This past Tuesday, #9 Michigan State traveled to Peoria, IL to play the Bradley Braves, an unranked, but scrappy team from the underrated Missouri Valley conference. A crowd of 11,500 braved a winter storm in order to set a Peoria Civic Center/Carver Arena record for attendance (the arena has a capacity of roughly 11,000). Tuesday's game marked the first time in over twenty years that Bradley played host to a team ranked in the AP top ten. After being behind for most of the game, Michigan State rallied to escape with a hard fought 66-61 win. A major factor in Michigan State's shaky performance was the hostility of the Bradley crowd. Bradley students, alumni and fans packed the normally sterile Carver Arena to create what Michigan State coach Tom Izzo termed an "electric environment."
Tom Izzo should be commended for scheduling a "two and one" series with Bradley. It's difficult for Missouri Valley teams to find non conference opponents from BCS conferences like the Big Ten. The MVC is widely considered to be one of the best conferences in college basketball. And Valley teams have a reputation for playing a tough, scrappy, defensive-minded brand of basketball. But the Missouri Valley is still technically a "mid major" conference. Thus, teams from major conferences stand to gain little by playing Missouri Valley teams: the Valley teams are almost certain to challenge the "major" conference teams (and maybe even beat them) but the "major" conference teams aren't likely to be rewarded for close wins over "mid majors" in the RPI rankings or by the NCAA Tournament selection committee. So they usually won't play the good Valley teams.
Give Izzo credit. He knew that Michigan State didn't stand to gain much by playing that game (in either the RPI rankings or in the eyes of the selection committee) -- and he knew that if they were to lose, or even struggle with Bradley, they could pay for it all season long (and that it could, ultimately, affect their Tournament seeding).
But Izzo took his Spartans to battle an unheralded opponent in a hostile environment. And after surviving Tuesday night's scare, he's relieved to get out with a win and thinks his team will be tougher in the long run for having played the game.
That's why Drive and Dish is showing Tom Izzo some love (actually, Tom Izzo is probably my favorite coach in college basketball -- I've respected and admired him for many years -- so it's hardly a surprise that D&D is showing Izzo love). We believe that you've got to give credit where credit's due.
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42 comments:
Tom Izzo is decent. If Michigan State really wants to win the big dance they should bring in a motivational consultant, like Dennis Green. Preaching about faith, fishing, and planting the seeds of the Arizona Cardinals, a dynasty in the making, the Spartans could learn how to play for pride.
Ah-Yoka!
priceless moment in history ..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDAq5tyfk9E
Izzo is a good coach. You gotta give props to Fran McCaffery of Siena, who is modestly creating a MAAC dynasty
What has Fran McCaffrey done? Izzo is willing to stick his neck out even if going one step backwards means going three steps forward. I must also say that Dennis Green has not been given the respect he deserves. Why isn't his name being mentioned for NFL Head Coaching vacancies?
Spartan and anonymous,
You're both right. Dennis Green is a motivational genius. Who wouldn't be chomping at the bit to run through a brick wall for him after hearing that "the Bears are who we thought they were ... why don't you crown their ass!!
As for why D. Green's name isn't being mentioned for NFL HC vacancies: the season's not over yet. I don't think there are any vacancies yet. Maybe his name will pop up. If not, Michigan will probably still be in the market for a coach.
But if his name isn't mentioned in conjunction with any of the upcoming coaching vacancies, it'll just be further evidence that the NFL owners are who we thought they were!!!
Bradley aint no hostile environment. If they were so good why dont more teams play them. MSU wont be tougher for playing them. Has Bradley beaten anybody since 1997. dont think so. Bradley is like a peugeot against a Ferrari in a streetrace. Peoria is a dump. He didnt want his players to travel where they will be clubbin. Dennis Green never won anything. You dummies need to clean out your ears.
Thank you Trashtalk Superstar. I hopes Dennis Green gets the chance he deserves.
To refute prost97: Look at the Vikings. The Vikes almost made the Superbowl and the playoffs regularly under Green. After his (unjust) firing, they declined. The Cardinals were an expansion-like project. He brought them out of the dumps and was not given the time to reap what he has sewn. He is a good motivator.
I'd like to nominate myself for the vacant Michigan job. I dress well, carry myself with a high level of confidence and won't "intimidate" the powers-to-be at the negotiating table. My resume is flawless. I coached intramural volleyball at Georgetown. And besides, I'll get to trade in my Honda Civic if I get this job.
