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Host Nick Lundberg close out this semester discussing more sports update at MSU.
The State News sports reporters discuss all MSU sports.
Nick Lundberg 0:10
Welcome back everyone. My name is Nick Lundberg and this the Sports Roundtable here under the week sports update on all things Michigan State. We're live here from impact with Joe Des back for third or fourth show this year Joe it's good to have you back yeah,
Joe DesVergnes 0:22
I'm excited to be back it's been great every sing time, i'm honored.
Nick Lundberg 0:24
Sounds good. So we're gonna jump right into everything that's going on.
Nick Lundberg 0:28
We've got basketball is in full swing right now. Let's start out with the men's as last time out, they took a tough loss to Northwestern at home after you know getting beat pretty badly on the road at Notre Dame. A lot of people are kind of losing their faith which is what happens with this team you know the ups and downs of the season but an early loss to Northwestern at home doesn't look the best especially when you're down Malik Hall but they just got back Jaden Akins it kind of looked like he wasn't really in full swing.
Nick Lundberg 0:59
He's been battling with that injury since the offseason, the I believe it's the stress fracture in his foot and he was kind of off his game. So kind of bringing him back as an excuse to like say that the loss was on the whole team itself is kind of, he's still getting back really into things Boo Buie is a known Spartan killer. He's been doing this for three years, he kind of took over late in the game, the energy wasn't where I'm sure a lot of people expected it to be, especially after a blowout loss to Notre Dame players didn't really step up Tyson Walker got into foul trouble.
Nick Lundberg 1:29
AJ Hoggard tried at the end to kind of Willis back into the game. But it didn't really work. The refs weren't, you know, that good. There were a lot of touchy fouls on both sides. And then some missed calls on both sides to more, in my opinion, more. So on the MSU side, they missed a couple couple of calls late at the game. But I'm Joe, I'm just curious as to what you thought of the game. And what what are your thoughts on it?
Joe DesVergnes 1:53
Yeah, I agree with you about the refs. Because I was at the game, the whole first three quarters, I'd say they're kind of calling fouls. That would be like maybe less physical than you'd expect. But they're obviously column fairing side. And at the end, that guy was letting me go wild. And that led to some missed calls, unfortunately. But the big thing about this loss, I think, coming in after the Notre Dame game, is that they realized that they were still human and they could actually lose.
Joe DesVergnes 2:13
When we were coming off the wind verse Kentucky, we felt like we were invincible came into every game with just a certain fire in us, kind of kicked out of us after the Alabama nerd and losses. But I also have to say, losing Malik Hall has been massive for this team. They need him back.
Joe DesVergnes 2:27
I saw a quote from the Lansing State Journal where Tom Izzo was talking they basically said that Malik Hall, he told this week, they didn't fully appreciate him as a player until he wasn't available to play. And that really shows when a coach like Tom Izzo is really missing a player that much they're needed in this team. And as you mentioned, Boo Buie, he had 20 points in this game. That backcourt combined for 46 points with a chase outage and Ty Barry believes how you pronounce their names. But basically, they all combined for 46 points, which was a massive amount of the points in this game. And even from the first jump, it looked like MSU wasn't in the right mindset.
Joe DesVergnes 3:02
That game. I was sitting there. And even from the beginning, I was thinking like why we usually start off on fire in these games. Why are we kind of going neck and neck with Northwestern when they're unranked and we are currently ranked at the time? Then obviously, at the end of the game, you see why we're going head to head with them. So they know beating us.
Nick Lundberg 3:17
Yeah, no, I was gonna mention the fact that Northwestern was making shots like Chase Audige, Ty Berry were hitting their threes. One player who has struggled with defense. So I've noticed the series Pierre Brooks, and I feel like is though, at times, especially there was there was a point in the game where it was, I believe it was 12 minutes left, we were down by about seven. And he puts Pierre in and Pierre gives up a bucket, which I mean this year, he's still he's shown a lot of growth from last year, but the defense still really isn't there up to Big 10 standards.
