Michigan St Spartans at #22 Gonzaga Bulldogs
McCarthey Athletic Center – Spokane, Washington
Saturday, December 10, 2011, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Gonzaga -3 1/2
Current Line: Gonzaga -3 1/2
Opening Total: 139
Current Total: 140
Opening Money Line: Gonzaga -165 / Michigan St +145
Current Money Line: Gonzaga -170 / Michigan St +150
After season opening losses to North Carolina and Duke, Michigan St has won 7 straight games. Though apart from a home win over Florida St, the Spartans have beaten a parade of lesser opponents, Now, Michigan St travels to Spokane to take on the #22 Gonzaga Bulldogs who are 5-1 this season. The Bulldogs are coming off their first loss of the season last Saturday at Illinois. The Bulldogs have home wins over Washington St and Notre Dame. Michigan St is coached by Tom Izzo, and Gonzaga is coached by Mark Few. Michigan St leads the series 3-1 against Gonzaga. The Spartans won the last meeting at East Lansing in 2009 75-71. This is the first meeting in Spokane between the teams.
Wednesday night, Michigan St hosted Central Connecticut St. There was no betting line on the game. The Spartans got off to a sluggish start in the first half. CCSU was up 22-11 after 7 minutes, before Michigan St finally woke up. That can probably be attributed to the Blue Devils playing on national television against a high profile program like Michigan St. The Spartans took a 36-34 lead at halftime, and dominated in the second half to win 89-69. The Spartans shot 33/64 from the field including 8/21 from 3 point range. MSU was 15/20 from the free throw line. The Spartans had 42 rebounds, including 19 offensive boards. Michigan St had 25 assists and 12 turnovers. Guard Travis Trice provided the spark that got the Spartans going with 20 points off the bench. He made all 4 three point shots he attempted, and added 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Forward Draymond Green had 14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. Forward Branden Dawson had 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Center Derrick Nix added 13 points off the bench.
Michigan St is outscoring opponents 75-58 this season. The Spartans are shooting 45.9% from the field including 30.4% from 3 point range. MSU makes 67.7% of their free throws. The Spartans average 43.8 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +12.6. Michigan St is #2 in the country in rebounding. The Spartans average 16.9 assists, 15.2 turnovers, 8.7 steals, and 4.9 blocks a game. MSU opponents are shooting 36.1% from the field including 28.1% from 3 point range. The Spartans force 15.7 turnovers a game.
Green averages 14.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks a game. He leads the Spartans in all categories. Keith Appling averages 12 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 rebounds. Brandon Wood averages 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. Dawson, Adreian Payne, Trice and Nix all contribute significantly.
Gonzaga was a 3 point underdog last Saturday at Illinois on the college basketball betting line. Illinois took a 38-36 lead at halftime. Gonzaga center Robert Sacre who is 7’1″ was nearly unstoppable in the first half with 14 points while Illinois center Meyers Leonard sat on the bench for most of the half with foul trouble. Once Leonard returned in the second half, he locked down Sacre defensively. Sacre scored only 2 second half points before fouling out with 3 minutes to go. Illinois expanded their lead in the second half and won 82-75. Gonzaga was 26/51 on field goals, and 5/13 on three pointers. The Bulldogs were 18/27 from the free throw line. Gonzaga had 24 rebounds, and 16 turnovers. Bulldog Forward Elias Harris had 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block. Guard Kevin Pangos had 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Illinois was 32/60 on field goals, including 5/16 on three pointers.
Gonzaga is outscoring opponents 78-66 this season. The Bulldogs are shooting 44.6% from the field including 39.2% from 3 point range. Gonzaga is shooting 69.8% from the free throw line. The Bulldogs average 37.3 rebounds a game, and has a rebounding margin of +9. Gonzaga averages 14 assists, 13 turnovers, 9 steals, and 3 blocks a games. Gonzaga opponents are shooting 43% from the field, including 38% from 3 point range.
Sacre is averaging 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks a game to lead the team. Sacre is probable with a neck injury. Pangos is averaging 14.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists to lead the team. Harris averages 13 points, 8.7 rebounds to lead the team, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1 block a game. Gary Bell scores 8.5 points a game. Bell is probable with a knee injury. Marquise Carter leads the Zags in assists with 2.7 a game and steals with 2.2 a game. He also scores 7.8 points a game. David Stockton is the son of Gonzaga legend and NBA Hall-Of-Famer John Stockton. He averages 6.7 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 steals a game.
Gonzaga is 3-3 against the spread this season and the total is also 3-3. Michigan St is 4-2 ATS this season and 5 of the 6 games have gone under the total. The Spartans are 4-0 ATS against teams with winning records, 4-1 in non-conference games, and overall, 22-6-2 in road games after 3 or more consecutive home games, 1-4 as a road dog of 6.5 points or less, and 0-6-1 in Saturday games. The Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS after failing to cover, 16-6-2 at home against road teams with winning road records, 10-4 in Saturday games, 4-10 as a favorite of 6.5 points or less, including 2-6 at home.
Although Michigan St is rebuilding this year they are still a dangerous team. The Spartans have been fattening up on cupcakes since the losses to UNC and Duke. Gonzaga is the most talented team they have faced since then. By the same token, Michigan St has the size to defend Sacre and can shut him down much like Illinois did in the second half. I like Michigan St to pull off the mild upset, but the Kennel as the McCarthey Center is affectionately known is a tough place to play.
