stanford Stadium. Will ES roving reporter Chock, or the ES' pal Smig, make it from their homestead around San Francisco down to Silicon Valley to make the game? Although baseball is boring to watch, it would be great if in the area to go down the road to catch the Spartans making the rare appearance (more rare than a football Rose Bowl appearance) in the NCAA tourney.

According to MSUSpartans.com, on Saturday and Sunday, game times are also scheduled for 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., and if necessary, Monday at 6 p.m. All of the games will be broadcast on ESPN3.com, while audio of Michigan State's games will be available on SpartanSportsNetwork.com and the Spartan Sports Network mobile app. The ES will tune into ESPN3 at home, fer sure... Stanford is the No. 1 seed in the regional with a 38-16 record and will play No. 4 Fresno State (30-26) at 9 p.m. EDT (6 p.m. PDT). Throughout its 128-year program history, Michigan State has never played either school.  The only other Big Ten team to make the Field is Purdue, which is No. 1 in the Gary Regional.  Check out the Bracket here.

Interesting note on Spartan baseball -- "Former Spartan Kirk Gibson launched the longest ball ever hit out of Kobs Field in 1978 when he smacked a 550-foot blast that cleared the trees in right-center and landed on Adams Field".

All about DEFENSE!!!! Michigan State Green and White Game 2012

It was 14-2 White, but should have really been 7-2... or maybe 7-5.  Defense.  That is what you can expect a lot of from the Spartans in the fall.  If you are taking the Spring Game for what it's worth -- Spartans playing against Spartans -then you'll realize you can't expect too much out of the game. Notably, the Spartans top QB (Andrew Maxwell) and two of its top receivers (including Bennie Fowler) were out for injuries.  So, what can you really expect?

What we did realize was Will Gholston (#2) and Anthony White (#98) played like men amongst boys in the annual Green and White game.  Max Bullough (#40) was sensational at linebacker, as was Denicos Allen (#28).  The best play by the offense was actually made by a defensive player -- as #5 Johnny Adams hauled in a 40-yard pass by Connor Cook (#18) to get the White Team out of their own territory.  Most of the game, the defensive line completely stuffed the run and was in Cook's face.  Poor Nick Hill (#20) and LeVeon Bell (#28)... these guys had NOWHERE to run all day.  Hill had about 90 yards on 20 carries, and did manage a 35-yard TD run in scrum in which Gholston bruised his knee... but that was about it. Marcus Rush (#44) played well along the line... and it was nice to see VHT Taiwan Jones (#34) played excellent at LB, particularly in jamming the run. This defense is unbelievable and will be the Big Ten's best.  Deep and talented across the board.

About the offense?  Yes, it is true.  That is Dion Sims (left), back for this 10th year for the Spartans at TE.  Couldn't believe his unlimited eligibility when I saw it.  Cook played on both the Green and the White for most of the game. He must've hurled that ball 50 times or more, and maybe only completed 10 passes.  It wasn't all his fault on either side, as the Spartan defense was in his face most of the day.  The final score, 14-2, included a TD on a drive which should have stalled from a Gholston sack, but the Doctor (Coach MD) let them play on (Gholston threw his hands up in the air saying "What's up?").   Gholston just was going through the motions by the end of the day, until he bruised his knee.

The ES thinks Cook looked rattled, and played worse as the game went on.  Didn't help he had giants in his face all day.  Actually, who looked better at QB was Tommy Vento (#16), who was only in for one series and threw an INT on a long throw... but he looked fearless and comfortable in the pocket.

But, there were about 20,000 out there on a cold and dreary day. No rain, so it paid off...

A concern would be PK Dan Conroy, who missed a pair of 40-yarders.  On the flip side, our punter, Mike Sadler (#3) might be the MVP  of the game - he consistently hung up 45 yard punts for 4-seconds, and dropped in a couple of chip shots inside the 5.  Beautiful day for Sadler. 