Nick Lundberg 3:48
And then he puts in, he had a very odd lineup he had I believe it was a Walker was in foul trouble, but he had Hoggard, Akins who was off the entire game, which is understandable. Whitens when you're down seven late in the game, or not late, but midway through the second half. I don't think putting in Jason Whitens is really the smartest idea because I think he ended up traveling on a fake three point attempt and then taken a couple extra steps and then immediately got subbed out but he's really not the guy I think you should be putting in that situation.
Nick Lundberg 4:21
And then you have Joey Hauser and Jaxon Kohler, obviously to give Madi a break who he played a lot of minutes but I mean, just some of the rotations near the end of the game. A lot of it seems sloppy, just overall, like you were saying about Malik Hall. I heard a really good comparison for him a few days ago and it was they were talking about he's kind of like a Gary Harris type player. He's kind of a glue guy. He's not an all star all star but he does everything right. And he makes plays when he needs to make plays and I was gonna say that it was evident MSU was lacking a go to guy at the end of the game this year. Or this this past game. I mean, we've seen Tyson Walker step up and they'll pass like against Kentucky. And you've seen other guys hit shots like Joey Hauser. I mean, Joey missed the potential. Go ahead shot in that one, but I feel like Malik Hall has got to be that guy this year that you can step up say, Okay, give me the ball. I'm gonna get you a bucket late in the game.
Nick Lundberg 5:16
He has that you know that I really liked that post fadeaway he movie has he can take people off the dribble, he can shoot the three when he's open. His jumper isn't the quickest so I mean, it's kind of hard for him to get open from three and have a good look at it. But when he's open, he makes it and I mean, I just feel like for this team, Tyson Walker's kind of too small to be able to like to create something at the end of the game like I don't really trust a sixth one guard going up against like a sixth floor guard to try and create open space.
Nick Lundberg 5:45
It's just purely I really like Tyson Walker's game but I don't think that is kind of reliable in that sense. What but when you have Malik Hall out there, he kind of just he's that extra body he goes and gets rebounds. He plays hard he plays makes right plays he knows the offense he he's the captain out there. So I mean, not having him is really big. And especially for this upcoming stretch you've got some of these games which should be pretty winnable without him and then you go back into Big time play. So we're going to the team is really going to need him back for big 10 play because he really is that kind of glue guy and I really when I saw that Gary Harris comparison I was like wow, that that is very spot on.
Joe DesVergnes 6:24
Yeah. Now the Gary Harris comparison is actually great for that because one thing that they're missing is his experience fact that you can play multiple positions just like Gary Harris can be like small Ford shooting guard multiple positions, obviously. And a scoring he is just a great player in the clutch. He obviously likes to take the Big Shot, and they were really missing that (inaudible), you were mentioned in Akins obviously coming back from injury after stress fracture in the Villanova game I believe is what happened was that I came to it was very fun to see but then unfortunately obviously got hurt but while he couldn't really be on offense to you did have the same defensive intensity as it usually as he had two steals and unblock.
Joe DesVergnes 6:57
Unfortunately, conditioning is where it really got him. I think when your foot is injured, you can't run you can't really practice keeping up wind sprints and stuff like that. That's gonna take a little bit of time to come back. One player I've really liked to watch his Jaxon Kohler he's been utilizing the minutes he doesn't really get that that many of those game. We're really most games the season so far. It's still a freshman still really early in the year. When he gets on the floor though, I really like how he plays very strong on offense.
Joe DesVergnes 7:22
Then he tries for rebounds too. He isn't the best rebounder I know. But he at least puts the effort in which shows I will make improvement there. That's the Sissoko is, I love watching this Sissoko boy to be honest.
Nick Lundberg 7:32
He's like a football player.
Joe DesVergnes 7:33
All right. Yeah. I'm a massive Celtics fan. He reminds me a little bit of Robert Williams at times.
Nick Lundberg 7:37
Yeah, I like that comparison.
Joe DesVergnes 7:38
Yeah, his block so you'll send it flying in the crowd. It's never just a slight like soft block. He sends it flying out of there. And then he has great ally. Oops, like he'll come up, catch the lob and throw it down.
