New Season, New Team, Fresh Start

To start off the year, Sports Round Table discusses football prospects, soccer, gymnastics and more!

What is Sports Round Table from The State News?

The State News sports reporters discuss all MSU sports.

Madi Warden: 00:15

Alright. Hello, everybody, and welcome back to the 2024, 25 Sports Roundtable podcast. I am Maddie Gordon, and I will be your host this year. And we're just here to talk about everything Michigan State sports. I've got a couple of guests.

Madi Warden: 00:32

They wanna introduce theirselves.

PJ Pfeiffer: 00:34

Yeah. My name is PJ Pfeiffer. I'm on the sports desk this year or this semester.

Luke Joseph: 00:39

And I'm Luke Joseph, and I'm also on the sports desk this year.

Madi Warden: 00:42

Heck yeah, dudes.

Luke Joseph: 00:43

So I

PJ Pfeiffer: 00:46

I just realized this is not being, filmed

Luke Joseph: 00:48

I know. A video.

PJ Pfeiffer: 00:49

I I've I've, like, tried to, like, get myself adjusted for the camera, but then I realized yeah.

Madi Warden: 00:53

I'm at the camera.

Luke Joseph: 00:54

I'm not

Madi Warden: 00:54

looking at

PJ Pfeiffer: 00:55

the camera.

Madi Warden: 00:56

So today, we're just gonna kinda obviously, we've got football going on. That's gonna be a big topic of conversation. Our women's soccer team has been absolutely killing it this year, and our volleyball team just, got finished winning a tournament at Breslin. So we're gonna start off talking about Michigan State Football. So 1st week of the season, they took on FAU, Florida Atlantic University at home, beat them 10 to 16.

Madi Warden: 01:23

So what were your guys' thoughts on that game?

Luke Joseph: 01:25

I mean, it was a it's a kind of a rough game to watch. Obviously, this first game of the year, there's gonna be, a lot of kind of mistakes that happen. You know, everybody's kinda getting used to each other. You know, Jonathan Smith brought in. I can't remember the amount of players off the top of my head, but he brought in a lot of transfers, a lot of players left from last year's team.

Luke Joseph: 01:52

You know, everyone's getting used to each other, as I said, and final score with 16 to 10. I mean, a a win is a win at the end of the day, so, obviously, we'll take that. But, you know, everybody's everybody's just kinda get gelling together.

PJ Pfeiffer: 02:11

Yeah. It seemed like they didn't really get into a groove the entire game. It wasn't like a consistent groove. I'm sure the team chemistry will obviously improve throughout the season, and I don't think it was, like, lacking a lot.

Madi Warden: 02:26

Oh, absolutely.

PJ Pfeiffer: 02:26

Yeah. But, during the first game, but I yeah. I just like it they weren't really con consistent throughout the throughout any of the quarters, I felt like.

Madi Warden: 02:35

Yeah. I feel like and that's the best way to put it was their consistency was just lacking. Like, you saw them obviously, their offense is the side of the game that I see struggle, but their defense looks great. Like, they Yeah. They played a really great defensive game.

Madi Warden: 02:50

Yeah. It was against FAU. Nothing against them. But, I mean, am I wrong with Right.

Luke Joseph: 02:55

I mean, there were there were, the offense couldn't really get it together. I mean, it was, you know, Aiden Charles' first game as a starter, and he went 10 of 24 with a 114 yards throwing and had 2 picks. So, obviously, it wasn't, his best game ever, and he even acknowledged that, in the postgame press conference. He's like, you know, I gotta be better. But the one positive that came out of that game was, the running game.

Luke Joseph: 03:23

You know, Nate Carter, 19 carries for 48 yards, but, the new addition, Keram Lynch Adams, had only 9 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown. So that was, like, the one positive that came out of that. Obviously, the passing game, you know, it was definitely lacking in the first game. You know, nobody could it was hard to get open. And, on the very first play, Aiden Charles, he, you know, threw that interception, which I don't blame him for that too much, because the the defender was like a great, you know, great play on the ball.

Luke Joseph: 04:05

And, you know, he got that foot inbounds, which, you know, kinda looked like he didn't, so it was kind of

Luke Joseph: 04:11

like a toss-up. But, as you said before, the defense looked really good. You know, obviously, FAU is not offensive powerhouse, you know. But it was nice to see that, you know, over the past you like, the past couple seasons even on our 10 and 2 team, the defense was obviously the weakest point and it was nice to see that, you know, that the defense had a lot of drinks.

