The State News sports reporters discuss all MSU sports.
Welcome back to sports roundtable, State News' sports podcast. I am your host, Jacob Smith, guested by Luke Joseph, but rest in peace to my cohost, Patty Warden. She is currently covering MSU hockey in the NCAA tournament, which is starting tomorrow night in Toledo. So best of luck to the hockey team and her reporting, but definitely not the same luck this week. But I'm glad to have Luke here today because if there's anybody I wouldn't have guests on.
Jacob:It's Luke to take over that. So thank you for being here. And today we got yeah, of course. Today we got a little bit of exciting episode for you guys. Spent a lot of time in professional sports reasons.
Jacob:So we're gonna bring bring it back to earth a little bit with some Michigan State. But Michigan State men's basketball just had a great weekend in their first two games in the NCAA March Madness tournament. They had an 87 to 62 win over 15 seed Bryant in the round of 64 and a 71 to 63 win over number 10 seed New Mexico in the round of 32, and they will take on Ole Miss six seed Ole Miss in the three sixteen. So, Luke, I know we had we saw two games, two very high intensity basketball games because it's March Madness. What did you kinda see from this weekend overall from Michigan State's perspective?
Luke:Yeah. I mean, I thought I thought they played, you know, pretty well. That Bryant win was a was a pretty convincing and dominant win, whereas New Mexico, we're down, I believe, by 10 at one point and down by two going into the second half. So we really had to fight for that one. But overall, it was really good to see Cohen Carr.
Luke:You know, he's kinda like having his breakout tournament so far with these two games. Mhmm. That's been really impressive to see. You know, they did have a little bit of a slow start against Bryant, but overall, they were just, you know, very it seemed very much in control throughout the course of that game.
Jacob:Yeah. And, I mean, sometimes that's gonna happen because in March, every single team that's in the tournament, matter what their seed is or where they came from in terms of conference, is playing for their lives, playing to survive, and at least, see another game in the postseason. So totally expected that, at least a 15 seed hung with Michigan State for a little bit. Brian's a very good team.
Luke:Yeah.
Jacob:And they won their conference for a reason. So, I mean, that goes into account, but kinda highlighting that game first. Because it like you said, it was an interesting one. They they've give you some like, I don't wanna say a scare because they kind of ran away with it the second half, but they they they proved they could hang around for a little bit.
Luke:Yeah. I mean, you know, the Bryant's a very good team, you know, and like you said, in March, anything can happen. You know? I I think last year, I think the two seed lost to a 15 seed. I think I definitely two years ago,
Jacob:we had
Luke:Purdue lose to
Jacob:actually one see that one. But yes, fairly tickets in 16 seeds. Princeton be Arizona was was a 15 over two in that same tournament. So it's been done before St. Peters.
Jacob:I mean, it's gone to the Elite Eight. So I
Luke:mean, the, you know, last couple of years, there have just been massive upsets. But, you know, credit to Michigan State for for playing so well, especially in the second half. You know, there was a little bit of a scare that but that that was early on. So it just you just gotta believe in Izzo to get these guys, you know, to play a lot better in the second half, they definitely did that.
Jacob:Yeah. And I think that is those coaching style really was evident in these first two games, especially against Bryant. I mean, I'm not going to harmonize on the depth that we've talked about with this team all year, because we've said it a million times, but it's just really good how time is it can refresh and recycle and I'm gonna get to New Mexico in a little bit too with how many guys they played. Or no, it was the brand game. Sorry.
Jacob:Brian's thirty five all played over twenty minutes and four of those five players played thirty three minutes or more during the entire game. Their second their guy the first guy off the bench played eleven minutes and then nobody else saw more than five. So just to go to show you that timezone Michigan State was like, you may be able to run with us for a little bit, but once you get tired and once we start subbing all of our guys and you're not gonna be able to hang with us and you're gonna get tired, and we're just gonna beat you that way, which I think is really crazy to see.
Luke:Yeah. I mean, on looking at the box score on ESPN, Bryant only had eight bench points compared to MSUs doing trying to do quick maths. I can't do math that quickly, but Colin Carr had 18 coming off the bench, which was, very big. Even if you took Frankie Fiddler and Nick Sanders in that game, they tied the Bryant bench in in points. So that was good to see.
Luke:Yeah. You know? But it it was just it was just overall really good game to watch if you're a Michigan State fan. Jay Surchison had 15. Jeremy Fierce put up 11.
Luke:Akins had 11. Trey Hallman being that six man had 14. You know, Colin Carr had 18, which I believe was a career high. Yeah. I don't think he's ever led the team in points so far throughout his career.
Luke:So that was really, really good to see out of him. And, you know, that could be kind of like a a preview to his next two years to come because he he's so incredibly talented.
Jacob:Yeah. I'm glad that you brought up Cohen Carr because obviously with 18 points and seven of 10 shooting and expanded twenty two minutes, he he played a lot more than he normally does. Yeah. We saw the flashes, and we know there's always been flashes with Cohen Carr. I mean, the same thing like we say with Michigan State's death.