Nick Lundberg 7:49
Yeah, that dunk near the end of the game against Northwestern. I jumped out of my seat. I was like, wow, that was that's a man that was a grown man dunk.
Joe DesVergnes 7:57
Oh, yeah. I feel like you could hear the entire state or Yeah, entire stadium just freaking out after that. We thought we were winning after that's the Sissoko dunk he was aggressive there.
Nick Lundberg 8:06
Yeah. But I mean, at that point, the hopes were high, but it kind of just didn't go the way it really should have gone but from what I've seen, I mean, the defense Another thing I noticed in that game was the pick and roll defense was very was atrocious.
Nick Lundberg 8:23
Matt Nicholson was getting wide open looks at the basket. And this has been the issue. This has been the huge talking point all season long, I know we've talked about is the lack of depth, lack of size. I mean, Mati can't play 40 minutes like and he honestly like even when he was out there, he was hedging some of those screens way in my opinion, way too rough. And that would that was waiting to wide open buckets down low, which wasn't a good sight to see. But I some of these guys, I just don't think like I like what I've seen from Kohler, but he's just not there yet.
Nick Lundberg 8:56
Defensively for the Big 10. I his work ethic is great. His post game, obviously he's shown flashes of being a very automatic post score, kind of like Zach Randolph type player, I think Izzo is compared him to that, which it's that makes a lot of sense. But he's just not quick enough yet. He's not strong enough. I mean, Carson Cooper was supposed to be redshirted this year, and he's been getting a lot of minutes. He's and when he's out there he every now and then he'll make some plays. But again, it it looks like he's really not ready for the moment yet. Which honestly, which is very understandable. Because, I mean, these guys weren't expected to be playing these type of minutes. And here they are out there coming in with five minutes into the game when people get into foul trouble.
Nick Lundberg 9:39
And it's just, it led to another thing with Malik Hall. It's like he goes and gets rebounds. And that's one thing this team needs. This team needs somebody to crash the glass like Malik Hall does, especially when Mati isn't on the floor. Because we know Joey, he's kind of more perimeter player doesn't really play an inside which is more his forte but that's another big thing with Malik Hall why we the team needs them back. And this stretch should be the stretch coming up before we jump back into Big 10 play before the new year will be, you know just kind of crucial for Akins to kind of get his footing back. Hopefully he can can stay consistently healthy.
Nick Lundberg 10:15
Like you said his defense, he's always on 100 on the defensive end, like his energy is never lacking. But you could just tell offensively, he was just not really in the groove, putting up shots he did just late. Like he would oftentimes end up with the ball late in the shot clock, and just have to have a really long three that just, you know, had no chance of going in. But that's not really his fault. But then other times, like, he just wasn't really asserting himself in the offense, like we had seen in the Villanova game and some of the other games this season. So I mean, it's just gonna take some time for him to kind of get back in and adjusted, but honestly, it's not this, this loss, the stretch is not the end of the world.
Nick Lundberg 10:56
It's still the teams definitely gassed from that, that stretch where they played rank team after rank team after rank team, we called it the gauntlet. So I mean, obviously, for people out there, it's not the end of the world, there's still a lot of basketball left to play. And I do like where this team is going. And I like the fact that early in the season, they showed me they can beat those type of really blue bud good teams like Kentucky, which is something I wasn't sure of coming into the season. But if this team can get hot later in the year, and we know Izzo knows how to get the best out of his players in March could be some good things coming, but we'll see. We'll see.
Joe DesVergnes 11:32
Yeah, no, I definitely think that this stretch one thing you obviously have to realize Akins was kind of toeing the line of playing, just like he did before, when he obviously knows he can't play like that right now. He's still working his way back there. But he's also trying to make sure he doesn't take away from other people's opportunities. Pretty sure end up with about eight assists, which is very good playmaking, obviously, but he is going to need to get that conditioning back to the right on the offensive end. And one massive thing that we haven't really talked to too much about.