The most impressive stats?  The White defense holding the Green to minus-10 yards rushing. Marcus Rush had 2.5 sacks, Denicos Allen had 7 tackles, and Micajah Reynolds had 1.5 tackles for loss.
This is what it looked like from the Big Ten Network - catch the highlights:

Sans-Maxwell Green & White Spring Game 2012

MSU Spring Game
April 28, 2012.  1 pm.
TV:  Big Ten Network
Weather:  43 degrees, light rain.

What is there to expect in 2012 out of the MSU Spartans' Spring Game?  This would be, or should be, one of the most anticipated Spring Games in Michigan State history - the Big Green have notched double-digit wins each of the past two years for the first time in history, and the defense is filled with studs and big-time-player performers.  And, the ES WILL be there with Big Bob tomorrow.

But... the weather prediction?  43 and rain.  Ugh.  The last few years has been relatively warm (60+ weather) and without God's drooling onto the masses.  If this spring game was held a month ago, it would've been 85 and sunny on March 27.  But, who cares.  It should be a fun time tomorrow despite the poor weather.

So, what should we be looking for?  The ES lists his top three interests for the MSU Spring Game:

1.  Not Maxing it out.  Andrew Maxwell is hurt, as are two of the top Spartan receivers (Tony Lippett, Bennie Fowler).  So, Connor Cook - who was Mr. Nobody when he had a great spring game two years ago - will step in to hurl the pigskin around.  On the receiving end to watch may be Tennessee transfer DeAnthony Arnett. Sucks to watch a game that has little offense we expect to see in the fall.  It certainly is a concern.

2.  The Linebackers.  In all honesty, anyone who saw Eric Gordon and Greg Jones would be STUNNED by an improvement the year after in Max Bullough, Chris Norman, and Denicos Allen.  Now, this trio is probably coming into 2012 as the most brutal Spartan linebacking corps in the lastt40 years.

3.  Defensive Line.  2012 should provide an incredibly solid defensive line, with Will Gholston as a premier DE in the entire country, leading Marcus Rush, Tyler Hoover, and the HUGE Anthony Rashad White at nose tackle.  The ES had so much fun watching this unit just kick the crap out of Michigan and Ohio State last year, why not see us take it up a notch in 2012?  Methinks we can doso...

The sign of the apocalypse... the return of JLS

Wow.  The ES gives its best wishes to the University of Arkansas.  The Razorbacks have hired former Michigan State Spartan head football coach John L. Smith as its "interim" head football coach for the next year.

The ES had to slap himself to wake up and stop dreaming.  But no, this is the real deal.  LOL. 

Spartans to the Promised Land! Go GREEN!

COME ON BIG GREEN!  Take us to the Promised Land!  National Title, case A:  Long Island U at  Brooklyn...This is OUR YEAR!  We know it, we can feel it!

The ES hasn't been this JACKED for an opening round Michigan State game since 2000.  You can feel it.  Green, Appling, Nix, Payne, Thornton, Wood, Trice, and Kearney are the BEST TEAM, the BEST DEFENSIVE EIGHT in America. 

Can't wait to watch this TEAM ROCK THE WORLD TO THE PROMISED LAND! 

Draymond Green needs National Title for legacy

After the B1G Championship, the ES is thinking.... what the hell is left for Draymond Green to accomplish? Let's look at the most recent team and individual honors...

Team Honors:

B1G Tournament Team Championship: 2012
B1G Regular Season Championship: 2012
NCAA Final Four: 2009, 2010.
NCAA Championship Game: 2009.
REMAINING: NCAA Championship Win

Individual Honors:
B1G Tournament Championship Best Player:  2012.
B1G Player of the Year: 2012.
B1G All-First Team: 2012.
B1G All-Defensive Team: 2012.
First Team All-American, 2012 (Sporting News).
REMAINING: Naismith Player of the Year. 

Ummm.... all that is REALLY left that matters is to win the National Title.  Naismith died like 100 years ago... GO GREEN!

