The Final Four Is Not On The Schedule - A Podcast Discussing Michigan State Basketball.

November 30, 2022: Perhaps it was inevitable that MSU would run into a team that got hot while their legs were out of juice. After playing 3 games in four days in Portland, OR the return late on Monday allowed for little rest before traveling to Notre Dame. The stretch of non-conference games that looked so daunting before the season began proved that way tonight especially as the Spartans were down two of their best players - Malik Hall and Jaden Akins. Notre Dame began the game with a blistering shooting performance in the first half leading to a 24 point lead which MSU was only able to cut to 18 by half time. Although, AJ Hoggard tried to bring the Spartans back in the second half the team just didn't have enough in the tank to make it close and fell to Notre Dame 70-52. They will now head back to East Lansing to prepare for the start of the Big Ten season against Northwestern on Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 28, 2022: It was announced today (November 28) that ESPN is canceling the Big10/ACC Challenge going forward and this will be its last year. The conference challenge will be replaced by the SEC/ACC challenge next year and we suspect we will see some iteration of the Big10/Big12 challenge as its replacement. Anyway, Michigan State will head into South Bend to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in an interesting matchup. Notre Dame is 5-1 but has looked shaky and not very dominant despite playing lesser competition. They are led by 4 fifth year starters and an athletic heralded freshman in JJ Starling. Per usual, Notre Dame is a good offense ranking #28 in KenPom with decent shooting and turnover percentage. However, they are an unmitigated disaster on defense ranking #168 in overall defense where the only bright spot is good defensive rebounding. It appears that the Spartans will be without Jaden Akins again as well as Malik Hall who still has a few weeks left to recover from the stress reaction in his foot. Expect to see MSU try to get out and run and build upon their shooting success against a poor defensive team. We wouldn't expect a lot of offensive rebounding against Notre Dame but perhaps they haven't yet been challenged by a team like MSU. Finally, if Michigan State gets a lead, will they be able to hold it without any late game heroics? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 27, 2022: Michigan State faced the University of Portland on their home court in the fifth place game of the PK 85 tournament. It was a tale of three games as Portland dominated the first half with a barrage of 3 pointers (9-19) to take an 8 point lead into halftime (42-34). But the Spartans came back and on the backs of great shooting, solid defense, and tough rebounding took a commanding 12 point lead with a few minutes to go. But that's where this game unfortunately got very interesting as the 12 point lead was cut to one with 40 seconds left to play. The lead implosion happened on the back of 3 turnovers and multiple 3 pointers from the Pilots in front of their own fans. Thanks to some great defense by MSU on the last possession they survived the Portland, OR trip down two men with a 2-1 record as they prepare for the ACC/Big10 Challenge in South Bend against Notre Dame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 26, 2022: A depleted Michigan State team beat an even more depleted Oregon team 74-70 to qualify for the fifth place game against a surging WCC Portland team. MSU played a more complete game against the Ducks and looked connected offensively for the first time after losing both Malik Hall and Jaden Akins to injury. Michigan State played better and looks to continue their semi-surprising run in the non-conference in the PK 85 and then a visit to South Bend in the ACC/Big10 Challenge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 25, 2022: Prior to leaving for Portland, OR for the tipoff of the PK85 against Alabama, Michigan State suffered two huge losses to injuries - Malik Hall, and Jaden Akins. Akins was sidelined after the Villanova game where he sustained a new injury to his previously injured foot that is not deemed serious but will be rested for a few games. Unfortunately, Malik Hall had a non-operative stress reaction injury to his foot in practice on Monday which will keep him out of action for about 3 weeks. Despite those key losses in personnel, the Spartans battled hard and managed to compete with Alabama in the first half mostly due to the scoring from Tyson Walker. However, the second half saw a few more shots miss for MSU and Alabama got a little hot from 3 allowing them to pull away. Freshman Brandon Miller led the way for the Crimson Tide with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Bright spots to the game included the extended minutes to freshmen Jaxon Kohler, Tre Hollomam, and Carson Cooper who all showed signs of progression