Joe DesVergnes 11:57
You mentioned that Joey Hauser's perimeter player, when his shot starts falling again, this team is completely different. It's a difference maker. Yep, yeah. And the northwestern game, it wasn't falling for some reason. He had a couple open looks. There's a lot of really tight defenses. The big fan thing that was a reason why there's hands on the face almost every shot. Once the ball movement gets back once the shot starts falling. This team can be anyone that people don't realize Gonzaga has a one point loss that is insanely close for was usually a top five program.
Joe DesVergnes 11:57
Joey only had three points on like, oh, for seven shooting. So I mean, then he credited the that to the kind of outside the wind and all that because we know is on the aircraft carrier. But yeah, when they were and I noticed they were coming off screens super tight, especially on jelly playing him because they knew that's his bread and butter is the pick and pop off pin down screens and stuff like that. But yeah, they were in his face the whole time, he couldn't really get a rhythm going. And that was another thing.
Nick Lundberg 12:48
I noticed that it just no Northwestern did a good job of disrupting our offensive rhythm. But our energy at the same time wasn't where it should have been. So there were a couple of different things that the the team needs to work on. But it's still young season and I'm sure this stretch will kind of give them a little bit of a break to kind of just get back into the flow of winning and things like that.
Joe DesVergnes 13:08
Oh yeah. I'm still really excited for March gonna be a very fun March Madness this year.
Nick Lundberg 13:12
So the other team that plays in the Breslin, the women's team has been in kind of a tough stretch recently as well. Last time out, they lost to Purdue in overtime. All of these games. I talked about their PKI tournament last week. And the Iowa State game was a blowout. I didn't have Matilda Ekh arguably their best player best shooter, at least they lost by 30. Iowa State's also powerhouse. So I mean, it kind of there is just different tiers of teams that were on the court that day, but and then you've got the Oregon loss where they actually were down around, I think it was 17 at one point, and then they came back to tie it but they just couldn't get it done.
Nick Lundberg 13:50
Georgia Tech, they were in it. Now those teams are where like, you can really tell like you got to beat Georgia Tech to kind of move up a tear because they're kind of in the same level of skill, I would say. But they kind of they faltered against Georgia Tech late. They had a couple of good looks to win the game, but nothing was falling.
Nick Lundberg 14:09
And then you come out against a Purdue team that had won most of their games in the that's in the season. They had pretty good you know, players up and down the roster. And you go down 14th or into the fourth quarter and then you mounts another comeback to send it to overtime. But you just again they just couldn't get it done. And that last five minutes.
Nick Lundberg 14:30
So it's just been a tough stretch for them as of late they've kind of got to do some good it's kind of like the men's team where they like to run this three guard lineup with McDaniel, Elliot and Hagemann and Haggman, Elliott at least up until the fourth quarter for Elliott they hadn't haven't really been you know making their marks on the game which which they need to in order for this team to win because when your point guard like DeeDee Hagemann against Purdue I don't think she made a single shot. And when your point guard isn't kit like can't afford to get you a bucket, it's very hard to win games in the Big 10 When that's the case, but I mean, Kamari McDaniels been very good this season, Gabby Elliot showed something late against Purdue. And I mean, MSU they're undersized.
Nick Lundberg 15:17
They actually started isolating Alexander with Taiyier Parks, which was interesting at Purdue, but Taiyer Parks ended up coming in and you know, doing some good things off the bench, I think she had five steals, which is pretty impressive for a big, but I mean, Purdue, they were, they were over, you know, they had more size than MSU, and Merchant talked Suzy Merchant, the head coach talked about how they kind of need that energy that they had in the last in the fourth quarter throughout the entire game. And I've seen that like covering them. I've seen those stretches where they kind of stall out.
Nick Lundberg 15:48
So it's something there with this woman's team, but they've got to kind of put something together to really show me that they're capable of doing that. And I mean, it's still like, like that men season is still very long season. And there's a lot of time to prove that but people shouldn't freak out over the skit either. Because especially I really the Oregon game where Oregon has some very good players. And they came and they they stormed back. They almost took it but they they just weren't it just wasn't enough against them. But Oregon has a very good team. And I was very impressed by that performance. But there's still a long way to go. So we'll see. We'll see what happens.
