Gavitt Games

[RU-ROCS]

So, the top-rated Big East Team ( No. 3 Villanova) played the 4th highest rated Big10 team (No. 15 Purdue) last night and escaped with a 3-point win. It would have been far better to see Villanova play No. 5 Indiana or No. 9 Wisconsin. Does anyone know what is the rationale for these match-ups and why MSU and Indiana - two of the top-4 rated Big10 teams are not participating? I know these games are scheduled in advance, but even at the end of last season everyone knew who the top-rated teams would be.

 

[goru7]

So, the top-rated Big East Team ( No. 3 Villanova) played the 4th highest rated Big10 team (No. 15 Purdue) last night and escaped with a 3-point win. It would have been far better to see Villanova play No. 5 Indiana or No. 9 Wisconsin. Does anyone know what is the rationale for these match-ups and why MSU and Indiana - two of the top-4 rated Big10 teams are not participating? I know these games are scheduled in advance, but even at the end of last season everyone knew who the top-rated teams would be.

Michigan State plays Kentucky tonite in a doubleheader at MSG with Duke and Kansas in the nightcap on ESPN.
Indiana opened against Kansas in Hawaii last Friday

 

[DirtyRU]

Michigan State plays Kentucky tonite in a doubleheader at MSG with Duke and Kansas in the nightcap on ESPN.
Indiana opened against Kansas in Hawaii last Friday

State has a frosh who already looks the part of a lottery pick. I forget his name but the kid is a freak athlete.

 

[RutgHoops]

I believe 2 B1G teams per year sit out the Gavitt games (12 BIG teams v. 10 Big East teams). I think someone indicated next year may be our sit out year.

 

[RU-ROCS]

Michigan State plays Kentucky tonite in a doubleheader at MSG with Duke and Kansas in the nightcap on ESPN.
Indiana opened against Kansas in Hawaii last Friday

So it sounds like their dance card is full. I just don't want to hear crap from my Nova friends that the Big East is better than the Big 10 based on the imbalanced match-ups of these Gavitt Games. ;)

 

[ColonelRutgers]

I believe 2 B1G teams per year sit out the Gavitt games (12 BIG teams v. 10 Big East teams). I think someone indicated next year may be our sit out year.

There are 14 B1G teams.

 

[Seton75]

Nova played tough against a team with the kind of players who will give Nova the most trouble, and did it on the road. Swanigan and the big guy are a freaking load. #3 vs #14 so early in the season...who knows who is really good. I didn't think Nova looked like # 3 in the nation, but they were good and tough and won on the road. Terrific for them.

 

[knights1212]

We have 14 teams and the Big East only has 10. Only 8 teams from each conference play in the games. Six Big 10 teams sit out but only 2 Big east teams sit out. We got the shaft this year as we played St. john's on the road last year and we are sent on the road again this year. We also have Miami on the road in the Big 10-ACC challenge and supposedly no team was ever supposed to get away games in both events in the same season. We should have had Boston College at home. Supposedly teams are matched up with teams of about the same ranking but Miami was in the Top 15 in the nation last year. I guess we are their sacrificial lamb. We are not respected at this point in time. We have to prove that we deserve some respect.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Ask the players who they would rather play, Miami or a bad Boston College team.....they will take the challenge against Miami.

 

[MCKnight2004]

Miami is slightly down this year too, much more winnable game than playing them last couple years

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

DePaul is a nice next test so we can see how the team responds on the road. Then Miami is a nice progression in a couple of weeks to see how the team responds against elevated competition. The OOC schedule is set up pretty nice for this team given all the new parts and the new staff.

 

[RURM85]

Watched the Villanova - Purdue game last night. Mackey Arena was electric! Their student body and fan base packed the place and represented. The noise they create is off the charts. Hoping for a return of a packed RAC one day soon.

As for the game, great effort by Purdue and clearly with Haas and Swanigan, their inside game can dominate. It's their outside shooting that will plague them when competing against the best. Mathias can be streaky. I do like Vince Edwards a lot.

 

[Mr Magoo]

Very nice Purdue team. Having Haas and Swanigan in foul trouble no-doubt hurt them. I agree, their outside shooting is their weak-spot (if there is one). Purdue was a half-step slower than Nova and had a tough time keeping them from getting to the basket off the dribble.

 

[higgins3]

State has a frosh who already looks the part of a lottery pick. I forget his name but the kid is a freak athlete.

Miles Bridges. He will most likely leave at the end of the year.

Funny- Matt Bullock had a 16 pt, 8 rebound game against him last year in HS. I am not sure if they were matched up, but Bullock had a great game.

 

[RURM85]

Miles Bridges. He will most likely leave at the end of the year.

Funny- Matt Bullock had a 16 pt, 8 rebound game against him last year in HS. I am not sure if they were matched up, but Bullock had a great game.

