MICHIGAN STATE
When Denzel Valentine plays productively for Michigan State, they are virtually impossible to beat. Of course, the Spartans are extremely difficult to take down no matter the circumstances, with a record of 17-1, but when the multitalented Valentine is under control and contributing throughout, it’s curtains for the opponent.
It is no surprise that in the lone defeat of the season (vs. North Carolina), Valentine collected just two points to go with two turnovers in 26 forgettable minutes. He had perhaps his best effort of the year on Saturday night at Illinois. The second-year guard/forward shot the ball beautifully after struggling with his J for much of the winter. He knocked in 6 of 9 from the field, with a pair of triples, while hauling in a game-high 11 boards. Valentine often draws the ire of Tom Izzo, and you get the sense it’s because the coach realizes how much Valentine’s production, or lack thereof, means to the team’s ultimate fate.
MICHIGAN
Pretty impressive stat from scrappy Michigan sophomore Spike Albrecht. Through five conference games, spanning 75 minutes, the point guard has yet to turn the ball over. Not even once. Michigan has surprised the rest of the Big Ten with their sterling play thus far, and there have been contributions from a number of places. The steady hand of the backup Albrecht has been an underrated asset during the Wolverines’ 5-0 start.
PISTONS
Simply put, Brandon Jennings must start shooting better from the point guard position. The lead guard spot is supposed to be about stability, finding quality shots, working for good offense.
Jennings is pelting the rim at an unacceptable 37% from the field, which includes just 3 of 38 contests where he’s made more shots than he has missed. Throw in the fact that Jennings is turning over the rock way too much (4th most among starting PG’s) and you have a serious need for improvement in the season’s second half.
There are some troublesome similarities to Matthew Stafford here; both players entered their respective leagues with very high expectations, experienced some understandable growing pains early on, but now you get to year five and the career ascension just isn’t really taking place the way you’d think it would.
It might seem like an impossibility -- but somehow, the Pistons, at 17 and 23 heading into today’s action, still manage to occupy the 7th slot in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. Of course, that would mean a first-round date with the Miami Heat, so it would be highly recommended to start wiggling out of the bottom part of that bracket. It sure is a good thing the Pistons are not considered a “West” team like the Red Wings were for so many years.
This year, they are a solid 15-11 against Eastern foes; in 14 games against the giants of the West, the Pistons have won just twice. Such a contrast in records does not bode well for today’s afternoon affair at The Palace against the Clippers (even without Chris Paul).
UDM
The Titans lost both of their games this past week, but it’s still worth noting the superb performance by Juwan Howard, Jr. in those contests. The son of an original Fab Fiver, Little Juwan poured in 35 against Valparaiso and followed it up with another 20 at Youngstown State. If only he had a little help.
There isn’t much in the way of scoring assistance on the rest of the Titan roster, which will likely mean a lot more points for Juwan, but many more L’s in the process. Detroit currently resides in 8th place in the nine-team Horizon League (Oakland is a game better, in 7th).
