WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.359
<v Speaker 1>Tom izz ostein one of the best team in the country.

2
00:00:02.399 --> 00:00:04.639
<v Speaker 1>In the latest AP Top twenty five pool, they are

3
00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:08.519
<v Speaker 1>now ranked twelve in the nation. Matt Stegana sees that

4
00:00:08.679 --> 00:00:11.119
<v Speaker 1>day in and d out, day out. He's at practice,

5
00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:13.160
<v Speaker 1>he's calling every game. He does a hell of a

6
00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:17.199
<v Speaker 1>job on the Spartan Basketball on Network. The former Mister Basketball,

7
00:00:17.239 --> 00:00:20.000
<v Speaker 1>the former Spartan starter of three years, and the former

8
00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:22.760
<v Speaker 1>McDonald's All American joins us here on exis and bros.

9
00:00:22.839 --> 00:00:25.679
<v Speaker 1>How you doing, Matt, Hey, I'm doing great, Chep, how

10
00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:27.879
<v Speaker 1>are you hey? It's great to talk to you. All

11
00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:29.600
<v Speaker 1>the best to you and your family. What's been the

12
00:00:29.640 --> 00:00:33.679
<v Speaker 1>biggest difference between Michigan State this year and MSU last year?

13
00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:34.119
<v Speaker 1>Do you think?

14
00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:38.000
<v Speaker 2>Well, we had a lot of turnover, and I think

15
00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:41.119
<v Speaker 2>the number one key to it has been Jeremy Fears

16
00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:43.840
<v Speaker 2>at the point guard. I mean, it's pretty basic tom

17
00:00:43.880 --> 00:00:46.759
<v Speaker 2>Izzo basketball. We always seem to have really good point

18
00:00:46.759 --> 00:00:50.000
<v Speaker 2>guards and when they're a bit like him, we do

19
00:00:50.119 --> 00:00:52.880
<v Speaker 2>really well. And Jeremy Fears is just a tough, up

20
00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:57.159
<v Speaker 2>nosed kid and he's playing some great basketball, I mean

21
00:00:57.240 --> 00:01:01.119
<v Speaker 2>just defensively, offensively, he is in at the difference maker

22
00:01:01.159 --> 00:01:03.359
<v Speaker 2>and the way he's pushing the ball in transition. It's

23
00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:05.959
<v Speaker 2>kind of back the old time. Is a basics, it's

24
00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:06.879
<v Speaker 2>just fun to watch.

25
00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:10.719
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, how important do you think that that is overall?

26
00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:14.200
<v Speaker 1>And how tough is that to identify whether the player

27
00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:16.719
<v Speaker 1>plays like that? Like I said that earlier this year

28
00:01:16.760 --> 00:01:19.359
<v Speaker 1>when we were talking about your team, I had mentioned

29
00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:22.120
<v Speaker 1>him and I had talked about his ability to push.

30
00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:24.480
<v Speaker 1>Now I can bring up Eric Snow in the past

31
00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:28.799
<v Speaker 1>and certain players who I appreciated doing just that doesn't

32
00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:30.719
<v Speaker 1>mean you have to be that type of player to

33
00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:32.760
<v Speaker 1>be an effective point guard. I don't think you know,

34
00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:35.640
<v Speaker 1>Cashius Winston pushed it in a different way. But how

35
00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:37.920
<v Speaker 1>important do you think that is for his offense and

36
00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:42.680
<v Speaker 1>how do you as a player recognize that that specific

37
00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:44.200
<v Speaker 1>player has that in him.

38
00:01:44.920 --> 00:01:48.959
<v Speaker 2>Well, I think with Jeremy he's a pass first point guard,

39
00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:51.400
<v Speaker 2>you know, and he's learning to get better finishing at

40
00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:53.359
<v Speaker 2>the rim. But right now, if you're a player running

41
00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:55.239
<v Speaker 2>the wing, you're going to run to get open. You're

42
00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:57.319
<v Speaker 2>going to run to that three point line find a spot,

43
00:01:57.480 --> 00:01:59.519
<v Speaker 2>or if he goes to the rim, you're going to

44
00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:02.599
<v Speaker 2>make sure he sees you. And it's just the luxury

45
00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:04.120
<v Speaker 2>of the player. I mean I was a wing player.

