+3 and -3 from MSU vs. Southern Utah,

+3

1. At halftime, Winston was shooting 61% for the year from “3” and ended the game 5/6. One issue with him getting others involved so often is that he doesn’t get a lot of shots early in either half. Only took 8 shots for the game. As one of our best scorers, need to make sure he gets shots. 8 shots when he is this kind of hot is just not enough. Izzo now goes to him and Tum at about the 8:00 mark of each 2nd half and I love the look it gives Cash. We shot 47% overall from “3” on the game.

2. What you’d expect on the glass, domination, 49-34. And 12 blocks.

3. Overall, pretty good offensively. Got it deep to Ward, Jackson, Schilling, and Bridges on different occasions. Love that we ran more stuff for Jackson to catch it on the block. In the last second half, loved Bridges aggression off the bounce from the wing and short corner. Shot the ball well from “3,” ran the floor pretty well, and I thought we shared the ball well (23 assists). Solid offensive effort.

-3

1. Not a good game on many levels but the last 10 minutes saved it a bit. Coming off what happened at Rutgers we had played 3 halves well below our capability. 6 games in 13 days excuse doesn’t work tonight. Doesn’t mean there is cause for concern and the last 10 minutes was better.

2. Not our best defensive effort overall. Mediocre ball screen defense and allowed some dribble-pen. Couple times we got beat clean on the perimeter. Our shot blocking makes up for how much we get beat off the bounce on the perimeter at times. One time, we weren’t even matched up. It just wasn’t the execution and attention to detail we have had at other times this year. 3 point defense simply not good enough. Sure, a couple were well-contested and those you would live with. But a couple we didn’t close out with a high hand and others were late to recover.

3. McQuaid came into the game shooting 29% from “3” for the year. He shot 35% last year. Just a mediocre 3 point shooter, 1.5 years is a good sample size. He gives the team many other things, but at those numbers not sure we should run looks for him considering the other offensive options we have. He’s still a good and important piece, but let’s drop the “shooter” moniker.

Coaches Corner

* A look at MSU’s “Scissors” look that they ran a couple times tonight.

* We run it for these basic options:

1) Clear out to go 1 on 1 from the top while others screen (which makes help hard)

2) Perimeter jumper off “X” and post screen

3) Perimeter catch and immediate post entry

4) Late in the game we even flashed opposite big, got it to Schilling high, and went high-low to Tillman for a dunk.

Crystal Ball

* A week off for finals. If MSU plays like it did the last 2 games, it will be a battle against Oakland on Saturday at LCA. Kampe is DYING to beat MSU and has had some great chances recently. This isn’t his best team, but it is their Super Bowl and they will be ready.

Extras

* Good bounce-back game for Nick Ward. I thought he had great energy and effort.

* I think we got about every call possible in this game. I’ll just say that.

* Never going to take for granted the double-doubles for Jackson, including the 4 blocks. Impacts the game on so many levels.

* Bridges doing a ton of good things (rebounds/assists) and is on the brink of getting it going on offense, but not quite there yet. 7/16 for 17 points, but a couple more finishes around the rim could’ve made it even better.

* Poor free throw shooting.

* The “T” on Ward was trash. Guys play with energy and intensity. He was banged hard the trip before, took exception, they had contact, then a couple words. But give me a break with a “T.” It’s an emotional game.

* Coach K, still feeling good about playing so much of that zone early in the year? You needed some stops tonight against the 86th ranked adjusted offensive team in the year and couldn’t get them. Gave up 89. Maybe work on some man to man and especially ball screen defense.