I got to watch the Michigan State win from Hawaii yesterday from a different perspective. Knowing we would win it allowed me to watch the individual play of several players. Here is what I saw.
Bede played offensively more confidently than he did over the second half of the season. His driving to the basket and using the rim as a screen to make layups was exciting. His defense was solid as well and he was guarding stronger players. He even looked like a better 3 point shooter than he showed after Christmas. But his free throw shooting at the end of the game resembled what we saw more often than you would expect. On three straight possessions over the final minute he made only one of two free throws. He needs to shoot alot this summer and regain his confidence.
Hunter C was all over the floor. Diving, running down long rebounds and shooting 3 pointers without any fear. I am looking forward to his final 3 seasons. He seems like a great 6th man. Ready for action while sitting on the bench and when called upon contributes immediately.
We won that game due to our outstanding shooting and we didn't even get much help from Jalen Cone. His minutes were few and the announcers felt it was due to his defense and stamina. We all know both of those areas improved as the season went along. But Hunter and Alein and even PJ Horne shot the ball with confidence and success.
Nolley was unconcious early on and helped get us the lead. He took some difficult shots and hit a very high percentage. Then he kind of went silent during the middle of the contest. But over the final 3 minutes he put us on his back and delivered with big baskets both from 3 point land as well as with drives to the basket. That part of his game will be missed.
However his defense was exactly what we saw all to often as being below average and his turnovers were high. In fact at one point of the contest after a bad TO you could read Coach Young's lips as saying "slow down".
Overall our shooting won the contest along with MS refusing to attack us the way that Dukie announcer tried to advise them to do all night long :) JB