46
00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:07.200
<v Speaker 2>I remember when Magic Johnson would come back and play

47
00:02:07.239 --> 00:02:09.280
<v Speaker 2>with us, and if I did have my eyes on Magic,

48
00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:10.800
<v Speaker 2>the ball would hit me in the side of the

49
00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:12.199
<v Speaker 2>head or on the back of the head. You know,

50
00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:16.759
<v Speaker 2>is that he Jeremy's that kind of passer, and you know,

51
00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:21.039
<v Speaker 2>it's a huge luxury. And what is really great about

52
00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:25.599
<v Speaker 2>him though, is when players don't respond or don't do

53
00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:28.919
<v Speaker 2>what he wants, He's in their face. He's the director,

54
00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:31.919
<v Speaker 2>he's the floor general, and he really exudes that. He

55
00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:34.199
<v Speaker 2>doesn't do it with us by the way he plays well.

56
00:02:34.199 --> 00:02:37.080
<v Speaker 2>He does, but he doesn't both vocally and with his player.

57
00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:41.120
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, Matt Staging of the outstanding MSU radio analyst johnn

58
00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:43.560
<v Speaker 1>is here on Exies and Bros. As the Spartans get

59
00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:47.120
<v Speaker 1>ready to take on Penn State tonight, Michigan State, right

60
00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:50.199
<v Speaker 1>or wrong? I think we oftentimes label players and we

61
00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:54.280
<v Speaker 1>label teams. We label programs at the collegiate level. Viewed

62
00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:57.280
<v Speaker 1>as a defensive minded team scoring at eighty one points

63
00:02:57.280 --> 00:03:00.759
<v Speaker 1>per game, third best defense in the Big Ten, how

64
00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:02.680
<v Speaker 1>would you describe this team overall?

65
00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:08.000
<v Speaker 2>You know, it's a team of nine to ten starters.

66
00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:13.159
<v Speaker 2>Everybody's buying into the call it. You know, this theory,

67
00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:17.240
<v Speaker 2>this this game plan, and with them many guys in

68
00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:20.439
<v Speaker 2>the playing rotation, you can't take a day off. I mean,

69
00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:23.120
<v Speaker 2>practice is a battle. It's just like a game, and

70
00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:26.280
<v Speaker 2>that translates to playing every day. We've had really kind

71
00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:29.159
<v Speaker 2>of one letdown. We've got well, and I think at

72
00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:31.039
<v Speaker 2>the beginning of the season we were learning how to play.

73
00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:33.360
<v Speaker 2>I mean, we were very competitive in that Kansas game,

74
00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:36.159
<v Speaker 2>not knowing how good we were, but maybe the Western

75
00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:38.280
<v Speaker 2>Michigan game we kind of took our foot off the

76
00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:41.280
<v Speaker 2>gas a little bit. But I think there's a great

77
00:03:41.360 --> 00:03:45.080
<v Speaker 2>learning lesson for this team. Now these are kids again,

78
00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:48.919
<v Speaker 2>and it'll probably happen again, but right now there's no letup,

79
00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:51.919
<v Speaker 2>and I think that's what this makes this team special.

80
00:03:52.439 --> 00:03:55.719
<v Speaker 1>When you're in film sessions and watching this when did

81
00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:58.400
<v Speaker 1>when did it click for you? When did you recognize

82
00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:00.680
<v Speaker 1>Like people talked about the North Carolina a game, Matt,

83
00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:04.879
<v Speaker 1>I thought, Michigan State has been playing sound basketball for

84
00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:07.520
<v Speaker 1>the most part. It's hard to put together a perfect game,

85
00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:11.159
<v Speaker 1>but sound basketball really all year long. Maybe one kickup,

86
00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:13.479
<v Speaker 1>when did it click for you and you recognize you

87
00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:15.560
<v Speaker 1>know what, this team's this team's pretty freaking good.