10 warm thoughts about MSU beating Ohio State and earning a #1 seed in the tourney

Top 10 list of Michigan State's dominating victory over Ohio State to claim the B1G Ten title OUTRIGHT. This is in order, from the 10th best to the ultimate best:

10. Watching OSU's Sullinger sulk, after once again stymied to his best effort against MSU, just a 7-19 shooting (37%) and 9 rebounds stint. Thanks to the Spartan BIG trio of Green-Payne-Nix
9. Beating the Buckeyes two of the last three, both away from the Breslin Center.
8. Eddie Hightower wasn't on the court.
7. Tom Izzo's technical foul at the end of the first half, sending a signal for defensive intensity.
6. Draymond Green three-pointer with 1:36 remaining to DEFINE HIS PLACE as Big Ten Player of the Year
5. Derrick Nix jumper in the post over Sullinger with 5:17 left, just showing that Sullinger is no wise-guy and that Sullinger's sh*t still stinks.
4. Brandon Wood, 21 pts. Thank you Valpo.
3. MSU wins the B1G Ten outright, first title since 2000, when we won the national title.
2. Big Green gets #1 seed, first since 2000, when we won the national title.
1. Knowing in every single time MSU has earned a #5 seed or better since 1998, Michigan State has reached the Final Four 6 of 7 times (the other time, we made the Elite 8 in 2008 as a #5 seed).  NICE. 

Live Chat:: #8 MSU vs Iowa, B1G Tournament

MSU nabs #1 seed in latest Bracketology

After the recent impressive performances by Michigan State, the Big Green move up to #6 in the coaches poll... and are awarded with a #1 seed in the West, as projected in ESPN's Bracketology by Joe Lunardi.

Loving the Big GREEN Machine as it heads to the Final Four!  GO SPARTANS!

Three in a row: Spartans destroy Boilers

Did you watch the nationally televised game today, Michigan State AT (may I repeat, AT) Purdue?  The Spartans completely destroyed the Boilermakers in a 76-62 victory. MSU's solid defensive intensity in the second half, particularly the inside play by Green, Nix, and Payne, literally ripped apart the Boilermakers.  At one stretch, Purdue went 1-21 shooting -- part just cold shooting, but mostly GREAT Spartan defense -- that helped to eliminate the team from West Lafayette, Indiana.  By the time Branden Dawson pulled off a windmill (or wheelhouse) slam-dunk (photo courtesy MSU Media Relations) off a clean break away, the Spartans were leaving the Boilers in the dust.

This is the third of consecutive, THREE DOMINATING PERFORMANCES against the three toughest teams in the Izzo era: double-digit waxing at Ohio State, at Purdue, and against Wisconsin.  Wow.

If you read Hammer and Rails, they need to wake up and smell the coffee - they could play us 10 times with all their players, and we'd win 10 times.... OK, there was some of Purdue's poor performance, but far far more, it was more that PURDUE WAS OUTCLASSED... it was Michigan State is GREAT.  Purdue ain't.

It was an embarrassing second stanza for Purdue, which had no answer for MSU.  MSU shot 51% and held Purdon't to 34% for the game.

Yes, Spartan fans, it is easy to say right now Michigan State is playing as well as any team in the nation.  Depth, bigs, good stewardship from guards, diversity in shooting... rebounding domination (38-27 edge by MSU today; ranked #3 in the country in rebounding margin)... and an improving Assist-to-TO margin (16 assists vs. just 8 TOs today).... just unreal efficiency by MSU so far.

Draymond Green had another yawner, just 20 pts, 10 rebs and 7 assists -- adding yet another tally to his B1G Ten Player of the Year trophy-in-waiting.  MSU's Freshmen of the Year, Dawson (the next Jason Richardson), was spectacular with the multiple hamstrings-like-rubber-bands in each leg, jumping through the roof on the way to add another double-double to Green's, with 15 pts and 11 rebs.