Haha Sven! I'm sure you would bring a different look to the sidelines each and every week. The Honda Civic is a timeless treasure. Never trade it in!
Dennis Green is the man!
It is hard to find a coach that instills values in his or her players while keeping up with the pressures of winning. Dennis Green was a savior at the college ranks at Stanford and Northwestern, molding young players into professionals on and off the field. A college program should take a long look at the man looking to trademark the phrase "they are who we thought they were."
denny green is coming out with a fishing across america video too!
http://www.dennisgreen.com/fishing.cfm
you guys are ridiculous!!! dennis green coaching again?!? he outta dress up as santa at my local mall. his belly is the only thing that grew when he coached btw where the h*ll is siena?
Green has been getting the job done for years. He has been a model for toughness and class. Just listen to the testimonials from his former players.
Prost: If you ever decide to follow college hoops, you would know about Siena. They recently defeated Stanford and qualified for the NCAA Tournament multiple times in recent years.
boo hoo hoo anonymous a.k.a. too much of a wuss to give his name.
How many teams will consider mr. green's services? zero. the cardinals played so well under him they got a top five pick despite all that talent
nobody cares about siena. they aint done nothing in the tourney. so what they beat a mediocre team every ten years.
Hey Prost: your comments certainly match the age indicated by your name.
Fire down troops! Everybody is entitled to their own opinon.
Dennis Green would be suited for a veteran team like San Diego who needs a tough commander to keep egos in check. Perhaps a younger squad is not suitable for him anymore.
whats next for denny green? a nutrition video? you girls act like hes a god. He's an average coach. siena plays in subpar conference. if theyre lucky theyll play the qualifier before meeting UNC.
siena has a woman coach. they should hire dennis green.
Dennis Green is super sexy. I would go to hear him preach anyday. Good for Siena! Given the opportunity women can coach just as well as men.
Fishing? What does Dennis Green catch? Is he into salt water specimens?
Siena played tough games against Syracuse and Stanford. The Falcons have an opening at head coach. Could Dennis Green lead a new set of leaner meaner birds?
Dennis Green is a football mastermind. Few coaches have accomplished the things he has. He can develop players like no other. He had bad luck with injuries and OL during his last season. His brain should be frozen for scientific research once his time is up.
o yea.....football and basketball are life :-)
I betcha Dennis Green could coach b-ball at a high level. He's got natural instinct. He's got a love for the game. If my kid were recruited I'd want him to play for a man with those principles of DG. Pro teams will look at him before hiring some young punk coordinator who hasn't got the life experience. Here is a guy who made something of himself.
Interesting comments on Dennis Green. I agree with Abtin that Green would be good with hoops players. I disagree with Marc on him not working well with a young team. He dug many teams out of the trenches. The Falcons just lost Bobby Petrino. A mind like Dennis Green's could really be the glue of a franchise which has endured so much. Green was a Running Back in his day. With his athleticism and personality, he must have been one force to reckon with on the disco dancefloor!
I woul love to hav this Dennis Green coaeching our Tuerkish National team.
Mehmet,
Your "Tuerkish" National team is just fine as is. I don't think that you need Dennis Green, or any other NFL coach (caveat: with the exception of Ditka), to go to "Tuerky" and coach your national basketball team.
Sparco_Spartan,
A few hours after I said that it's too early for NFL teams to have coaching vacancies, Bobby Petrino left the Atlanta Falcons to become the head football coach at the University of Arkansas. So I stand corrected.
Now the Falcons need to find a new head coach and a new quarterback.
And unless Urban Meyer or Les Miles is ready to make the jump to the NFL, Dennis Green would appear to be a good fit for the Falcons.
I wouldn't be surprised to see the Falcons go after Nick Saban either.
Tom Izzo is a good basketball coach and a classy guy. We've seen Michigan State up in person at the 2000 and 2005 Final Fours. They always have well coached, classy teams. They're not always fun to watch, but they're always good. So it's easy to like Izzo (although I didn't like him too well when he got Delvon Roe away from Roy).
On a side note, y'all have some crazy comments on here. What does Dennis Green have to do with Tom Izzo? And why would anybody care if he could coach basketball? Y'all need to get lives.