88
00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:19.839
<v Speaker 2>You know. I hate to admit that it was the

89
00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:23.639
<v Speaker 2>North Carolina game, but in retrospect, you go back maybe

90
00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:27.560
<v Speaker 2>a two games before when we played Colorado and Maui.

91
00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:30.120
<v Speaker 2>We were worried about that game. It just seemed like

92
00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:32.839
<v Speaker 2>a bad matchup, and yet we handled it with ease

93
00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:36.519
<v Speaker 2>and blew them out really and that was kind of

94
00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:39.160
<v Speaker 2>the beginning of Wow, Okay, maybe this team has something.

95
00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:42.560
<v Speaker 2>Then we fell flat against Memphis and they threw out

96
00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:47.000
<v Speaker 2>an athletic defense that we just kind of panicked, and

97
00:04:47.399 --> 00:04:49.800
<v Speaker 2>that was other than the Western game. That, you know,

98
00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:53.040
<v Speaker 2>bad performance. But then to turn it around and you know,

99
00:04:53.160 --> 00:04:55.399
<v Speaker 2>you know, it's like in Maui. It's it's three games

100
00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:57.279
<v Speaker 2>in three days. You don't have time to think about

101
00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:00.680
<v Speaker 2>it too much. But so many players spent extra time

102
00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:03.519
<v Speaker 2>with the coaches. When I came out of my hotel

103
00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:05.519
<v Speaker 2>room and I took my family there, I didn't have

104
00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:07.680
<v Speaker 2>a lot of time to spend with a team, but

105
00:05:07.720 --> 00:05:10.240
<v Speaker 2>I would see these one on ones with the coaches

106
00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:12.920
<v Speaker 2>watching on their laptop, and they were doing the work

107
00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:15.560
<v Speaker 2>and they were getting it done. And that performance later

108
00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:19.639
<v Speaker 2>that night against Carolina was spectacular even though Carolina is

109
00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:22.319
<v Speaker 2>showing you know, in December, maybe they weren't that good

110
00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:24.879
<v Speaker 2>and now they're starting to win again. And it was

111
00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:26.000
<v Speaker 2>that performance.

112
00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:29.439
<v Speaker 1>See see, I'm with you. It was the Colorado game

113
00:05:29.480 --> 00:05:32.480
<v Speaker 1>for me, and not that I'm some expert on the

114
00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:35.959
<v Speaker 1>Buffaloes basketball program. But you knew they had length, right,

115
00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:38.800
<v Speaker 1>you knew they had size. I thought that was the

116
00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:41.160
<v Speaker 1>difference when people look at North Carolina. I get it

117
00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:44.480
<v Speaker 1>because of who North Carolina is supposed to be and

118
00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:46.920
<v Speaker 1>who they have always been. But I thought from a

119
00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:50.720
<v Speaker 1>matchup standpoint, the Colorado game was really impressive. And now

120
00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:54.399
<v Speaker 1>on this nine game role, are you of the belief

121
00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:56.720
<v Speaker 1>And we were talking about this earlier in the show.

122
00:05:57.000 --> 00:05:59.639
<v Speaker 1>When it comes down to football, some people believe, oh,

123
00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:01.920
<v Speaker 1>this is it's the perfect time to lose, because once

124
00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:03.839
<v Speaker 1>you get in a role, eventually it's going to end.

125
00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:06.000
<v Speaker 1>I've never been that type of person to believe that,

126
00:06:06.519 --> 00:06:10.199
<v Speaker 1>but I do understand you can learn from losing Red Wings.

127
00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:13.360
<v Speaker 1>Last night, Todd McClelland basically talked about how his guys

128
00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:15.120
<v Speaker 1>weren't even playing great at the end of a blowout

129
00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:17.959
<v Speaker 1>went over Seattle, but it came to roost last night.

130
00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:23.879
<v Speaker 1>How do you feel about winning streaks and where they

131
00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:26.920
<v Speaker 1>come during the season. What's your philosophy on that and

132
00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:29.879
<v Speaker 1>should you even mention it or worry about it.