Madi Warden: 04:40

So, I mean, we go from that game and we immediately have to jump into big 10 play. So us and Maryland are the first teams in the Big 10 to play a Big 10 opponent, I think.

PJ Pfeiffer: 04:52

Yeah.

Madi Warden: 04:52

Would I be correct on that? Yeah. I think so too.

Luke Joseph: 04:55

Yeah.

Madi Warden: 04:55

So, I mean, we jump from FAU to Maryland. We go to College Park, and we pull off a 27 to 24 win.

Luke Joseph: 05:03

Yeah. Mhmm.

Madi Warden: 05:04

I mean, just what a game. Like, we talk about I mean, the downside of that, we talk about Aiden Childs having 2 interceptions in the first game. He's got 5 interceptions total in the first two games. Mhmm. But, I mean, you have to think about, obviously, that connection between him and Nick Marsh was amazing.

Madi Warden: 05:25

The first game, 77 yard touchdown, like,

Luke Joseph: 05:28

that was Yeah.

PJ Pfeiffer: 05:28

That was insane. That was odds.

Madi Warden: 05:30

And our defense still looked great, but just what did you guys think about that game?

Luke Joseph: 05:37

Yeah. I mean, as you said, obviously, I think everybody as a Michigan State fan, they were kinda looking for that Aidan Charles Nick Marsh connection. Yeah. And they definitely saw it against Maryland. You know, he had that 77 yard touchdown.

Luke Joseph: 05:52

I believe he had, he had a 194 yards receiving on That was 8 receptions. That's Yeah. But, I mean, that's just that's just nuts. And he turns 17 on, September 12th or

Madi Warden: 06:07

He wasn't.

Luke Joseph: 06:07

Turns 18, excuse me, on September 12th. So he's still 17.

Madi Warden: 06:11

Right. And wasn't that, like, the most receiving yards by a freshman wide receiver

Luke Joseph: 06:17

I think that is right. Yeah.

Madi Warden: 06:18

That set a record for freshman wide receivers across college football.

Luke Joseph: 06:22

Wow. Yeah. I mean, he was

Madi Warden: 06:23

A 17 year old?

Luke Joseph: 06:24

That's crazy. He was 17. That's just I mean, he was he was, he was second in, like, receiving yards on Saturday only behind, somebody from Fresno State, who had, I believe, a little bit over 200 yards of receiving. And but just the fact that as a 17 year old, he could put up that much production, you know. And I mean, he's it's like he still had that touchdown.

Luke Joseph: 06:52

You know, it's just amazing to see what he can do in the future.

PJ Pfeiffer: 06:56

Yeah. I, I remember over the summer, I covered MSU football a little bit, like their practices in media media availability. And one of the availabilities, it was with Aidan Chiles, and he he said a lot, but, yeah, very, yeah, very funny guy. But one of the things he said was, I I love the pressure. Mhmm.

PJ Pfeiffer: 07:19

And then he was like, but, honestly, I don't really feel pressure, because I'm pretty paraphrasing, because I'm just that guy. You know? Like, he's amazing. Right? And I feel like we kinda saw that.

PJ Pfeiffer: 07:28

I think he got more comfortable in Maryland, which is, like, kinda funny because it was an away game, 1st big ten game, but, you know, maybe he's he's right. Maybe he doesn't feel the pressure. Yeah. Yeah.

Madi Warden: 07:37

Yeah. You gotta get the pressure off of your shoulders, though, in that first game and just, like, obviously, it was his home opener for Michigan State. Like, obviously, a historic school, a historic program. Like Mhmm. He's gotta figure out how to get that pressure off his shoulders eventually.

Madi Warden: 07:53

And being a home opener as a starting sophomore

Luke Joseph: 07:59

who

Madi Warden: 07:59

didn't get to start last year. Like, that Mhmm. Probably

Luke Joseph: 08:02

These are his first two starts, like, ever in college football. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Luke Joseph: 08:07

I mean, also the I don't wanna I also wanna give congrats to also, Jerome Glover and Foster and Velling. It just looked like every everybody on the outside was just getting involved. You know, Glover and Foster each had a touchdown as well. So it's not like early in this in the summer, I thought that, Charles would kinda go to velling a lot more because he's an experienced tight end. You know, the tight end is kinda more of that safety blanket who, you know, if nobody can get open, you know, you can just check it down to them.

