Black Shoe Diaries: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: Certifiable: Purdue gets elite win over Tennessee

Game Day Open Thread - Michigan State Spartans

Go State!
(The Blue One!)
Penn State 10-10 (2-6) Michigan State 19-2 (7-1)

Yeah we'll probably lose by 30 points in this one. But like I said the other day, we have to set small goals. I'll be happy if we can keep it close for the first half. And our focus should be on avoiding the ten minute scoring droughts that have killed us lately. I'm hoping to see the young players like Battle, Brooks, Jones, and Jackson get a lot of playing time and have some success.

The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network at 8 PM. If you're watching please join the open thread.

0 recs  |  Comment 86 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

I'm Not As Sure
I think Indiana is head and shoulders better than the Spartans.  What does that mean to us? Very little, but I won't be suprised if they don't blow us out.  This is the team that only scored 36 points in a loss to Iowa.

In an unrelated story, I'm getting my new Dish Network dish wired up as we speak.  THats 55 bucks comcast isnt getting as a result of their stubbornness over the BTN. I'm getting an extra 130 channels and a DVR for approximately the same price I was paying for Comcast.  I don't know if I could possibly watch all those channels, but it really makes you wonder how the cable company and the dish company can be that far apart in terms of channels for mostly the same price.  I know the dish sometimes goes out in a storm, but from what I've heard, its like once or twice a year.  Thats a risk I, and I figure most people, would be willing to take.  Adios Comcast.  Thanks for all the years of ripping us off.

God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...

by fugimaster24 on Feb 2, 2008 4:26 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Game Time
Just watched Iowa pull off the upset against Ohio State. That's their second major upset in a month. How come we never upset anyone? You would think we could get lucky once in a while.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 8:07 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

one month ago
We weren't even looking for the upset, we expected to win some of these games. I have about 40 years of life expectancy at this point in time, I hope that in the next 40 years we get at least one really good Bball team.

by PSU86 on Feb 2, 2008 8:14 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I guess...
you have a pipeline to Somebody's ear...!
Old School... MEETS New School!

by BlueWhiteLife on Feb 3, 2008 9:39 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Pringle
That guy is lightning quick, but he's like a bull in a china shop when he gets the ball. Completely out of control.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 8:09 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Wow
Our defense is so terrible. MSU's first three buckets all came within two feet of the basket.

Cornley has had three passes go right through his hands already.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 8:13 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

early lead
but when does the 6-12 minute drought come that completely kills us?

by runngunn29 on Feb 2, 2008 8:21 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

The Drought
usually comes in the second half.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 8:21 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

ill guess
and say the 14 minute mark. Sounds like a great crowd on the radio.

by runngunn29 on Feb 2, 2008 8:23 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

The crowd
Doesn't sound very big on television. It was a much more enthusiastic crowd on Tuesday night.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 8:25 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

2nd Media Timeout
So far we're standing toe-to-toe with them. But ultimately I don't like our strategy. We're running up and down the court playing their tempo. MSU is getting easy dunks and we're having to work for our shots. I think we should slow things down, but then we risk putting ourselves to sleep and going 10 minutes without a basket.

The defense has to improve. MSU has had nothing but dunks and layups so far.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 8:27 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Announcers
Pointing out how bad we suck without Claxton. Duh!
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 8:29 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

31-27 MSU
MSU with 24 points in the paint. Unbelievable. Our defense is terrible.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 8:43 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

39-All
Talor Battle with two huge threes!

But it's the defense and rebounding that got us back.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 8:54 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

battle
back to back 3's. hes a player

by runngunn29 on Feb 2, 2008 8:54 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Battle
And he forced two MSU turnovers at the other end.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 8:55 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Listen to that crowd!
That's how it should be every night.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 8:55 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

up at half w/o claxton
i just cant understand this team...

by runngunn29 on Feb 2, 2008 8:58 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Great Half
PSU leads 42-39.

I said at the top we need little victories. Break it down to four minute segments between the media timeouts. Just focus on winning those four minutes segments. Put in a good half. We definitely did that and you can tell their confidence is riding high right now.

Now they have to stay focused. We get on runs like this in the past and they think they can't miss so they start throwing up dumb shots. Keep passing the ball and hitting the open man. And they have got to clamp down on defense. MSU has too many easy points. Shut down the lane and force them to shoot from outside. Then we have to grab the rebound.