Check out how impressive MSU's last five games:

Opponent	Pts	Opp Pts	Diff	FG%	Opp FG%	Diff%	Reb	Opp Reb	Reb Diff	Green         P-R-A
vs 22 Mich	64	54	10	52.2	39.6	12.6	39	15	24	14-16-4
vs Penn St	77	57	20	43.4	38.5	4.9	41	22	19	23-12-5
@ 3 Ohio St	58	48	10	40.4	26.4	14.0	35	32	3	12-9-2
vs 17 Wisc	69	55	14	52.2	34.0	18.2	27	33	-6	20-10-5
@ Purdue	76	62	14	50.8	33.8	17.0	38	27	11	20-10-7
AVERAGES	69	55	14	47.8%	34.5%	13.3	36	26	10

What really stands out is: 1) only allowing 55.2 ppg; 2) holding opponents to just 35% shooting on average; 3) shooting by 13% better per game than opponents on average; 4) outrebounding by an average of 10+ per game; and Draymond's three double-doubles with 20+pts AND 5+ assists.  THIS SPELLS VICTORY and, look at the consistency...

Is MSU a great team now?  YES.  And, it is Izzo-time... Time to cruise to another Final Four and hopeful National Title.  This team is the BEST Spartan hoops team since our 2000 team with Mateen Cleaves.  The similarity?  Leadership (Green=Cleaves) and team chemistry.

If you aren't watching the Spartan hoops, you should be.  It's been broken down from last year, and this year rebuilt from the inside out, with defense FIRST.  This team is on ABSOLUTE FIRE and is amazing to watch.  GO GREEN.

Hate da Badgers

Feel free to Hate Wisky... the ES is on board!

Breaking down Michigan State bigs dominating Ohio State bigs

The ES is gushing pride and joy after the Spartans' complete, defensive-minded domination of the Ohio State Buckeyes last night.  The 10-point win in Columbus, ending the OSU 39-game home winning streak, was as convincing as it was dominating.  The ES' favorite stat?  Lookit ESPN's game flow:  MSU took an 11-10 lead with 12:13 left in the first half, and never looked back, leading by as much as double-digits for most of the rest of the way...

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.

Spartan hockey - still fun after all these years

Went to the MSU Spartan hockey game last night.  Unfortunately, the #15 Spartans lost to Miami-Ohio, 2-1, in overtime.  Fun game, over 6,400 in attendance.  MSU could have played better on the offensive ends - hell Miami was seemingly in a perpetual penalty, and State even had a two-man advantage, but spent most of that time passing to the points instead of movement around the net and making good shots.  Tough. 

But, what the ES will say is that it is still a BLAST going to Munn Ice Arena after all these years.  MSUFCU had a promotion, free two tickets for every membership, so I brought the kids... Three tickets for $10... Now that wa a GREAT deal. 

MSU is 11-8-2 and #15, 6-6-1 in the CCHA.  It is the swan song year for the Big Ten teams in the CCHA.  Sayonara CCHA, hello Big Ten!  That said, MSU has its rematch with Miami tonight at 7 pm.  Go GREEN!

"We are supposed to be playing on the big stage."

People around the nation wonder why there is such hatred between the Michigan State faithful and the Michigan faithful.  Give the Wolverines (yes, the ES uses the word GIVE deliberately) a victory in an unearned BCS bowl berth with pitiful Va Tech coaching decisions, and the AArogant Wolverine Nation thinks they own the world.  To wit, scUM AD David Brandon, in USA Today: "We've had a bumpy three years, but we're Michigan," Brandon said. "We're supposed to be playing on the big stage. We're supposed to be playing against formidable competition. We're supposed to be in the national hunt. For years and years and years, that was Michigan. That's what we want Michigan to be in the future.":

Matter of fact, NO YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PLAYING ON THE BIG STAGE.   You need to earn it.  Michigan State earned it with 22 wins the LAST TWO YEARS, including double-digt wins against YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM each year, and didn't get a BCS berth.  And, Michigan State was in the Conference championship game.  And, Michigan State isn't supposed to play on the Big Stage -- no, MSU needs to earn it, just like every other team.

You know what, screw you and your Aarogant Aass.  This pisses the ES off to no end.  Now you know why there are thousands of t-shirts worn across the Big Ten that state "Muck Fichigan!"