Luke Joseph: 08:40

They get a nice 6, 7 yards. And it's just it's just good to see that, Charles has still has a ton of confidence in himself that he doesn't not that he doesn't, you know, need veiling, but it's just good to see that he trusts the receivers on on, MSU, and he's got a lot of faith in them. Mhmm. I think that's really cool. Definitely.

Luke Joseph: 09:06

Yeah.

Madi Warden: 09:07

I mean, whatever receiver is open, just pass to them and see what happens. I mean, once

PJ Pfeiffer: 09:13

Yeah. Yeah. Blocked and

Madi Warden: 09:14

hurt, we get another interception, which we already had

Luke Joseph: 09:17

5 in

Madi Warden: 09:17

2 games. 5. So, I mean, just go for it. We're building from the bottom up here on this team. Like, we have we are basically building from rock bottom right now because last year was a disaster to put it frankly.

Madi Warden: 09:30

Like, it's not what we thought it was going to be. And now we have new coaching staff, new coach, new players. Like, it's something that we have to

Luke Joseph: 09:40

build from Totally revamp roster at this point.

Madi Warden: 09:43

Exactly. Yeah. So I obviously, I wanna highlight, what who everybody's been calling Jonathan Kim. Jonathan Kim. Jonathan Kim.

Madi Warden: 09:52

He was have you guys not seen people on Twitter have been calling him Jonathan Kim?

PJ Pfeiffer: 09:57

I have not. I have not said that, but I that's funny.

Luke Joseph: 09:59

He is just him.

Madi Warden: 10:01

I mean, he's the reason that we won that game at the end of the day with Yeah. The field goal. I mean

PJ Pfeiffer: 10:06

No. Totally.

Luke Joseph: 10:06

Yeah. He's he's him. What what else can we say? I mean, he's just he's just him. He's just him.

Madi Warden: 10:14

I have no other words to say besides he's just him.

Luke Joseph: 10:17

Yeah. So,

Madi Warden: 10:17

I mean, we were talking about it a little bit before this, but who are your guys' who who is in the run right now? I mean, after 2 weeks of college football, who's up for a national championship?

PJ Pfeiffer: 10:31

I'm not sure if it was you or or Luke or Casper who said this, but, Texas? Mhmm.

Luke Joseph: 10:36

I think that was Casper.

PJ Pfeiffer: 10:38

That was Casper. Yeah. Casper. Casper brought that up. Yeah.

PJ Pfeiffer: 10:42

I feel like Texas, or Georgia. Right?

Luke Joseph: 10:46

Yeah. I've seen a

Madi Warden: 10:47

lot about Georgia, but, I mean, I think Luke said it before is Georgia is always in the running.

Luke Joseph: 10:52

I have Georgia and Ohio State in the final. I think Georgia I think those are the 2 most talented teams. I'd put Texas in there as well. Even though I I will admit I'm not the biggest fan of Quinn Ewers as the Texas quarterback, but, you know, he's prove he's definitely proving me wrong. I think he's right now, I think him and Cam Ward out of Miami are the 2 Heisman front runners.

Luke Joseph: 11:20

I don't know that off the top of my head, but I believe, like, the betting odds. I think those 2 are in the lead, but George is just Carson Beck is just so good as a as a quarterback, and, I like Will Howard. Ohio State found another, Marvin Harrison Junior are already, Jeremiah Smith, and he's he's a freshman too just like Nick Marsh.

Madi Warden: 11:47

Mhmm.

Luke Joseph: 11:49

I think he has over 300 receiving yards in just 2 games. And that Ohio State receiver room is already stacked. Like, they're they're wide receiver u university at this point. And the fact that they have a freshman leading leading them in receiving yards is just that's just mind blowing to me, and it it stinks as an MSU fan having to see Jeremiah Smith now for 3 years in a row when we just got rid of Marvin Harrison.

Madi Warden: 12:26

Right.

Luke Joseph: 12:26

You know, it's but Ohio State and Georgia are my 2 picks.

Madi Warden: 12:31

Obviously, we get through the 1st 2 weeks of Michigan State season. Sorry. Jumping back and forth here a little bit. We got Boston College coming up this weekend. I'm sorry.

Madi Warden: 12:40

Next weekend. Prairie View's this weekend. Yeah. Whoops. Yeah.

Madi Warden: 12:43

Getting my schedules mixed up. What are we thinking? I'm sorry.

PJ Pfeiffer: 12:48

Not What

Madi Warden: 12:49

are we thinking going into this weekend now?