I will say this though, I'm glad that Petrino took the Arkansas football job. I was afraid they'd come after Butch Davis. It'd be nice to see Butch put a good team together. Haven't had much of a program since Mack Brown left town (and not coincidentally, the two best players on the team were also basketball players for coach Gut - i.e., Peppers and Curry). Michigan could still come after Butch though.....
UNC: NCAA Basketball Champions 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005
And on the Seventh day, Roy rested.
GO HEELS!!
Prost97,
Say what you will about Peoria, but they had an unbelievable atmosphere in Carver arena for that game. Top ten teams (or even major conference teams, for that matter) don't play in Peoria very often. Bradley almost beat MSU, thanks in part to their rabid crowd. Bradley and Peoria represented. That's what college basketball is supposed to be all about!!
By the way, Bradley made it to the Sweet Sixteen in 2006. That's more recent than 1997.
Finally, although Peoria may not be the best example of a cosmopolitan metropolis, there is some nightlife (as there is in every city). And if Izzo was hoping to keep his team away from the clubs, I hope he didn't have them stay in downtown Peoria. Big Al's, a legendary strip club on Main St. in downtown Peoria, is directly across from two or three prominent hotels (and that's no coincidence). If you stay in the Hotel Pere Marquette (which most visiting college basketball teams do), you can't look out your room's window and not see the huge Big Al's sign -- and all the people waiting in line outside the club. Kind of makes you want to check it out (well, it looked interesting to me when I stayed at the Pere Marquette - although I was 15, so take it for what it's worth).
For more on Big Al's check out:
www.barmeister.com/bars/review/132/
www.businessweek.com/1996/22/b347760.htm
www.collegebars.net/bars/bigals
Tom Izzo is okay. He benefited from Michigan's problems. His players would be improved from bringing in Dennis Green for a motivational outlook. Green has accomplished and overcome things most coaches will never experience. Speaking about Nick Saban, Green was rumored to take over the Alabama post last season.
Thank you for the Peoria links, now I know what to see if I ever wind up there.
Good coaching is like digging for emeralds. Its hard to find. Petrino doesn't have the class of Dennis Green. When you start a project, you finish it. Green wouldn't bail on his boys after 3/4 of a season. Tom Izzo wouldn't either
i do not believe the falcons like saban. dennis green is a guru on both sides of the ball. the falcons arent so bad like they look. they can win the super bowl if they hire green. his son is a commentator for espn. as a running back he prolly had some good juke moves on the dance floor. i agree with that.
Big Al's sounds interesting......
But it would be better if it was Big Gay Al's and was, you know ...... GAYER. I've already got Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride, Big Gay Al's Big Gay Animal Sanctuary and Big Gay Al's Big Gay techno dance club. And at all of those ventures my goal is to educate people (and even animals) about homosexuality, and to show 'em that it's "OK to be GAY!!"
Maybe I'll have to open up a Big Gay Al's "gentleman's club," and show guys who go to strip clubs that it's OK 2 B GAY!
Remember, homosexuality is a good thing. It's OK if your pet is gay. That's just who he is. Dogs can be gay too. And so can you. ITS OK 2 B GAY!
If there was a Big Gay Al's gentleman's club, you'd probably find Christian Laettner, Brian Davis, J.J. Redick(ulously gay), Bobby Hurley, Greg Newton, Matt Christenson and Kyle Singler in there. They've all been known to play for the other team (and that team isn't a basketball team, if y'all know what I mean).
On the other hand, those guys are probably too busy choking down Rat Face's Polish sausage to make it out to the club! LOL!
UNC: NCAA Men's Basketball Champions 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005.
GO HEELS!!
Trashtalk Superstar:
Yesterday, I posted a well-constructed sports following the thread. You decide not to post it, but you post rubbish about changing the name of a strip club to a gay bar, dogs being gay,
etc.
What is up with that? You can moderate comments once they have been made, but let people say what they want, unless you want to lose readers.
Anonymous,
Sorry about not publishing your comment. I had to delete some comments on another post, so I changed the setting in order to prevent posts from being automatically published. Unfortunately, I left the setting on on - because I forgot to reset it back to auto publish - longer than I had expected to (I originally intended to leave it on for a few hours).
I have rectified the situation.
Your comments are now on display for the entire world to see.
Message to Roy>Jesus:
Roy boy, go to hell!
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