from the start of the season. Pierre Brooks played 33 minutes and showed some signs of great play logging 9 rebounds with 4 offensive but also looked lost on defensive assignments against a team that was prepared to punish defensive lapses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 21, 2022: Michigan State opens up the PK85 holiday tournament in Portland, Oregon on Thanksgiving against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Coached by Nate Oats, Alabama plays a unique type of basketball emphasizing the 3 point shot and layups and dunks. It is predicated on analytics that show it best to shoot 3s and take only high percentage two point shots to maximize your scoring on offense. Alabama comes in 4-0 but not pushed by any teams yet this year with their only close contest a ten point win over South Alabama. Can MSU contain Alabama's shot outside the arc? Can they slow down the number one team in the country in offensive rebounding? Also, will 'Bama's horrendous ball security (#316 in turnover %) be their undoing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 19, 2022: The Spartans held on to defeat the Villanova Wildcats 73-71 at the Breslin on a snowy night in East Lansing. After being up 16 with less than 8 minutes to play, Villanova almost came all the way back using key turnovers and opportunistic 3s and free throws to catch up and beat MSU. Fortunately, Tyson Walker was there in the clutch to prevent Michigan State from losing this game as he hit big shot after big shot to keep just enough separation for the win. Mady Sissoko came back down to earth as he was challenged by Villanova's center, Eric Dixon, who scored 24 points playing differently from the previous two matchups that Mady had earlier. Overall, a good quality win for State as they prepare to head out west to the PK85 tournament where they will open up against Alabama. We close the show with a brief discussion about the Big Ten and its non-conference performance which might suggest the league is a little better than anyone thought. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 16, 2022: Michigan State welcomes in perennial power, Villanova, to the Breslin as part of the Gavitt Games this Friday. The Spartans are coming off an exciting win in double OT against #4 Kentucky while the Wildcats are struggling off to a 2-1 start defeating LaSalle and Delaware St and a loss to a weak Temple team. Legendary coach Jay Wright retired over the off season and leaves former assistant coach, Ken Neptune a program that has won a couple national championships and 7 of the last 8 Big East conference titles. Unfortunately, Neptune will be without at least one and maybe both of his best players due to injury. Can MSU continue its winning ways and intensity or will they have a letdown after that emotional win in the Champions Classic? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 15, 2022: Michigan State traveled to Indianapolis to take on #4 Kentucky (#1 in KenPom) in the Champions Classic as an 8 to 10 point underdog and comes away with a gritty win against Oscar Tshiebwe and a collection of great Wildcat athletes. Led by Joey Hauser's 23 points and 8 rebounds with 4-7 3 point shooting, the Spartans out-toughed Kentucky on the boards 45-38 and forced two overtimes on Malik Hall dunks at the end of regulation. Mady Sissoko again had a strong showing with 16 points and 8 rebounds and generally held his own against the reigning national player of the year, Tshiebwe. Sissoko actually managed to play the end of regulation and then both overtime sessions with 4 fouls while Tshiebwe fouled out putting the Wildcats immediately on their heels. Sissoko was dominant inside and Kentucky couldn't match his fierce play down the stretch without their all-everything player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 13, 2022: The high profile games keep coming for MSU as they meet #4 Kentucky in the Champions Classic on Tuesday, November 15. Kentucky enters the game ranked #1 in Ken Pom and an 8 point favorite. Kentucky returns last year's national player of the year, Oscar Tshibwe who is coming off a recent knee injury and is listed as questionable for the game. Can the Spartans carry over the intensity and grit they showed in their game against Gonzaga? Can Mady Sissoko manage to hold his own again inside against another elite big man? Finally, will we see MSU's outside shooting come to life now that they are playing in a more traditional indoor environment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 12, 2022: MSU played its second game on an aircraft carrier against #2 Gonzaga on Veteran's Day and almost pulled off the upset. National player of the year candidate, Drew Timme, led the Zags down the stretch with 22 points and 13 rebounds as just a little more than the Spartans could handle. Despite being up by 12 in the second half, Gonzaga went on a run with improved defense and putting Mady Sissoko and Joey