MSU MAGIC: Jeremy Fears ready to LEAD Michigan State to Final Four? Trey Augustine STEALS NCAA game

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Does Michigan State have what it takes to reach the final four this weekend?

Well, someone on this network who knows a ton about college basketball certainly thinks so.

But first, those icy Spartans are moving on, baby.

You are locked on Spartans.

Your daily podcast on the Michigan State Spartans part of the locked on podcast network.

Your team every day.

I'm Matt Shana.

Welcome to another episode here of locked on Spartans part of the number one ranked locked on podcast network.

Guys on today's show pretty much basketball dominant ahead of Michigan States game against Yukon Friday night.

We are joined by the one the only Isaac shade of locked on college basketball.

You will like to hear his prediction of where Michigan State ends this weekend.

But first guys allow allow me to talk about a little bit of hockey, right?

Because the Michigan State icy Spartans.

They kicked off their NCAA tournament with a opening to one win against Yukon.

And oh my goodness.

The magic of Riker Lee getting the first goal for Michigan State tying the game up at one one after the first period.

A period where certainly looked like Michigan State was a team that last played two weeks ago.

That was the sluggish start for your Spartans who often found themselves in the penalty box.

And then Porter Marchone.

He gets the turnover.

A little bit of back and forth action between him and Tierney and Shouting and but a boom, but a bang to one.

Now, I do want to shout out our guy Jeremy Doer, who was on this show a few days ago.

This is the hockey head of all things Michigan State hockey.

Of course, as you know, but I do want to shout out two things that he said in that little preview episode that we had.

The first is that Michigan State.

It would really benefit them if they win the face off battle here, especially with the style that Yukon plays, right?

Well, check number one.

They won the face off battle, which was just incredibly important in a game like this.

In number two, it was also mentioned that obviously Trey Augustine is a sensational goalie.

Like there's nothing bad he could say about him.

But in the last few tournaments, he just haven't had the game where he steals a game for you.

In a game where Michigan State was dramatically outshot against Yukon.

I think this counts as Trey Augustine stealing a game for you.

Now, I will say Yukon shot total seemed a little bit more quantity over quality.

But they did have a handful of solid chances there where if it wasn't arguably the best goalie in the nation between the pipes.

Yeah, we're talking about a Michigan State loss right here.

So really good game, really good bounce back response after that first period.

I mean, guys, they had four penalties before I think it was 26 minutes even ran off the clock.

And their penalty kill was sensational today.

Like it never even seemed like Yukon was close to a penalty goal.

So, um, but that's not to say that it's a good thing to be spending roughly one third of the start of the game with a four and five disadvantage.

So moving on Saturday at the time of recording, we don't know who wins Wisconsin versus Dartmouth,

but they will be getting that in the second round here for a trip to the frozen four.

Now guys, we're going to switch it over to basketball right now because what's better than one win over Yukon.

Well, how about another one and maybe even another win on Sunday.

We talk about all things MSU Yukon Michigan State's whole outlook for the weekend.

Again, with the one the only Isaac shade.

Let's get to it right now.

As if this guy doesn't have anything else going on in his life.

It is the host of both locked on college basketball.

And also locked on tall heels.

What was gracious.

You've got some news going on over there.

Isaac, are you ready for this question?

I don't think you are.

I don't know.

I don't know if I'm ready for this question.

Honestly,

I don't know what it is.

Who's coming out of the east?

Who's coming out of the east?

Who is winning the bracket out of the east?

We're not we're not wasting any time here, Isaac.

Let's go.

I wish I had my bracket in front of me to be able to show you on screen.

Uh, I wonder if I can pull it up quickly on ESPN.

Oh, hi.

It doesn't matter.

It's the Michigan State Spartans.

My final four pick out of the east.

Okay.

That's why that's why I was trying to get it pulled up.

It's so I could show the faithful Sparty listeners who are here with us.

Uh, that I do have the fighting isos moving on past Yukon and past Kansas,

who's not there anymore.

Okay.

But now I would have,

because basically I was picking between, um,

I felt like either St. John's or Kansas would beat Duke.

Okay.

Without Caleb Foster, although there's been like this weird like maybe he's coming back

this weekend.

I don't see how you come back from a fractured foot like three weeks,

whatever.

Um, but, but I think St. John's wins that game.

And then I have Sparty beating St. John's to get to the final four.

We could talk about hypothetical Michigan State.

St. John's here in a little bit,

but blood all over the court in that game should.

Right.

That game happened.

But what have you been liking the most about Michigan State?

Why are you steadfast that A,

they were your pick when this whole scene began.

Yeah.