Joe DesVergnes 16:24
Yeah, I definitely think the teams have a cold stretch right now. But one thing you got to think about DeeDee Hagemann, one of the first games of the season against Western Michigan University, she went four for four from three point land. Also, obviously, Maddie or Matilda Ekh I mean, she is as you said, she's a massive player for this team is deadly for monarch does a lot for this team, the scoring wise. And when you look at the negative games like this, when they're missing a few players where that player might take them over the edge and actually win that game.
Joe DesVergnes 16:51
You got to look at the bright spots, even though they lost. While they did lose. You mentioned the fourth quarter run they went 12. And no, that shows a resiliency when they can come back in a game like that. Maybe if they had until back they would have went 14 now and end up winning that not even going overtime. But then also against Purdue, they forced a season high 30 turnovers as a great turnover rate to force against such a good team. If they can keep putting stuff together like this. They're going to be able to start winning and Gabby Elliott ended up tying her career high and rebounds she had seven night game showing obviously she wants help the team any way she can, unfortunately weren't able to win. But this team when they click when they're healthy, and when they're hot, they are going to win some games.
Nick Lundberg 17:30
Yeah, I've no doubt about that. But yeah, forcing the 30 turnovers was very glaring, and then to still lose the game as that's, that's showing but they also were out rebounded 50 to 30. But Merchant really didn't put much stock in that stat. She said even though there were a couple offensive rebounds and overtime that really just really killed the team that one of the pretty players had an and one after the offensive rebound. And that kind of just put the game away for them. So I mean, yeah, it just depends on I mean, Matilda Ekh shot has got to be falling for in order for this team to beat some good teams.
Nick Lundberg 17:39
I want to see more out of Hagemann going forward and Elliott I want to see that fourth quarter Purdue Elliott compared to the rest of the other quarters in the rest of these games. So it's still a long season. We've got you know, the Big 10 Stretch coming up. They've got Ohio State, Sunday at for top three team in the country. So that's going to be going on the road against top three opponent is never easy. So we'll kind of see if they can pull out a win in that one. That'll be you know, that that should you know, bring, bring the spirits back up.
Joe DesVergnes 18:37
Yes, that will change the narrative completely if they can win against the top three program and one thing before we move on I want to mention Kamari McDaniel. She has been amazing lately.
Nick Lundberg 18:46
She's a bucket.
Joe DesVergnes 18:46
Yeah, three straight games. 20 plus points. She had 22 points in the Purdue game 39 minutes because we went to overtime. She is the catalyst of this team. She is going off right now.
Nick Lundberg 18:55
She's she's taken over that kind of Nia Clouden and role that the team has missed from last year. And that's one that's that was another big question coming into the season, who's going to be the person to step up and you know, take over and moments when he needs her to take over. And she has definitely shown that this year. Even though these games haven't resulted in wins. It's still nice to see a player kind of take things into her own hands and be able to kind of carry it team when they need a leader like that. So um, McDaniel. I think going forward, she is the go to guy.
Joe DesVergnes 19:27
Yeah, 100% got a lot of respect for after his last couple games.
Nick Lundberg 19:30
But moving on to hockey who's actually been doing very, very well this season, continuing their hot streak. After being swept by Minnesota they moved up a spot which is very odd, but looking at the rest of the rankings, you can tell like teams ahead of them lost and you know, you know how that goes. But we all know how that goes. I mean, the game is against Minnesota.
Nick Lundberg 19:51
It's like I said there's tier levels and college sports you've got like the S tier teams, and basketball and other sports and then you've got A, B, C if you've got Minnesota, who's always been a powerhouse, they're definitely an asset to your team. Like, this team is just, they're there. They're good. I mean, we watched Miracle in my to my one of my classes with LA Dickerson to cap off the year. And it reminded me of like, Minnesota is like the Soviets. And then you've got MSU, which is like the US team kind of kind of, cause Minnesota they're just a powerhouse.
Nick Lundberg 20:27
They've got so many good players, so many future NHL draft picks, and MSU still kind of building that kind of there. They're going, I believe Nightingale could can bring them to that level. And they've been playing very well, this season with players, like we talked about that really aren't his yet, not his recruits.