And of course we have to avoid the 10 minute second half scoring drought.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:00 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Great Start
Force a TO on D and get a bucket on O
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:14 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

PRINGLE
Two threes for Pringle pushes the PSU lead to 9. Then they give up an easy bucket on D.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:16 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

1st Media Timeout
We won that four minute battle. Pringle and Battle took over. Pringle had two threes and Battle just had a pretty layup on the fast break. PSU now has an improbable 10 point lead. But now we're at the 15 minute mark where we went cold against Indiana and Ohio State. Then need to keep their focus here. Take care of the ball, get good shots, play D and rebound.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:21 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Brandon Hassell
He gives up an easy dunk on D and then sets a moving screen on offense. He's great.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:24 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Hassell
They have got to get him out of there.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:30 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

10 point lead
Is down to 2
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:31 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

How many times
is the announcer going to call Battle "Bailor"?
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:32 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

2nd MTO
We lost that four minutes. Our 10 point lead is down to 4. Cornley will get two FT's when they come back. These start becoming huge now.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:33 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

free throws
woohoo...

by runngunn29 on Feb 2, 2008 9:34 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

24 free throw attempts
compared to MSU's 9?  And we're above 50%?  I say keep going with that.

by rctbone2009 on Feb 2, 2008 9:35 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

14-of-25
ain't that good, though.

by rctbone2009 on Feb 2, 2008 9:38 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

If I'm MSU
I foul on every possession. We'll most likely only hit one and give the ball back.

But now MSU is in foul trouble.

And another miss by Jones.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:38 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Much needed timeout
How bad is Hassell? Ed would rather leave Jones in there with 4 fouls than put BH back in.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:39 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Thankfully,
we aren't giving up.  Still feel like people in the BJC have emotion...

by rctbone2009 on Feb 2, 2008 9:45 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

tied
i cant feel my face. ughhhhh

by runngunn29 on Feb 2, 2008 9:46 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Gah. I'm watching this on CSTV gametracker.
How is everyone else watching? Or listening?

Any suggestions/help might be better than watching these little stick figures make layups.

May no act of ours bring shame

by Sacked on Feb 2, 2008 9:48 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Big Ten Network
It rocks.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:49 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Oh man
Turnover by Hassell. Every possession matters, guys.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:50 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

i love the stick figures
but like espn radio better. i cant get the direct link but google espn radio 1250

by runngunn29 on Feb 2, 2008 9:50 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Jones Comes back in
Thank God.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:51 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Oh no
Battle limps off the court. They take him right to the locker room. Can anything else go wrong this year?
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:55 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Tied at the last media timeout
How many people predicted that?  Not I.

by rctbone2009 on Feb 2, 2008 9:57 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Battle Returns!
He's Jesus!
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 9:59 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Dear God
Can someone teach these kids free throw shooting?  Heck, Tom Izzo does 100 every practice...

by rctbone2009 on Feb 2, 2008 10:00 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

march of the penguins
So after stopping watching in first half I switch back from the march of the penguins (HD yeah boy), and WTF, its tied.

by PSU86 on Feb 2, 2008 10:01 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Maybe
You should go back to watching the penguins. Wouldn't want to jinx us.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 10:07 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

C'mon Walker
Make these.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 10:02 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

2 Point lead
C'mon D!
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 10:02 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Woooooo!
Five point lead! Look what happens when you make foul shots!
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 10:04 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

up 2 possessions
i cant breathe

by runngunn29 on Feb 2, 2008 10:04 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I should have gone...
I'm trying to get as many of my friends still in Simmons to come over as I can.  Can't replicate the BJC atmosphere, though.

by rctbone2009 on Feb 2, 2008 10:04 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Nice
Morgan and Gray both fouled out now. I'm liking this.

Now make the free throws!

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 10:08 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Runngunn29
Thanks for the suggestion, this is great.
May no act of ours bring shame

by Sacked on Feb 2, 2008 10:08 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

holy crap
We made some free throws, when they really mattered too.  GO PSU!

by PSU86 on Feb 2, 2008 10:16 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Haha
We brought in Walker and Morrissey...our good foul shooters.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 10:18 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I think this is why I hate basketball
A.  It takes 2hrs to play the last minute.