Formidable competion? Don't get me wrong, congrats for the win over VaTech, but the ES argues that VTU is anything but formidable -- the.Hokies looked handcuffed by their coaches, and still outgained scUM by twice as many yards; stupid VaTech coaching decisions led to scUM victory with Christmas gifts that would have made Jesus Christ proud. 

Gimme a break Brandon, you embarrass the college football nation.

With the Spartans' record the past three years, the ES could say, "we are supposed to play on the Big Stage." But, let us let our performance dictate things - as the ES said, we had our fate in our hands, losing to Wisky and thus losing our bid for a BCS. I accept that.  But, to think that "we are supposed" to get a BCS bid is absolute height of arrogance.  Screw you. 

Once again, thank you Aan Aarbor, you once again lay claim to the ownership of Aarogant Aasses.

SPARTANS kick Badger tail

MSU wins 63-60! Nice to be able to STICK IT to Bo Ryan at the end. He is the Devil incarnate. He tried to get it to Double-OT, but sorry,unless you are counting thousandths of a second, there is no question the SHOT WAS LATE.  GO GREEN - HATE BUCKY BADGER!!!

Live Chat: Spartans at Badgers men's hoops

#10 Michigan State at #18 Wisconsin. Wisconsin favored by 6.

17 TACKLES FOR LOSS, led by Gholston

Adam Rittenberg over at ESPN deserves some kudos for writing what we all know:  the Spartan defense rocks.  He calls the Big Green Machine a "model to emulate" for other teams looking to compete on a national basis.  My God, that trench crew in our Outback Bowl win over Georgia --  DE William Gholston (#2), DT Jerel Worthy (#99), DT Anthony White (#98), Marcus Rush (#44) -- consistently pushed the Dog line back time and time again.  Right in their face.  Look at the DEFENSIVE STAT SHEET below, lit up like a Christmas Tree.  When three of your four tackle leaders are defensive lineman, it means you have a devastating defense.  (In the JLS-slapface era, our leading tacklers were SAFETIES). Lookit the stat sheet, by God - Gholston 7 tackles (5 TFL), Rush 6 tackles (2 TFL), White 5 tackles (3 TFL), Worthy 4 tackles (2 TFL) ... brings tears of joy to the ES.   17 TACKLES FOR LOSS by the Spartan defense... 17!!  Unreal, the effort. Gholston put on a First Team All-American effort the Spartan Nation can be proud of.  Denicos Allen, Chris Norman, Max Bullough all laid the wood in support where necessary... but this was a DEFENSIVE LINE led effort.  Gholston's post-game You Tube video ("everybody gotta eat") ain't too bad, either.  Lots to look foward to, Spartan fans, for many years to come...

Michigan State      
## Player               Solo  Ast  Tot  TFL/Yds  FF FR-Yd Intc BrUp Blkd Sack/Yds QH
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2  Gholston, William       7    .    7  5.0/16   .  1-6    .      1    .   2.0/10   .
44 Rush, Marcus            6    1    7  2.0/4    .   .     .      1    .      .     .
98 White,Anthony Rashad    5    2    7  3.0/7    .   .     .      .    1      .     .
39 Robinson, Trenton       5    1    6     .     .   .     .      .    .      .     .
99 Worthy, Jerel           4    1    5  2.0/2    .   .     .      .    .      .     .
10 Norman, Chris           4    1    5  1.5/7    1   .     .      .    .      .     .
28 Allen, Denicos          2    3    5  1.5/6    .   .     .      .    .   1.0/5    .
31 Dennard, Darqueze       3    1    4     .     .   .    2-38    .    .      .     .
40 Bullough, Max           2    1    3     .     .   .     .      .    .      .     .
52 Drone, Denzel           2    1    3  1.0/4    .   .     .      .    .      .     .
9  Lewis, Isaiah           1    2    3     .     .   .     .      .    .      .     .
5  Adams, Johnny           2    .    2     .     .   .     .      .    .      .     .
23 Jones, Jairus           1    1    2     .     .   .     .      .    .      .     .