133
00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:34.319
<v Speaker 2>I'm with you. I don't buy into it. I think

134
00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:37.040
<v Speaker 2>with every game, no one can play a perfect no

135
00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:38.759
<v Speaker 2>team can play a perfect game, and so you can

136
00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:41.839
<v Speaker 2>always find things to improve on no matter what. And

137
00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:45.879
<v Speaker 2>that's my philosophy. But I don't think your team's going

138
00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:48.240
<v Speaker 2>to run the table, not in this league anyway. It's

139
00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:52.040
<v Speaker 2>such a gaulllet But yeah, I'm with you. And by

140
00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:56.600
<v Speaker 2>the way, going back to the Colorado game, Yukam played

141
00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:58.480
<v Speaker 2>the game right in front of us and we all

142
00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:04.000
<v Speaker 2>witnessed that that Danny Hurley meld down. So yeah, I

143
00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:06.079
<v Speaker 2>think we kind of learned, like, Okay, we better pay

144
00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:08.720
<v Speaker 2>attention here because anybody in this tournament, that Maui tournament

145
00:07:08.759 --> 00:07:11.319
<v Speaker 2>can beat anybody, and we did not take color moddo whitey.

146
00:07:11.879 --> 00:07:15.439
<v Speaker 1>I was excited before the season began about Michigan State

147
00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:18.439
<v Speaker 1>basketball because I truly felt like this team would play

148
00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:22.920
<v Speaker 1>the way we're used to seeing them play, and that

149
00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:26.240
<v Speaker 1>is and maybe it's unfair, and I'll be willing to

150
00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:32.120
<v Speaker 1>accept it. Defense and rebounding, and right now Michigan State

151
00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:34.680
<v Speaker 1>is I look at field goal percentage against. I don't

152
00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:37.560
<v Speaker 1>look at necessarily points per game against, number two in

153
00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:41.000
<v Speaker 1>the conference in that regard. Am I wrong there? And

154
00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:44.839
<v Speaker 1>is it an unfair label to say that's who you

155
00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:48.480
<v Speaker 1>and your teammates in Michigan State have always been first,

156
00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:53.920
<v Speaker 1>physical defense and rebounding. Shooting comes a little bit later.

157
00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:56.720
<v Speaker 2>You know. I don't think we were physical the last

158
00:07:56.800 --> 00:07:59.680
<v Speaker 2>couple of years. And that's the difference with this team.

159
00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:04.000
<v Speaker 2>And Chris Collins talked about it postgame after on Sunday

160
00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:07.399
<v Speaker 2>at Northwestern, So yeah, this team is different. Jackson cohle Er,

161
00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:10.399
<v Speaker 2>it's playing with something to prove. Hasn't played a lot

162
00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:12.800
<v Speaker 2>the last two years, and I don't think he wants

163
00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:14.839
<v Speaker 2>to give up that starting role. And then guys come

164
00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.920
<v Speaker 2>in waves and just get it done, and that's I

165
00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:21.000
<v Speaker 2>think that's a luxury. There's no star on this team.

166
00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:24.079
<v Speaker 2>Jay Nakens is emerging. But when the season started I

167
00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:27.240
<v Speaker 2>thought that was a problem. Clearly it's not. It shows

168
00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:28.680
<v Speaker 2>you how wrong we are at to beginning of the season,

169
00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:30.680
<v Speaker 2>and I thought this team was going to go as

170
00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:33.480
<v Speaker 2>far as Xavier Booker would take it now again that's

171
00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:37.840
<v Speaker 2>proven to be wrong. However, if Xavier Booker plays great

172
00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:41.320
<v Speaker 2>and he's shown the flashes, this team could be that

173
00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:42.159
<v Speaker 2>much more special.

174
00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:45.200
<v Speaker 1>Can I ask you about a guy who probably doesn't

175
00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:48.399
<v Speaker 1>get nearly enough credit. And maybe I'm nitpicking here, but

176
00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:51.360
<v Speaker 1>I really like Jace Richardson. Can you tell me what

177
00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:53.840
<v Speaker 1>you like most about him and where you see him

178
00:08:53.879 --> 00:08:55.720
<v Speaker 1>being an integral part with this team, not just this

179
00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:56.840
<v Speaker 1>year but moving forward.