Luke Joseph: 12:51

I mean, it should be a I don't wanna disrespect Prairie View in any way, but I think we should hopefully come out with the win against them. Not I I don't wanna put any disrespect on Prairie View. I think they're, you know, pretty good team, in their conference. I don't know their their conference to be exact, but, you know, they're they're college football.

Madi Warden: 13:12

I'll be walking off.

Luke Joseph: 13:13

I mean, they're college football players so, you know, they they're gonna be competitive. You know, we can't take them take them lightly. But it's I think we should come out with the with the win there.

Madi Warden: 13:26

They're on the SWAC, the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Alright. Never heard of them. I've never heard

Luke Joseph: 13:32

of that. You know, they're they're a college football team. They're gonna be competitive. Yeah. You know?

Luke Joseph: 13:38

We'll give them the respect that I think they they deserve, and, I think we'll we'll still come out with the w.

PJ Pfeiffer: 13:46

I have a I have a prediction. I think we're gonna win 28 to 7.

Madi Warden: 13:51

Alright. Well, I'm holding it against you.

Luke Joseph: 13:53

Yeah. Alright.

Madi Warden: 13:54

PJ's predictions. 28 to 7. Alright.

Luke Joseph: 13:59

We can move on to Boston College.

Madi Warden: 14:02

Let's do it then. I mean, obviously, we'll have I think that's kind of still. Like, it's

Luke Joseph: 14:06

That's kind of, like, more a talked about game, I guess. Yeah. Mhmm. I think that's that's gonna be Michigan State's 1st loss.

Madi Warden: 14:15

It's gonna be an interesting game.

Luke Joseph: 14:16

Yeah. You can put that down with my bold predictions. Oh, wow. Yeah. Write it down.

PJ Pfeiffer: 14:21

Write it down.

Madi Warden: 14:22

Jeez o Pete.

Luke Joseph: 14:24

I think that's gonna be our 1st loss.

PJ Pfeiffer: 14:26

I I could see that happening. Yeah.

Luke Joseph: 14:28

I mean, Bill O'Brien is their new head coach. He's he has a ton of coaching experience. They beat, I think they beat Florida State. Obviously, Florida State isn't what we, you know, thought they were even though I didn't have Florida State in my top 25. I still thought they were gonna be relatively competitive.

Luke Joseph: 14:49

But, you know, the fact that they still beat up, Florida State, they're gonna that's gonna be a tough game. And plus it's on the road too at Boston College. I just think that, you know, with all that experience that Boston College has, I just think that that's gonna be the game that, you know, slips away from us. Yeah.

Madi Warden: 15:09

They've got a pretty, like, veteran core too, don't they, like, Boston College does?

Luke Joseph: 15:14

Yeah. They I mean, they do. You know, I think, let me pull up Boston College's roster. I know they have a good quarterback. Their running game is definitely elite.

Luke Joseph: 15:28

They have a really good offensive line, which is Bill Ryan's specialty is, you know, he likes he likes to run the football. And I'm in Boston College this past weekend. They they moved up in the polls. They're now ranked 24th in the country.

Madi Warden: 15:41

Oh,

Luke Joseph: 15:41

wow. So, you know, I think that's gonna be a really, really tough game. So

Madi Warden: 15:47

I mean, I guess I never no offense to Boston College, but I never thought of them as being a relevant football school just because I've always focused on them. Their hockey has always been a league. Yeah. It was interesting to see them play against a team like Florida State who had, obviously, a lot going for him last year and then Mhmm. Barely missing out on the playoffs and just getting stuck with a bowl game.

Madi Warden: 16:11

But I mean I

Luke Joseph: 16:12

mean, it was nice seeing Boston College beat up on Florida State after State stole Keon from us. So Yeah.

Madi Warden: 16:19

That's true. But now Keon's not even there.

Luke Joseph: 16:21

It was still good to see. I mean, Keon Coleman, MSU legend at this point. Yeah. So Yeah.

PJ Pfeiffer: 16:30

It's just funny because I always thought of Boston College as a soccer team or a soccer school because my brother went to college for soccer, and he was looking at Boston College.

Madi Warden: 16:40

Oh, really? Yeah.

PJ Pfeiffer: 16:41

Because they had

Luke Joseph: 16:41

a good soccer program.

Madi Warden: 16:42

I did not know that.

Luke Joseph: 16:42

I didn't know that. Programs.

PJ Pfeiffer: 16:45

Maybe they don't anymore. He's old.

Luke Joseph: 16:47

So I

PJ Pfeiffer: 16:47

mean, he's he's not,

Luke Joseph: 16:48

like, old.

