The NBA Draft has come and gone, and once again, I am reminded why I loathe sports from time to time.
I could spend more of my time talking about how gross I find mock drafts and that every single “source” mentioned by people such as Chad Ford are most likely lying. Something that Ford has joked about on Twitter, but I will not.
Hayes is back with his NBA Draft recap. He talks about Gary Harris and Adreian Payne switching draft spots and what he thinks they can do in the NBA.
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On this week’s show, Fino Faith and Austin welcomed MSU basketball redshirt senior Keenan Wetzel into the studio. With the recent transfers and fast approaching season on the horizon, MSU basketball was not the discussion however. Wetzel’s off-the-court endeavor, The Cager, a short film written and directed by Wetzel starring ex-Spartan Delvon Roe, was where the discussion began. Accompanied by fellow MSU student and the film’s producer, Nick Stachurski, the two showcased their individual plans and goals for the 25-minute film about a former college basketball star adjusting to life without a back up plan.
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After a long hiatus, Hayes returns to talk about Spartan basketball’s offseason action. He gives his take on the Russell Byrd and Alex Gauna situation as well as his preview of the incoming class.
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Russell Byrd announced that he will not be returning to Michigan State next year. He will spend his final year of eligibility at Master’s College in California, according to the Detroit Free Press. Byrd was a highly recruited shooter in high school, garnering interest from high profile programs like Kentucky, as well as Michigan State.
According to MSU head coach Tom Izzo, Alex Gauna has decided to retire from basketball and spend his final year at MSU focusing on his education. Gauna was a three-star recruit, but was one of those players that many people thought could develop into a successful Division-I player under the tutelage of Izzo.
Yet, when this news came out, I could not help but ask myself, “So?”
He was once a two-sport, star athlete at Lansing Sexton High School.
Drew Valentine set school records, garnered all-state acclaim and received top-notch offers from the most storied programs across the country (Florida State and Michigan State to name a few).
But little did Drew imagine that injuries would put him on the hardcourt sideline with his brother, Denzel, five years later.
The recruiting class of 2014 got a little better with the signing of Marvin Clark Jr.
The 6-foot-7, 219-pound small forward committed to Michigan State a month ago, joining Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn and Javon Bess. He is a three-star recruit, according to rivals.com.
Clark is from Bel Aire, Kan. and played for Sunrise Christian Academy, the same school as Nairn.
Gary Harris has decided to leave MSU and enter the 2014 NBA Draft, but was it the right decision? The Pact opens with a discussion and debate on the departure of Spartan basketball’s superstar.
The NHL playoffs are set to begin, and the Detroit Red Wings are preparing to faceoff against the President Trophy Winners, Boston Bruins. Can Detroit put the pieces together just in time to beat the NHL’s best regular season team? Austin and Fino say yes, but Lou is not so sure.
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It is all over.
Hayes and Blake discuss their sadness to the end of the NCAA Tournament and give their take on the championship game. They also look ahead to next year for the Spartans and what needs to improve for another run in the Tournament.
The sadness that is felt over the end of the basketball season is nothing compared to the sadness felt over the loss of young Lacey Holsworth this week. Read More…
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Several hundred Michigan State students gathered at the Rock on Michigan State’s campus Wednesday night to honor 8-year-old Lacey Holsworth, who lost her battle with cancer the night before.
Holsworth, affectionately known as “Princess Lacey,” developed a special relationship with MSU basketball senior Adreian Payne. The two met when the basketball team made a visit to the hospital that Holsworth had been staying at. Their friendship grew quickly to the point where Payne had begun calling her his “little sister.”
Connecticut’s run to the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship was nothing short of spectacular. Plus…they covered the spread every game!
After a disappointing loss to UConn in the Elite Eight, four Spartans now have time to think about their NBA futures.
Adreian Payne, Keith Appling, Gary Harris and Branden Dawson are all targets of NBA scouts and general managers. Their draft stocks have gone up and down throughout the season, especially in the tournament. Here is where each player’s draft stock stands.
It was a good run.
With Sunday’s loss to the 5.5-pont underdog UConn Huskies in NYC, the 2013-’14 MSU Spartan men’s basketball season came to a close, but it was a run filled with amazing memories from the last few weeks.
Dan Krier & Ryan Smith spend Ep.24 of Walk the Line discussing the Spartans’ final game and look forward to this weekend’s upcoming Final Four battles in Dallas.
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Blake hosts the latest edition of Impact Izzone and Hayes calls in from Middle of Nowhere, Pennsylvania to discuss what went wrong in New York for the Spartans’ men’s basketball team.
The two also preview the Final Four and Hayes even has an Andy Katz story. They are willing to bet you do not.
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In a game of runs, it was Michigan State that ran out of offense late in the game and fell to the Connecticut Huskies, 60-54 Sunday afternoon.
“We got what we deserved,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said after the game.
Tom Izzo has never coached a senior that has not made it to the Final Four. A win on Sunday against the Connecticut Huskies will continue that incredible streak.
No. 7 UConn is a bit of a surprise team to make it to the Elite Eight, beating No. 10 St. Joseph’s, No. 2 Villanova and No. 3 Iowa State on its way. The Huskies are led by arguably the best point guard in the nation, Shabazz Napier.
Nothing came easy for MSU Friday night as they upset No. 1 University of Virginia, 61-59, in one of the Spartans’ hardest fought victories of the year.
Tom Izzo’s team lost the turnover and rebounding battles, but managed to pull out a win thanks in large part to Branden Dawson who recorded a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
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Madison Square Garden will be rocking Friday night when two of college basketball’s hottest teams face off for a bid to the Elite Eight.
No. 1 Virginia cruised through their first two games of the tournament, beating No. 16 Coastal Carolina and No. 8 Memphis by a combined 29 points. The Cavaliers earned the No. 1 seed by beating Duke in the ACC Tournament and have one of the best defenses in the nation.
Sweet, then Elite!
Episode 23 of Walk the Line finds Dan Krier & Ryan Smith in the midst of NCAA Tournament heaven. Time to break down the Sweet 16 & Elite 8 matchups, with Thursday and Friday’s spreads on the board waiting to be picked apart, including MSU vs. UVa.
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Per usual, the NCAA Tournament has brought happiness, sadness, upsets and glory, and we have only made it through the Round of 32.
Going into the Sweet Sixteen, there are no perfect brackets left and no one will win a $1 billion from the hands of Warren Buffet and Dan Gilbert. But there is still basketball to be played.