Michigan State deserves Top Ten nod after Outback win over Georgia

More on this later.  BUT GREAT BIG GREEN VICTORY!!!!  Michigan State 33, Georgia 30 - in 3 OT!  Said the Doctor - "We've beaten every football team in the Big Ten in the last four years. The standard has been set by our seniors. ... Two 11-win seasons, There's not too many football teams in the country that are saying that right now. I would think that this, hopefully, helps solidify a Top 10 ranking in this year's final polls."

Love the Big Ten and Georgia fans squirming... :)

Here are the stats: notable are that MSU was 6-20 on third downs and UGA was 6-18 on third downs; and, on Red Zone TDs, MSU was 3-5 while UGA was 1-3.  MSU's stout d-line held the Dogs to just 51 yards rushing on 39 carries - just 1.3 yards per attempt. OUCH!

Team Statistics (Final)
                          2011 Michigan State Football
           Michigan State vs Georgia (Jan 02, 2012 at Tampa, Florida)

                                    MSU       GA

FIRST DOWNS...................       15       15
  Rushing.....................        2        4
  Passing.....................       13        9
  Penalty.....................        0        2
NET YARDS RUSHING.............       73       51
  Rushing Attempts............       29       39
  Average Per Rush............      2.5      1.3
  Rushing Touchdowns..........        2        0
  Yards Gained Rushing........       94       98
  Yards Lost Rushing..........       21       47
NET YARDS PASSING.............      318      288
  Completions-Attempts-Int....  28-51-3  20-32-2
  Average Per Attempt.........      6.2      9.0
  Average Per Completion......     11.4     14.4
  Passing Touchdowns..........        1        2
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS...........      391      339
  Total offense plays.........       80       71
  Average Gain Per Play.......      4.9      4.8
Fumbles: Number-Lost..........      0-0      1-1
Penalties: Number-Yards.......     8-50     5-15
PUNTS-YARDS...................    8-401    7-306
  Average Yards Per Punt......     50.1     43.7
  Net Yards Per Punt..........     33.6     43.3
  Inside 20...................        4        2
  50+ Yards...................        3        2
  Touchbacks..................        2        0
  Fair catch..................        1        3
KICKOFFS-YARDS................    6-366    5-294
  Average Yards Per Kickoff...     61.0     58.8
  Net Yards Per Kickoff.......     45.3     40.4
  Touchbacks..................        0        0
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD.    2-3-0   1-92-1
  Average Per Return..........      1.5     92.0
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD   5-92-0   6-94-0
  Average Per Return..........     18.4     15.7
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD..   2-38-1   3-55-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD.    1-6-0    0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards...........        0        0
Possession Time...............    28:26    31:34
  1st Quarter.................     4:28    10:32
  2nd Quarter.................     8:24     6:36
  3rd Quarter.................     7:07     7:53
  4th Quarter.................     8:27     6:33
  OT  Quarter.................     0:00     0:00
Third-Down Conversions........  6 of 20  6 of 18
Fourth-Down Conversions.......   0 of 0   0 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances.......      5-5      2-3
  Touchdowns..................      3-5      1-3
  Field goals.................      2-5      1-3
Sacks By: Number-Yards........     4-16      1-6
PAT Kicks.....................      1-1      2-2
Field Goals...................      2-2      2-4

ES Game Day: OUTBACK BOWL, Michigan State vs Georgia

#12 Michigan State (10-3) vs. #18 Georgia (10-3)
1:00 pm ET. Monday, Jan 2.
Rankings:  MSU #12 (AP), #13 (USA Today), #17 (BCS), #19 (Sagarin). Georgia #18 (USA Today), #18 (AP), #16 (BCS), #18 (Sagarin).

TV:  ABC

Weather: 65 degrees and sunny.