PJ Pfeiffer: 16:49

He's he's 7 years older than us.

Madi Warden: 16:51

Speaking of soccer.

PJ Pfeiffer: 16:53

Oh, okay. Transition. Okay.

Madi Warden: 16:55

Oh, yeah. Our MSU women's soccer team has been very relevant lately to Michigan State. They're ranked number 5 in the country at the moment. They just finished the 2nd season in 4 years in the Jeff Hasler era that they have gone undefeated in non conference play. So just this past Sunday, they beat Loyola Chicago 1 nothing, scored in the 84th minute of the game.

Madi Warden: 17:19

There was, like so that would have been 6 minutes left to the game.

PJ Pfeiffer: 17:22

Uh-huh. Yeah.

Madi Warden: 17:23

Bella Najera from was it Belle yeah. It was who scored that? It was Bella Najera or it was Justina Gainer and just let it go into the top corner, like, opposite side of the net. And the goalie tried to block it from the top, and it slipped over her fingers and went in. So they won that game, won nothing.

Luke Joseph: 17:46

Oh, wow.

PJ Pfeiffer: 17:46

You love to see that. It was, Justina It was Justina. Gaynor. Yeah.

Madi Warden: 17:52

They have just they drew 2 games. Mhmm.

Luke Joseph: 17:56

I have it here. It's Xavier and Arkansas.

Madi Warden: 18:00

Xavier and Arkansas, they drew everything else they won. But, obviously, like, Jeff Hosler has left a mark already. He's been here for I think this is his 5th season.

Luke Joseph: 18:15

I think it is his

Madi Warden: 18:16

It's his 4th or 5th season.

Luke Joseph: 18:18

Yeah. Uh-huh.

Madi Warden: 18:19

And he's already led them to 2 back to back big 10 championships. Like, he's he's doing something for this program. Yeah.

Luke Joseph: 18:29

I mean, it's exciting to watch. You know, we beat Notre Dame the first game of the year, tied Arkansas. And then the rest of the competition, we've just, you know, against Notre Dame, it was 2 to 1 victory. Against Ohio, it was 3 nothing. Ole Miss, 1 nothing.

Luke Joseph: 18:45

Queens to North Carolina, 6 nothing.

Madi Warden: 18:48

Yeah. Oh, jeez.

Luke Joseph: 18:49

I mean, the only games that we've let up a goal, were ties. So and then we just shut everybody else out. And then the, upcoming game against Maryland at Maryland tomorrow and then at home against Nebraska, you know, starting to get into a big 10 play. It's gonna be exciting to watch. You know, hopefully, we can keep the streak of every time we win, we just shut them out.

Luke Joseph: 19:18

That'd be really cool to see.

PJ Pfeiffer: 19:20

Yeah. Yeah. What that's a 2 yeah. Four clean sheets. That's really that's really great.

PJ Pfeiffer: 19:27

It's hard to do. Yeah. I think yeah. Like, as Luke was saying, if we can keep this up, especially against, like, the bigger schools like Maryland, yeah, like Penn State, that would be real and, of course, Michigan. Come on.

PJ Pfeiffer: 19:40

Yeah. That'd be really great. It'd definitely be hard to do, but yeah.

Madi Warden: 19:46

Honestly, their game against Loyola Chicago, I'd obviously, you see them winning games 6 nothing, 31, drawing 22. But Loyola Chicago was a tough opponent for them. Like, they were back and forth the whole game. I mean, Michigan State's offense was just blowing them out of the water. They had 16 shots on goal compared to 5 shots on goal from Loyola Chicago.

Madi Warden: 20:08

Wow. So, obviously, their defense and how they were playing was out of this world, but still, I mean, Loyola Chicago was all over them. They were back and forth all the time. But

PJ Pfeiffer: 20:22

Mhmm.

Madi Warden: 20:22

Obviously, they come out victorious in the end, and that's again, like we said about football, we got the win and that's all that matters. We had a few really good opportunities to win more than 1 to 0, but their goalie was playing on her head

PJ Pfeiffer: 20:39

Right.

Madi Warden: 20:39

Just because she stopped 15 out of 16 shots on goal.

PJ Pfeiffer: 20:43

Alright. Yeah.

Madi Warden: 20:44

But they have been a really, really fun, interesting team to keep up on. Like, they have been in the past few seasons. And I know that if Archer were here, that he would be talking our ears off about

Luke Joseph: 20:55

it in 45 minutes. Totally. Yeah.

