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Nick Ward Channels Grayson Allen

Nov 28, 2012
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Tripped Michigan's Wagner walking back to the huddle during a timeout. What an a$$!!!!



BTW Michigan leads 55-29 @ halftime.
 
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How did he figure he was going to get away with that? Izzo went BALLISTIC on him.

It appeared that Izzo huddled the team together and told them all that Ward had tripped the guy. Just so everyone was clear exactly who was costing them the game.
 
You think he is going to transfer? He seems to have a lot of public spats with his coach. I think it would be a bad idea for Ward to do that, but I wonder what is going through the kid's head
 
Tripped Michigan's Wagner walking back to the huddle during a timeout. What an a$$!!!!



BTW Michigan leads 55-29 @ halftime.
I had mentioned it on here when Purdue had played them, and even another time I believe when M$U was discussed...but, while they have a very talented group of freshman, they just lack a basketball IQ and are not what one would generally consider a typical M$U sort of fit...Izzo sacrificed character and basketball IQ for talent.

Some of the comments that they have made in interviews and what not, never mind their actions (including this clownish, selfish and ridiculous one) are just affirmation to me of that being the case.
 
Will the B1G take action and cause him to miss games. That would also help NW and I think the conference wants that.
 
Fizzo has always sacrificed character for talent.
Looooong history of scumbags have played for MSU
Good/fair point...

My point I guess was that I don't know that it was known to be the case at the time, and, even in this class' case, I am not sure that it would be known absent some of the comments that have been made to the media, and it may not even be the same type of character issues...big difference between lacking work ethic and being a criminal.

Further...given that Painter/Purdue was in actively on the same kids for next year's MSU class, while that does not mean the same issues do not exist, I am hard pressed to believe that they do, at least to the extent that they have.
 
Good/fair point...

My point I guess was that I don't know that it was known to be the case at the time, and, even in this class' case, I am not sure that it would be known absent some of the comments that have been made to the media, and it may not even be the same type of character issues...big difference between lacking work ethic and being a criminal.

Further...given that Painter/Purdue was in actively on the same kids for next year's MSU class, while that does not mean the same issues do not exist, I am hard pressed to believe that they do, at least to the extent that they have.

I would think that because Painter has pursued a lot of the same players that end up at MSU, the issue with these young men isn't when they get to MSU as freshman but in the culture that Izzo has built there. It appears that there is a culture of arrogance and entitlement that leads to the issues.
 
It appeared that Izzo huddled the team together and told them all that Ward had tripped the guy. Just so everyone was clear exactly who was costing them the game.
Ah yes, fake outrage from Izzo the faux-disciplinarian. Give me a break.
 
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Sometimes you bring in a player that's kind of a knucklehead and surround him with a bunch of high character guys and it will rub off on him. Not that it always does (Kelsey Barlow). If you put him in with a few other knuckleheads though it seems to always become a problem at some point.
 
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Looks like most of the MSU faithful are saying either:
1. The Mich kid walked through the MSU huddle area and he should not have done that...thus his own fault....if you can believe that!
2. The Ward kid did not overtly extend his foot on purpose....just an accident. ... HA :)

There are a few saying it was a clear trip....not sure if those are visitors to the forum or just truthful, conscientious, objective MSU fans (almost sounds like a oxymoron doesn't it?).

If a CLEAR tripping of an opponent happened here @ Purdue I would hope Painter would at the least take away starting privileges for the player, or if not a starter - suspend for a half.
 
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I've seen the extended version of the clip which shows the couple of seconds afterward and Izzo ripping him a new one.
1) I don't think the trip is on purpose. Ward is looking down and away to the left before the trip. I doubt he even knew which MSU player was crossing his path.
2) He somewhat loses his own balance and has to catch himself. When you trip someone on purpose, you brace for the impact / force.
3) Regardless of whether he did it on purpose or not, after he realizes what he did, he makes no effort to go help the guy up or apologize for the accident. He just casually keeps walking to him huddle. So for that alone, I agree he deserved the foul and all of the ridicule that has come upon him.
 
I've seen the extended version of the clip which shows the couple of seconds afterward and Izzo ripping him a new one.
1) I don't think the trip is on purpose. Ward is looking down and away to the left before the trip. I doubt he even knew which MSU player was crossing his path.
2) He somewhat loses his own balance and has to catch himself. When you trip someone on purpose, you brace for the impact / force.
3) Regardless of whether he did it on purpose or not, after he realizes what he did, he makes no effort to go help the guy up or apologize for the accident. He just casually keeps walking to him huddle. So for that alone, I agree he deserved the foul and all of the ridicule that has come upon him.
It didn't look that bad to me. Just two guys going for the same space at the same time. He didn't extend his leg to trip him. He was just walking. Now, he didn't exactly give any ground, but neither did the UM guy. You are right he didn't help him up and that was kind of a bitch move even if it were an accident.
 