Jacob:We could talk to you all day about how high Cohen Carr can jump and all the dunks and blocks that he gets that are just highlight real worthy. But we knew the biggest flaw in his game was not being able to have a consistent jump shot. He's hit a few threes this year and his free throw percentage a night and day difference since about a third of the way through the season and and on and compared to the first third of the season or whatever. So he's really improved in that sense too. And I mean, scoring 80 points efficiently for the way that he plays because he's gonna the ball.
Jacob:He's gonna rip it. He's gonna attack you right at the rim. So, like, he's taking, I guess, you could say low percentage looks around the rim because even though he's driving to the hoop, there's two or three guys in there at the pain at all times when he's driving up, and he just finds ways to either lay it up around him, get it, like, he'll dunk on you if he wants. I mean, he's Yeah. Taken a few midrages here and there, but I think it's really been impressive to see how much he's developed.
Jacob:And like you said, he's got two more years left if he chooses to do that, see how he kind of develops because I think he could be NBA ready if he develops a jump shot.
Luke:I mean, he went seven of 10 from the field. He didn't take a single three point shot. You know? But he he is not three point shooting or shooting in general has never been a strong suit. So it's it'd be good to see for him to kinda develop that next year just being a little bit more confident in shot.
Luke:But, you know, he went four or five from the free throw line, which is, you know, pretty impressive because he's not the best three free throw shooter. But I think that hit the most underrated part of his game is his his defensive ability. Oh my gosh. You know, I people like to see all the blocked shots. He, you know, kinda comes out of nowhere and just blocks a shot.
Luke:But, you know, he's he's a pretty good on ball defender and a good off ball defender. You know, he's kinda being a little disruptive and, you know, he can stay with his man and, you know, I wouldn't, you know, put him at the five. But if you wanted to go with the small ball lineup, I think depending on how big the other team center is, you could definitely put him in that small ball five to play a lot faster.
Jacob:Yeah. Most definitely. And Tom has just done that this year and not playing him on a center, but he's played on had played going car defensively on other three or fours just because he can do that. And because his vertical is so high, he can contest shots. He can block shots at a very high level.
Jacob:I mean, he's six five, which I mean, it's the same height as me. So like it it feels like it's the tallest he felt like he's the tallest six five guy I've ever seen in my life. But to that point, like, his height isn't, like, crazy high for a forward even guard position. So just seeing him be able to contend and really stretch the floor defensively with some of the guys that he lines up against on the other side of the ball is is really fascinating to see. And like we said, his development and his contribution contribution to this game specifically, but also this first round.
Jacob:First few games of the tournament has really been insane. And I mean, him, the rest of the guys that have been helping us all year and really showing that veteran leadership helped us out in this game as well. I mean, we had five scores and double figures during this this first round game against Bryant with Jay's fears Aiken's car and Trey Holliman. So it just shows you that there's guys that can score. I know the three pointing is what it is.
Jacob:And we'll touch on that in a little bit. But there's guys are getting to the rim guys are getting good looks, good shots, Trey Homans three has really come along a long way. Even though they had a slow start, they really finished strong. And I mean, this was a five point game at halftime 33 to 28, and then MSU outscored Bryant by 20 in the second half with 54 total points.
Luke:They went fifteen and twenty one from the free throw line, 10 to 26 from the three point line, which I don't remember last time MSU took that many three point shots. But, you know, they which I think is kind of a rarity for for them to kinda shoot that much in terms of threes. I could be wrong on that. But, you know, they have not been a good three point shooting team all year. They've been, I believe, dead last in the big 10 at just over 31%.
Luke:So but, you know, I think an impressive thing is that they're getting to the free throw line a lot. You know, 15 to 21, only 71% from the from the line, which which is good. But Jeremy Fears is he's been very aggressive, which I think has been very, very, very positive. You know, he went six of eight from the from the line, which is good. You know?
Luke:And then Trey Holliman went two of two. Jace got to the line. Jay Nakins got to the line. Cohen Carr went four of five from the line. So, you know, the fact that they're able to get to the free throw line, you know, get people into foul trouble, which is something that I think that previous Spartan teams haven't really been good at doing is getting to the free throw line.
Luke:So the fact that they are getting to the free throw line, I think that's that's gonna be great down the stretch.
Jacob:I agree too. You know? They're very confident.
Luke:If you can get it's like if you can get, you know, it like let's say they're playing Auburn in the elite eight or I guess for for this example, you know, they're playing against Ole Miss on Friday. If you can get like their like, their top big man into foul trouble, that's gonna hurt Ole Miss', you know, pain protection, and then they're not gonna have a big man to, you know, feed the ball to. So it's just the fact that they are getting to free throw line and getting Ole Miss or Bryant and New Mexico into foul trouble is very good for games down the stretch.
Jacob:Yeah. And I really agree with you because that's an underrated part of basketball. I feel like it's just being able to draw contact, also force it, and then translate that into causing havoc on the defensive side of the ball, which is really Michigan State's identity this year. And I mean, Jeremy fears, if you haven't watched him get to the free deadline, you're kind of missing some kind of art because I know there's all the talk of like foul baiting and basketball and really kind of playing to your advantage when it comes to drawing calls. Jeremy Fierce arguably does that but he does it in a way where it shows you like he's not afraid.
