MICHIGAN STATE (22-7, 12-4 Big Ten)
Good Wins: Gonzaga, Wisconsin, @ Purdue.
Bad Losses: None.
Strengths:
1. Toughness. This seems to be MSU’s biggest strength every year, and 2010 is no different. The “War Drill,” explained in last year’s team capsule, highlights why MSU teams are tough. What the Spartans lack in height, they make up with heart and [...]

Depending on the week, time of day or whether the sky is filled with cirrus or cumulonimbus clouds, the Big Ten is either having a great year, a good year, or a down year. The same can be said about nearly all of the teams in the conference.
At one point, many prognosticators had seven or [...]

For the third time less than a full year, the Spartans and Tar Heels battled in the national spotlight. And for the third time, the Tar Heels turned what was supposed to be a hard-fought battle into a one-team coronation with a convincing thrashing of a highly-ranked and highly-talented Spartan squad.
You would think losing four [...]

You want a laugh, find a copy of Bill Cosby’s “Himself” DVD. You want a chuckle, look at this season’s preseason prognostications, one month later.
Before Kentucky’s Billy Gillispie came out for Kentucky’s Midnight Madness and tried to secure a dozen letters of intent from 8th graders in the crowd and before Tom Izzo turned back [...]

Bracketography analysts Chris Mackinder (Big Ten) and Jonathan Wall (Big 12) take a look at the upcoming weekend game between Michigan State and Texas. Each writer will argue why his respective conference’s representative will come out on top in this critical non-conference matchup.
Mackinder’s Michigan State Analysis
During Michigan State’s win against The Citadel on Wednesday [...]

“The Big Ten was bad this year. No way around the truth.”
– Bracketography’s David Mihm on Selection Sunday.
Lost in all the Selection Sunday madness was any discussion of the Big Ten. And, because of the questionable season the entire conference put together, maybe the lack of discussion [...]

Regardless of what happens in Indianapolis at this week’s Big Ten Tournament, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana and Wisconsin all are dancing. One team – Ohio State – still has realistic dreams of a landing on the right side of the Selection Sunday bubble.
That makes this year’s Big Ten Tournament a little mundane, but there are still [...]

Record: (23-6, 11-5 Big Ten)
Key Wins: N-Texas; Purdue, N-BYU, Indiana
Key Losses: N-UCLA, @Wisconsin, @Iowa, @Penn State
Key Stats: 20-1. The Spartans are undefeated at home this season and have recorded a 5-1 neutral floor record. While road record is important, there are no “road” games in the NCAA Tournament. And, if the Spartans get placed in [...]

When analyzing matchups, experts tend to look at the obvious: rankings, star players, and big-name coaches. All of these play a factor, but sometimes a win just comes down to knowing your opponent.
How does the opposition score? From the foul line? Mid-range jumpers? Three-pointers? And, almost as important, where are your team’s defensive weaknesses? Can [...]

2006-2007 Record: 23-12 (8-8 Big 10, T-7th)
Postseason Games:

3/8/2007
Northwestern
Big Ten Tournament
W
62-57

3/9/2007
Wisconsin
Big Ten Tournament
L
70-57

3/15/2007
Marquette
NCAA
W
61-49

3/17/2007
North Carolina
NCAA
L
81-67

Returning Statistical Leaders:
13.5 ppg – Drew Neitzel
6.7 rpg – Goran Suton
6.5 apg – Drew Neitzel

Starting Lineup:
Key Stat:

C
Goran Suton
6’10
Jr.
2.6 TOs per game makes him liability

PF
Marquis Gray
6’8
Jr.
FG% (57.8) good, FT% (59.0) not so good

SF
Raymar Morgan
6’7
So.
Two double-doubles to start ’07-’08 season

SG
Drew Neitzel
6’0
Sr.
87.9% FT shooter, best [...]