Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
As I said yesterday before the game started, I was going to be happy whether MSU won or lost and that's exactly how I feel now that it's over. Despite being blown out by a much more talented team, the Spartans took their fans on a hell of a ride over the last couple weeks and it's been a lot of fun. I was glad to see they didn't stop playing hard right to the end, but the Tar Heels are simply a better team.
There isn't a single one of the top 7 MSU players that you wouldn't happily trade for his counterpart on the Carolina squad. They were better at every position. Tom Izzo was absolutely right when he said that if both teams play well, Carolina wins by 10. Frankly, this game wasn't as close as the score indicated. They could have won by 40 if they had kept their foot on the gas the whole second half.
But all is not bleak for the Spartans. They return a great nucleus for next year, especially in the backcourt. Lucas will come back as a preseason all-American at point guard. Durrell Summers, Chris Allen and Korie Lucious all return to form a great foursome at guard. They lose Goran Suton and Travis Walton, of course, but both are replaceable.
Delvon Roe will be the go-to guy in the post next year and he'll be back to full strength after the double knee surgeries. This is a guy who was rated the #1 power forward in the country before his senior year of high school and the first knee injury. He's going to be great. Draymond Green will probably start at the 4, which makes them a little undersized, but Green has shown some real flashes of being a perfect glue guy for the team.
They also bring in two freshman big men that should contribute right away in Derrick Nix (Mr. Basketball in Michigan this year) and Garrick Sherman. Either one could end up being a starter when they need a bigger lineup. And I also expect big things from Raymar Morgan, who returns for his senior year. He was having a great year this year until he went down with mononucleosis and walking pneumonia. He never really recovered. He may be the most talented player on the team and if he stays healthy next year he should be an all-Big Ten player.
So MSU should be back in the top 10 or 15 in the nation next year and ready for another run in the tournament.
Comments
Tsk, tsk... you skipped Dennett's talk, then?
Posted by: Ivan | April 7, 2009 10:11 AM
I actually had to skip Dennett's talk for other reasons. I'm now the acting managing editor of the Michigan Messenger for a while until they find a permanent replacement, which really ties me to my desk during the week far more than I'm used to. I hate it. Can't wait until the position is filled so I can just go back to writing.
Posted by: Ed Brayton | April 7, 2009 10:24 AM
Sorry you had to miss it. It was enjoyable, even if most of the content was predictable. Unfortunately Dennett didn't take very many questions, which was disappointing.
Posted by: Ivan | April 7, 2009 11:00 AM
Why don't you do what PZ just did? Advertise here for your replacement!
~David D.G.
Posted by: David D.G. | April 7, 2009 11:02 AM
Yeah, MSU was over-matched but if they had not gotten off to such a terrible start they might have been in it at the end.
Too many mistakes especially turn overs.
Still nothing to be ashamed of.
A great year for the Spartans.
Posted by: Lance | April 7, 2009 8:24 PM