Jacob:He will play with confidence. Has jumped out has also come along more recently because he's been able to play with confidence. And he knows that he can mess with anybody, get in anybody's head, get them to get in a little bit of foul trouble. And then, obviously, like you said, that's gonna help Michigan State down the
Luke:line. I mean, he he's him and Trey are probably the biggest, like, trash talkers on this team, I would say. I don't like using that word, but they're just so energetic and they they just they look like they want it. You know what I mean? You know, they're very aggressive.
Luke:They're kinda like in your face, like, let's go. I want, you know, like, I wanna go up against you type of type of deal. You know, like, they're not scared of this moment. Mhmm. You know, Trey Hallman, he'll he'll hit a three and he'll let you know about it.
Luke:Now, Izzo might not like that. You know, he didn't really like that on the on senior night when he got into the Michigan players' faces. But, you know, he I don't think he really cares. I think he's gonna get in your face and be unapologetic about it, which I think is, you know, good to see from a from a Michigan State Spartan.
Jacob:Most definitely. Because the definition of being a Spartan is being a Spartan dog like all Michigan State Tom is always says and I think that's the definition of it is not backing down against anybody wanting to take on who's in front of you. It doesn't matter if it's a 15 seater. It's gonna be Auburn potentially in the the lead eight. That's just what happens and especially because Jeremy Fierce, he's technically still a freshman.
Jacob:I know he played a little bit on a small sample size last year before it happened to him, but he's still a freshman.
Luke:Yeah.
Jacob:Trey Holloman didn't get a lot of minutes his freshman year. Got an increased workload last year where he showed flashes of what he can do this year. And then this year, he's really kind of stepped up. So this is his first year. He's not even a starter either.
Luke:I mean, he started in the beginning of the year, but then
Jacob:he got his place, I guess.
Luke:Yeah. But he's totally embraced that role. Like, he's he's been, you know, that that energizer bunny. You know what I mean?
Jacob:Yes.
Luke:It's like if he was put on any other team, I believe he would be a starter. Oh. But it's like the fact that he, you know, Izzo went up to him. It's just like, look, we're gonna put in, you know, Jace Richardson in the starting lineup. You're gonna come off the bench.
Luke:We want you to be that, you know, energizer bunny, that spark plug. And he's totally embraced that role, which I think is really good, and it kinda speaks to the chemistry of this team. It's like, you know, we understand the assignment. We we wanna win. We wanna win a national championship.
Luke:I don't care if I'm starting. I don't care if I'm getting two minutes off the bench. I don't care if I'm getting twenty minutes off the bench. Yeah. Like, I want I wanna win.
Luke:Yeah. You know? And I'm gonna do my part in, you know, helping this team to win.
Jacob:Yeah. And I don't think there's anything more impressive than that just for a junior to really take that upon himself and realize that he got his place taken by a freshman in the sense, but also he's looking at it in a more mature way where he's like, I can be that guy. First guy off the bench, then that second unit really set the tone for the rest of guys around me. Michigan State second unit is just as good as some other teams in the country's first unit. So for him being able to lead that, it's a good it's a good sign.
Luke:And I mean, in in, you know, in this day and age of basketball, I think that the six man is kind of, you know, coming back to life.
Jacob:You know what
Luke:I mean? Like, everybody's kind of focused on it's like, oh, you're coming off the bench. You know, you might you're not as good to to be a starter, but it's like that's not the case, at all. If you look in the pros, like, Nas Reid of the Minnesota Timberwolves, I I think he would probably be a starter on any other team in in basketball. Mhmm.
Luke:But he's coming off the bench and he's playing pretty pretty dang well and he's gonna get paid a lot of money. You know, Jamal Crawford, you know your basketball, he's the sixth man of the year, it seemed like every other year and he's a really good player. Yeah. So I think that just seeing Trey Hallman come off the bench being that six man, I think that that's coming back. Yeah.
Luke:You know, it's just becoming more of an important role.
Jacob:Yeah. Especially in the new revolutionized college basketball where there's transfers and anything kind of happened. Yeah, Almond wanted to stick around. He didn't care what his role was at Michigan State. He wanted to be here.
Jacob:And that's a big testament to why this team has had so much success and what they did against Brian in the first round. I also want to talk a little bit about the New Mexico game, because that was also an interesting game for a very good portion of it. We mentioned a 71 to 63 final score, but that game was a lot closer than that final score, I think. And it was a lot closer than Michigan State maybe had hoped. But credit to New Mexico, they came in with a great game plan.
Jacob:I mean, Rick Petino's son, like, coached up a really good game plan. So I I'll give him credit. And that was that was a good game plan. Nose.
Luke:Yeah. Mean, yeah, you know, Rick Petino's son being the son of Rick Petino. I think you're gonna be a really good coach, and he obviously proved it. I believe he'd I think he just got a new job. He's Xavier.
Luke:At Xavier yet. So he conferences his dad. I think that's I I have to check my history on this, but I think that's the first time that the Big East or any Power Five conference has seen a father son, you know, coaching, you know, matchup.
Jacob:Yeah. Not every day.
