Michigan State vs Baylor Game Thread, How to Watch and Follow

Turns out it was a mirage.

MSU’s ability to knock down shots forced Baylor to go with a man-to-man defense. VCU chipped away, and a Williams steal and lay-up just before the first half buzzer sent the teams into the locker room with the Rams trailing 41-39. They couldn’t score. And then they couldn’t defend.

Coach Tom Izzo said there’s been little time to fix the things that have gone wrong so far, though that could change when the schedule lightens in December. “But we’re going to have to get better”. He is just 3 of 17 from the field this season, but he has taken one third of his team’s shots when he is on the floor, according to Ken Pomeroy’s analytics site. “That was a spectacular display”, Pitino said postgame. “We just need more time to prepare than we’ve had”. “It’s nearly insane. It’s not right”.

“They are an up-tempo team and like to try and speed you us, but that is how we play”, Coach Jones said.

Eron Harris added 13 points for the Spartans (4-3), who followed Thursday’s loss to No. 20 Baylor by building a huge second-half lead – and then almost blowing it. His assortment of turnarounds, jump hooks and dunks overwhelmed whomever guarded him. The Spartans don’t have anyone over 6-foot-9 and rely on Kenny Goins, a 6-foot-6 former walk-on, as a starting center. The big man enters the title game shooting 60 percent from the field, almost averaging a double-double, and blocking a whopping 3.8 shots per game.

Hofstra 65, South Dakota 57: Williamsburg’s Deron Powers scored 18 points and Rokas Gustys had 10 points and a career-high 26 rebounds as the Pride won the third-place game of the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Fla.

-U of L has a 34-6 record in neutral site games over the last five years (.850), with three losses occurring in NCAA regionals. He hit a three to help MSU (3-3) keep momentum.

“As frustrating as it is, that’s usually what makes a team”, Mullin said.

“We went man (defense) and our communication stepped up tremendously”, said Baylor forward Ish Wainright. And we did a remarkable job.

No. 2 Villanova 63, College of Charleston 47: Josh Hart had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Kris Jenkins scored 11 points for the host Wildcats. He traveled, and rarely looked to shoot.

This is Baylor’s greatest challenge to date. Though he benefited from some luck, his work down low was all skill and size.

Here are three takeaways from No. 20 Baylor’s 66-63 victory over Louisville. Rose’s two free throws sealed the victory.

Baylor will rely on Johnathan Motley to once again take over. “They’re all very good players and we trust them”. I just think we looked awfully exhausted. That’s my fault, not theirs.

“We were moving the ball and really playing well, I thought through the first half, and we quit doing that”, Izzo told reporters. Young guys like Miles Bridges, Nick Ward, Josh Langford and Cassius Winston are just gaining a ton of confidence early in the season. Eron Harris struggled to shoot for the second game in a row. That game didn’t end until almost 1 a.m. and the Cardinals had to play Wichita State on Thursday in the semifinals.