B.  The calls are so subjective.  It is like holding on a sweep play in football.

by JGuiher on Feb 2, 2008 10:20 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

What's going on?
Is this real so far? I can't believe it.

by raimman25 on Feb 2, 2008 10:20 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

24 secs,
so close.

by PSU86 on Feb 2, 2008 10:22 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

rush the court
doooo it

by raimman25 on Feb 2, 2008 10:24 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Upset
Will they rush the court? Or will the cops come out with the giant mace cans?
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 10:24 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

cops
with or w/o horses?

by raimman25 on Feb 2, 2008 10:25 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Awesome
Looks like THON started early this year.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 10:26 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Tear down
the hoops!!!!!!!!!!!!

by JGuiher on Feb 2, 2008 10:27 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

i will never forget myself
for not going :(

but great win nonetheless

by runngunn29 on Feb 2, 2008 10:29 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Wow
I don't know how we put 85 points on the board. MSU gave us the game with too many fouls. Maybe that was their strategy: to put us on the foul line and make us win it there.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 10:31 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I didn't go
because we lost by 30 to these guys last year.  Any given Saturday, right?

Man, I hope this is a sign of things to come.

by rctbone2009 on Feb 2, 2008 10:32 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I'm watching the Post Game Show on the BTN
and I can't get the smile off my face.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 2, 2008 10:36 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Congrats on the win, but ...
How the @#$% did Penn State get to the line 50+ times as a jump-shooting team, and with a similar number of fouls MSU got there 22 times despite taking half as many threes (and most of those in the final minutes)?

I didn't see the game; I'm genuinely curious. I just can't think of any way that's possible. 50 free throws in regulation just shouldn't happen, period, even with the hackfest that happens in the final minute. The only other time I've ever seen it come close was a game when the refs called fouls for breathing on the guy with the ball (MSU-Oklahoma 2003), and neither team got to 50 even in OT.

by SpartanDan on Feb 2, 2008 10:47 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Ticky Tack
Fouls the whole game. It was ridiculous the amount of fouls away from the ball every second.
JoePa is my hero.

by psuphiman80 on Feb 2, 2008 10:52 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Exactly what happened in MSU-Iowa
Good to know that we don't seem to have any worries unless the refs are absurdly whistle-happy. (In MSU's three losses, we've been outshot from the FT line by 16, 25, and 30.)

by SpartanDan on Feb 2, 2008 11:35 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Whaaaaaaaaa!!!
Don't come in here crying about the officials when you didn't even see the game. I watched the game and I thought it was called pretty well. MSU was playing wrecklessly reaching in and jumping over the back. Early on I think they took a strategy of intentionally putting Penn State on the line given our horrendous foul shooting. Later in the game they had to start fouling to get the ball back. I can only think of one or two calls where I went "whaaa?"

You can't take away from this win. Penn State played smart and they out hustled MSU. Neitzel only had 6 points. It was a great effort. Clearly we don't suck as bad as everyone thinks and you're not as great as everyone thought.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 3, 2008 9:54 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

yeah
the Spartans really should have tried to avoid fouling in the second half when a bunch of people were fouling out. I was there and I kept missing the fouls away from the ball, so I assumed that they weren't that bad. So Mike, you think that most of those fouls were legit?
JoePa is my hero.

by psuphiman80 on Feb 3, 2008 10:46 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

The Officiating
I can only remember two or three calls that were questionable. MSU was setting moving screens and holding people all night. I thought for the most part the officials did a good job.

The worst call went against David Jackson. He was standing in the paint flat footed with his hands straight up in the air. The MSU guy backed into him and knocked him on his butt and they called the foul on DJ. Apparently you're not allowed to just stand there on defense.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 3, 2008 11:21 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Ok
I remember the one on Jackson, I thought Danny's block was all ball, but they called a foul. It was still pretty sweet to see.
JoePa is my hero.

by psuphiman80 on Feb 3, 2008 12:46 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm not blaming the officials
(Well, maybe a little bit.)

I'm just trying to figure out how the hell that happened. I know PSU got called for almost as many fouls; I'm just not sure how that ends up with a +30 free-throw advantage for the jump-shooting team. Especially when it seems to involve a ton of offensive fouls on MSU (which don't result in free throws under any circumstances), that seems ... odd.

I mean, we're talking about 54 fouls called in a game (according to the Sportsline boxscore). Even if you take away the desperation fouls late, that's still an obscene number. Unless multiple fist-fights broke out on the court, there's no way that should ever happen. And this isn't an isolated incident, either - Illinois against Purdue was almost as bad (48 fouls).