Luke:It doesn't happen every day. So but, you know, credit to to Richard Pettino. I mean, he's a he's a dang good coach. I think he's one of the more underrated coaches in in college basketball. So heading into that matchup, it was definitely gonna be a tough one.
Luke:New Mexico was up, I believe, 24 to 14 at one point. Yeah. So it was definitely looking like New Mexico. It's like, oh, they could they could eat, you know, they can win.
Jacob:Yeah, because they give the way that game started, it felt like everything was falling for him and when give him credit. But most of the time, and when you're especially in college basketball, like once the team comes out really, really hot like that, they're eventually gonna cool off. So Michigan State made adjustments and then really kinda locked it down a little bit more Yeah. And and then forced New Mexico to kinda make some more mistakes. But I I do wanna shout out New Mexico's game plan because I think this displayed one of Michigan State's potential weaknesses going forward, especially with Ole coming up, which we'll talk about in a little bit.
Jacob:But New Mexico had to Latin ball screens, which I think was a really good strategy.
Luke:Yeah.
Jacob:They let us get rebounds, they kinda didn't contest for as many of them as other teams do. They instead, they just sprinted right back, and they got straight to their defensive set in the half court. And I think that was good because good for Mexico and other teams game plan against us because whenever Jeremy Fears would or, like, whoever's handling the ball at Trey Homme and coming off a ball screen, their big guy would follow him all the way out even if it was, like, half court. And then we couldn't get that over the top pass. I think that was a really good game plan.
Jacob:Just wanted to kinda make that known because it could be a potential weakness for MSU because we know their transition game is one of the best in the country, and that's kind of what time as those coaching style has always lived on. But forcing Michigan State to play in the half court offense for most of the game might be a little bit of a weakness for Michigan State,
Luke:I think. Yeah. I mean, they m Michigan State loves to, you know, play fast. They don't really like to play in that half court setting. So, you know, it's gonna I think that's something that Ole Miss or potentially Michigan or Auburn, you know, could can take from, you know, watching that New Mexico tape.
Luke:Yeah. The three point shooting was it was pretty bad. You know, only went four fifteen from beyond the arc. Jace Jace Richardson had probably his worst game being a starter, you know, when o f five from the three point line only one of 10 from the field. He actually didn't get his first field goal until under a minute left in the game.
Jacob:But to go along with that Yeah. Even though he shot one of 10 the whole game, he came back and made one of the most plucked plays for the entire game.
Luke:So I mean, I'm I'm not saying, like, you know, to put in put like a damper on things or whatever, but it's like
Jacob:They overcame that.
Luke:Yeah. I mean, you know, having one of your best best players or best scores, you know, go o of nine from the field for for most of the game and still being able to come out with a win was pretty impressive. You know, Jayden Akins played really well. Trey Hollidman played really well. Cohen Carr played really well.
Luke:He only had eight points, but, you know, he was really aggressive and played pretty, you know, really well on defense. Frankie Fiddler had, you know, a couple clutch baskets. Mhmm. And then, you know, Carson Cooper, Jackson Kohler, and Zappala, they all played really well just being the anchor down low. And then Jeremy Fears, you know, he got to the line again eight times.
Luke:So it's
Jacob:That's a guard.
Luke:Yeah. Exact I mean, it's just like he he knows how to get to the free throw line. Mhmm. I think that's something that, you know, as I mentioned before, we just haven't really had a whole lot of just our guards getting to the free throw line. Yeah.
Luke:And, you know, it's just really good to see that, you know, we went 19 to 28 from the free throw line. Obviously, not as good shooting percentage wise, but the fact that they are getting, you know, players into foul trouble, I think that's gonna go a long way.
Jacob:Yeah. And I know the shooting was is what it was this game and Mhmm. Things didn't really click for us early. But I think I think for this Michigan State team is they find another way to win. Feel like each game And whether that's being they shoot better threes than the other team they played or they dominate the free throw line, which they did against New Mexico, they force more turnovers or they lock down on defense, get more blocks and whatever and stuff like that.
Jacob:They find a new way to win every time, I feel like. And you made a few good points. I kinda wanna say what stood out to me a little bit. I mean, Cohen Carr only had eight points. That's what the box score is gonna show you, but this was an extended version of what he did against Bryant.
Jacob:He was all over the glass once again, blocking shots, crashing into rebounds, really making it tough for New Mexico to get out and run like they wanted to as well because they wanted to push the pace. He started the second half as well. Yeah. And had twenty five minutes, which is two above the twenty three that he had against Bryant. So he's really coming to his own.
Jacob:And then you have Jace Richardson. I know we mentioned the shooting percentages. But again, if you just look at the box score, you wouldn't know that he hit that and one to really ignite kind of the dagger way. Yeah, that pretty much called the game. And he even though he shot one of 10 from the field, he was four four on free throws.
Jacob:Yeah, so and all four of them were in the clutch. So going and looking at that point
Luke:to scared of that big moment.
Jacob:No. And he's a freshman. So like, we're gonna say that all the time, because that's what it is. Like, he's really stepping up. To do that at 18, 19 years old, like, on the biggest stage of the college basketball season, when you things aren't going your way the entire night, come back and do that.