Hauser in foul trouble allowing them to exploit the paint and the boards. Despite the loss, positive developments for MSU abounded as we saw how Mady Sissoko may actually be an upgrade over what MSU had at the center position last year. He led the team in scoring with 14 in a game where shooting was a challenge due to the weird conditions on the deck of the aircraft carrier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 9, 2022: After dispatching its season opening opponent, Northern Arizona, Michigan State begins its non-conference gauntlet with the #2 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs. The game will be the second time MSU has played on an aircraft carrier on Veteran's Day, the first being against North Carolina when Obama was president. Aside from the unusual playing conditions, the Spartans will be tested by a prolific offense and national player of the year candidate, Drew Timme. We will very quickly see if Tom Izzo's decision to go with Sissoko and Kohler at the center position was a wise decision or one that may cost them dearly. Interestingly, Gonzaga's guards struggled against the backcourt of Tennessee during their televised exhibition game and may be where MSU tries to attack this team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 7, 2022: Michigan State opened its season against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks from the Big Sky conference with a final score of 73-55. Led by senior Joey Hauser who scored a double double with 18 pts on 6-12 shooting (4-8 from 3) and 10 rebounds the Spartans controlled the game from start to finish. Other performances of note was Pierre Brooks with 14 points on 4-7 3 pt shooting in 17 minutes and Jaxon Kohler with 6 points and 9 rebounds in 16 minutes of play. Defensively, the Spartans held NAU to 32% shooting and 27% from behind the line and outrebounded them 46-37. Not an overwhelming performance considering that this is one of the poorer teams they will face this year. Encouraging signs though from Tyson Walker who was aggressively hunting for his shot even though they weren't falling and being an absolute terror defensively on NAU's guards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 5, 2022: The season opener is here as Michigan State hosts the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks from the Big Sky conference. Last year, NAU was 9-23 overall and 5-15 for a last place finish in conference play. They finished ranked 340 in KenPom where they didn't do anything very well on either side of the ball. Michigan State will look to get things set right before the gauntlet of games against multiple top 25 teams beginning on Friday against Gonzaga. There is some intrigue with this game whether Akins plays, can MSU return to its roots and rebound better, and will this be an opportunity for Steven Izzo to record his first collegiate points? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 2, 2022: Michigan State won the exhibition game over division 2 Grand Valley State University at the Breslin Center 73-56. It was a game where the Spartans trailed at half time 31-36 after a less than impressive defensive and rebounding performance. The second half was a vast improvement as MSU held GVSU to 27% shooting. Most important, however, was that MSU looks to be in decent shape at the 5 with the play of a massively improved Mady Sissoko and intriguing play from Kohler and Cooper. Also of note was AJ Hoggard going 2-2 from 3 and combined with Walker for 10 steals in the game. The team looks like it will be a beast defensively at the guard position especially since we still haven't seen what they will be like with Akins, arguably the best athlete. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 31, 2022: The season has finally arrived (sort of) as Michigan State hosts the Grand Valley State Lakers to the Breslin Center on Tuesday, November 1. GVSU is a D-II school who has played MSU in the past and is coming off an exhibition loss to Eastern Michigan a few days ago in Ypsilanti. This will be our first chance to see how MSU looks in the middle with Sissoko, Kohler, and maybe Cooper taking turns. Other questions will be how is the defensive rebounding and what will the combo of Hall and Hauser look like with Hall playing the wing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 27, 2022: We sat down with Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal and Couch and the Rube Podcast to get his thoughts on MSU's upcoming season and a host of other NCAA basketball issues. We talked about the potentially larger than expected role of Carson Cooper, whether Mady Sissoko can hang at the 5 spot, and what it will take for MSU to make a deep run in March or flame out and miss the tourney entirely. Additionally, Graham gave his thoughts on how recruiting has changed and whether Izzo is changing his philosophy in the face of a general lack of talent in Michigan and the presence of easy transfers and NIL. Finally, we touched briefly on what might happen to the NCAA tournament if it expands and how Couch thinks it would be ok so long as they make certain provisions in expanding the field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 25, 2022: MSU held a scrimmage in Knoxville, TN with the top rated Tennessee Volunteers this past weekend where we have only limited images and information. Reports coming out say that MSU held their own despite the absence of Jaden Akins although how the coaches approached the scrimmage may have been very unorthodox. Rod and Eric then discuss how recruiting has changed over the past few years for Izzo and all coaches. They then delve into MSU's offers in the 2024 and 2025 classes and who they are after. Also, we provide some idea on what their prospects are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 17, 2022: Our final Big Ten Preview installment is the most important - the Michigan State Spartans. We finished our annual preseason deep dive on each player, things to watch, and predictions for the year. Exiting this year are Gabe Brown, Marcus Bingham, Max Christie, and Julius Marble. New players are freshmen Jaxon Kohler, Tre Holloman, Carson Cooper and grad transfer Jason Whitens (who was on the team last year but tore his ACL in the exhibition opener against Ferris State.) Last year, the Spartans were fantastic shooting the 3 but uncharacteristically struggled to rebound the basketball and defend in the post. That contributed to their #42 overall KenPom ranking as they had one of the worst defensive rankings for an MSU team since 2006. Unfortunately, a lot of areas in which MSU needed improved play just didn't materialize last year. The team just didn't seem to gel and figure out their roles until perhaps the last two weeks of the year - just in time for the Big Ten tournament and NCAA tourney. The most obvious question this year is what will happen at the 5 spot with the departures of Bingham and Marble. The spartans will have to rely on foul-prone Mady Sissoko and a pair of true freshmen in Kohler and Cooper to try and get by. If that spot struggles, it might be a very long year our guys as the Big Ten still have a lot of teams with good centers. The other big question is can players like Akins and Brooks elevate their game and become big time contributors. Rod and Eric take the deep dive to prepare yourself for the season to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 13, 2022: Nothing better sums up the coming Big Ten season than Rod saying that he has Indiana as his number one team but doesn't think they will win the league. It's because there is massive turnover in rosters this year partly due to the transfer rule and partly due to a lot of high profile players leaving for the NBA draft. Can second year coach Rod Woodson continue the late season roll that the Hoosiers created? Or will they continue to look a little bit like a team without a strong identity? Perhaps the suspensions and eventual firing of assistant coach, Dane Fife, is a sign of cultural problems within the program. Whatever the answers may be, it looks like we're in for one interesting year in the Big Ten where anything is possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 10, 2022: Chris Holtman was a successful head coach at Butler before becoming the leader at Ohio State. yet, despite being loaded with talent one could say that his tenure with the Buckeyes has been disappointing. Thad Motta showed what was possible at Ohio State with great recruiting classes, and perennially challenging for Big Ten titles and deep NCAA tourney runs. Surprisingly, Ohio State was a very subpar defensive team last year negating the great offensive play they got from EJ Liddell and Malaki Branham. At some point you have to wonder if the less than spectacular results lead to a hot seat for coach Holtman. But for now, Ohio State will have to turn over most of their roster and rely on transfers and freshman to compete for a Big Ten title. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 6, 2022: After an impressive year finishing first and 15-5 in the Big Ten, Illinois followed that up with a first round exit in the Big Ten Tournament and then second round exit in the NCAA tournament. Now, head coach Brad Underwood will attempt to pick up the pieces for a disappointing postseason with an almost entirely new team. Only four scholarship players return to this years team with only one playing significant minutes on last year's roster. Illinois will be relying on transfers and freshman to compete this year. Rod also goes into detail about what he REALLY thinks about Andre Curbelo and whether he believes Underwood is really the man to move Illinois up to the next level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 3, 2022: If you look at preseason expectations last year, Michigan massively underperformed in Big Ten play. From erratic point guard play to terrible 3 point