180
00:08:57.399 --> 00:08:59.679
<v Speaker 2>Well, you look at his shooting percentages. I mean, he

181
00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:02.320
<v Speaker 2>is the perfect guy to bring off the bench. Right now,

182
00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:05.120
<v Speaker 2>he's shooting over sixty percent from the field, near fifty

183
00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:08.480
<v Speaker 2>from three, and he's probably one of only two guys

184
00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:10.840
<v Speaker 2>that can get his own shot. And so you need

185
00:09:10.919 --> 00:09:13.159
<v Speaker 2>someone like that. And while we haven't had a lot

186
00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:16.600
<v Speaker 2>of close games to you know, to watch him do it,

187
00:09:17.399 --> 00:09:20.039
<v Speaker 2>either he or Jay Nakens will and have to be

188
00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:22.639
<v Speaker 2>that guy. So that's what he brings. I mean, he's

189
00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:25.120
<v Speaker 2>I mean you could argue you're starting to hear maybe

190
00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:27.360
<v Speaker 2>the hype about him getting drafted next year. I mean

191
00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:28.200
<v Speaker 2>that good.

192
00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:32.759
<v Speaker 1>It's interesting you bring that up with close games. I'm

193
00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:34.519
<v Speaker 1>sure as a player you wanted to beat the crap

194
00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:37.679
<v Speaker 1>out of everybody, and I get it as an analyst, Now,

195
00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:40.360
<v Speaker 1>how important do you think it is that a team

196
00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:43.600
<v Speaker 1>play in close games? Because you know, damn well, when

197
00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:46.320
<v Speaker 1>you're in the NCAA tournament, that's bound to happen.

198
00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:49.679
<v Speaker 2>Well, it's going to happen. So I'm not really worried

199
00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:53.320
<v Speaker 2>about it. As a broadcaster, I like close games. They're

200
00:09:53.320 --> 00:09:55.360
<v Speaker 2>a lot more fun to call. All these blows out

201
00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:59.480
<v Speaker 2>wins are the worst, so although you'll take them every time,

202
00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:04.159
<v Speaker 2>but but it'll happen. It has to, and you know

203
00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:07.000
<v Speaker 2>we've we've got some tough games. I mean, tonight's not

204
00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:09.200
<v Speaker 2>going to be a night off. It could never handy.

205
00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:11.120
<v Speaker 2>Anytime you let up, you're going to get beat. But

206
00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:14.039
<v Speaker 2>you know we're we're going to start Daniel February is

207
00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:15.519
<v Speaker 2>going to be a challenge, and then it'll happen.

208
00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:19.039
<v Speaker 1>Matt Stagan joining us here on Exus and Bros. The

209
00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:21.960
<v Speaker 1>former McDonald's All America, the former Michigan State three year

210
00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:24.320
<v Speaker 1>starter and the former second round pick of the Chicago

211
00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:27.519
<v Speaker 1>Bills Bulls Rather and now the outstanding color analysts from

212
00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:30.279
<v Speaker 1>Michigan State Radio Network as they get ready to take

213
00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:32.720
<v Speaker 1>on Penn State. Just a couple more for you the

214
00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:35.320
<v Speaker 1>Big Ten as a whole. You know, everybody's looking at

215
00:10:35.320 --> 00:10:37.679
<v Speaker 1>Tennessee and Auburn and Duke, and I get it to

216
00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:40.480
<v Speaker 1>a certain extent, and I feel like the Big Ten

217
00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:42.799
<v Speaker 1>is just kind of waiting in the weeds with some

218
00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:46.639
<v Speaker 1>good teams here. How do you handicap the conference overall?

219
00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:51.039
<v Speaker 1>And do you think nationally it is getting overlooked?

220
00:10:52.200 --> 00:10:54.919
<v Speaker 2>You know, I turned on Sports Center this morning and

221
00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:57.919
<v Speaker 2>all they talk about is the SEC. And I mean,

222
00:10:58.039 --> 00:11:01.840
<v Speaker 2>maybe granted, obviously, you know, all those teams are ranked high,

223
00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:05.519
<v Speaker 2>and ESPN has a huge vested interest in the SEC.