Big Ten refs need to stop calling fouls for looking at the opponent funny, or these games are going to be completely unwatchable.

by SpartanDan on Feb 3, 2008 3:09 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I Got My Dish Tonight
Wow.  What a night to get the dish baby.  I had 4 PSU buddies over and one Pitt buddy to watch the game (and the Pens).  The last few minutes, with Zombie Nation blaring, were so much fun.  Pitt may well drop out of the rankings, and there we were, upsetting Michigan St.  Pitt buddy was having a great time.

Right after the game, I flipped over to the Nightly Sports Call in Pittsburgh, and they opened the show with Pitt and Pens highlights.  THat was fine, but then they had the audacity to talk about Pitt women and Duquesne without even mentioning PSU's huge win.  I don't call these shows often, but that ticked me off.  I got through and said "Wow, what a great night?  Pens win, Pitt loses, and PSU takes down the #7 team in the land".  The guy laughed, but I wasn't worried about him.  My message got out there to all the yinzrs and thats all that matters.

What a night State, way to go!

P.S. the upset of Illinois in 2006 was also on Super Bowl Eve.

God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...

by fugimaster24 on Feb 2, 2008 10:53 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

good night to get a dish!
If you got DVR the BTN is playing the game again later so you can record it.

by PSU86 on Feb 3, 2008 12:04 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Ya...
...those 'freakin' yinzers...!
Old School... MEETS New School!

by BlueWhiteLife on Feb 3, 2008 9:53 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Went to the game
The crowd was electric, the BJC doesn't always have to be a tomb. This is such a boost of confidence for a young team. Rushing the court was fun too. Hopefully we can ride this to a few more wins and an NIT birth.
JoePa is my hero.

by psuphiman80 on Feb 2, 2008 10:59 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Went to the game
I was right behind Battle when they picked him up, and I got to slap hands with the whole team at the scorer's table.  It was amazing.  So proud...WE ARE

by PSUeric on Feb 3, 2008 12:37 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

terrible
that i missed the game. I still cant believe I missed one of the best PSU hoops games in a while. But when I was out tonight so many people talked about the victory, I think we made some new fans.

Another question is how much slack this victory gave Ed?

by runngunn29 on Feb 3, 2008 2:38 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

also
any chance someone got a video of the kids rushing the court?

by runngunn29 on Feb 3, 2008 2:39 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Video!
Here is the ESPN video:
http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?&brand=null&videoId=3228131&n8pe6c=2

Sadly, it can't be embedded. Links to write-ups on my site.

by WFY on Feb 3, 2008 8:33 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

thanks wfy
for the video. Actually my friend met Neitzel at the Nittany Lion Inn before the game. I dont know what kind of gypsy curse he put on Drew, but the man was shut down all game.

by runngunn29 on Feb 3, 2008 1:38 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

BTN Podcast Videos
The Big Ten Network PSU podcast has Court Rushing video, post-game interviews, and analysis.

Link to iTunes:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=267763324

Huge for Ed, he deserves it after everything he has been through over the past few years.

Hopefully this means hes got things on track and we won't be looking for another coach in a few years, because we all know PSU wouldn't dish out the cash for anyone good. The athletic department just got lucky with DeChellis, "Oh yea I remember he went here and used to coach, let's hire him." Fortunately hes a good guy and a solid coach and let's hope this is the start to some good luck for DeChellis and the rest of team.

by PSUmike07 on Feb 3, 2008 3:10 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Start posting about the Nittany Lions »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Cairo_small
Hate Week: EVERYONE ELSE! WITH CHARTS!
At_the_foot_of_a_legend_small
In Defense of Jared Odrick (or Up Yours, Rittenberg)
Amish2_small
Michigan State photoshop thread
Cairo_small
HATE WEEK: Michigan State!
Lenny_small
What time is it?

Recent FanPosts

Small
Making a Case for Next Year's Home Schedule
Paterno_head_small
Merry Thanksgiving... now SuePa Approved
Small
Urban Meyer about to try to rob us again
Psu_gr4eatestb_waa_small
RANKING THE CONFERENCES
Lenny_small
[slightly half-assed] Preview of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge - "For ****'s sake, can we just win this thing?"
1_4404_small
TV Rankings Not Easily Found.....
Camedia_pics_048_small
Wrestling Update - 'Shadow Team' Division
Joepa_rival_small
Looking Forward....Backup QB most popular guy on Campus

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SPONSORS


Managers

Lioneye_edited_small BSD

Editors

Image_small Run Up The Score

Reporter_small Kevin HD

Official Partner of CBS Sports