Jacob:I mean, I don't really think there's that much more impressive for his age and his like the type of guy he is. It just shows his leadership already. It shows his potential at the next level. I think this game really displayed a lot of what this team could be at its peak. I know everything has to go right.
Jacob:But this is that was just a fun game.
Luke:Yeah, I mean, you know, you you're kinda even in this game where he didn't have the greatest, you know, scoring game, you're seeing a lot of the things that make him such an intriguing prospect. You know, seeing things that scouts for NBA teams, they're like, okay. This guy could be, you know, a potential lottery pick. Like, you're kinda seeing that. You know, he's moving without the basketball.
Luke:He's playing really good off ball and on ball defense. You know, just being able to stay with his man, you know, not getting lost, you know, watching the guy with the ball versus his own man, you know, making sure that he's going after loose balls and all that stuff, being aggressive. You know, the it's not like he he didn't look like he was, like, you know, getting upset with himself that he was at that point in time o of nine from, you know, from the field. But Izzo, you know, he was like, hey, look, you gotta keep keep a level head. I know you're not doing all that well, you know, for a scoring, but your time will come.
Luke:And sure enough, his time came.
Jacob:I mean, unreal. Yeah. It's so cool to watch. And we've about his age and all that stuff kind of combined with it. But it really was one of the most impressive storylines I think of that entire game in that night as well.
Jacob:But very too very, very dominating. I know the score lines won't say it, but too very dominating performances by Michigan State, I feel like. And overcame adversity, which I think they needed to do because it's only gonna get hard from here. They played two double digit seeds already. So to be able to face a little bit of adversity and kind of ramp yourself up before you got a big game, like we're gonna talk about right now against Ole Miss on Friday, I mean, I think that's only gonna help them because Ole Miss is the best team they're gonna face so far.
Jacob:Really, really good team. They like to run a lot, but they also will let up a lot of opponent threes at like they'll say here, can shoot it, but that's just how their game plan kind of works. They tend to give up that three ball, especially when they played in the SEC when a lot of teams can shoot. So that's kinda how they play, and it's really interesting.
Luke:If Michigan State was to have an amazing three point game, I think that this would be the game to do it. Like, if, you know, like you said, they do let up a lot of threes, you know, you gotta be able to hit those if they're letting you, you know, if they're not playing good defense on the perimeter, they you gotta be able to hit those threes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Luke:Make them regret, you know, playing such poor defense.
Jacob:I know. We we really gotta see it because Yeah. They're they're shooting 32.6 from three in the first two games. Michigan State is that they played in this tournament. That's up from about like a percent from the 31%.
Jacob:Really haven't I know it's a small sample size, but we have not really seen a difference so far. They shot about 38 and a half percent against Bryant. But I mean, that's probably about as like your ceiling that you're going get for this Michigan State team. If Ole Miss is going to allow you to get some of those good looks that you want, you better hit them. Like you said, that can definitely be a difference maker.
Jacob:I mean, we're on on Friday night and they start to go in, like I said, we can do two different ways. So maybe that's how we beat you. But I think we'll definitely do adjust a little bit.
Luke:I mean, Ole Miss is not a very big they're kind of sort of, I would say, kinda like MSU. Like, they're not the biggest team. You know, we have Carson Cooper and Zappala who are kinda taller guys, but I'm trying to look here, like, Jimin Brakefield of Ole Miss is only a six foot six foot eight. Malik Dia is six foot nine. Like, those are, you know, two of their top three scores.
Luke:Mhmm. You know, Mikhail Brown Jones, six eight. You know, not a lot of tall guys for Ole Miss. But that just means that they're gonna like you said, they're gonna wanna run.
Jacob:They like to run
Luke:a lot. Mhmm. I think it's gonna be a little bit challenging for, you know, Cooper and Koehler and Zapala to kinda keep up with those guys. So I think that Izzo not to say that he's gonna bench them or anything like that, but I think that this could be another game where Cohen Carb gets a lot of minutes, you know, because he's able to keep up with those guys and he's able to, you know, play really good defense on those guys.
Jacob:Yeah. I think that's a good point. I feel like this is the best scenario for him to really excel at once again just because he can run. He's very athletic. Mhmm.
Jacob:We've seen it kind of displayed so far in the tournament. I mean, this is gonna be a Michigan State crack at SEC basketball, which is a lot different from how the Big Ten plays sometimes. SEC basketball is very fast. Like we said, they like to shoot a lot of threes. Ole Miss is scrappy.
Jacob:They forced 290 seals this year. For reference, Michigan State's forced a 81. So Ole Miss is very good at making opponents turn the ball over. Yeah. And to that point, Michigan State's really kinda struggled to generate turnovers in these first two games.
Jacob:That that's the reason that Bryant hung with Michigan State in the first half and New Mexico hung with them for most of the games because Michigan State cannot force them to turn the ball over, and then they couldn't create points off of that. So they had to get stops and put together some buckets, which they're not the best at if they can't run. So I it's just how it it could play sometimes.