Line:  Georgia favored by 3

Predictions: SportsRatings (lots of stats in this): MSU 19-17; SEC Football Blog - MSU 28-27; MLive - MSU 27-24; Sporting News - MSU; So Fried Sports Blog - UGA 23-17; Sports Rumble Blog - UGA 34-31; CFB Computer Predictions - MSU 26-23;   Athlon Sports - UGA 20-17; DocSports - UGA 24-20;  BetVega - UGA31-24;  ESPN/Bennett - MSU 17-14; ESPN/Rittenberg - MSU 21-20; ESPN/Aschoff - UGA 27-24; ESPN/Low - UGA 30-21; CBSSports.com - MSU;  NBCSports/Tamahana - UGA 26-20; Rivals/Yahoo - UGA 24-17; CFN/Scout - MSU 27-24; Front Office Blogs - UGA 24-21; Dubsism Blog - MSU

Key Stat: The Spartan defense will be sturdy and consistent, as it has all year long.  Michigan State's offensive success will be the story of the game. The Spartans will score TDs in the Red Zone, and demonstrate a balanced offense, with more than 200 yards passing from Kirk Cousins and over 120 yards rushing as a team. And, expect Dantonio to once again pull a rabbit out of his hat with a trick play or three...

ES pick:  MSU 24, Georgia 17.

Basketball on grass SUCKS

Anyone watch that disaster of an Alamo Bowl last night?  Seemed like anytime either team (Baylor or Washington) touched the ball, they were going to score.  The 67-56 final score was NOT an overtime game, and the teams combined for over 1,400 total yards. It was absurd -- the defense was the WORST of any game the ES has ever seen.  Receivers wide open on both sides of the ball every single play, missed tackles (that #8 on Baylor defense is horrid) every play... the defensive line of Washington was embarrassing, not sure how many runs of 50+ yards Baylor had (440+ total yards rushing).   If it wasn't so terrible, it was hilarious.  Basketball on grass sucks.  That dude from Washington threw 5 TDs and ran for 2 more (that's 49 points)... and the Huskies still lost.   No defense = A terrible game to watch.

Spartans and Dogs: Red Zone TDs and Third Downs

ES keeps thinking of two stats:  red zone and third downs.  Let's compare these stats of UGA and MSU in their three losses, and the last five games. 

	MSU	UGA
LOSSES
Third down off	15-44 (34%)	14-46 (30%)
Third down def	18-41 (44%)	9-35 (26%)
Red zone scoring off	4-11 (36%)	4-7 (57%)
Red zone scoring def	9-10 (90%)	10-11 (91%)
LAST FIVE
Third down off	29-67 (43%)	38-75 (51%)
Third down def	28-77 (36%)	23-68 (34%)
Red zone scoring TD off	13-20 (65%)	15-19 (79%)
Red zone scoring TD def	12-20 (60%)	8-11 (73%)

What is notable here is third down defense in the three losses, and red zone scoring defense in the three losses.   In its three losses, Georgia's defense remained admirable in stopping opponents on third downs - just 9 out of 35 attempts (26%).  However, in Michigan State's three losses, its defense allowed 18 third downs on 41 attempts (44%).  And, both teams red zone defense was horrific in losses.  Both Georgia and Michigan State gave up touchdowns 90% or more of the time that opponents were inside their 20 yard line.  

What the ES finds is that the Spartan defense is vulnerable on third downs when they lose... and both teams easily give up TDs in the red zone when they lose.  Stopping third downs and stopping red zone TDs are critical to success.  Georgia's defense seems to have the advantage on third downs.

But, what do the last five games mean?  The ES uses this as a barometer of how the teams fared going into bowl season.  When you look at the Sagarin ratings of the opponents in each of the final five games, the average rating is roughly equal (MSU 67.6, Georgia 63.2). Look below:

MSU (average opponent rating = 67.6)	UGA (average opponent rating = 63.2)
Wisconsin (8). Loss. Neutral.	LSU (1). Loss.  Neutral.
Northwestern (62). Win. Away.	Georgia Tech (50). Win. Home.
Indiana (138). Win. Home.	Kentucky (87). Win. Home.
Iowa (41). Win. Away.	Auburn (45). Win. Home.
Minnesota (89). Win. Home.	New Mexico State (133). Win. Home.