shooting, only dominant offensive play by Hunter Dickinson kept Michigan competitive last season. Coach Juwan Howard managed to right the ship late to sneak the wolverines into the NCAA tournament where they had a nice run to the sweet 16. However, off court shenanigans once again found their way into the season. Juwan Howard got suspended after getting in a heated argument in Madison for an altercation with a Wisconsin coach. There was also the very strange situation where UM canceled the home game against the Spartans right before tip when they 'discovered' they had too many players out with COVID. The game was later rescheduled (along with a few others) crammed into the busy schedule which Michigan won. This year, many of the players the helped the Wolverines go are no longer on the team and they will be relying again on a transfer point guard. Like most of the teams we've discussed, there are questions galore and how Michigan answers them will determine their final position in the Big Ten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 29, 2022: Last year the Purdue Boilermakers were everyone's pick to steamroll through the Big Ten especially after their perfect non-conference start. They had the #2 offense in the country, a generational talent in Jaden Ivey, and a coach who had proven to be solid defensively. However, the cracks to the Boilermaker facade showed up early with the surprise upset to Rutgers early in the Big Ten schedule. The cracks in the foundation of a great team were exposed - and never corrected. The loss to St. Peter's in the NCAA tournament left Purdue fans wondering how this juggernaut got derailed so easily despite everything they had in their favor. But the defensive liability proved to be too much to overcome and now they are left without all that firepower. Through departures the question remains whether others can step up and keep Purdue in the mix for another NCAA tournament berth or perhaps a Big Ten championship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 26, 2022: We are approaching the midpoint of our Big Ten Previews with number 7 Iowa. Iowa surprised the league last year mostly on the back of emergent superstar, Keegan Murray. Murray went from a relatively unknown bench player on the previous Hawkeye team to the number 4 pick in the 2022 NBA draft. With his departure and that of Jordan Bohannon, will Iowa have enough in the tank to compete for a title? Can Kris Murray, twin brother to Keegan, fill in for his brother and provide the Hawks a scoring punch? Rod and Eric discuss the fate of the Hawkeyes and what they think of this year's team. Iowa is Eric's second favorite team and Rod's second LEAST favorite adding to the discussion. Eric also pranks Rod on the air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 22, 2022: Aside from the emergence of first round pick Johnny Davis for Wisconsin was their ability to win close games. Many of those games were won at the free throw line - their opponents which constituted an above average amount of luck. Certainly, the Badgers were able to close out games but despite their abysmal offensive stats (#63 in KenPom) with atrocious shooting (#310 in 3 pt% and #215 in 2 pt%) they managed to score just enough to win a lot of Big Ten conference games. However, Davis is gone as is long time starter, Brad Davison. The Badgers will be relying on an untested twin brother, Jordan Davis, and a number of transfers and bench players to fill in for their personnel losses. Rod and Eric discuss this Wisconsin team and what France thought of Badger basketball this summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 19, 2022: What Steve Pikiell has accomplished at Rutgers since taking over has been impressive. He has taken a team that was the doormat in the Big East and then Big Ten and made them a real pest. Pikiell created a culture toughness which turned them into the team that they are today - a perennial borderline NCAA tournament team. But the questions abound in New Jersey as transfers and a questionable recruitment class add to the uncertainty about not only where this team is - but where it is going. Will Rutgers challenge for the conference title, or will it remain stuck in the middle of the pack? Rod and Eric discuss this year's Rutgers squad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 15, 2022: Penn State found itself with a coaching change last year as long time coach Pat Chambers was shown the door after a fairly lackluster record for Nittany Lions and allegations of player abuse. New coach Micah Shrewsberry scrambled to put together a team as many members decided to depart with the coaching change. He managed to keep a few and produce a nucleus to leave a partially competitive team. Unfortunately for Shrewsberry, the Big Ten was extremely competitive last year making it very hard for his depleted squad to rack up many wins. However, it seems the winds are changing and there is an inkling that something