Luke:I mean but at the same time, Ole Miss, they do have they have had their problems turnovers. They're they have 294 turnovers committed this year. Mhmm. So they're definitely gonna have to take advantage of that. You know, we obviously, you pointed out, couldn't really turn, make Bryant or New Mexico turn the ball over.
Luke:I think that you gotta adjust that defensive game plan. You know, get the get Ole Miss to turn the ball over. You know? But I think that, overall, Ole Miss is a very, very good team. They're very scrappy.
Luke:They love to run. It's gonna be an amazing matchup to watch.
Jacob:Yeah. I I don't think we've seen anything kinda like this this season. I know we played some high powering offenses, but this is really gonna be a true test because Ole Miss has competed with some of the best teams in the country. They've had a nightmare of a schedule playing teams like Auburn, Tennessee, Florida, Texas A and M all year in the SEC, so they definitely got their test. But it is gonna be a very interesting matchup to watch.
Jacob:I could see it going either way as much as we've talked about Michigan State this entire year. Yeah. This game is probably a little bit more closer to fifty fifty than it is, like, seventy five twenty five in favor of MSU.
Luke:So Yeah.
Jacob:Should definitely be a really interesting one to watch. But Michigan State's definitely proven they belong here, got into the sweet 16. I believe that's their sixteenth sweet 16 or or sixteenth or seventeenth sweet sweet 16.
Luke:Six sixteenth.
Jacob:Yeah. Yes. And Tom is his tenure, so this proves he could be here before. Mhmm. See if we can take that next step in the coming days.
Jacob:Let's take on Ole on Friday. It should be very exciting. Moving on to another team that is also in the NCAA tournament, we touched on a little bit with Maddie's absence. And I know that Maddie being absent also means that me and Luke are not the most extensive and highly knowledgeable hockey fans. But
Luke:I I definitely am not. But I I'll I'll try my best.
Jacob:Yeah. We we're gonna be able to hold our own as much as we can here, but we wanted to highlight Michigan State hockey because they are in the NCAA tournament. They earned a number one overall seed in this tournament as well, which was the second seed overall. They had a great year. Michigan State hockey did.
Jacob:They won the Big Ten tournament this past weekend against Ohio State for three victory in overtime where Isaac Howard had the game winner. So the energy's high. They're getting a little bit back together because they they struggled a little bit towards the back end of the regular season. They dropped a game at Penn State and tied them as well, which is kind of like a momentum killer. We've mentioned the fact that Red Savage is out for the year, their captain.
Jacob:So things kinda took a little bit of an unexpected turn for Michigan State this year, but I think they've responded very well. So they will be facing Cornell University in the first round. Cornell finished eighteen, ten, and six, but they won their Eastern College athletic conference this season, which secured them an automatic bid in Michigan or in the NCAA tournament. But this is also gonna be fun for Michigan State.
Luke:I mean, the Cornell's a good team. They, you know, they won won their conference. So, you know, obviously, the they're gonna be a it's gonna be a tough match. You know, hopefully, that, you know, MSU pulls out with the with the victory. But that if they were to beat Cornell, they would potentially play Ohio State, which we just beat them, you know, to secure the Big Ten tournament championship.
Luke:So I think that if if that was to happen, Ohio State would definitely want some some revenge for, unfortunately, losing.
Jacob:Yeah. This kinda reminds me a little bit of a Michigan Elite eight kind of thing for, like, if you're if you're not aware that in the men's basketball NCAA tournament, Michigan plays Auburn in the sweet 16. Yeah. That's right. And then if Michigan were to be Auburn and Michigan State was to be Ole Miss this weekend, Michigan and Michigan State would face in the elite eight of the NCAA tournament.
Jacob:So Mhmm. To my point, this kinda reminds me that a little bit just because, like, it's hard to beat a team so many times
Luke:Yeah.
Jacob:In a season. Michigan State won the season series against Ohio State four to one, including that win this past weekend. So they've got their number already. But like we said, it's so hard to beat a team four times, maybe five, and especially in hockey when they're series. So that would definitely be interesting.
Jacob:Like, kinda just have to see how it goes. But
Luke:I mean, yeah, when when you play each other so many times, you know, you have all that tape, you kinda know what to expect from that team. That's why I'm I'm very I'm kinda hoping that Auburn wins against Michigan, you know, even though Auburn is a higher seed. Mhmm. Because, you know, it's just that the fact that there is that familiar familiarity with with Michigan. Mhmm.
Luke:You know? And there's the familiarity with Ohio State. You know, they they've seen us play. They're gonna wanna they're gonna wanna, you know, just run us down on the rink. You know, it it's gonna be it's gonna be a very that would be a very interesting matchup.
Luke:And that would be that would be the definition of a fifty fifty matchup. Even though we've won most of the games, it's still you know, it's a one and done. It's a one and done tournament if you lose your out. So anything can happen.
Jacob:I think that's why it's so interesting too is because the entire year, all these teams are used to playing series. And maybe if you can't beat a team on the first night you plan, you could bounce back and get another crack at them the next time. But like you said, this is one and done. It's win or go home. So the stakes are a lot higher.