Madi Warden: 20:58

They have, Meg Hughes. She's a transfer from Princeton. She's been fantastic. She's a grad student this year. But yeah.

Madi Warden: 21:05

I mean, they're a fun team to watch. They're fun to keep up on and yeah. Yeah. That's all she wrote. That's all she wrote.

Luke Joseph: 21:14

Do you have the the rankings up for women's soccer?

Madi Warden: 21:19

I don't. I know that we're number 5 unless we've gone up or down and because I think polls come out on Tuesday.

Luke Joseph: 21:25

I have it or I have it right here. So Stanford is 1. I think Stanford's always been

Madi Warden: 21:31

Stanford has a really good

Luke Joseph: 21:32

time for the team. And then Virginia, Florida State, and then Arkansas is number 4. So the fact that we, you know, we tied them, I think that's that's an amazing thing. Even though we didn't come out with the victory, you know, tying a top 5 team

Madi Warden: 21:48

Yeah.

Luke Joseph: 21:49

Is just an amazing achievement on its own.

Madi Warden: 21:52

It speaks a lot.

PJ Pfeiffer: 21:54

Penn State, is in 12th is ranked 12th. It's another big 10 team. Let's see.

Luke Joseph: 22:01

Iowa 17. Mhmm.

PJ Pfeiffer: 22:03

Ohio State, 20th.

Luke Joseph: 22:06

UCLA 22. And I think I

PJ Pfeiffer: 22:09

think that's it. Right?

Luke Joseph: 22:10

I was gonna say

Madi Warden: 22:11

there was 4 or 5 teams

Luke Joseph: 22:12

I know.

Madi Warden: 22:13

Top twenty 5 from

Luke Joseph: 22:14

the US. Their, USC, has received according to, like, the NCAA, they they've received about 10 votes to be, in the top 25. And then also, I think that's it. But Big 10 is very competitive this year. So

Madi Warden: 22:32

It's always fun personally for me to see a team like women's soccer or volleyball or any of the, like, smaller teams that people don't watch as prominently as football, basketball, hockey Mhmm. To, like, shine a light on the school that Mhmm. We have teams that can dominate just as much as your teams can. Same goes for, like, our gymnastics team. Like, we're back to back big 10 champions in gymnastics too.

Madi Warden: 22:59

And, like, you see all of the hype that the teams are getting that Mhmm. Like, you're so used to the football team getting or the basketball team getting. But sometimes those teams aren't as good as you hype them up to be or as good as you want them to be and

Luke Joseph: 23:15

Yeah. Yeah. I went to a women's gymnastics event, last year and that was really cool to watch. I've actually never been to one before and covering it, it was really fun. There were like a ton of people there, you know, cheering cheering on the Spartans and, after watching, they totally deserve to be back to back big 10 champions.

Luke Joseph: 23:37

They're just unbelievable.

Madi Warden: 23:39

I mean, gymnastics is fun. Like, obviously, after especially watching the Olympics this year

PJ Pfeiffer: 23:43

Oh, yeah.

Madi Warden: 23:44

Like, you get Simone Biles

Luke Joseph: 23:45

Simone Biles.

Madi Warden: 23:46

And, Sunil Lee and, like, all those people that are on teams everywhere. Like, it's entertaining. It's fun. And people finally actually realize that they're fun to watch.

Luke Joseph: 23:57

I consider gymnastics to be probably the one of the hardest sports in, like, the world. Absolutely. Arguably, the hardest sport

Madi Warden: 24:06

Mhmm.

Luke Joseph: 24:07

In the world. I know I can I can never do a, like, a fraction of what they do? Right. Never. Yeah.

Luke Joseph: 24:14

I don't I don't I think the only Olympic sport that I could honestly do is just break dancing. But even then, I can't.

Madi Warden: 24:22

I think anybody can do break dancing after 1 week, Australia. Yeah.

Luke Joseph: 24:27

But, I mean, yeah, that's what I'm saying. Like, nobody else can I know I can do any gymnastics, so break dancing is the next next option that I could do?

PJ Pfeiffer: 24:36

Right. Watch out. 2028.

Madi Warden: 24:39

Here comes Luke. He's doing breakage to get the gymnastics or at the gym. Gymnastics. Gymnastics. Woohoo.

Luke Joseph: 24:47

Gymnastics just needs that break dancing and then I'll I would be the star.

PJ Pfeiffer: 24:52

I'm I'm

Luke Joseph: 24:53

good. Yeah.

