I would not be too excited about this game if I were an ODU backer. The books know that ESPN and FoxSports have tabbed this one as a possible upset and have more than likely put this into the line. Michigan State does have a tendency to choke in close games, but this one will not be close. The disparity in talent is large in this game. MSU already has 20 double digit wins this season and will get another one here.
This in-depth analysis of Mich State was provided to me from one of their fans...
I believe ODU matches up well against this team and I will come back with my own ODU analysis later...
Starting 5
Drew Neitzel -- pg -- Freshman who was inserted into the starting line up midway through conference play. Learning how to pass and run the break and really improving lately. Still makes freshman mistakes and is hessitate to shoot, although he will make them if left open
Maurice Ager -- sg -- Junior who can absolutly light it up. Our best player (my opinion) who can slash and shoot the three. Runs the break real well and knows how to finish. His defense is suspect though. Will make free throughs as well. Look for Ager to slap the floor 42 times and than give up a layup
Shannon Brown -- sg -- Sophmore who runs like Ager. Also excellent running the break (like our whole team). Loses his shot and goes cold for long stretches but can instantly catch fire. Great slasher and passer who will cause matchup problems for any team
Alan Anderson -- pf -- Senior versitile player who plays 4 positions. Team leader on the floor who plays great defense for an undersized player. Excellent passer and can shoot from anywhere on the floor. Has a tendency to miss foul shots at end of games.
Paul Davis -- c -- Junior big man who can score and pass. excellent decisioin maker and preaty good defender. dubbed a little "soft" by many people but can take over a game if they feed him the ball. Can shot both inside and outside. Hard man to defend
Bench
Chris Hill -- g -- Senior who can light it up from outside. Good defender with excellent shot. Runs the point real well and doesn't turn the ball over very much. Don't leave him open, or you will pay. Started for a long time before giving way to Neitzel.
Kelvin Torbert - g -- Senior who can defend and shoot, Excellent player as well. Our bench is on of the best in the nation. He can run like all the other spartans. Great shut down defender as well
Tim Bograkos -- g -- Senior who can defend. Can't shoot.
Matt Trannon -- f -- Junior football player with great heart and toughness. Rebounds extremely well and plays above average D
Delco Rowley -- c -- Sophmore when he is in the game go right at him. He sucks
Drew Naymick -- c -- Freshman big man who is improving rapidly. Can block some shots
Here's some quich thoughts about ODU....
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=postbody vAlign=top><HR>A few things in this matchup that ODU does have going for it that MSU fans may not be aware of:
ODU, when healthy, does play 11 players, bringing 2 guards, one swingman, two forwards, and a center off of the bench. That is depth and it is depth at all positions. ODU should be less susceptible to being worn down than the typical MSU opponent.
ODU does not turn the ball over frequently at all. They rank in the top-25 nationally in protecting the basketball and, as already documented, start a PG in Drew Williamson who leads the nation in AST/TO and just completed the conference tournament without a turnover.
ODU tends to be a very disciplined team that does a good job running its offense and does not take many bad shots. This, combined with an ability to protect the basketball, should help slow down MSU's running game somewhat. It's harder to run without the other team helping out with turnovers and/or rushed shots.
ODU does not shoot an impressive percentage as a team from three point range, but nearly the entire team must be respected because they can knock the shot down. All of ODU's top nine players have shown themselves to be decent three point shooters at worst.
ODU knows how to win. ODU does not own an impressive top-50 win, but they have won many, many games against the next lower tier of teams, including victories on the road and at neutral sites. As an example, ODU played three conference USA teams on the road and defeated two of them, TCU and ECU. At home this year TCU beat Texas Tech and UAB. ECU beat Charlotte and lost a very close game to Cincinnati. ODU has shown an ability to win in situations where other NCAA teams have struggled.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
I believe ODU matches up well against this team and I will come back with my own ODU analysis later...
Starting 5
Drew Neitzel -- pg -- Freshman who was inserted into the starting line up midway through conference play. Learning how to pass and run the break and really improving lately. Still makes freshman mistakes and is hessitate to shoot, although he will make them if left open
Maurice Ager -- sg -- Junior who can absolutly light it up. Our best player (my opinion) who can slash and shoot the three. Runs the break real well and knows how to finish. His defense is suspect though. Will make free throughs as well. Look for Ager to slap the floor 42 times and than give up a layup
Shannon Brown -- sg -- Sophmore who runs like Ager. Also excellent running the break (like our whole team). Loses his shot and goes cold for long stretches but can instantly catch fire. Great slasher and passer who will cause matchup problems for any team
Alan Anderson -- pf -- Senior versitile player who plays 4 positions. Team leader on the floor who plays great defense for an undersized player. Excellent passer and can shoot from anywhere on the floor. Has a tendency to miss foul shots at end of games.
