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TWD 1974

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In reply to BusyTarpDuster2017 • 11:11a, 12/19/23

BusyTarpDuster2017 said:
TWD 1974 said:
BusyTarpDuster2017 said:
I think I know what happened in that last game. It's the same thing that happened to the Cowboys vs. the Bills yesterday too, btw. You know that old trick where you tell someone to lift a weight above their head as quickly as they can, and then make it progressively heavier - but then you put a fake weight there that is as light as paper? You then watch that person throw that weight up through the ceiling, fully expecting it was going to be really heavy. Well, I think we saw the sports version of that. Michigan State had such high expectations for themselves, and they felt they'd let everyone down up until that point. What better opportunity for redemption than a national tv game against a #6 team, that offensive juggernaut that is Baylor? They had their preparation, focus, and intensity dialed up to 11 for that one, expecting that Baylor was going to be a heavy weight. But Baylor wasn't anywhere near as heavy as everyone made us out to be. So what does it look like to be thrown through the ceiling? 45-17 at halftime. Just like that. But unlike the trick, it isn't very funny.
Saturday's game reminded me of the 2016-17 season. If you remember, we had a great start to the year, upset Michigan State in the holiday tournament, got to 15--0 and were voted No. 1 in the nation for the first time ever. Next day, we head to West Virginia to face a very good defensive team that had struggled offensively. Similar outcome, WVU beat up our guards and couldn't miss a shot... and an even bigger blowout than Saturday.
That team endured the embarrassment and moved on. Were they ever the best team in the country? Not a chance. We had a good season, lost in the sweet sixteen to a tough South Carolina team.

This year, we are a good offensive team that met a better defensive team. While our defense should improve, it is just as important that we learn the offensive lessons. It is pointless to look at this team and wail "where is Vitals, Davion!" We do not have that kind of physicality on the roster. How the rest of the year turns out will depend on how this team answers the defensive pressure that everyone will try to replicate against us.
That game vs. West Virginia in 2017 wasn't even close to the blowout that this one was. WV was up 39-32 at halftime....

.....45 - 17.

And WV was ranked #10 then. MSU was unranked. It was so bad that Tom Izzo was able to play his 40-year old son during mop up time.

21 pt loss by the No. 1 ranked team was bad enough. I'm not minimizing the MSU game but pointing out a similar instance when a good offensive team-- that may be a bit overrated by some-- meets up with a team that can bring effective defensive pressure. When that happens, it's sometimes not something you can fix in the game (particularly when young players are seeing it for the first time). I fully trust Drew and company will better prepare this team as the season moves along.