What can't happen...

[bonefish1]

vs Msu... they have the kind of guards that ours struggle to defend, meaning they're going to try and beat our guys off the dribble, get into the lane and force Biggie and Haas to make a decision on defense. Izzo obviously is going to tell his guards to go hell bent to the hole and try to get Biggie and IH in foul trouble.
Our guards should sag, try to force jump shots and if they do get beat, we can't get caught trying to block shots or picking up early fouls.
IH has to play smart and not fou while hedging 40 feet from the bucket.

 

[TC4THREE]

Ward draws an incredible amount of fouls. That is more concerning to me than their guards drawing fouls.

 

[DG10]

vs Msu... they have the kind of guards that ours struggle to defend, meaning they're going to try and beat our guys off the dribble, get into the lane and force Biggie and Haas to make a decision on defense. Izzo obviously is going to tell his guards to go hell bent to the hole and try to get Biggie and IH in foul trouble.
Our guards should sag, try to force jump shots and if they do get beat, we can't get caught trying to block shots or picking up early fouls.
IH has to play smart and not fou while hedging 40 feet from the bucket.

A genuine key to the game, and will be the same when they play IU...can Swanigan and Haas stay out of foul trouble and on the floor?

MSU is extremely talented...and while Purdue is the better team and more experienced team, MSU still poses a lot of potential match-up problems and other assorted issues...they have size...they have length...they have athleticism...they have guards that can get to the basket and create offense for themselves or others...they just have been incredibly inconsistent...hopefully that remains the case tomorrow night.

Purdue has not had a lot of success in East Lansing (nobody really has for that matter), and seemingly better teams have lost to seemingly lesser teams...if Purdue can somehow set a tone early as it has the past couple of games, that will go a long way towards aiding their cause...but, Purdue has not done that in either of its two conference road games, nor its non-conference road game at Louisville or non-conference neutral site game against ND.

It is a big game no doubt...for both teams for that matter.

 

[tjreese]

vs Msu... they have the kind of guards that ours struggle to defend, meaning they're going to try and beat our guys off the dribble, get into the lane and force Biggie and Haas to make a decision on defense. Izzo obviously is going to tell his guards to go hell bent to the hole and try to get Biggie and IH in foul trouble.
Our guards should sag, try to force jump shots and if they do get beat, we can't get caught trying to block shots or picking up early fouls.
IH has to play smart and not fou while hedging 40 feet from the bucket.

I know you are joking about hedging 40 ft from the basket and with the physical play I suspect we will see I don't look for touch fouls on the perimeter unless the refs are wanting to set the tone. Biggie hasn't really had any foul issues this year and would suspect that would continue. Haas has had problems and that may or may not be a problem tonight. With any penetration...anything that pulls Purdue bigs out of defending their men and helping too much concerns me on MSU offensive boards. MSU historically works the boards and if the bigs must help it is more likely that the bigs for MSU get teh boards and score or draw fouls on Purdue bigs trying to recover and defend. I haven't watched MSU, but suspect that position D will be the approach and hedging will be quick and only on those that are a risk to hit jump shots. Those defending the ball screens when they exist must hustle to defend the offense away from the screens when on top where you want the court cut in half. If Purdue plays a "normal game" and the guards put forth a lot of hustle on D...Purdue can pull it out. MSU is loaded with talent and normally is, but as stated by DG10...they are young and prone to ups and downs...but less prone at home...