Jacob:The other team that Michigan State is a possibility to face would be Boston University if they were to beat Ohio State. But Michigan State side of the bracket is pretty favorable, I think for them. And the top half of the bracket, the four teams that are in their their other region that they would have to potentially face is number three seeded Maine, Penn State, UConn and Quinnipiac. Quinnipiac has experienced winning the tournament recently. I think they won in 2023.
Jacob:UConn I'm not too familiar about Penn State had a losing record at some point this season, really got hot at the right time, snuffed their way into the tournament, and Maine is a very, very solid team, incredibly deserving of their three seeds. So if Michigan State is the other get past their little pad, I think they have a really good run at making it to at least the semifinals, if not the championship in this Frozen three tournament. But it's gonna be really interesting to see kind of how this all plays out because, like you said, the familiar matchups, beating opponents more than you have to is always a tough feat. But it definitely should be interesting to see how Michigan State go. And once we get Maddie back, I promise you we will go a little bit more into depth about this, but we just wanted to give a little bit of a preview just because Michigan State plays tomorrow night at 05:30.
Luke:So shout out to the entire state of Michigan. You know, you got Michigan State and Michigan in men's basketball, Michigan State, and Western Michigan in in hockey. Mhmm. You know, I think the entire state of Michigan is definitely, you know, smiling today.
Jacob:Yeah. It's representative of all. That's that's for sure. Yeah. But like we said, we'll touch on that more when we get more
Luke:Yeah.
Jacob:Results in the tournament just because we've talked about hockey kind of closing the season on past episodes and but the tournament starting tomorrow, we wanna see how it goes a little bit. But
Luke:once we get Maddie back, have a lot more in-depth.
Jacob:Yes, she's kind of our hidden gem there. Yeah, the hockey but to wrap it up today in spirit, just a little quick, like few minutes segment. In spirit of baseball back being back in the MLB starting tomorrow. Opening day is tomorrow and the MLB which just got me very excited. Almost wore my Tiger shirt, but I'm saving it for tomorrow.
Jacob:We have a whole brand new season 162 games to play. Luke, I know baseball is also not your entirely strong suit,
Luke:but kinda struggling with finding a third sport. But, you know, I I know I know a little bit about baseball. I know that, you know, the Phillies are gonna be really good. The Dodgers are they pretty much get everybody. There's I mean, if there's like a another prospect, they're just surely gonna pay him a hundred million dollars.
Jacob:A foreign prospect. They they seem to find all the Japanese players
Luke:as
Jacob:well.
Luke:Pretty much.
Jacob:So, I mean, that's kind of what you get. No salary cap. So you're able to kind of buy
Luke:You gotta roster. On the best international market. I mean, of course, you're gonna be really good. Yes. And then, you know, the Mets, they just got Juan So to and Pielanza back.
Luke:So I think that that's gonna be this is gonna be a very interesting season.
Jacob:Yeah. We had those three teams kinda written down as our potential favorites to win the World Series this year. I mean, the Dodgers for obvious reasons. They just won it last year, reigning champs. Mhmm.
Jacob:They are they already are two and o to start this season because they played in the Japan series against the Chicago Cubs and took them down in both games. So, it just looks very evident. Like, all signs are going towards the Dodgers repeating, but we've seen in past postseasons that the Dodgers can't always get over that hump. They have a really great regular season sometimes, kinda hit a wall, run into an unexpected foe in the playoffs, and then go home earlier than they should have. So I feel like that's one of the Dodgers, kind of drawbacks, but they also have two World Series in this this decade, so they're they're totally used to winning.
Luke:I mean, it's kinda it's kinda interesting, like, the MLB season. It's kinda almost like March Madness in a way is that where it's kinda based on momentum, it feels like. Not this past postseason, but, you know, the last few. The Phillies, I believe they were a six seed.
Jacob:It was
Luke:I think
Jacob:it was six seed.
Luke:When went to the World Series against the Astros. And then the year after, there was the Rangers and the Diamondbacks. And nobody saw that one coming. Nobody saw that one coming. So I think it's just kinda all about momentum, you know.
Luke:So I don't think that I think people are gonna say that it's, you know, the Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, or Mets. Mhmm. But to be honest, I don't think we're gonna have a definitive answer until September. Yeah. You know, I I think that a lot can happen in a 162 game, you know, season.
Jacob:Yeah. It's it's such a big sample size, and I like your point. And I'm not trying to shamelessly plug the Tigers here, but just for example, the Detroit Tigers last year had, like, a 2% chance to make the playoffs in mid August, and then they went in a run where they won plenty of games and got a wild card spot. Yeah. Not only did they get a wild card spot, they won a series against the Astros in the wild card, and then we're one win away from the championship series while being able to barely score over three runs a game.
Jacob:So the Yeah. Baseball is a game of pretty much that anything can happen just momentum. Exactly. Like you said, momentum. So I think even though the Dodgers, the Phillies, the Mets, even like the Braves kind of hanging in that conversation or like your heavy hitters, there's plenty of potential dark horse contenders look out for two, which I also have written down a little bit here.
Jacob:But some teams that kind of fall into that category. I mean, the rangers are World Series champions in 2023, so they have experience. They had a disappointing year last year missing the playoffs, but also lots of injuries. They get Jacob deGround back as as well this year, which should help the rotation. The Diamondbacks were in that road series, like we said.