When interviewed after game Ward responded " I really don't THINK I did it intentionally". Really??? One would think by the time he gets to the college level he would KNOW whether he did it intentionally...
 
IMO this isn't as egregious as the IU center that tripped people, but it's still an obvious trip. Must have been frustrated, was Wagner killing him in the post?
 
It didn't look that bad to me. Just two guys going for the same space at the same time. He didn't extend his leg to trip him. He was just walking. Now, he didn't exactly give any ground, but neither did the UM guy. You are right he didn't help him up and that was kind of a bitch move even if it were an accident.
Agree, he was looking down and took a stride. He didn't abnormally extend his leg forward or to the side that I can see. And he seemed surprised by it. But even if you don't help the guy up, a quick hand up/sorry like you do when you accidentally cut someone off in traffic would have been nice.
 
I had mentioned it on here when Purdue had played them, and even another time I believe when M$U was discussed...but, while they have a very talented group of freshman, they just lack a basketball IQ and are not what one would generally consider a typical M$U sort of fit...Izzo sacrificed character and basketball IQ for talent.

Some of the comments that they have made in interviews and what not, never mind their actions (including this clownish, selfish and ridiculous one) are just affirmation to me of that being the case.
Purdue wanted Ward...I wanted Ward based on video. Perhaps Purdue lucked out and didn't know it at the time?
 
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lol, he totally did that on purpose. It's very subtle, but his right leg/foot swings ever-so-slightly outwards and upwards right before it makes contact with Wagner's foot. Watch it in .5 or .25 speed on youtube and you'll see it:



Also, if you get confronted about it afterwards, and your answer is, "I don't think I did it intentionally" it's pretty much a dead give away that you did it intentionally.
 
For all of those bashing Ward and Izzo sacrificing basketball IQ for talent, Purdue was hard after Ward. He is the scariest piece at MSU because I think he stays all four years (provided he doesn't transfer or get kicked out). Yes, he will make freshman mistakes but he could end up being scary good. I think Painter would take him in a heartbeat if he could.

On another note, if Izzo misses out on the other top end recruits he is targeting and Bridges leaves, they will likely be awful next year again, which would be ironic considering the number of top players they have been landing. The decline of Izzo? That might be a ridiculous thought that get proven completely wrong, but I am keeping an eye on it. Other coaches love him. I always though of him as being whiny and having dirty players. I guess winning is the only thing that matters.
 
For all of those bashing Ward and Izzo sacrificing basketball IQ for talent, Purdue was hard after Ward. He is the scariest piece at MSU because I think he stays all four years (provided he doesn't transfer or get kicked out). Yes, he will make freshman mistakes but he could end up being scary good. I think Painter would take him in a heartbeat if he could.

On another note, if Izzo misses out on the other top end recruits he is targeting and Bridges leaves, they will likely be awful next year again, which would be ironic considering the number of top players they have been landing. The decline of Izzo? That might be a ridiculous thought that get proven completely wrong, but I am keeping an eye on it. Other coaches love him. I always though of him as being whiny and having dirty players. I guess winning is the only thing that matters.
I thought Izzo had one of the top classes in the country coming next year.
 
I thought Izzo had one of the top classes in the country coming next year.

Two players as it stands. Bowen seems to be leaning to Arizona. Losing Brodges will wash out the gain of Jackson. Will Tilman be a difference maker? Not sure, but I would be surprised if he makes a huge impact as a freshman. Now if he lands a high level guard and Bowen, it will be just as good of a class as he landed last year. I just think they are going to need a lot more help than the two kids Purdue was after. There is still some time to impress this year, and a tourney run is the cure for everything. I just have not been impressed by that team at all.
 
Two players as it stands. Bowen seems to be leaning to Arizona. Losing Brodges will wash out the gain of Jackson. Will Tilman be a difference maker? Not sure, but I would be surprised if he makes a huge impact as a freshman. Now if he lands a high level guard and Bowen, it will be just as good of a class as he landed last year. I just think they are going to need a lot more help than the two kids Purdue was after. There is still some time to impress this year, and a tourney run is the cure for everything. I just have not been impressed by that team at all.
Well hack my legs and call me Shorty. I thought Bowen had signed.
 
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