Podcast #3 The Blow Out Episode

At a Glance: The Michigan State Spartans (MSU -8.5) 7:00 BTN, Jack Breslin Student Events Center

Quick Facts
-Established in 1855
-First basketball season in 1898
-50,085 students
-Located in East Lansing, Michigan
-Main colors- Green & White
-2013/2014 results: 29-9 (12-6 in B1G)
-Jason Richardson attended
-Final Four appearances- 8
-13 regular season conference championships
-63rd matchup between the Hoosiers & Spartans (31-32)

Results Thus Far (9-5/0-0)

11/14 @ Navy                            W 64-59

11/18 vs. #4 Duke*                     L 71-81

11/21 vs. Loyola-Chicago           W 87-52 
11/24 vs. Santa Clara"                 W 79-52
11/27 vs. Rider"                           W 77-45
11/28 vs. Marquette"                    W 79-68
11/30 vs. #11 Kansas"                  L 56-61
12/03 @ Notre Dame                   L 78-79 (OT)
12/06 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff      W 85-82 
12/14 vs. Oakland                         W 87-61
12/17 vs. Eastern Michigan          W 66-46
12/20 vs. Texas Southern              L 64-71 (OT)
12/22 vs. The Citadel                   W 82-56
12/30 vs. Maryland                       L 68-66
*Denotes Champions Classic 
"Denotes Orlando Classic

Tom Izzo has achieved a .713 in almost 20 seasons at MSU

Kenpom Rating- 22nd  

PPG-74.4 (42) 

Opponent PPG- 60.8 (56)

Avg. Scoring Margin- +13.6 (24)

APG-18.1 (5)

RPG-39.4 (29)

Turnovers/game-12.7 (135)

Fouls per game-18.6 (172)

Scoring/Breakdown

                                                                                Category Leaders

Travis Trice leads the Spartans in scoring this season

Points
G #20 Travis Trice-13.9
G #45 Denzel Valentine-13.7

Rebounds

G/F #22 Branden Dawson-8.7

F #10 Matt Costello- 6.4

Assists

G #20 Travis Trice-5.9

G #45 Denzel Valentine-4.3

         Go ahead and call me crazy for predicting a win. I'll tell you that this is our most opportune time to beat the Spartans at the Breslin Center in a long while, given how their season is playing out and the fact that we can shoot the 3 at a remarkable click. State is still a very tough team this season, but vulnerable at home. Note their recent loss to Texas Southern and Mike Davis. They haven't been able to take care of Kansas or Maryland either…neither of which are particularly great shooting teams which is usually key when it comes to obtaining solid road victories. However, both of those teams do present some decent size down low which won't be such an issue with our team lacking in that category. We will try to push the pace of the game and get out in space with quick outlet paces. I would hate to see the game played in the half court because I'm 99% sure we would very much struggle in that aspect…TC has never made us aware that's a strength of the coaching staff either.

Of course we will need to shoot as well as we have been in recent games. IU is 13th in overall shooting and 6th in 3 point percentage. MSU is 27th and 11th in the same categories, respectively. If the Spartans get hot at home, watch out. However, our shooting could potentially keep us in the game. If it goes cold? I don't have that answer because I haven't seen evidence this year of what the alternative would actually be. The closest I have come to deciphering what the Hoosiers could run is that perimeter offense where we eventually find a cutter to the basket or Hanner/Emmitt make a big play down low for us. If we had lost to Big Red I would be less optimistic coming into the contest, but we got it done and persevered through a couple of huge runs by the Huskers in the second half.

State is in desperate need of a home victory, but I'm taking the Hoosiers in a close one. Solid shooting compiled with young talent and confidence and this is a winnable ball game for us. This is a massive game tomorrow night, and our best chance of winning at MSU since I can last remember. Let's get it done in true hurryin' Hoosiers fashion! I believe this spread is WAY off...

Score Prediction: IU 70 MSU 66

IU Most Valuable Player Prediction: Yogi Ferrell

Quote Before the Game: "There are a lot of people who follow our every move and give us a lot of support. They give us pride. We are playing for those fans every time we run out on the court." -Jarrad Odle

The Venue

Jack Breslin Student Events Center- Capacity 15,000

Love ya, Kirk

Drink of Choice 

Have 3 cases of this stuff right now...

...For the glory of old IU!

At a Glance: The Nebraska Cornhuskers (NEB -3.5) 5:30 BTN, Pinnacle Bank Arena

Quick Facts
-Established in 1869
-First basketball season in 1897
-24,593 students
-Located in Lincoln, Nebraska
-Main colors- Scarlet & Cream
-2013/2014 results: 19-13 (11-7 in B1G)
-Warren Buffett attended
-Final Four appearances- 0
-6 regular season conference championships
-6th matchup between the Hoosiers & Cornhuskers (2-3)

Results Thus Far (8-4/0-0)

11/16 vs. Northern Kentucky        W 80-61

11/18 vs. Central Arkansas           W 82-56

11/22 @ Rhode Island                   L 62-66 (OT)
11/25 vs. Omaha                            W 80-67
11/28 vs. Tennessee-Martin           W 75-64
11/26 @ Florida State                    W 70-65
12/07 vs. Creighton                        L 55-65
12/10 vs. Incarnate Word               L 73-74
12/13 vs. Cincinnati                      W 56-55 (2 OT)
12/22 @ Hawai'i*                          L 58-66
12/23 vs. Loyola Marymount*      W 50-42 (OT)
12/25 vs. Ohio*                             W 71-58

*Denotes Diamond Head Classic in Hawai'i

Nebraska Head Coach Tim Miles 

Kenpom Rating- 89th  

PPG-67.7 (150) 

Opponent PPG- 61.6 (73)

Avg. Scoring Margin- +6.1 (90)

APG-10.5 (277)

RPG-35.5 (134)

Turnovers/game-15.0 (290)

Fouls per game-19.2 (201)

Scoring/Breakdown

                                                                                Category Leaders

Terran Petteway leads Nebraska in scoring

Points
F #5 Terran Petteway-19.3
G/F #31 Shavon Shields-17.2

Rebounds

G/F #31 Shavon Shields-6.9

F #2 David Rivers- 5.4

Assists

F #5 Terran Petteway-2.7

G #3 Benny Parker-2.3

         I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed with the result against Georgetown, just like all Hoosier fans. However, I did sense a bit of optimism coming out of the game heading into conference play. Most importantly, speaking for most of Hoosier nation, we are in a better place than many of us thought we might have been heading into the second portion of the season. We sit at 10-3 with a questionable loss at the hall to a directional team (who by the way isn't as bad as we thought), we competed with Louisville for much of the game until it got out of hand, and finally hung with Georgetown until the post play was the determining factor in the end. Perhaps not another 'season on the drink' as Chronic Hoosier so eloquently put it last year. Unfortunately, and somewhat fortunately as well, the B1G is looking like a much weaker conference than a season ago. On one hand it could help our conference record and we can potentially pick up some much-needed conference victories...on the other...several losses can really eat away at you since not as many bids may be given out as in the past. First up is Nebraska.

Pinnacle is NOT an easy place to start out B1G play. I think all of us Hoosiers know that very well, seeing that we lost there last time we faced the Huskers. To add on to that, the Hoosiers also lost the last time they faced big red in their former arena. Needless to say we tend to struggle in B1G away games and this is going to be a tough test even if the Huskers have struggled up to this point. Right now they are not a tournament team but part of me is just frightened of Pinnacle and Tim Miles. He finds the best in his players and realizes the magnitude of the game tomorrow, make no mistake about it. Their offense has been sloppy as they have struggled to find a rhythm (hence the low assists figure) and tend to turn the ball over quite frequently. That said, I do not see tomorrow's contest having much continuity or fluidity to it whatsoever. Hard-nosed, B1G basketball in Lincoln will be on display at it's finest. If they allow IU to run and gun with the 3s it could get out of hand...but not Miles and not at home. I see this as a tough road test and yet another way for us as fans to evaluate where this team is and what they are capable of doing. Take care of the basketball, fire away, and focus on the task ahead. Go Hoosiers and Happy New Years!

Score Prediction: IU 64 NEB 62

IU Most Valuable Player Prediction: Troy Williams

Quote Before the Game: I've never predicted anything. All I have ever said is, that we will do the very best we can -Bob Knight

The Venue

Pinnacle Bank Arena,  Basketball Capacity-15,147 

Short but sweet. A great clip

Drink of Choice 

Goes down smooth every time...

For the glory of old IU...

Hoosiers Vs. Hoyas edition of The Balcony Seats podcast

Podcast 1 Crossroads Classic Edition

At a Glance: The Pittsburgh Panthers (IU -3.0) 7:00 ESPN2- Assembly Hall

Quick Facts
-Established in 1787
-First basketball season 1905-06
-28,649 students
-Located in Pittsburgh, PA
-Main colors- Blue & Gold
-2013/2014 results: 26-10 (11-7 in ACC)
-Sean Miller (Head Coach at Arizona) attended
-Final Four appearances- 1, 1941
-10 regular season conference championships
-Third matchup between the Hoosiers & Panthers (1-1)

Results Thus Far (4-2/0-0)

11/14 vs. Niagara                     W 78-45

11/16 vs. Samford                    W 63-56

11/21 @ Hawaii                       L 70-74
11/24 vs. Chaminade                W 81-68
11/25 vs. #15 San Diego St.     L 57-74
11/26 vs. Kansas State              W 70-47

Jamie Dixon holds a 262-86 record at PITT

Kenpom Rating- 37th  

PPG-67.6 (154) 

Opponent PPG- 59.2(#47)

Avg. Scoring Margin- +8.4 (76)

APG-16.4 (26)

RPG-31.6 (266)

Turnovers/game-11.0 (30)

Fouls per game-18.2 (121)

Scoring/Breakdown

Category Leaders

Michael Young leads PITT in scoring

Points
F #2 Michael Young-14.7
G #0 James Robinson-12.7

Rebounds

F #2 Michael Young-8.3

F #11 Derrick Randall- 5.0

Assists

G #0 James Robinson-5.8

G #13 Josh Newkirk-4.0

         Alright…not quite the start we wanted for the beginning of what is one of the easiest of non-conference schedules in all the land. However, Tuesday evening gives us an opportunity to step up our game in an amped up atmosphere at Assembly Hall on the national stage. While PITT has a couple blemishes on their record, any team coached by Jamie Dixon is not to be taken lightly. Even with a bad loss to Hawaii, the Panthers sit comfortably within the Kenpom rankings, almost 30 spots ahead of the Hoosiers. They don't score in droves, but are in the top 50 when it comes to opponent scoring. More notable is PITT's apparent passing ability as they sit almost crack the top 25 in that particular category. What is slightly confusing is the comment we heard from Crean after last game regarding PITT's rebounding…that they would be 'nasty' on the glass. Up to this point it doesn't necessarily look like they are dominating on that front. As we all know, however, the Hoosiers struggle mightily on the boards.

This is a MASSIVE game for our team both in terms of confidence and NCAA tourney hopes. With one already sorry loss to Eastern Washington we will need a couple of quality wins between PITT, Louisville, Butler & Gtown. Personally I feel that we NEED to win this game. Louisville will be an extremely tough match up for this young team on the road and Gtown is no slouch. Butler is definitely the most winnable game among the 4 but having 1 win going into that one would be better than none. For the game against PITT, attendance should be back on track since students have returned from break as well. For whatever reason I have a feeling we will show up like we did against SMU and find a way to pull it out when we are against the ropes. If we can't, some alarm bells will be sounding as Butler and Gtown then become huge non-conference must-wins. Louisville would be a complete shock to my system to say the least. Let's rally the troops tomorrow and have the hall rocking again. Enjoy the game, Hoosier nation!

Score Prediction: IU 63 PITT 61

IU Most Valuable Player Prediction: Yogi Ferrell

Quote Before the Game: The will to succeed is important, but what's more important is the will to prepare- The General-Bob Knight

B1G/ACC FLASHBACK 

Drink of Choice

Bell's Oberon- WINNING

For the glory of old IU...

Lamar Post Game Thoughts

Well...it wasn't pretty, but it was a win. The way I see it, it's still super early in the season, things will get better for the team, they're just gettin warmed up. After the recent off-court string of bad luck, I think our boys are doing fine, even though they should've blown out Lamar, they still got the W. I can honestly say I believe this team will drastically improve and end up proving the haters wrong. I see something in this team, something most other teams don't have. I see a true brotherhood. These guys share a bond with eachother, they are a family, and that is what will be the key to having a winning season. Im not saying they will go undefeated and hang a banner this season, (even though that would be a dream come true) but I am saying that as the season goes on, their bond will only get stronger, and the wins will be against some of the best teams out there. People are underestimating this team, which is a mistake, because there are some serious weapons on this squad, Troy "I can fly" Williams is the perfect example of a true athlete, and good ol James Blackmon Jr. is a 3 point sniper. This team is a loaded shotgun with a hair trigger, and they have the Big Ten in their crosshairs. Don't get me wrong I'm sure there will be a few tough losses this season, but there will also be some amazing wins as well. So put on your seatbelt, Hoosier Nation, cause you're in for a ride.