With the regular season about to begin for MSU Basketball and in honor of Halloween, the TOC writers each pulled out their crystal ball and tarot cards to give predictions on various questions about the upcoming season. I will even include a blank questionnaire for all of you to add to the comments. Here is what everyone had to say.
MIKE:
Overall record (31 games): 22-9
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Big Ten record (20 games): 14-6
Big Ten seeding: #4
Who is top team in Big Ten: Purdue
Kentucky, NC and Duke: Does MSU beat any of these traditional powerhouses: No, but they will beat Arkansas
Are the Non conference Games their toughest ever: I don’t know – there was that one year where they lost a bunch of games but then blew out Baylor in LCA. That was tough. But KY, NC, Duke, Arkansas, plus UConn exhibition – it’s got to be top 3, right?
Top scorer: Coen Carr
Top rebounder: Jaxon Kohler
Top assists: Jeremy Fears
Top blocks: Coen Carr
Top 3pt%: Trey Fort
Most Improved: It seems like it’s going to have to be one of the top 3 guys – Carr. Kohler, or Fears – but I’ll go with Carson Cooper
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Best Newbie: Divine Ugochukwu
Most likely to transfer: Honestly, no one strikes me as a big threat to transfer but Holloman shocked us last year. Maybe one or both Waltons go to a smaller school for playing time.
Will Booker ball out at UCLA: NO
Sweep um: No
Beat Purdue at Purdue (only play them once): No
Finish regular season in top 25: Yes. There were multiple teams with 9 or more losses ranked last year.
Big Ten Tournament performance: Lose in semi-finals again
Make it to Sweet 16: Yes
Elite 8: No
Final Four: No
LUCAS:
Overall record (31 games): 20-11
Big Ten record (20 games): 12-8
Big Ten seeding: 4th
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Who is top team in Big Ten: Purdue
Kentucky, NC and Duke: Does MSU beat any of these traditional powerhouses: 1-2, the win against NC
Are the Non conference Games their toughest ever: Yes
Top scorer: Jaxon Kohler
Top rebounder: Carson Cooper
Top assists: Jeremy Fears
Top blocks: Coen Carr
Top 3pt%: Kur Teng
Most Improved: Jeremy Fears
Best Newbie: Cam Ward
Most likely to transfer: Hopefully nobody! Can maybe see McCulloch jumping ship if he doesn’t find his way into the rotation this year.
Will Booker ball out at UCLA: No, but Tre Holloman will at NC State
Sweep um: Yes
Beat Purdue at Purdue (only play them once): No
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Finish regular season in top 25: Yes, 22-25 range
Big Ten Tournament performance: Put together a run and lose in the final
Make it to Sweet 16: Yes
Elite 8: No
Final Four: No
O:
Overall record (31 games): 25-6
Big Ten record (20 games): 15-5
Big Ten seeding: 2nd
Who is top team in Big Ten: Purdue
Kentucky, NC and Duke: Does MSU beat any of these traditional powerhouses: Kentucky will beat us in the Champions classic, but we beat Duke at home and UNC in Fort Myers
Are the Non conference Games their toughest ever: Can’t be if we are only going to lose 1 game
Top scorer: Coen Carr
Top rebounder: Carson Cooper
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Top assists: Jeremy Fears
Top blocks: Coen Carr
Top 3pt%: Jaxon Kohler
Most Improved: Kur Teng
Best Newbie: Ward – I expect big things from this guy right off the bat.
Most likely to transfer: Just cause I have to go with someone, I’ll go with Teng. If he does not win the starting role for the season, maybe he goes to a mid-major to be a bigger fish.
Will Booker ball out at UCLA: The issue with him was the effort, not talent, so I have to go with a big NO.
Sweep um: Always!
Beat Purdue at Purdue (only play them once): No
Finish regular season in top 25: Yes
Big Ten Tournament performance: Lose in semi-finals
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Make it to Sweet 16: Yes
Elite 8: Yes
Final Four: No
STEVE:
Overall record (31 games): 19-12
Big Ten record (20 games): 12-8
Big Ten seeding: 5th
Who is top team in Big Ten: Purdue
Kentucky, NC and Duke: Does MSU beat any of these traditional powerhouses: No
Are the Non conference Games their toughest ever: Definitely in the top 3-5 I would think.
Top scorer: Coen Carr
Top rebounder: Carson Cooper
Top assists: Jeremy Fears
Top blocks: Coen Carr
Top 3pt%: Kur Teng
Most Improved: Carson Cooper
Best Newbie: Cam Ward
Most likely to transfer: Kur Teng
Will Booker ball out at UCLA: Yes, absolutely. This is Spartan luck.
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Sweep um: No
Beat Purdue at Purdue (only play them once): No
Finish regular season in top 25: Yes
Big Ten Tournament performance: Quarterfinals
Make it to Sweet 16: Yes
Elite 8: No
Final Four: No
It seems I am the pessimist of the group but I am never disappointed to be proven wrong when it comes to MSU Athletics. Most of us expect big things from Carr this year and a couple of us look excited to see if Teng can contribute with that smooth three ball. We all believe the Izzo tourney streak extends to 28. What do all of you think? Fill out your answers and add to the comments. Happy Haunting and Go Green!
Overall record (31 games):
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Big Ten record (20 games):
Big Ten seeding:
Who is top team in Big Ten:
Kentucky, NC and Duke: Does MSU beat any of these traditional powerhouses:
Are the Non conference Games their toughest ever:
Top scorer:
Top rebounder:
Top assists:
Top blocks:
Top 3pt%:
Most Improved:
Best Newbie:
Most likely to transfer:
Will Booker ball out at UCLA:
Sweep um:
Beat Purdue at Purdue (only play them once):
Finish regular season in top 25:
Big Ten Tournament performance:
Make it to Sweet 16:
Elite 8:
Final Four:
