When you go against a Tom Izzo MSU team you generally expect them to have the physicality advantage. That advantage doesn't appear to be that big, if it exists at all, against this Kentucky team.
It starts with, and this is just me expecting him to play, starts with Oscar Tshiebwe. Oscar is not generally going to be outmuscled down in the paint. You also have guys like Wheeler, Fredrick, Toppin, Ware, and Reeves who have been under college strength and conditioning programs from years. Even Collins isn't afraid to mix it up even if its mostly still using his athleticism to get rebounds and block shots.
On top of those guys we also have our Freshmen who are all physically ready for the college game already. In fact, if you look at the guard position, Wallace, Thiero, and Livingston are 193lbs, 200lbs, and 220lbs, respectively. None of the 3 shy away from physicality either. Even Onyenso looks to have spent some time in the gym before he got to Kentucky. He's not built like a 6ft 11 pogo stick.
Or Im just putting too much stock in it. Anyway...
Should be an interesting game, but with Oscar I believe the Cats should win by 7-10. Could even be one of those first to 71 games either in regulation or OT.
It starts with, and this is just me expecting him to play, starts with Oscar Tshiebwe. Oscar is not generally going to be outmuscled down in the paint. You also have guys like Wheeler, Fredrick, Toppin, Ware, and Reeves who have been under college strength and conditioning programs from years. Even Collins isn't afraid to mix it up even if its mostly still using his athleticism to get rebounds and block shots.
On top of those guys we also have our Freshmen who are all physically ready for the college game already. In fact, if you look at the guard position, Wallace, Thiero, and Livingston are 193lbs, 200lbs, and 220lbs, respectively. None of the 3 shy away from physicality either. Even Onyenso looks to have spent some time in the gym before he got to Kentucky. He's not built like a 6ft 11 pogo stick.
Or Im just putting too much stock in it. Anyway...
Should be an interesting game, but with Oscar I believe the Cats should win by 7-10. Could even be one of those first to 71 games either in regulation or OT.