That after seen a two game sample size in March madness,

what's got you doubling down?

How am I Spartans over here?

There's a couple that limit.

Yeah.

So I'll start with the,

the front end of the tournament before we saw any of it play is just the way

that Jeremy fears has been able to consistently be the ringleader,

the head of the snake,

whatever you want to say,

all season long, dude.

Like, you know,

you come into this year,

and it's a foregone conclusion that Braden Smith is going to lead.

Not only the big 10,

but the nation insists.

And oh, by the way,

here comes Mr. Fears to steal that crown,

both at the conference and national level.

Like that,

that's doing something when you have a higher assist.

A per game.

Then the all time division one leader in a system that, right?

You know what I mean?

But then you add to that,

the usual Tom iso team grit that Spartans have.

Yep.

Absolutely.

Andy Patton and I,

my co-host on Lockdown College basketball for,

for those who don't know.

One of the things we've talked about a lot lately is how unsung

the front court is.

Yeah.

But then the thing that has made me feel even more resolute

in watching the first two games.

Like,

let's go back to the second round.

If Mr. Cohen Carr is going to not only do all his usual stuff,

but start knocking down perimeter shots to boot.

It's alike.

Yeah.

What are we doing here?

My little homie from my hometown of Stockbridge, Georgia.

Oh, by the way.

That's right.

It's coming through and doing it right now.

So if he can do that,

I mean,

get out of the way.

Let's go.

I like my dad to say about Michigan State's front court.

Because I also get it too.

I mean,

like you're in the shadows of Michigan's front court.

Illinois's tall guy.

Sure.

Purdue's front court.

I get it.

And I also like that it kind of adds a chip to the shoulder.

Yeah.

Of those guys too.

But when we look across the court here,

we look at Yukon.

They also got a pretty good front court too.

Did you?

I would say so.

Is that where I should be most scared about?

Is it like I haven't, you know,

chalked up enough things to be terrified about with Yukon?

But I want to hear for you.

Like a guy that watches all things college basketball.

What's the number one thing that pops off the page about Yukon?

Before last weekend,

I would have said Silas Demory.

Because he is.

He is a guard in the mold of what Dan Hurley had in those back to back

championships that they didn't last year.

Like Aden Mahaney was a complete mislast year coming over from St. Mary's.

Sure.

Demory has been that.

But he got hurt.

Now he played in their last game.

But he came off the bench.

Yep.

And just wasn't quite himself.

We've seen solo ball.

I think he's a little bit banged up.

Braille and Mullins hasn't been playing as well.

Although he did shoot better in their second round game.

And so I think it.

Matt, I think you're right.

I think it is.

Terrace Reed that scares me the most.

Okay.

Um, homie had 31 and 27 in the first round.

Something that hadn't been done.

Like there had not been a 30 and 25 game in the NCAA tournament.

Do you know that?

Did you see these numbers?

I have not know.

Okay.

Since Elvin Hayes in 1968.

Holy mother.

Okay.

That's what.

That's what Terrace Reed just did in the first round.

So like he's doing that.

And then you pair that with Alex Keroban.

Who's not like a traditional four.

He's more of like.

I think of like an oversized three playing as an undersized four.

But he just went out and had his career high.

And the.

The.

Like I think he's a tough matchup for.

Cola or Cooper.

However, they.

However, Coach is.

Oh, decides to roll this out.

It could be hard for.

And honestly, that might be the best thing.

Because Alex Keroban's strength is not athleticism.

It is his.

Like he's old, wily veteran at the YMCA.

Just out here cooking ya because he's Mr. fundamental.

Right.

And so if you put Cohen car on him.

I think that's a great thing.

But then.

Like who then has to switch and guard.

A small like.

Because that probably puts somebody else on to braille and mold.

Like that's probably.

Cola or Cooper on braille and mollons at that point.

And I don't know that that's.

So.

I think that decision at the three and four slot might be in really

interesting to watch from a defensive assignment situation.

Are you saying that a hurly offense might have a lot of switching

opportunities out there.

Is that.

Yeah.

I mean.

That's real thing.

Now there's another big coming off the bench.

Eric Ryba.

Yes.

Is really nice.

Like.

But it's not in that.

I don't fear this.

Like you asked me what part of the Yukon team I should be most worried

about to find you or Michigan state.

But it's not.

The same level to me.

Of the the national championship teams from a couple of years ago.

Right.

I don't look at this team and be like.

Oh my gosh.

This is.

A domicinogo with Donovan clinging off the bench behind it.

Like.

It is not that.

And so.

Yes.

It's a tough Yukon front court.

But it ain't.

It ain't that.

You know.

No, certainly.