Madi Warden: 24:53

It's a golf medal wing to happen. You're the only one on the podium. I think so. So, I mean, obviously, we go from soccer, had a huge weekend finishing out nonconference in volleyball. Also, had a big weekend at Breslin as they hosted the Cathy Du Boer, invitational.

Madi Warden: 25:12

Oh, invitational. And I know, PJ, you said that you were at a game. So just what were your thoughts on that?

PJ Pfeiffer: 25:20

Yeah. So I went to the game against Western Kentucky. So pretty much, MSU, they ended up sweeping everyone and winning the whole invitational. But so when I saw the game against Western Kentucky, the main thing that stood out to me was it's just very fluid. Like, the you know, when they would go from defense to offense, literally, just like the bumps that spike.

PJ Pfeiffer: 25:42

Like, literally, it was just so fluid. The communication between the background front row were just perfect. Mhmm. It seemed very easy. Mhmm.

PJ Pfeiffer: 25:50

Like, when they were in a groove, because they MSU, obviously, like, homecourt, I totally get homecourt advantage. But when they got some type of momentum, like, they went on, like, a 10 o run Right. Like, multiple times. And it was it was, like, I'd be scared if I were an opponent. Like, it was yeah.

PJ Pfeiffer: 26:09

They they're just unstoppable at some points.

Madi Warden: 26:12

I mean, I obviously, I I didn't play volleyball in high school. Like, I was never a huge volleyball fan, but I went to 1 media availability last year, and I have nothing but great things to say about head coach Leah Johnson.

PJ Pfeiffer: 26:23

Yeah.

Madi Warden: 26:23

She is amazing. She cares about that team so much. She's so passionate about volleyball. Like, she I have nothing but great things to say about her, and everybody that I have talked to would agree with me on that too.

PJ Pfeiffer: 26:36

Yeah. Totally. Yeah.

Luke Joseph: 26:38

I mean, it's it's fun to it's fun to see. You know, we beat Western Kentucky, Maris Loyola, Chicago. We did unfortunately, lose to Northern Colorado, but I'm pretty sure they're a they're a good team. Yeah. But we did get Colorado State.

Luke Joseph: 26:55

Records 4 and 2, I believe.

PJ Pfeiffer: 26:58

Yeah. I think so. Yeah. 4 and 2. I mean, we're we're

Luke Joseph: 27:02

very competitive volleyball team. It's, yeah, it's just nice to see that, you know, a lot of, like, the smaller sports, Maddie, as you said, you know, we're playing they're playing their butts off, and it's just good to see that, you know, a lot of people are still out supporting them. Maybe not drawing as much people as football and basketball, but it's still awesome to see that there's still a ton of fan support.

PJ Pfeiffer: 27:27

Mhmm. Yeah. And it definitely the attendance is definitely not the same as obviously, football because but, but just said, like, basketball. But from what I saw, like, the fans get so into it, and it's so great to see. Like, they are the momentum shifters, definitely.

Madi Warden: 27:45

Absolutely. I honestly I would go as far as to say that I would compare, like, our women's volleyball team to our women's basketball team because they're just both so resilient. And we saw that last year with Michigan State women's basketball, 1st year head coaching for Robin Freilich. Like, they were they were unstoppable. They were great.

Madi Warden: 28:03

Obviously, they didn't make it as far in the tournament as we wanted them to, which Mhmm. Was a bummer. But, like, you see the same energy feed off of both the volleyball team and the women's basketball team in my Yeah. Own words. Like, I feel like that's the best way to compare the 2 of them is they're just resilient to each other.

PJ Pfeiffer: 28:23

Totally. Yeah.

Luke Joseph: 28:24

I've been, I'm actually doing a story on the fans' expectations for the women's basketball team and I've been getting a ton of people coming out and just saying that they're really excited to see this team next year and build off the success that we had last year. You know, unfortunately, we I think we lost in the 1st round in the tournament. But, you know, a 1st year head coach, we had a 22 and 9 record, last year. I think that's that's incredible as a 1st year head coach regardless of any sport. You know, the fact that you managed to to make the double NCAA tournament and have that kind of record, it's just amazing to see.

Luke Joseph: 29:10

And then, you know, next year, hopefully, we can build upon that, you know, may hopefully, get to, you know, win the game in the NCAA tournament. Mhmm. You know, hopefully, win get to the sweet 16. Yeah. I I can't wait for women's basketball.

Luke Joseph: 29:29

Yeah.