Watched the Michigan State Arizona game Friday night. Thought that Bridges is the best player on Michigan State noting that he took too many shots and his shot selection at times was iffy. He also at times played out of control. I think as he gets his feet wet, he's going to be really good. I think the combination of him and Harris is going to be crucial for Michigan State to compete. Against Arizona as Bridges FG attempts increased, Harris's game disappeared into the background.

 

[higgins3]

Watched the Michigan State Arizona game Friday night. Thought that Bridges is the best player on Michigan State noting that he took too many shots and his shot selection at times was iffy. He also at times played out of control. I think as he gets his feet wet, he's going to be really good. I think the combination of him and Harris is going to be crucial for Michigan State to compete. Against Arizona as Bridges FG attempts increased, Harris's game disappeared into the background.

Absolutely. He will be gone after the year. The Roselle Catholic game against his HS team is on youtube.

I wonder who on our team could limit a kid like that to 12-14 points? Freeman?Best bet is our interior defense has to play straight up. He can also shoot the ball very well.

Heck, after the HS encounter, throw Bullock in there.Lol. Kidding, but I am just trying to think who could stop him on our team. It can be done, and Pikiell will do his best.

 

[TDIrish27]

Absolutely. He will be gone after the year. The Roselle Catholic game against his HS team is on youtube.

I wonder who on our team could limit a kid like that to 12-14 points? Freeman?Best bet is our interior defense has to play straight up. He can also shoot the ball very well.

Heck, after the HS encounter, throw Bullock in there.Lol. Kidding, but I am just trying to think who could stop him on our team. It can be done, and Pikiell will do his best.

 

[TDIrish27]

Thought Nova-Purdue was a helluva game.

Nova IMO is 1 decent big off the bench away from being a contender again.

They had him but he was ruled 1neligible by the NCAA.

They're still awfully good.

 

[higgins3]

Thought Nova-Purdue was a helluva game.

Nova IMO is 1 decent big off the bench away from being a contender again.

They had him but he was ruled 1neligible by the NCAA.

They're still awfully good.

Nova will always be good as long as Jay Wright is the coach. I remember two years ago I watched a game and the team called a time out and went to the bench. The way the team listened to Jay Wright was like nothing I have ever seen.

Purdue is a really good team as well. There is a fight in the big ten after the top four or five teams. It will be some type of battle. I do not think Rutgers will be the last placed team.

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

Watched the Villanova - Purdue game last night. Mackey Arena was electric! Their student body and fan base packed the place and represented. The noise they create is off the charts. Hoping for a return of a packed RAC one day soon.

As for the game, great effort by Purdue and clearly with Haas and Swanigan, their inside game can dominate. It's their outside shooting that will plague them when competing against the best. Mathias can be streaky. I do like Vince Edwards a lot.

Haas vs Gettys should be interesting

 

[RURM85]

Haas vs Gettys should be interesting

Looking foward to seeing the 2 meet up. Haas looks like a cartoon character. He was an offensive machine in the final minutes last night although he did miss 3 foul shots in a row which came back to haunt Purdue. Noticed that the refs are calling so many more fouls to start this season and it was quite easy to get Haas in foul trouble by driving right at him.

 

[RUinFla]

Bridges had a monster start in that game but was limited thereafter as MSU's offense slowed almost to a stop, as it often does, then came on late. Sure 1st rounder, barring injury or problems unrelated to basketball. Kid has presence.
TL

 

[RUBubba]

Haas vs Gettys should be interesting

Scott Van Pelt on ESPN this morning said Haas was one of the biggest human beings he has ever seen. Guess he's never seen CJG.

 

[goru7]

So it sounds like their dance card is full. I just don't want to hear crap from my Nova friends that the Big East is better than the Big 10 based on the imbalanced match-ups of these Gavitt Games. ;)

That was a great game especially for November. You have to give Nova credit, that crowd was loud and every time Purdue cut the lead or tied it , Villanova made a big play. Hart is a tremendous player and to think he was on Mike Rice's radar years ago. Purdue has almost their whole team back except for the Senior center who is in the pros but they have Big Haas and Swanagan to pick up the slack. They will be a tough out this year.

 

[TDIrish27]

Haas is the spitting image of Ivan Drago from the Rocky movie.

I'm sure that has been mentioned before somewhere.

 

[higgins3]

Looking foward to seeing the 2 meet up. Haas looks like a cartoon character. He was an offensive machine in the final minutes last night although he did miss 3 foul shots in a row which came back to haunt Purdue. Noticed that the refs are calling so many more fouls to start this season and it was quite easy to get Haas in foul trouble by driving right at him.

We are lucky to have a fighting team now at the RAC, or that is what it seems like early.

In school, you praise a kid for doing well. Lets provide the same positive reinforcement at the RAC like we did versus Drexel, and who knows, they just might take it up a level.

 

[Russ Wood]

Haas vs Gettys should be interesting

Both could fout out before the under 16 timeout

 

[Russ Wood]

So, the top-rated Big East Team ( No. 3 Villanova) played the 4th highest rated Big10 team (No. 15 Purdue) last night and escaped with a 3-point win. It would have been far better to see Villanova play No. 5 Indiana or No. 9 Wisconsin. Does anyone know what is the rationale for these match-ups and why MSU and Indiana - two of the top-4 rated Big10 teams are not participating? I know these games are scheduled in advance, but even at the end of last season everyone knew who the top-rated teams would be.

Each Big East team will participate a minimum of six times, while each Big Ten program will take part a minimum of four times. So you're not always going to get the best of each conference vs each other. For example, Maryland participated the first two years, they will probably not participate next year.

 

[higgins3]

Bridges had a monster start in that game but was limited thereafter as MSU's offense slowed almost to a stop, as it often does, then came on late. Sure 1st rounder, barring injury or problems unrelated to basketball. Kid has presence.
TL

Michigan state gets blown out by Kentucky. Izzo will have his team figured out in five weeks,though.

Still, any team is beatable if they are turning over the ball and fouling alot. I trust Pikiell will make sure that we are not the ones doing it down the stretch.

 

[RURM85]

Michigan state gets blown out by Kentucky. Izzo will have his team figured out in five weeks,though.

Still, any team is beatable if they are turning over the ball and fouling alot. I trust Pikiell will make sure that we are not the ones doing it down the stretch.

Nothing went right for the Spartans last night. Shots were not falling, turnovers, can't get to the free throw line, Monk draining Threes. Biggest, glaring weakness for the Spartans is front court size and depth. With Schilling out it's a big loss, although Goins is thick and stout in the paint, and impressed with Ward.

 

[higgins3]

Nothing went right for the Spartans last night. Shots were not falling, turnovers, can't get to the free throw line, Monk draining Threes. Biggest, glaring weakness for the Spartans is front court size and depth. With Schilling out it's a big loss, although Goins is thick and stout in the paint, and impressed with Ward.

Izzo has had a small front court for a while. If one kid is 6 8, the other is 7 0, the difference in height is not going to matter much. You just want kids that really want to grab a board and will do anything to do it. Height helps, but will is more important.

Supposedly Bridges has a loose handle on the ball. Play tight man on him.

Every team right now is fouling a lot, turning the ball over a lot. Or at least 30% of teams. What matters is if they have a good enough coach to make sure it doesn't continue to happen.

Did you watch the game?I did not. I heard Briscoe played defense on Bridges. That is unique. I remember Valentine playing defense on Sanders last year.

 

[higgins3]

Nothing went right for the Spartans last night. Shots were not falling, turnovers, can't get to the free throw line, Monk draining Threes. Biggest, glaring weakness for the Spartans is front court size and depth. With Schilling out it's a big loss, although Goins is thick and stout in the paint, and impressed with Ward.

Sadly for us, Izzo will probably figure it out. Nonetheless, his team has obvious weaknesses.

 

[RURM85]

Izzo has had a small front court for a while. If one kid is 6 8, the other is 7 0, the difference in height is not going to matter much. You just want kids that really want to grab a board and will do anything to do it. Height helps, but will is more important.

Supposedly Bridges has a loose handle on the ball. Play tight man on him.

Every team right now is fouling a lot, turning the ball over a lot. Or at least 30% of teams. What matters is if they have a good enough coach to make sure it doesn't continue to happen.

Did you watch the game?I did not. I heard Briscoe played defense on Bridges. That is unique. I remember Valentine playing defense on Sanders last year.

Yes, watched the game. Kentucky extremely athletic and solid on the defensive end. Briscoe did cover Bridges and Bridges for the most part was a non-factor, including missing a dunk. Harris completely disappeared and sat the bench for a good portion including a lot of the second half. Second game in a row where Harris is a complete non-factor and Michigan State can't afford for him to do nothing. Very impressed with Monk's 3 point shot. He was deadly last night. Also, Fox is a big time player, great around the basket.

Edit: Without looking it up, would guess that Michigan State shot around 30% due to Kentucky's defense and really poor shooting night. Michigan State was getting some good open looks and nothing falling

 

[higgins3]

Yes, watched the game. Kentucky extremely athletic and solid on the defensive end. Briscoe did cover Bridges and Bridges for the most part was a non-factor, including missing a dunk. Harris completely disappeared and sat the bench for a good portion including a lot of the second half. Second game in a row where Harris is a complete non-factor and Michigan State can't afford for him to do nothing. Very impressed with Monk's 3 point shot. He was deadly last night. Also, Fox is a big time player, great around the basket.

Edit: Without looking it up, would guess that Michigan State shot around 30% due to Kentucky's defense and really poor shooting night. Michigan State was getting some good open looks and nothing falling

Thanks for the analysis. Hopefully Michigan State stays inconsistent.