CBS ranks the starters for every Sweet 16 team

[MichaelM]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebas...the-2015-sweet-16-starters-from-no-80-to-no-1

Looks like OU only starts four players. This could be a tough game.

60. Jordan Woodard, Utah: Has been a bit inconsistent at the point, but if he can steady his hand the Utes could win.

:ez-laugh:

55. Isaiah Cousins, Oklahoma: How this guy didn't make all-Big 12 defense is beyond me. He's great at that end, and he regularly knocks down big shots.

46. Ryan Spangler, Oklahoma: A rugged rebounder who's also a solid screen-and-roll player, Spangler does a lot of the little things the Sooners need to win.

33. TaShawn Thomas, Oklahoma: A similar player to the guy directly in front of him, Thomas has been really solid and was second-team All-Big 12.

The guy in front of Thomas is Kennedy Meeks of UNC.

10. Buddy Hield, Oklahoma: The Big-12 Player of the Year is a knockdown deep shooter and a solid perimter defender.

Michigan State's starters are ranked 79 (Schilling), 74 (Tum Tum), 40 (Valentine), 38 (Dawson), and 34 (Trice).

 

[Max Power]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebas...the-2015-sweet-16-starters-from-no-80-to-no-1

Looks like OU only starts four players. This could be a tough game.

:ez-laugh:


The guy in front of Thomas is Kennedy Meeks of UNC.




Michigan State's starters are ranked 79 (Schilling), 74 (Tum Tum), 40 (Valentine), 38 (Dawson), and 34 (Trice).

Those numbers seem low for Michigan State.

 

[Zimwillett]

Those numbers seem low for Michigan State.

I was going to say the same thing. Trice and Valentine are legitimate stars, and Dawson would probably be more highly thought of had he not been limited in a few games with injuries.

 

[BoulderSooner]

mich st was average this season we have been the better team all year

 

[IndySooner]

mich st was average this season we have been the better team all year

Exactly. If you've only been watching the last couple of weeks, Michigan State looks a lot better than they are.

 

[soonernutt]

Exactly. If you've only been watching the last couple of weeks, Michigan State looks a lot better than they are.

Too bad we can't play them 3 weeks ago, then, instead of now.

 

[IndySooner]

Too bad we can't play them 3 weeks ago, then, instead of now.

Their last three weeks haven't been any better than our entire season.

Listen, I know this isn't an easy win - it's a game we could lose. We have NO reason to be afraid of MSU, though. They're not the classic Izzo team this year.

 

[chuckb]

I was going to say the same thing. Trice and Valentine are legitimate stars, and Dawson would probably be more highly thought of had he not been limited in a few games with injuries.

Trice and Valentine are good players but I'd hardly call them stars. Look at the names ahead of them on the list. Those guys are really good. How far up the list would you move them? I wouldn't move them more than a few spots if at all.

 

[DenverSooner]

Cousins is way too low. Spangler is also too low. Both should be below 40

 

[MNsooner]

60. Jordan Woodard, Oklahoma: Has been a bit inconsistent at the point, but if he can steady his hand the Utes could win.

They fixed it so it says Oklahoma, but the description is still about Utah. :facepalm

 

[soonernutt]

Their last three weeks haven't been any better than our entire season.

Listen, I know this isn't an easy win - it's a game we could lose. We have NO reason to be afraid of MSU, though. They're not the classic Izzo team this year.

I agree with you there. I was just poking a little fun. No need to be afraid. Just expect a tough battle of a game. Everybody still playing at this point is good. Now it's just about who steps up when the lights are on.

 

[scrybe]

If the Sooners fall to MSU (perish the thought), maybe Kruger will allow Jordan to give the Utes a hand. I agree with the writer: The Utes could win with JW in the lineup.

 

[dahldennsull]

Trice and Valentine are good players but I'd hardly call them stars. Look at the names ahead of them on the list. Those guys are really good. How far up the list would you move them? I wouldn't move them more than a few spots if at all.

think about some of the teams we beat or hung with this year in the big 12. Don't think ISU's starting 5 would grade out higher than MSU's? Just need to bring a good strategy in and play our game and we have a shot

 

[WTSooner]

Where were MSU's guys ranked coming out of HS?

 

[scrybe]

Where were MSU's guys ranked coming out of HS?

Is that a rhetorical question?

 

[Zimwillett]

Trice and Valentine are good players but I'd hardly call them stars. Look at the names ahead of them on the list. Those guys are really good. How far up the list would you move them? I wouldn't move them more than a few spots if at all.

Fair point. After studying the list, I really don't see more than a few spots up (if any) for either Trice or Valentine.

Still, they're both going to be tough match ups Friday night. I'm really concerned about Trice in that if/when he gets hot from 3, it doesn't really matter what you do defensively (think Phil Forte when he's on). Trice's hot shooting is one of the biggest reasons behind MSU's postseason run.

 

[WTSooner]

Trice's hot shooting is one of the biggest reasons behind MSU's postseason run.

MSU was the 15th most efficient offense for the season, according to Ken Pom.

It's not their offense that has gotten better, but their defense. They are ranked nearly exactly reversed from OU. OU had a good D this year, with an offense ranked in the 40's. MSU had a good offense, with a D ranked in the 40's.

We're really pretty darn close to each other, with MSU only being 5-6 spots behind OU in total. Most folks thought MSU deserved a 5 seed, which again, puts them only 4-6 spots or so behind OU.

Not to mention Izzo is one of the best in the game, and certainly one of the best to coach in March. Speaking of active coaches, he is probably only second to Coach K. So they will be prepared.

 

[dahldennsull]

Where were MSU's guys ranked coming out of HS?

Just using ESPN's page for their stats, not going to check the entire team, just the guys who get significant minutes:

Trice - 3 star (unranked nationally)
Valentine - 4 star (#81 nationally)
Dawson - 5 star (#20 nationally)
Forbes - transfer
Costello - 4 star (#83 nationally)
Schilling - 3 star (#125 nationally)
Clark Jr. - 3 star (#146 nationally)
Bess - 3 star (#119 nationally)
Nairn Jr. - 4 star (#62 nationally)

pretty impressive, but of course it's MSU. Would make you think they should perform better in the regular season

 

[Zimwillett]

MSU was the 15th most efficient offense for the season, according to Ken Pom.

It's not their offense that has gotten better, but their defense. They are ranked nearly exactly reversed from OU. OU had a good D this year, with an offense ranked in the 40's. MSU had a good offense, with a D ranked in the 40's.

We're really pretty darn close to each other, with MSU only being 5-6 spots behind OU in total. Most folks thought MSU deserved a 5 seed, which again, puts them only 4-6 spots or so behind OU.

Not to mention Izzo is one of the best in the game, and certainly one of the best to coach in March. Speaking of active coaches, he is probably only second to Coach K. So they will be prepared.

Agreed on all points. I guess I'm basing that statement more off of what I've seen recently. For example, Maryland was absolutely hammering MSU in the B1G tournament until Trice got hot and he hit some absolute daggers vs. UVA. Contrast that to Trice's shooting in the vast majority of MSU's losses this year, and I think him getting hot at the right time (together with improved D) is why MSU is grossly underseeded at a #7.

 

[SilliSooner]

Dawson was a McDs AA and, I think, averaged a ridiculous number of rebounds in high school.