may be building in Happy Valley. Decent recruiting classes and an identity of toughness that emerged last season should give the dozen or so Nittany Lion fans hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 12, 2022: Last year was a strange one for Maryland as their coach for over a decade, Mark Turgeon, abruptly resigned after only 8 games into the season. He was replaced by interim coach Danny Manning who provided only a lackluster finish for the season with the Terps finishing 7-13 in the Big Ten. In a story repeated more often nowadays, there have been a lot of departures from Maryland as well as incoming transfers to try and shore up the program. It appears that Willard has been able to make a little headway in recruiting for the 2023 season but he will have problems this season cobbling together a team to be competitive in the Big Ten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 8, 2022: As we continue our march through the Big Ten we land on #12 Northwestern. The Wildcats peaked under coach Chris Collins in the 2016-17 season with their first NCAA tournament berth and win but haven't even been close since. Unfortunately, after key departures from Pete Nance and Ryan Young, this year isn't looking too good either for Northwestern. Rod and Eric discuss the trajectory of the program and what is holding back Chris Collins from making Northwestern an annually competitive team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 5, 2022: We continue our march through the Big Ten previews with #13 Minnesota. After cobbling together a team of transfers last year, second year coach Ben Johnson looks to improve on their season with another largely rebuilt roster. Losing star Eric Curry and a bevy of transfers, the gophers will again try to piece together a team while also adding some of their own high school recruits. Rod expects Minnesota to turn the corner soon but not this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 1, 2022: Rod and Eric begin this year's Big Ten Previews with a prediction for Nebraska to be the cellar dweller. Despite not doing as well as previous coach, Tim Miles', worst year at Nebraska, head coach Fred Hoiberg seems to have been given a long leash entering his fourth season. Previously, an expert at piecing together teams using transfers at Iowa State, it just hasn't worked out in Lincoln. Once again, the roster will have almost complete turnover from last year and we will wait to see if they can finally pull it together. The Final Four Is Not on the Schedule is excited to announce our contest for this year open to all listeners to the show. Can you predict the correct order of the Big Ten this season? Try and beat Rod for a great prize. A free logo t-shirt and opportunity to come on the show after the season to gloat. To enter, send us your name and predictions to [email protected]. Entries must be submitted before the first Big Ten games are played. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 24, 2022: Recent comments by Southeastern Conference (SEC) commissioner Greg Sankey shed some light on changes that power 5 conferences might have for our favorite sporting event of the year - the NCAA basketball tournament. The "fresh look" Sankey mentions might include an expanded field up to 96 allowing many more power 5 teams in as at-large bids and obviously, greater revenue with more games. However, many do not see eye to eye with Sankey. FGCU's athletic director, Ken Kavanagh, worried that what's really on the chopping block is the auto bids for the non-Power 5+1 conferences with the tournament. Mike Decourcey of the Sporting News wrote a blistering response to the proposals to change the basketball tournament which we addressed in the show. Ultimately, conference realignment, NIL, and TV rights are fueling all of this turmoil and threatening the tournament no matter what we might want. Rod and Eric discuss the implications of what is happening, what might happen, and what should happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 17, 2022: This Spring, it became official that UCLA and USC would join the Big Ten for the 2024 athletic season and beyond. As with nearly all athletic decisions at the conference level they are driven entirely by football. Most of the discussion about revenue and scheduling centers around what the addition of the two schools will have on football. But what about basketball? Rod and Eric discuss the implications of these two Pac-12 teams joining the Big Ten. UCLA brings with it some of the most storied programs of all time with 11 national championships. USC adds a middling to solid program that certainly might be competitive. Does the addition of the schools open up the west coast for recruiting? Does it raise the competitiveness of the conference? How will travel and scheduling work? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 9, 2022: Rod and Eric discuss the newest addition to the already strong 2023 recruiting class, Coen Carr from Georgia. Carr is a tremendous athlete who can jump out of the gym and rounds out the 2023 class as a 6' 7" forward who can play the 3 or 4. The two announced the creation of a new Spartan TFFINOTS community with a website, enhanced production, and a free community bulletin board. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 2, 2022: Rod and Eric discuss the newest Michigan State recruitment of 2023 SF Gehrig Normand from Texas. Normand's commitment to MSU comes after just a three and a half week courtship with Tom Izzo and his staff. By all accounts, Normand was heading to Wisconsin to play his college ball until the Spartans staff reached out to him and convinced him that Madison really isn't as great a place to play basketball as East Lansing. Also, they discuss the hiring of a replacement recruiting coordinator, John Borovich. Borovich has deep ties to the team as he was a high school teammate of Matt Ishbia, played college basketball under Mark Montgomery, worked as a grad assistant under Tom Izzo, and later coached with Montgomery at Northern Illinois. Most recently, he was an assistant coach under Chris Collins at Northwestern. Borovich will fill the vacated role that Mike Garland left after his retirement this summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 31, 2022: The much hyped recruitment of Xavier Booker from Indiana went Tom Izzo's way as he selected MSU to play his college basketball. Booker was out of the top 100 when Izzo began his recruitment of the 6' 11" power forward but has recently moved up to the top of the charts this season as his game has developed. Booker has even been ranked as the number one of his class according to some recent rankings. Also, two new recruits for the 2023 class took their official visits to MSU this weekend. Both are out of region targets and very late in the recruiting process but word has it that MSU has a good chance on one if not both. Gehrig Normand and Coen Carr would fill the role of the 3/4 which probably be a large need with the departures of Joey Hauser and maybe Malik Hall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most of the nonconference schedule is released and its is going to be a grueling challenge with matchups against Alabama, Kentucky, Villanova (maybe twice), Notre Dame, Gonzaga and potentials against UConn or Oregon and maybe even North Carolina. Also, Michigan State just offered a scholarship to 14 year old Randy Livingston, Jr. from Florida. Livingston is a 6'1" point guard and the son of former NBA player Randy Livingston, Sr. Rod and Eric discuss the player, what this means and may tell us about Izzo's emphasis on recruiting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eric and Rod take a deep dive in on where the Spartans stand with commitments and offers for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 classes. They talk about Jeremy Fears, Xavier Booker, Devin Royal, and more. Eric visited MoneyBall and gives his impressions on the new additions to the team and how Sissoko and Hoggard looked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eric and Rod and joined with award winning journalist Jack Ebling now of the Drive with Jack show. Jack offers his thoughts on what USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten will do for the conference, will it stop there, and if they bring in more than bigger TV markets. We also discuss how the transfer portal and name and likeness will change college athletics probably for good. Will the NCAA tournament ever be the same if these mega-conferences are created and seek more and more revenue? Finally, we get Jack's thoughts on how it Jud Heathcote and Tom Izzo are different to cover as a member of the media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rod & Eric hop into the way back machine and talk about another What If scenario. This time, the 1985-86 Spartans whose season came to an end after a clock malfunction at the NCAA tournament in 1986. This was Scott Skiles' senior year which was one of the most prolific single season performances in MSU history. With MSU up 4 late in the second half, the clock at Kemper Arena in Kansas City suddenly got 'stuck' for 15 seconds. Michigan State eventually missed some late free throws and #1 seed Kansas ending up tying the game with 9 seconds left and forcing overtime where they won by 10. Amazingly, the clock issue was never fixed during stoppage of the game. If the clock didn't break, would MSU have won? Could they have defeated North Carolina State in the regional finals to advance to the Final Four? If so, could they have beaten a young Coach K at Duke and perhaps Louisville in the Championship game? *Warning: some serious Michigan shade is thrown in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eric and Rod revisit the 2009-10 season which MSU entered ranked preseason #2. This was largely because the previous final four team lost only Travis