224
00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:08.480
<v Speaker 2>But yeah, starting to really kind of piss me off.

225
00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:12.840
<v Speaker 2>And I really think we are getting overlooked, you know,

226
00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:15.720
<v Speaker 2>big time. But you know, until we start beating some

227
00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:18.519
<v Speaker 2>of those teams and I have to go back and

228
00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:20.320
<v Speaker 2>you know, we've had close games with a lot of them.

229
00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:22.919
<v Speaker 2>I think, you know, Illinois was it with Tennessee, And

230
00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:25.519
<v Speaker 2>you know, there's isn't any real marquee wins that I

231
00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:27.480
<v Speaker 2>come to mind, but you know, it's the way it

232
00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:30.039
<v Speaker 2>might be the rest of the rest of the way. Hopefully,

233
00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:33.080
<v Speaker 2>you know, we're approaching the top ten, you know, Michigan

234
00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:35.919
<v Speaker 2>start to move up as well, and it'd be nice

235
00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:37.879
<v Speaker 2>to get you know, purdueing Illinois back in there and

236
00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:38.840
<v Speaker 2>we'll see what happens.

237
00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:43.159
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it's seventeen right now, Illinois at nineteen, and as

238
00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:46.799
<v Speaker 1>you mentioned, Michigan at twenty, Wisconsin actually at twenty four.

239
00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:49.039
<v Speaker 1>I'm still getting used to the teams from out west

240
00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:52.600
<v Speaker 1>UCLA who dropped out USC and things of that nature.

241
00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:55.399
<v Speaker 1>One more for you before we let you go. Penn

242
00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:58.960
<v Speaker 1>State tonight. As you mentioned, and you know this better

243
00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:02.600
<v Speaker 1>than anybody, that you don't take teams lightly. I never

244
00:12:02.679 --> 00:12:06.360
<v Speaker 1>think Michigan State teams if they lose, I never say

245
00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:08.759
<v Speaker 1>it's because they took them lightly. I think that's a

246
00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:12.639
<v Speaker 1>casual cliche that we oftentimes you use in sports talk

247
00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:15.919
<v Speaker 1>radio and on TV that I don't think that happens.

248
00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:18.960
<v Speaker 1>I think they're ready. Sometimes you just have off nights

249
00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:21.519
<v Speaker 1>for crying out loud, it's bound to happen. What does

250
00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:24.679
<v Speaker 1>Penn State? What about Penn State can concern you? And

251
00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:27.120
<v Speaker 1>what will be most important for m issue to extend

252
00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:28.759
<v Speaker 1>the winning streak to double digits tonight?

253
00:12:29.559 --> 00:12:32.799
<v Speaker 2>Well, Penn State's best player, Ace Baldwin, didn't play in

254
00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:35.559
<v Speaker 2>their last game, which they probably should have won, right,

255
00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:37.480
<v Speaker 2>I mean, so there's an example if you just can't

256
00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:40.159
<v Speaker 2>take anyone lightly, if they're missing somebody, you know, to

257
00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:43.480
<v Speaker 2>come into East Lansing, teams have to shoot the three. Well,

258
00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:46.080
<v Speaker 2>you know, they got to almost shoot maybe ten percentage

259
00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:48.879
<v Speaker 2>points better than their season average, and they have to

260
00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:52.559
<v Speaker 2>try to compete with us on the boards. And you're right,

261
00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:55.679
<v Speaker 2>Michigan State has to probably have an off night. We

262
00:12:55.919 --> 00:13:00.279
<v Speaker 2>haven't been a great three point shooting team all seasons long.

263
00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:02.600
<v Speaker 2>But what people are noticing in the Big Ten play,

264
00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:06.799
<v Speaker 2>I think we're forced so actually pretty good in Big

265
00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:08.840
<v Speaker 2>Ten Play. But yeah, we'd have to have an off

266
00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:11.519
<v Speaker 2>night shooting to lose this one.

267
00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:14.840
<v Speaker 1>Do you encourage that? How do you weigh that a

268
00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:17.399
<v Speaker 1>three point If you're not a great three point shooting

269
00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:19.639
<v Speaker 1>team but you're left alone, should you not take it?

