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

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.

Rod and Eric discuss the recent developments on the team as Julius Marble enters the transfer portal, Joey Hauser elects to return for a senior COVID year, and Max Christie's situation with draft evaluation and potential for entering the transfer portal. What is happening, what is the risk to MSU without Marble and Christie and can they be successful in the 2022-2023 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 go through the entire MSU roster and review their performance over the 2021-2022 season. Who surprised us, who disappointed, and who left us wondering what comes next. 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 recap Michigan State's 23-13 season with an 11-9 Big Ten Record and second round exit in the NCAA tournament as a 7 seed to Duke. 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.

#7 Seed MSU loses to #2 Duke 85-76 in a well fought match that had MSU up 5 with under 5 to go. But it was a lead they were unable to sustain as Duke made all the winning plays at the end. 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.

#7 Seed MSU takes on #2 seed Duke in the second round of the NCAA tournament in the West Region. The game will be the sixth time Izzo has faced coach K in the tournament where he has a 2-3 record, winning the most recent matchup in 2019 to get to the Final Four. It is also coach K's last NCAA tournament as he has announced his retirement before the season began. 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.

MSU beats a tough Davidson Wildcats team 74-73 in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Greenville, SC to earn a matchup with perennial powerhouse, Duke 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.

Rod and Eric breakdown the 7-10 matchup between Michigan State and the Davidson Wildcats featuring former MSU captain, Foster Loyer. 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 break down the 2022 NCAA Tournament field and make some predictions. In a shocking revelation, Rod also explains why he doesn't like the University of Iowa. 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.

Without Walker Purdue was too much to handle. 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.

MSU is moving on to face Purdue 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.

MSU sprints out to a great lead and then succombs to the pressure. they got the win though!!! 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.

MSU heads to Indy to take on Maryland in a back to back game. 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.

MSU puts the hammer down on Maryland and sends the Seniors out with a win. 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.

It's Senior Day at the Breslin. 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.

MSU get handled by Ohio State in Columbus. 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.

MSU badly to Michigan in Ann Arbor. Ohio State on tap. 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.

MSU travels to Ann Arbor for the rescheduled Covid game. 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.

MSU takes down Purdue in an amazing game, where Tyson Walker becomes the hero. 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.

MSU hosts Purdue and looks to get back on track. 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.

MSU gets blown out in Iowa City. We talk about the Juwan situation. 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.

MSU travels to Iowa City and hopes to stop the skid. 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.

MSU comes up short despite a huge second half effort from Walker. 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.

Illinois comes into East Lansing with Kofi this time. 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.

MSU gets outplayed by Penn State down the stretch to drop another game. 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.

MSU heads to Penn State for round two against the Nittany Lions. 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.

MSU brings the hammer down on Indiana in the second half to get the win. 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.

Indiana comes to town with both teams on a two game losing streak. 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.

MSU struggled offensively and Wisconsin walked away with a win. 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.

Wisconsin travels to The Breslin for a rematch. 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.