Walton and Goran Suton but was returning senior Raymar Morgan, Big Ten player of the year, Kalin Lucas, Delvon Roe, and sophomore Draymond Green. They had a number of setbacks in the non-conference leading to a 10-3 record but started the Big Ten schedule 9-0. Then the wheels metaphorically came off and they lost 3 in a row but still managed to limp across the finish line to tie for a Big Ten championship with Purdue and Ohio State. A first round flame out in the Big Ten Tournament against a bad Minnesota team in OT left expectations low and a 5 seed heading into the NCAA tourney. Few were high on this team until Kalin Lucas started playing like the player he was the year before in the first round by scoring 25 in defeating 12 seed New Mexico State. Suddenly, MSU was looking like a force to reckon with if only they could find a way past Kansas in the Sweet 16. MSU was cruising to an easy second round win against Maryland when Kalin Lucas tore his ACL in the second half. Last second heroics and maybe a little help from Northern Iowa in defeating Kansas led to MSU making it all the way to the Final Four. It was the Final Four matchup against Butler where Draymond Green was clearly fouled in the act of shooting while down one with only a few seconds left. The no-call was in part responsible for a narrow loss and missed opportunity to take on a pedestrian Duke team for the national championship. What if Kaliin Lucas hadn't torn his ACL? What if the foul is called and Draymond at least splits the pair of free throws? Eric and Rod talk about what they think would have happened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LSJ sports columnist, Graham Couch, joins us today to discuss the state of the MSU basketball program. We discuss the concern at the 5 spot, coaching changes, the thinking behind Max Christie's departure, and what the Big Ten will be like next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eric & Rod return to the 2019-2020 MSU basketball season and project what would have happened if COVID never came and we were able to enjoy the basketball postseason. In this episode we recap the season and look at the bracket seedings to come to a final four and our best guess for who comes out on top. Final Four teams: Kansas, Seton Hall, Maryland, and Michigan State. Then we discuss the importance of the Mike Garland retirement has on the coaching staff. What he meant for the players, coach Izzo, and what sort of person they need to replace him. Special thanks to listener Patrick in suggesting this fun topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rod and Eric review Thomas Kelley's addition as the newest assistant coach for MSU's basketball program. Kelley is a former starter for the team in the 90s and previously served as a grad assistant before taking an assistant coaching position at Western Michigan. We discuss what we think he will bring to the team and what it means to be an assistant at MSU. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a recent interview, Tom Izzo stated that the MSU roster is set for the 2022-2023 season. Marble and Christie are gone and Fears, Holloman, and Cooper are in. Are we short a player from the portal? Rod and Eric discuss whether it is time to panic or if we can relax this summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eric and Rod discuss the surprise commitment to the 2022-2023 of IMG 6'11" IMG Academy player, Carson Cooper. Tentative plans are for him to redshirt next season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eric and Rod review the high school recruitment offers from MSU and targets for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 classes. The also give you the latest news on the MSU roster with the transfer portal. Will they convince Marble to stay? Is Christie out the door? Finally, they discuss the implications of what Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has done to the college landscape and what is likely to come after the probable breakup of the NCAA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rod and Eric address an uncomfortable question for the Big Ten - can anyone win a national championship? It hasn't been since 2000 with Mateen Cleeves and MSU's Flintstones since a Big Ten team has won the national championship. Is there something wrong about the way the Big Ten plays basketball or constructs its teams that leads to a lack of success? Also, we analyze how well Rod did in his predictions for the final standings in the Big Ten. Hits, misses, and everything in between including a rant about one coach Rod doesn't believe in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Long time assistant coach Dwayne Stephens has left Michigan State to become the head coach at Western Michigan. Rod and Eric discuss the role Stephens had as coach at MSU, what his leaving will mean to the program, and who is rumored to replace him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.