Jacob:So they have plenty of potential. They're they missed the postseason by one game last year, or it was one or Yeah. One or a few games. So they'll be right back in that conversation, especially because they play in a tough division with the Padres and Dodgers also there. The Red Sox really improved this offseason because they brought in Alex Bregman, one of the big marquee free agent signings.
Jacob:They just announced today that he's gonna play third baseball. Rafael Devers DHs. So for baseball fans, that's a pretty significant Yeah. Development there for that team. But they also brought in a lot of arms.
Jacob:Garrett Crochet being one of them. They have a very strong rotation as well. And even the Orioles, I mean, they're a very young team, but they've proven they can make the playoffs with a young team. Abby Rushman, Gunnar Henderson and company proved they belong. And Jackson Holiday, if he can develop, I know he struggled a little bit when he got called up, but all four of those teams really have a chance to kinda make a run to it.
Luke:I I mean, I I kinda think of the Orioles as like that that World Series Cups team back in 2016. You know, they kinda grew together. Yeah. You know, they built through that farm system. Obviously, they got that elite pitcher.
Luke:Why am I blanking on his name? Ordino's pitcher? Yeah. I gotta
Jacob:look it up. Shoot.
Luke:Why am I? I'm blanking on his name. I know that he's he's a very good pitcher.
Jacob:I believe Corbin is it Corbin Burns? Corbin Burns.
Luke:Yeah. I think I think he's gonna be Yeah. You know, their ace. And, you know, the Cubs, they when they won that World Series, they picked up at the time John Lester and you know, which helped them win that World Series. But the Orioles, I think that building through that farm system, I don't know if they're gonna win it, but, you know, like I said before, once it gets to September, I think we're gonna have a clear answer.
Luke:But I think the Orioles are gonna be a fun team to watch just because of that youth and, you know, that kinda not I don't wanna say unpredictability. Mhmm. But the fact that they are young and people don't really know what to kind of expect from them, I think they're gonna be a team that people are gonna be scared to play. Yeah. In when it gets close to postseason.
Jacob:Yeah. I really like your Chicago Cubs comparison. I'm gonna compare it across sports just real quickly. I think they have reminded me a little bit of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA. Obviously, because of their youth, that's the biggest thing.
Jacob:They have that star like Gunnar Henderson is kind of that Shay Gilgos Alexander in a sense and Ali Richmond's kind of like their Chet Holmgren or Jalen Williams, if you will. But both these teams have, like, proved they can compete for the postseason. The Orioles made it last year. Disappointing exit. The Thunder had a one seed last year and only got to the second round.
Jacob:So they've proven they can contend in the regular season, but it's about getting over that hump. The Thunder are on pace for, like, 65 wins this year. So, like, they're they're gonna get another crack at it. And the Orioles, I think, have another shot to really make the postseason, but also kinda get over that hump because I feel like with the core they have, it's only a matter of time. Yeah.
Jacob:And they're definitely one of my favorite teams they kinda look out for on the horizon this year because I think once they finally piece it all together and realize the foundation that they have and kinda get all those guys comfortable playing together because they still have an elite farm system even with all the guys they called up. They can definitely be really dangerous as well.
Luke:I mean, Dodgers don't have an an unlimited amount of money. I know it seems like
Jacob:It does. It doesn't seem like it.
Luke:They basically gave Shoja Ohtani almost a billion dollars, but, you know, that it I think that the Orioles and I think I think the Diamondbacks are gonna I think they're gonna surprise people. I I I think my hot take is that the the Diamondbacks are gonna be better than the Mets this year.
Jacob:I really like that because the Mets have star power.
Luke:The Mets do
Jacob:have star power.
Luke:Yeah. But I love Corbin Carroll for the Diamondbacks. My brother who goes to Arizona Arizona State, shout out to shout out to Jake. Mhmm. You know, he he loves Corbin Carroll a lot.
Luke:I think he's gonna be I think he could contend for being an MVP candidate.
Jacob:Say that he's having a good time.
Luke:Yeah. I think that I think he's gonna have his, you know, kinda breakout season.
Jacob:Mhmm.
Luke:You know, everybody's kinda talking about the Dodgers and the Phillies, you know, Bryce Harper and Shoahi. But I think Corbin Carroll, I think he's gonna surprise surprise some people.
Jacob:Yeah. And below the surface, there's a lot of good players and elite players in this league just beyond what the media and the market the big markets kind of tell you because I know it seems like in baseball, the big markets, the only ones that can compete. But we just saw the Rangers kind of in the peak of this market fiasco whatever salary cap argument just went a road series a few years ago so it can happen but yeah like we're saying this is shaping up to be an interesting season because it is the Dodgers repeat the lose kind of they're the favorites out right now but kind of how that develops and changes a little bit during the season will definitely be something to look out for but that's pretty much going to do it here for this episode of sports roundtable Luke it's been a pleasure having you on and then Maddie's place and we will definitely throw in more on what we know with Hagie later on in next episode. But thank you for joining. We appreciate you guys tuning in as always, and we will see you guys next week.
Jacob:See you.