Nick Lundberg 20:43
So I mean, it's, it's very impressive to see him win without his players. But that's another thing. But once he starts bringing in that kind of talent, I really think they can start to match teams like Minnesota, but they did put up a good fight. And they did some good things. In that first game, even though they got I believe it was like five zero was the score. And then the second game, they actually got some goals on the board, which is probably good, which is a good sign. And even though they lost both, I think that this was a really good opportunity for them to see where they need to get if they really want to, you know, go far in the Big 10. And in the, you know, the NCAA tournament.
Nick Lundberg 21:18
So I mean, I really think I have a lot of hope in this team. And I think talent wise, I just don't see them being there yet. But I think now that they know what's going on, with like the teams that are, you know, in a different tier level than them, they can make a run at some of these, like games down the stretch, where it's like, okay, we know how these guys how these guys play, we know how to, we've seen them before. Now we can go out there and actually beat them. So
Joe DesVergnes 21:45
I've got to repeat exactly what you just said once they got their feet wet, playing top competition like this, they're going to be able to come in next game actually prepared for this. They hadn't played Minnesota yet this season, I believe at least. And when that happens, you're not really ready for that level of competition. But now they have it now they know what has happened and what can happen. Next game is going to be one that decides everything for them.
Joe DesVergnes 21:45
And one thing I want to point out, obviously, is Jeremy Davidson, he had to have three goals. And that second game, he stepped through for his team ended up coming up and actually playing most leave, it was like two, yeah, two thirds of the points on the board and out of that entire series. And one thing I noticed that shocked me out of this series, both the games, the entire set, there was no fouls or no penalties at all very clean game for both teams during that entire stretch.
Nick Lundberg 22:32
And we know Jagger Joshua is the king of the penalty box. So it's good. And he's I mean, Nightingale caught him out earlier a couple of weeks ago. He was like Jagger's a known penalty box player, Nightingale called him out on it actually benched him. And I believe it was the Miami series. But now it's been good to see him kind of stay out of there, because the team needs them out there because he's definitely a difference maker.
Nick Lundberg 22:52
But they've got big, big rivalry matchup coming up a home and home against Michigan. They're, I think they're leading them in the Big 10 standings right now after the Minnesota series, but they're ranked sixth in the country, they're probably just as good as Minnesota, maybe not maybe not as good, but they're definitely close. So it's going to be very, very interesting series. And I mean, beating Michigan and anything as always, as a sparring, it's always it's always a it's always a great thing. So hopefully, I'm hoping for a sweep.
Nick Lundberg 23:24
But obviously, that's not a guaranteed thing. So we'll see, I'm just, I don't know, I feel like they've got a new coach, too. They have been dealing with some illnesses of the season. So I mean, it's definitely these games are definitely winnable games, but it's nonetheless, they know what this is about to their they feel the rivalry even though they might not want to admit it, but they love to beat us. So I'm excited to see kind of, you know, the, what the crowds are like and what, how the players kind of come out and, you know, give it to give it to the rivals. So that'll be it'll be fun.
Joe DesVergnes 24:01
Yeah, Michigan is definitely a very talented team, obviously, with near the top of the rankings, as you mentioned, now that we have the experience against Minnesota, though, and the fact that's a rivalry game that kind of fully flipped the script, that can mean that the ranking means nothing at that point. It's just two teams going as each other who have it all to lose at this point. They're kind of battling a little bit for ego at this point. Because it's Michigan versus Michigan State Spartans versus Wolverines. This is going to be the right for you to watch out for this week.
Nick Lundberg 24:26
Yeah. And one last thing before time runs out, we want to talk a little bit of football. Last time out, we weren't sure whether they would get a bowl game or not, even though they finished five and seven it all dependent on what the other teams did in front of them. And it turned out where they were not in a position for to make a bowl game. But now it's kind of everyone's favorite season for Mel Tucker. It's the transfer portal season. And you've got draft announcements, too. I mean, some some names that have surprised me that have left our Brossard. Ronald Williams.
