Bears @ Bulldogs, 1.25.2011

[WSUbballer]

Bear fans, easy on the defensiveness. I asked a question and gave three possible scenarios. You guys all homed in one of them like I was implying something. If all of your answers are choice (b), then fine.

From a neutral and non-biased view, I watched the end of the game and Creekmore looked like he was completely gassed. Weems seemed fatigued as well. Maybe, it was just the sheer competitiveness of the game. I dunno. All I asked was a question. Please try and keep an open mind about things.

[beatingrillz]

No baller the Bears are tired just like every other team is at the end of 40 that plays as hard as this team does. I would still put the tired Bears up against the deepest team in the country WSU. The long break will also do the Bears well this week.

[BEELINE]

Valid question "baller"; obviously it's been a point many have made thruout the Bear's move to the lead , that being will depth or lack thereof be an issue for this team. Creekmore probably was gased, he was sick the day of the Creighton game and questionable for play, so I'm sure he's not fully recovered as yet. Weems has always been someone Zo has tried to keep his minutes more around 25 or so and felt he is more effective that way. Mallett and Leonard can go 35 nightly w/o a hitch; would like to see Ricks get a little more help down the stretch. Right now Leonard is playing the backup at point most of the time; like to see Cooper get some minutes again, he was for a 2-3 game stretch just 2 weeks ago.

I honestly don't think depth is much of an issue in the twice a week Valley schedule; in fact, I've always felt playing 8 maybe 9 at most is preferable and I like my starters on the court at least 25 minutes. Where it becomes an issue is in compacted schedules like the Valley Tourney, and for that we'll just have to see. But again that's probably only a big deal if you play more than 2 games. For the Bear's that would mean they were playing for the title, and then you hope adrenaline and conditioning are able to carry a tired team the last 10 minutes.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Lack of depth and fatigue is a completely overrated issue for MSU this year. They are in tremendous shape (as good or better than anyone in the country) and will win or lose based on how the starters play. Really happy to come out with a win in Des Moines though, everything Drake was throwing up was going in. Tough to pull it out when you are playing great defense and they hit contested threes. But everytime we get the W on the road it just gets us that much closer because I just don't see us losing at JQH. Adam Leonard and some of the guys have started calling JQH the Dutch Oven. I'm not sure it'll take off because I guess some Pitt fans were calling their arena that too but I kind of like it.

[Haha]

A W is a W

I will say watching the game the bears seemed lethargic and tired. Whether or not this translates into losses I don't know, hasn't yet. They didn't seem intense at all on defense and BTW drake nice passing, lmao. How many times in one game can you try to turn it over.

[Kip Dynamite]

Lack of depth and fatigue is a completely overrated issue for MSU this year. They are in tremendous shape (as good or better than anyone in the country) and will win or lose based on how the starters play. Really happy to come out with a win in Des Moines though, everything Drake was throwing up was going in. Tough to pull it out when you are playing great defense and they hit contested threes. But everytime we get the W on the road it just gets us that much closer because I just don't see us losing at JQH. Adam Leonard and some of the guys have started calling JQH the Dutch Oven. I'm not sure it'll take off because I guess some Pitt fans were calling their arena that too but I kind of like it.

I would't get to cocky if I were you. We have UNI coming in Sunday and that game scares the bejezus out of me! They match up with us too well and it took a miracle last second 3 by Weems to win at there place earlier this year. I would bet you anything that if he didnt make that one that they would be in 1st place by themselves and we would be chasing the pack from thier position. It's all about confidence and we have it right now, but it's still a long season and alot of basketball to be played yet. No victory is guaranteed against anyone in the Valley. Not even at home.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Lack of depth and fatigue is a completely overrated issue for MSU this year. They are in tremendous shape (as good or better than anyone in the country) and will win or lose based on how the starters play. Really happy to come out with a win in Des Moines though, everything Drake was throwing up was going in. Tough to pull it out when you are playing great defense and they hit contested threes. But everytime we get the W on the road it just gets us that much closer because I just don't see us losing at JQH. Adam Leonard and some of the guys have started calling JQH the Dutch Oven. I'm not sure it'll take off because I guess some Pitt fans were calling their arena that too but I kind of like it.

I would't get to cocky if I were you. We have UNI coming in Sunday and that game scares the bejezus out of me! They match up with us too well and it took a miracle last second 3 by Weems to win at there place earlier this year. I would bet you anything that if he didnt make that one that they would be in 1st place by themselves and we would be chasing the pack from thier position. It's all about confidence and we have it right now, but it's still a long season and alot of basketball to be played yet. No victory is guaranteed against anyone in the Valley. Not even at home.

Let me clarify, I think UNI is a dynamite team and they gave us everything we could handle at their place. My confidence is just that this team feels special and the way we won that game Saturday just has to give us a ton of confidence at home. I'm not trying to be cocky, it's just that sometimes you just get in a zone and can't be beaten and I see us with our home crowd being almost like that.

[DieHardMSUFan]

....it took a miracle last second 3 by Weems to win at there place earlier this year...

Interesting take. UNI tosses in a three from 5 feet behind the line with a hand in face to take a 2 point lead with 10 seconds to go....MSU comes up the floor and the Conference POY hits a lightly contested 3 from the top of the key. I would say the miracle would have been to UNI if Weems had missed it.

[Bearvision]

Not to mention a 70 footer before the half.

It was a low percentage shot by Weems, but I definitely agree the miracle would have been more on the other side. That said, people seem to be under estimating how hard it is to win road games. Take that and times it by at least two in winning at UNI.

[TNMSUFAN]

Not to mention a 70 footer before the half.

It was a low percentage shot by Weems, but I definitely agree the miracle would have been more on the other side. That said, people seem to be under estimating how hard it is to win road games. Take that and times it by at least two in winning at UNI.

The good thing is the Bears only have 3 road games left