Madi Warden: 29:30

I feel like it always comes back to Caitlin Clark has changed the way that we all view women's basketball. Like, she has changed the face of women's basketball. Personally, I've, like, heard this opinion from other people too is I could name one person who went in the 1st round of the NBA draft last year. I could name, like, 5 or 6 from women's from the WNBA draft.

PJ Pfeiffer: 29:49

Totally. Yeah.

Luke Joseph: 29:50

Now the big ten has Juju Watkins from USC. Yeah. Her and Paige Becker are arguably the 2 best players in college women's college basketball.

Madi Warden: 30:00

Right.

Luke Joseph: 30:01

And Juju is just a sophomore.

Madi Warden: 30:03

Right.

Luke Joseph: 30:03

Yeah. And the fact that she's got so much attention on her, it's just incredible to see. I mean, I've I saw her in, I believe, a a Hulu commercial. I think it was Hulu. I can't remember, but it was a a commercial where she's with Joel Embiid of the 70 sixes.

Luke Joseph: 30:20

I'm like, she's a it's like she's a college student with a professional NBA player. Like, that's something unheard of before. Like, I don't I don't see any I don't even see anybody in in football get a commercial with Patrick Mahomes or anybody like that. Probably maybe Shidore Sanders from Colorado, but like, you know, he's, you know, Deion Sanders son, but this Juju Watkins, she has a potential to to break Caitlin Clark's scoring record. I'd wholeheartedly believe that.

Luke Joseph: 30:54

Like, it took Caitlin Clark 4 seasons. I think Juju has a potential to do it in 3. Yeah. It's I mean, it's just it's just an exciting time for women's basketball.

Madi Warden: 31:03

It really is. Yeah. Alright. Do we have anything else? I don't think we do.

Madi Warden: 31:09

I don't

Luke Joseph: 31:09

think so.

PJ Pfeiffer: 31:09

I don't think we do.

Madi Warden: 31:11

I don't think so. This is always a, like, this is always a bad time. Obviously, I love doing this podcast. It's fun. I love getting to talk to you guys about sports just because that's what we all love together.

Madi Warden: 31:23

But it's just such like a downtime right now because you don't have basketball, you don't have hockey, you don't have, like, all of these big sports that are playing right now, especially at Michigan State. Like, you only get 4 or 5 that are, like

Luke Joseph: 31:36

Right. Right,

Madi Warden: 31:37

very relevant to campus and talking about that.

PJ Pfeiffer: 31:42

So Right. Yeah.

Madi Warden: 31:43

Alright. We're keeping the traditional live folks.

Luke Joseph: 31:46

Okay. Oh,

PJ Pfeiffer: 31:46

here we go. Here we go.

Madi Warden: 31:48

I looked on spartanwired.usatoday.com

PJ Pfeiffer: 31:53

Okay.

Madi Warden: 31:54

And phone trivia.

Luke Joseph: 31:56

Okay.

Madi Warden: 31:57

So today's trivia question is I have a, b, c, d.

PJ Pfeiffer: 32:01

Okay.

Madi Warden: 32:01

Who is Michigan State's career leader in passing yards? A, Connor Cook, b, Kirk Cousins, c, Brian Heuer, or, d, Jeff Smoker?

PJ Pfeiffer: 32:14

I'm gonna say Kirk Cousins. I'm

Luke Joseph: 32:19

who is who is d again? Brian Smoker? Jeff Smoker. Jeff Smoker. I've never heard of Jeff in my life.

Luke Joseph: 32:26

I'm I'm sorry, Jeff. I'm sure you're

Madi Warden: 32:29

Jeff, if you're out there listening. Out there listening, you

Luke Joseph: 32:32

know, I'm sure you're a great great guy. I'm gonna go with I'm gonna you know what? I'm gonna go with Jeff.

Madi Warden: 32:39

Connor

Luke Joseph: 32:39

Cook? Wow. Okay.

Madi Warden: 32:42

I feel like Kirko would probably be a close second, though.

PJ Pfeiffer: 32:45

Yeah. Uh-huh.

Luke Joseph: 32:46

Just because it's Kirko Jones. I I don't think anybody was gonna pick Brian Hoyer. Yeah. Even the much love to Brian, but

Madi Warden: 32:53

Brian, if you're also out there.

Luke Joseph: 32:54

If you're also out there.

Madi Warden: 32:55

Brian, so sorry. Alright. I think that is it for this week on the sports roundtable podcast, and we will see you guys next week.

PJ Pfeiffer: 33:04

Cool. Thank you for having me.

Madi Warden: 33:06

Anytime. Bye bye. Bye bye.