Again, while UGA has marginally better stats in its last five games, four were played at home - while MSU had to earn two wins on the road at locations they have lost frequently in the past several seasons (Iowa and Northwestern).  UGA was humiliated in its championship game loss to the nation's best team, LSU.  In the Big Ten championship, Michigan State outplayed Wisconsin, except for the final two minutes, and lost a heartbreaker. Both teams struggled at home against opponents they should have whipped easily (Minnesota, Kentucky); both teams had a shit-kicking win at home (Indiana, NMSU); both teams had a surprisingly dominating victory (Iowa, Auburn).

The ES sees Michigan State's defense as standing up a bit better than Georgia under road conditions, but both teams are about equal statistically. 

LIVE CHAT: Michigan State hosts Indiana in Men's Basketball

Hut, hut, Merry Christmas...

Love the "ready, Merry Christmas on three... hut, hut, MERRY CHRISTMAS." LOL.  Kirk Cousins rocks.

http://www.msuspartans.com/allaccess/?media=289627

OUTBACK hype: Spartan vs Bulldogs, will it be third down conversions?

OK, the ES returns from his Holiday absence and is back for the attack, with the hype for what should be a GREAT game in the Michigan State vs Georgia Outback Bowl.  First off, the ES is NOT upset at the Big Green getting a fourth-tiered bowl game instead of a top-tiered BCS game.  Mind you, scUM is completely undeserving of such an accomplishment to give them a nod to the Sugar Bowl, considering how well and consistent the Spartans have played all year, including a 2-TD thumping of the roadkill earlier this year (Why not pick MSU vs Michigan? The Spartan Nation would have sold that out in an instant… but why watch the Spartans break Robinson and scUM’s bones again?).  That said, MSU had all the cards in their hands, and had a chance to win to go to Pasadena… at least we could play for it Spartan fans, we never had that chance in previous years.   Yes, baby steps suck. 

But, this is a BIG baby step. The Spartans need to use their heartbreaking loss to Wisky in the Big Ten title game and feast on Georgia in the Outback Bowl.  Defeating an SEC team on January 2 will be a big deal, especially the Dogs.

The ES pulled out his Phil Steele 2011 preview and first looked that bowl predictions:  Steele predicted a Spartan trip to the Gator Bowl and a Georgia trip to the Cap One bowl. Give Steele credit there, pretty close.   Steele also predicted Georgia to win the SEC East, and for the Spartans to tie Nebraska and win the B1G Legends.  So, Steele’s predictions come true, or at least within the ballpark.

About the Outback Bowl:  both teams come in with great defenses.  

	MSU	UGA
Rush def	104 ypg (#12)	103 ypg (#9)
Pass def	168 ypg (#12)	165 ypg (#8)
Total def	273 ypg (#5)	268 ypg (#3)
Scoring def	18 ppg (#9)	20 ppg (#17)
3rd down conv def	34%	29%
Rush off	143 ypg (#76)	173 ypg (#40)
Pass off	248 ypg (#45)	241 ypg (#50)
Total off	391 ypg (#61)	414 ypg (#39)
Scoring off	31 ppg (#38)	32 ppg (#33)
3rd own conv off	40%	44%
Turnover difference	+ 0.54 (#23)	+0.54 (#23)

What is the biggest difference in the stats?  Third downs – UGA held its opponents to a lower percentage on third down conversions (29%) than did Michigan State (34%).  And, at 40%, the Spartan offense has been good on third downs, but far from the MOST efficient third down offense in the nation…  This is a concern for MSU, for its defense to be able to rise and make the plays in the most difficult situations – something it failed to accomplish late in the two games against Wisconsin….

That said, the ES is getting jacked for the Outback.  I’ll watch at the Peanut Barrell.  Check out the polls at the right… There will be more to come throughout the week.  But, this is a first start – GO GREEN!