Paul Davis -- c -- Junior big man who can score and pass. excellent decisioin maker and preaty good defender. dubbed a little "soft" by many people but can take over a game if they feed him the ball. Can shot both inside and outside. Hard man to defend
Bench
Chris Hill -- g -- Senior who can light it up from outside. Good defender with excellent shot. Runs the point real well and doesn't turn the ball over very much. Don't leave him open, or you will pay. Started for a long time before giving way to Neitzel.
Kelvin Torbert - g -- Senior who can defend and shoot, Excellent player as well. Our bench is on of the best in the nation. He can run like all the other spartans. Great shut down defender as well
Tim Bograkos -- g -- Senior who can defend. Can't shoot.
Matt Trannon -- f -- Junior football player with great heart and toughness. Rebounds extremely well and plays above average D
Delco Rowley -- c -- Sophmore when he is in the game go right at him. He sucks
Drew Naymick -- c -- Freshman big man who is improving rapidly. Can block some shots
Here's some quich thoughts about ODU....
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=postbody vAlign=top><HR>A few things in this matchup that ODU does have going for it that MSU fans may not be aware of:
ODU, when healthy, does play 11 players, bringing 2 guards, one swingman, two forwards, and a center off of the bench. That is depth and it is depth at all positions. ODU should be less susceptible to being worn down than the typical MSU opponent.
ODU does not turn the ball over frequently at all. They rank in the top-25 nationally in protecting the basketball and, as already documented, start a PG in Drew Williamson who leads the nation in AST/TO and just completed the conference tournament without a turnover.
ODU tends to be a very disciplined team that does a good job running its offense and does not take many bad shots. This, combined with an ability to protect the basketball, should help slow down MSU's running game somewhat. It's harder to run without the other team helping out with turnovers and/or rushed shots.
ODU does not shoot an impressive percentage as a team from three point range, but nearly the entire team must be respected because they can knock the shot down. All of ODU's top nine players have shown themselves to be decent three point shooters at worst.
ODU knows how to win. ODU does not own an impressive top-50 win, but they have won many, many games against the next lower tier of teams, including victories on the road and at neutral sites. As an example, ODU played three conference USA teams on the road and defeated two of them, TCU and ECU. At home this year TCU beat Texas Tech and UAB. ECU beat Charlotte and lost a very close game to Cincinnati. ODU has shown an ability to win in situations where other NCAA teams have struggled.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Chris & others,
The fate of ODU rests largely on one of their unsung BIG MEN, ARNOLD DAHI, who dislocated his shoulder in the FINAL of the CAA Championship, which ODU managed to WIN without him...
This guy is UNDERRATED, VERY ATHLETIC, from the BARBORY COAST of all places and can match up with the best of them. He is my favorite player on this team and IF he can get healthy, watch out! He has singlehandly won 3 games for ODU down the stretch when the game was on the line...He is a leaper and great defender and can also shoot the 3...
And please don't tell me their STAR, ALEX LOUGHTON from AUSTRALIA, MVP of the LEAGUE & MVP of the CAA TOURNEY can't give teams fits because he can...
P.S.
SYRACUSE has been inconsistent at times and they better be careful with their first round match up, VERMONT, which is anything but a lock...
THE SHRINK
The fate of ODU rests largely on one of their unsung BIG MEN, ARNOLD DAHI, who dislocated his shoulder in the FINAL of the CAA Championship, which ODU managed to WIN without him...
This guy is UNDERRATED, VERY ATHLETIC, from the BARBORY COAST of all places and can match up with the best of them. He is my favorite player on this team and IF he can get healthy, watch out! He has singlehandly won 3 games for ODU down the stretch when the game was on the line...He is a leaper and great defender and can also shoot the 3...
And please don't tell me their STAR, ALEX LOUGHTON from AUSTRALIA, MVP of the LEAGUE & MVP of the CAA TOURNEY can't give teams fits because he can...
P.S.
SYRACUSE has been inconsistent at times and they better be careful with their first round match up, VERMONT, which is anything but a lock...
THE SHRINK
need to be able to hit some 3's on Syracuse to loosen up the zone a bit. Shrink said ODU is not that great there.
If you don't make them come out, Syracuse will pack that zone in and take away the inside stuff. Well coached team too. Big East is super tough and Syracuse is playing well. I think ODu got a good first round match-up but not the second.
ODU fans need to pull for Vermont big time. Vermont can be had.
If you don't make them come out, Syracuse will pack that zone in and take away the inside stuff. Well coached team too. Big East is super tough and Syracuse is playing well. I think ODu got a good first round match-up but not the second.
ODU fans need to pull for Vermont big time. Vermont can be had.