Nick Lundberg 24:59
Some of these guys they could have stayed, but instead decided to go to the draft. I mean, Bryce Behringer was obviously guarantee the best player in the country. In some of these transfers like Jack Stone, the freshman kicker who was on and off the season. And then you've got guys coming in like there was a top I don't want to say his name wrong, but he's from transfer defensive tackle from Texas A&M, who was ranked in the top 60 of his class and a top 10 defensive tackle, who's taken a visit soon. And then among other guys like that.
Nick Lundberg 25:27
So that's always exciting to kind of bring in some of these guys, especially with a big thing. This season we talked about was the lack of talent. You've got kind of the end of talk of the Antonia's recruiting class out there with Tucker's beginning recruiting classes, which is the Zoom class like three stars like we saw, and I mean, the transfer portal.
Nick Lundberg 25:48
This season has kind of been a miss for a lot of parts. I mean, I wanted to see more out of Daniel Barker. I want to see more at Brossard, Berger, but Berger will be around for another year. So that that it'll be good to watch him grow. But Broussard didn't really show me much. There were some other guys out there that you know, I thought could have been better but this season just wasn't it just it's it's a thing young coaches in college football, these kinds of things happen.
Nick Lundberg 26:15
We've we've seen it with Dabo Sweeney, Jim Harbaugh was never I mean, it's it took him seven years to figure out how to win a Big 10 championship. So these kinds of things take time, especially in the situation Tucker was put in and obviously getting a guy like canine last year was just just everything for the team kind of sped up expectations a little bit but it'll be interesting to see who they bring in this offseason. And where some of these guys go in the draft like we were talking about before Jay Reed is going to be you know, in that fifth sixth round kind of range might see some other guys get taken off the board Behringer might get drafted as a punter so it's just it's gonna be an I always like MSU football offseason, especially with an island transfer portal now it's it's fun. It's like you don't know what's going to happen. So I'm excited to see what what goes on.
Joe DesVergnes 27:00
Now the transfer portal has 100% made more fun, like you said the NFL deals. It's kind of a lot more like actual professional leagues free agency now or there's a lot more movement in the league I'd say. Like teams can actually adopt players from other teams now instead of them staying in the school for four years. Yep. And Behringer. I am so excited to see if the league is gonna be just awesome to watch off as punts this year have been mind blowing to see pentaphyllum inside the five yard line doing now on NFL stage is yeah break his name just in the stars in this field flipper.
Joe DesVergnes 27:30
Now 100% And then Jayden Reed as you were mentioning, I would be shocked if he goes before fourth round fifth, the sixth is where you said and that makes a lot of sense to me. He is going to thrive as a slot receiver sometimes maybe at the wide receiver position but also if they can run him in motion and they can use them as actual kind of running back like they do Deebo Samuel let him play a little bit upon return and kick return like he does now he is going to be awesome in the NFL.
Joe DesVergnes 27:54
I feel like he is best multi position on talent if they try to stick him at outside wide receiver just have them go deep every time maybe you can make some catches I don't think he's gonna succeed there though. Him at slot receivers getting some motions where he runs the ball and then returns it. Think of that's gonna be where he makes his name.
Nick Lundberg 28:10
Yeah, he definitely has big play potential and NFL at certain spots, maybe more or less than others. But that's about all the time we have today. So thank you, Joe for coming out. It's always a pleasure having you on.
Joe DesVergnes 28:21
Yeah, thank you Nick it was a great time.
Nick Lundberg 28:22
Yeah, and sadly this is the last podcast of the year next year we're going to be that we'll be back on the regular Wednesday schedule I believe but got some bigger things come in.. So bigger things planned with State News and Impact so stay tuned for all the exciting things going on.
Nick Lundberg 28:38
But I just want to say thank you to everyone for listening throughout the semester. It's been a fun time hosting. I'm excited to be back next year and I hope you everyone has a great Christmas a great holidays great New Year's just great break. Great relaxing break. And I'm sure you guys will be keeping up with all MSU sports and I'll be right back after the New Year's to you know, catch everyone up on what what's been missed.
Nick Lundberg 29:00
So thank you guys so much and have a great holiday and this has been another edition of Sports Roundtable peace out.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai