Michigan St. 17-8, 11-4
Sweet win at a home-state rival. Amazing game by Hodges. The defense continues to dominate.

RPI 17, SOS 21, ranked...

11.	Jackson St.	23-3	1083	18
	This week: W 90-79 v. Sacramento St. (8/21), W 76-62 v. Montana (8/20)
12.	Michigan St.	17-8	1078	22
	This week: W 55-36 at Michigan (8/21), W 54-47 at Ohio St. (8/20)
13.	Oregon	19-6	1074	21
	This week: W 61-45 at Hawaii (8/21), W 46-45 at UCLA (8/20)
14.	Auburn	16-9	1073	23
	This week: W 60-50 at Tennessee (8/21), W 79-68 at Vanderbilt (8/20)
15.	Virginia	16-9	1072	4

Iowa 12-14, 5-11
Another solid game to finish off conference play.

RPI 18, SOS 25, ranked 12th

Indiana 15-13, 8-8
First game of the CT, still well ahead of the competition. I'm actually getting used to watching this team win. Maybe they have another Final Four (or better!) in them.

RPI 14, SOS 24, ranked 11th

Michigan St. 20-8, 12-4
The defense continues to be absolutely ridiculous. The team advances to the CT Finals.

RPI 16, SOS 29, ranked 7th

From:Corey Napier To:Coach colorblind79 Subject:1 more... Sent:08/25/2009 3:05AM

Congrats on making it to the Finals - it sure was nice having a bye. According to the latest RPI numbers, we're sitting at #16 - I think we *should* be a lock, win or lose, but hey, you hold fate in your hands...just one more game and we're dancing no matter what the committee thinks! Again, congratulations and best of luck tonight, Corey Napier Athletic Director Michigan State University

--------

Lacombe made second-team all conference and Bruce made 3rd team.

Northwestern 13-17, 4-12
Outstanding offensive game from Lacombe. Everyone else did a fine job, too. Michigan State wins the CT Championship and is on a 13-game winning streak!

RPI 17, SOS 32, ranked 6th

From:Corey Napier To:Coach colorblind79 Subject:National Champions, Has a Ring to It :) Sent:08/26/2009 3:03AM

Coach, just wanted to formally congratulate you on getting us into the National Tournament! We'd been hoping for a #1 seed, but I can't say that I'm too disappointed with a #2 seed. Everybody is unbelievably excited! Best of Luck - Make us Proud! Corey Napier Athletic Director Michigan State University

The Michigan State Spartans, end of improvements:

Name	Yr.	Pos.	A	SPD	REB	DE	BLK	LP	PE	BH	P	WE	ST	DU	FT	TOT
Dale Lacombe	Jr.	PG	77	98	16	85	21	1	100	96	99	75	97	99	A	864
Colin Libby	Fr.	PG	57	95	23	89	10	7	41	92	93	51	85	62	C	705
William Hodges	Jr.	SG	85	81	18	92	14	18	97	78	75	51	90	89	C	788
Armand Russo	Jr.	SG	96	98	32	98	12	38	97	96	97	67	94	100	B+	925
John Childs	Fr.	SG	78	86	31	74	13	16	85	89	86	49	91	95	C	793
Frank Nelson	Jr.	SF	93	71	56	98	53	69	74	72	53	72	94	76	A-	881
Gary Peterkin	Fr.	SF	69	70	66	92	37	61	55	36	51	67	73	54	C-	731
Christopher Bruce	Sr/5	PF	88	69	99	90	98	85	41	24	96	91	83	68	B-	932
Christopher Warren	Jr.	PF	91	71	99	99	89	82	40	30	38	76	97	70	C+	882
James Donahue	So.	PF	79	63	95	91	96	92	34	29	43	74	82	91	C-	869
Edwin Skrzypinski	Fr.	PF	59	56	86	90	82	87	48	23	40	49	78	63	C	761
Jackie Humphrey	Jr.	C	57	35	90	78	86	92	11	1	44	39	84	67	B+	684
Averages	-	-	77	74	59	90	51	54	60	56	68	63	87	78	-	818

Tennessee St. 19-11, 12-4
In round 1 of the NT, the Spartans pull ahead in the first half by 23, expand the lead a bit in the second half, and then stick in the backups for the remainder of the game to coast to a win.

From:Corey Napier To:Coach colorblind79 Subject:TCOB Sent:08/27/2009 3:01AM

Coach, I know every coach dreams of winning a National Championship, but with the parity in college basketball, it's no easy task to win 1 game, much less string together 6 wins, but you've just taken the first step - only 32 teams can be National Champions now. Corey Napier Athletic Director Michigan State University

------------

Up next: Arizona. They have a talented team, but I think MSU matches up well against them.

Arizona 19-11, 10-6

Well, I'm surprised by this loss. The team could not survive a poor game from Lacombe, along with a lack of production from the interior starters. We just didn't get the rebounds we needed to win. The game was basically tied with a minute to go. The string of disappointments continues. I really thought that MSU could win the NT this year. On a positive note, perhaps this will keep Lacombe, Russo, Nelson, Warren, and Donahue from declaring for the draft. With everyone except Bruce back, the Spartans could be pretty well set next year.

Quote: Originally Posted By colorblind79 on 1/01/2009

Christopher Bruce
PF|6'6"|202 lbs.|2.3 GPA
Prairie Center HS|Eden Prairie, MN

PF

708

Athleticism 67 Speed 54 Rebounding 80 Defense 69 Shot Blocking 69 Low-post 68 Perimeter 32 Ball Handling 19 Passing 20 Work Ethic 90 Stamina 80 Durability 60 Previous Season Stats GP MPG PPG RPG FG% FG3% FT% APG SPG BPG 27 25 17.1 6.8 43.9 42.9 71.0 0.5 0.8 3.6 Current Rating Potential Current Rating Potential Athleticism 67 High Perimeter 32 Average Speed 54 Average Ball Handling 19 Average Rebounding 80 Average Passing 20 High Defense 69 High Stamina 80 Low Shot Blocking 69 High Durability 60 Average Low-post 68 Average FT Shooting Average

#6 PF, #20 overall, *****; ineligible. I really hope that Christopher Bruce shows up. I put in a fair amount of effort on him, but considering that he's coming from some 480 miles away or so, it couldn't be too much. He's a nice player. A really good one, actually. Obviously his development would be deferred for a year, but I really, really like what I see here. We'll have a deep frontcourt, regardless, but I'd prefer to have Bruce around, because I think he's one of the best ineligibles I've seen, definitely in the potential era

Christopher Bruce never really lived up to his potential on offense. He might have been a great defensive player. I think he'll be drafted, but don't know how highly.

Yr.	GP	GS	MIN	FG%	FG3%	FT%	OREB	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	PF	PTS
38	31	31	21.8	.429		.816	1.7	5.8	1.2	0.9	0.7	0.9	1.5	7.2
37	29	29	21.9	.440	.000	.630	2.0	5.2	0.7	1.4	1.2	1.2	1.6	7.0
36	27	0	19.2	.419		.677	2.0	5.1	0.4	0.7	0.7	0.9	1.6	5.5
35	32	0	6.6	.483		.842	0.6	2.0	0.1	0.5	0.3	0.3	0.3	1.4
34	Academic Non-Qualifier
Averages				.433	.000	.729	1.5	4.5	0.6	0.8	0.7	0.8	1.2	5.2

Yr.	GP	GS	MIN	FGM	FGA	FG3M	FG3A	FTM	FTA	OFF	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	PF	PTS
38	31	31	677	81	189	0	0	62	76	52	179	37	27	23	28	48	224
37	29	29	634	84	191	0	1	34	54	57	151	20	40	35	34	47	202
36	27	0	518	52	124	0	0	44	65	55	137	10	19	20	24	44	148
35	32	0	212	14	29	0	0	16	19	19	63	3	15	10	9	9	44
34	Academic Non-Qualifier
Totals	119	60	2041	231	533	0	1	156	214	183	530	70	101	88	95	148	618

Conference Awards
3rd Team All-Conference once

----------

Team Records:

11th in blocks

---------

[edit, and wow, highly:]

3.

Chicago Bulls

Christopher Bruce 6'7", 202 PF - Michigan State University / 5th Year Senior

Great news: of the juniors, only Humphrey is leaving (transferring out after receiving minimal PT in his one year on the team)! The team loses a very nice player in Bruce but should be able to cover for his absence with the ongoing development of Warren, Donahue, and Edwin the Polish Beanpole. The team will need a freshman big, for depth and development, but it's covered for a good 70 minutes or so of each game (barring injuries or fouls). The team might be well served with two big men for depth and development, but another guard wouldn't hurt, either.

Quote: Originally Posted By colorblind79 on 8/26/2009

The Michigan State Spartans, end of improvements:

Name	Yr.	Pos.	A	SPD	REB	DE	BLK	LP	PE	BH	P	WE	ST	DU	FT	TOT
Dale Lacombe	Jr.	PG	77	98	16	85	21	1	100	96	99	75	97	99	A	864
Colin Libby	Fr.	PG	57	95	23	89	10	7	41	92	93	51	85	62	C	705
William Hodges	Jr.	SG	85	81	18	92	14	18	97	78	75	51	90	89	C	788
Armand Russo	Jr.	SG	96	98	32	98	12	38	97	96	97	67	94	100	B+	925
John Childs	Fr.	SG	78	86	31	74	13	16	85	89	86	49	91	95	C	793
Frank Nelson	Jr.	SF	93	71	56	98	53	69	74	72	53	72	94	76	A-	881
Gary Peterkin	Fr.	SF	69	70	66	92	37	61	55	36	51	67	73	54	C-	731
Christopher Bruce	Sr/5	PF	88	69	99	90	98	85	41	24	96	91	83	68	B-	932
Christopher Warren	Jr.	PF	91	71	99	99	89	82	40	30	38	76	97	70	C+	882
James Donahue	So.	PF	79	63	95	91	96	92	34	29	43	74	82	91	C-	869
Edwin Skrzypinski	Fr.	PF	59	56	86	90	82	87	48	23	40	49	78	63	C	761
Jackie Humphrey	Jr.	C	57	35	90	78	86	92	11	1	44	39	84	67	B+	684
Averages	-	-	77	74	59	90	51	54	60	56	68	63	87	78	-	818

offseason improvement/change:

Lacombe - +4 points
Libby - +13 points
Hodges - +12 points
Russo - +12 points
Childs - +21 points, + 1/3 FT
Nelson - +1 point
Peterkin - +24 points
Warren - +1 point
Donahue - +30 points
Skrzypinksi - +8 points

The Michigan State Spartans, pre-recruiting, Season 39:

Name	Yr.	Pos.	A	SPD	REB	DE	BLK	LP	PE	BH	P	WE	ST	DU	FT	TOT
Dale Lacombe	Sr.	PG	78	99	16	84	20	1	99	99	99	75	99	99	A	868
Colin Libby	So.	PG	60	95	23	89	10	7	43	97	99	51	80	64	C	718
William Hodges	Sr.	SG	88	81	18	96	14	18	97	80	77	51	90	90	C	800
Armand Russo	Sr.	SG	99	99	32	99	12	38	99	98	99	67	96	99	B+	937
John Childs	So.	SG	81	91	33	73	13	16	90	93	85	49	91	99	C+	814
Frank Nelson	Sr.	SF	94	70	56	99	54	69	75	73	54	72	90	76	A-	882
Gary Peterkin	So.	SF	72	70	71	97	39	65	56	37	51	67	71	59	C-	755
Christopher Warren	Sr.	PF	90	72	99	99	90	82	41	30	37	76	96	71	C+	883
James Donahue	Jr.	PF	83	64	100	93	99	95	34	28	45	74	86	95	C-	896
Edwin Skrzypinski	So.	PF	60	58	88	91	86	86	48	24	40	49	74	65	C	769
Averages	-	-	80	80	54	92	44	48	68	66	69	63	87	82	-	832