270
00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:23.279
<v Speaker 1>If you're not a great three point shooting team, should

271
00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:25.960
<v Speaker 1>you be more patient and work for a better too?

272
00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:28.480
<v Speaker 1>Because two point shooting Michigan State is really good, but

273
00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:31.080
<v Speaker 1>as you mentioned in conference play, your three point shot

274
00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:33.879
<v Speaker 1>seems to be dialed in a little bit more. Take

275
00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:36.639
<v Speaker 1>me under the head of a coach and an analyst.

276
00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:40.919
<v Speaker 1>Here are you concerned when your team is getting open

277
00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:43.720
<v Speaker 1>looks and not making or just rushing through to take

278
00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:46.559
<v Speaker 1>a three, because that seems to the way basketball is

279
00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:47.679
<v Speaker 1>being played these days.

280
00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:51.159
<v Speaker 2>You know. I remember back four or five years ago

281
00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:54.440
<v Speaker 2>when Fred Hoiberg got to Nebraska. Yeah, and he had

282
00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:56.600
<v Speaker 2>this mindset that we're going to run and shoot the

283
00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:59.039
<v Speaker 2>three every time, and they were shooting like twenty two percent.

284
00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:01.039
<v Speaker 2>I remember talking with a team and before the game

285
00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:03.360
<v Speaker 2>and we're talking about it, and I said, well, hey,

286
00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:06.480
<v Speaker 2>will it just depends who's shooting them. It's great if

287
00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:08.399
<v Speaker 2>you can make them, but if you can't make them,

288
00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:09.919
<v Speaker 2>you got to stop shooting them because they were just

289
00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:12.279
<v Speaker 2>getting run out of the gym. But he had to

290
00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:16.919
<v Speaker 2>go out and recruit some better shooters. It's a tough one, right.

291
00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:20.960
<v Speaker 2>I'm not a coach, but watching it so much, you

292
00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:23.320
<v Speaker 2>got to really read your team. I mean, I don't

293
00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:25.679
<v Speaker 2>we worked so hard at it. I just could never

294
00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:29.080
<v Speaker 2>imagine that we would not take threes. But look at

295
00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:31.279
<v Speaker 2>our game against Northwestern, they ran us off the line.

296
00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:34.639
<v Speaker 2>We only took eight. Our season low before that was sixteen.

297
00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:36.879
<v Speaker 2>So you know, you play the game the way it

298
00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:40.279
<v Speaker 2>comes to you. Obviously, of defending your face. Some teams,

299
00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:42.360
<v Speaker 2>some players keep shooting it. I wouldn't.

300
00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:45.200
<v Speaker 1>Hey, last thing, sorry I've said that twice now, but

301
00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:48.879
<v Speaker 1>last thing, you watch a lot of basketball because you're

302
00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:54.519
<v Speaker 1>a basketball junkie. Do you like the NBA product?

303
00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:58.919
<v Speaker 2>Boy, that's a tough one, you know, having played when

304
00:14:58.919 --> 00:15:00.840
<v Speaker 2>it was such a different stuff. I'll you know my

305
00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:04.120
<v Speaker 2>gut reactions always know. I've never been able to watch

306
00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:06.919
<v Speaker 2>it posts my playing days during the season. I love

307
00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:12.360
<v Speaker 2>watching the playoffs, so it's it's different, clearly, But you know,

308
00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:14.919
<v Speaker 2>I was more of a six seven, you know, more

309
00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:17.799
<v Speaker 2>athletic type player. I would have loved this style went

310
00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:19.879
<v Speaker 2>back when I was in my twenties. But you know

311
00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:20.799
<v Speaker 2>that's the way it goes.

312
00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:23.759
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, Hey, keep up the great work man, til will

313
00:15:23.799 --> 00:15:26.320
<v Speaker 1>I said, hello, good luck the rest of the way.

314
00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:28.519
<v Speaker 1>You got a hell of a basketball team. We're happy

315
00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:30.480
<v Speaker 1>for you, and we're we're rooting the Spartans on. We

316
00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:33.600
<v Speaker 1>appreciate the time today. Thanks Matt, you got it up anytime.