The Final Four Is Not On The Schedule - A Podcast Discussing Michigan State Basketball.

Eric and Rod revisit the 2009-10 season which MSU entered ranked preseason #2. This was largely because the previous final four team lost only Travis Walton and Goran Suton but was returning senior Raymar Morgan, Big Ten player of the year, Kalin Lucas, Delvon Roe, and sophomore Draymond Green.

They had a number of setbacks in the non-conference leading to a 10-3 record but started the Big Ten schedule 9-0. Then the wheels metaphorically came off and they lost 3 in a row but still managed to limp across the finish line to tie for a Big Ten championship with Purdue and Ohio State.

A first round flame out in the Big Ten Tournament against a bad Minnesota team in OT left expectations low and a 5 seed heading into the NCAA tourney. Few were high on this team until Kalin Lucas started playing like the player he was the year before in the first round by scoring 25 in defeating 12 seed New Mexico State. Suddenly, MSU was looking like a force to reckon with if only they could find a way past Kansas in the Sweet 16.

MSU was cruising to an easy second round win against Maryland when Kalin Lucas tore his ACL in the second half. Last second heroics and maybe a little help from Northern Iowa in defeating Kansas led to MSU making it all the way to the Final Four.

It was the Final Four matchup against Butler where Draymond Green was clearly fouled in the act of shooting while down one with only a few seconds left. The no-call was in part responsible for a narrow loss and missed opportunity to take on a pedestrian Duke team for the national championship.

What if Kaliin Lucas hadn't torn his ACL? What if the foul is called and Draymond at least splits the pair of free throws? Eric and Rod talk about what they think would have happened.

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LSJ sports columnist, Graham Couch, joins us today to discuss the state of the MSU basketball program. We discuss the concern at the 5 spot, coaching changes, the thinking behind Max Christie's departure, and what the Big Ten will be like next year.

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Eric & Rod return to the 2019-2020 MSU basketball season and project what would have happened if COVID never came and we were able to enjoy the basketball postseason. In this episode we recap the season and look at the bracket seedings to come to a final four and our best guess for who comes out on top. Final Four teams: Kansas, Seton Hall, Maryland, and Michigan State.

Then we discuss the importance of the Mike Garland retirement has on the coaching staff. What he meant for the players, coach Izzo, and what sort of person they need to replace him.

Special thanks to listener Patrick in suggesting this fun topic.

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Rod and Eric review Thomas Kelley's addition as the newest assistant coach for MSU's basketball program. Kelley is a former starter for the team in the 90s and previously served as a grad assistant before taking an assistant coaching position at Western Michigan. We discuss what we think he will bring to the team and what it means to be an assistant at MSU.

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In a recent interview, Tom Izzo stated that the MSU roster is set for the 2022-2023 season. Marble and Christie are gone and Fears, Holloman, and Cooper are in. Are we short a player from the portal? Rod and Eric discuss whether it is time to panic or if we can relax this summer.

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Eric and Rod discuss the surprise commitment to the 2022-2023 of IMG 6'11" IMG Academy player, Carson Cooper. Tentative plans are for him to redshirt next season.

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Eric and Rod review the high school recruitment offers from MSU and targets for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 classes.

The also give you the latest news on the MSU roster with the transfer portal. Will they convince Marble to stay? Is Christie out the door?

Finally, they discuss the implications of what Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has done to the college landscape and what is likely to come after the probable breakup of the NCAA.

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Rod and Eric address an uncomfortable question for the Big Ten - can anyone win a national championship? It hasn't been since 2000 with Mateen Cleeves and MSU's Flintstones since a Big Ten team has won the national championship. Is there something wrong about the way the Big Ten plays basketball or constructs its teams that leads to a lack of success?

Also, we analyze how well Rod did in his predictions for the final standings in the Big Ten. Hits, misses, and everything in between including a rant about one coach Rod doesn't believe in.

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Long time assistant coach Dwayne Stephens has left Michigan State to become the head coach at Western Michigan. Rod and Eric discuss the role Stephens had as coach at MSU, what his leaving will mean to the program, and who is rumored to replace him.

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Rod and Eric discuss the recent developments on the team as Julius Marble enters the transfer portal, Joey Hauser elects to return for a senior COVID year, and Max Christie's situation with draft evaluation and potential for entering the transfer portal. What is happening, what is the risk to MSU without Marble and Christie and can they be successful in the 2022-2023 season?

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