+3 and -3 from MSU vs. Cleveland State (plus breakdown of Nick Ward ball-screen defense)

1. Shooting that ball at a percentage like this, no matter who you are playing, is impressive. 65% from the floor, 58% from 3, and 78% from the FT line.

2. 26 assists on 41 baskets. While that’s not even the best for our team this year, it just goes to show the way we continue to share the ball. In a game like this, where people could really just try to get theirs, we moved the ball well. Only 11 turnovers and 26 assists. This team is moving the ball better, earlier, than I expected they would. Having 6 guys in double figures is a product of that.

3. Don’t play down to your competition. If you are supposed to win by 50, win by 50. That is a sign of maturity, which has been called into question by this team and seems to be getting better.

-3

1. The Vikings are checking in at #297 in the KenPom rankings. Bad. Very bad. Take that into account as you read everything else. However, just like in a practice, you can take good things and bad things even from a game like this.

2. Nitpicky here when you win by 50...they made 11 3’s. Only shot 37 and not a good percentage, but 11 made 3’s.

3. Word went for 26. Most late and when it didn’t matter much, but still worried about wings really going off on us without a true wing stopper.

Coaches Corner

* It was great to see MSU work on some zone set wrinkles. They ran a counter to a normal zone set late in the game where instead of running McQuaid from wing to opposite corner as they double screen in the outside of the zone, they simply reversed Bridges out, caught in corner, and then right into Ward for a dunk. Great wrinkle and one we will see again.

* A lot of good things regarding ball screen defense. But instead of that generic sentence that you can get anywhere, let’s talk about why it was better. Some people will mistakenly tell you that Ward (and others) ball screen defensive issues are about energy and effort. I could show them plenty of film that would say otherwise. I actually think his issue is often that he sees the screen late and by the time he gets to the hard-hedge, he’s a bit late and left in no man’s land. That’s not an effort thing...maybe a little focus, but also defensive awareness. Tonight, on numerous occasions, he got to the ball screen as quickly as his man did. I claim that’s more about recognition than effort. The second part that I watched tonight was his top foot. He has a bad habit of putting that foot in cement as he gets to help position above his man. When he does that, the guard can too easily turn the corner. Tonight, he stayed in a stance and was able to move that top foot to give the guard that additional split-second to get thru. Better recognition and better top foot tonight by Ward.

Crystal Ball

* 3-11 Savannah State is up next. I hope we play at the same level of focus and execution in that one.

MISC

* 49 to 15 on the boards. 15? Nice.

* Great to see McQuaid shooting the ball with some confidence as he goes 3/6 from “3.”