I mean, and that was kind of the whole thing when this bracket was revealed.

It's like it's scary logos everywhere.

Oh my god.

Like who's going to even get out of this thing.

But when you take a look behind the curtain.

Kansas isn't, you know, the Kansas they've been Yukon.

Yes, they are a good team.

Like do not get it twisted.

I won't.

It's not what they were two and three years ago.

Of course.

So.

It's like my Michigan State Spartans here, of course, but.

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and swap firm before getting back to our chat with Isaac shade guys the every day or club has a

great special going on at use promo code March. We've signed up. You're going to get that first

month for free guys. It's going to be at three episodes opportunities to buy some show merch

private listener group chat guys. The link is in the episode description below. So go ahead

join the every day or club. I want to talk about who is going to be the Robin to Jeremy Fierce

Batman. I think it goes without saying that he's going to have to have the most important game.

Obviously, defensively, but more so offensively, especially with how much you kind of limits

three point assist out there. You might have to have a lot of scoring in this game. But outside of

him, who's got to be that second fiddle for Michigan state. And I think there's an argument to be

made for five or six guys. I mean, one minute I can say cooler for his rebound in his outside

shooting. But that again, we'll go and car. You're going to have to be rocks out defensively.

I can go all over the map with this. So I'll just I'll just put the decision of your hands. I'll

leave you with the hard work. Isaac, we're going to go with this going car immediately. Okay. Okay.

He is he is the dominant athlete in this game. Not that Yukon's not athletic, but he is the

dominant athlete in this game. So whether it like look, I don't think we're going to be able to

rely on him to be able to knock down the outside shot consistently like we saw him do last weekend.

Sure. But if he can get one or two of those as a cherry on the top to go with his transition

and all the athleticism that's there, like he could not only he might he could he could be the Batman.

Right. Yeah. Yeah. Jeremy's still going to do it. So yeah. Right. But right. Like I think

that's a possibility. So he's the obvious Robin to me. But like if if I go outside of that,

like it is that that. Oh, here's what I would say. No, let me give you this. I forgot I said this

the other day. Okay. Not a player. A thing. Okay. It's that elite Michigan state offensive rebounding.

I think that I think that is the Robin to Jeremy fears Batman. If I could put it that way. Yeah.

I mean, we've said as much already this week. I mean, that offensive rebounding could absolutely

be the reason Michigan state wins this game. And we looked at it from statistically like,

hey, Michigan state against top 50 teams. They're still top 20 offensive rebounding. Whereas Yukon

takes a step back. But also if you just watch these games, especially in the style Yukon wants to

said, keeping teams in the half court. MSU has had their moments where they've sputtered

in said half court. But how do they still win? It's a second chance points, baby. That's right.

So you know, I love that for an X factor here. That is absolutely going to be wide item.

If it's not number one, it's it's number two in this game here. So Isaac, any closing thoughts

on this game before we just blow it out to just even more East region immediately. Sure.

Bracken as a whole talk here. If you didn't specifically ask me this, but you just use the phrase

X factor. And if you were to ask me my X factor for this game, it's curtain. Yeah, I love that.

I think him being able to contribute coming in and doing it like there's just been some games

this year. I'm like, man, there's just this kind of extra thing that he adds when he's going right.

Absolutely. Uh, then I think would be really critical come come up this weekend.

I mean, I can't hate that because I also trade for his emergence to F test for can combine with

what's a not greedy number? I said 15 the other day, that does seem like a lot, especially in what

might be a low scoring game, but I think I'm going to buy for 12, 15. I was going to say give it

give it like in that 11 to 13, right? Yeah, that makes sense. I mean, I would like that. So

what the game before Michigan State, I'm Friday night, I got to talk about it because well,

there could be a very direct impact on Michigan State's weekend here is St. John's Duke.

Oh, I mean, how confident are you that St. John's moves past Duke because I'm one hand. Yeah,

like we've seen Duke sliding these injuries have certainly been an impact. And man, St. John's

they are a rocket ship right now, but like I always come back to it's Duke like it's it's still Duke

over there. That's a simple 10 take, but and and beyond that, like all the boozer twins have ever

done is win. That's all they know. Like you go to Peach Jam, which to be fair, they're Peach Jam

team that they want to championship with. You know who else was on that team? Matt. Who else?

Some dude named Caleb Wilson was on that. Oh, yeah, he plays at a small school in North Carolina.

Doesn't he? Yeah. Well, Ashville, I think. Yeah, that's it. No, it's UNC Greensboro. Oh, my bad.

But Dante Allen, who was a freshman this year at Miami was on that. I mean, it was just that

night ride as squad was loaded. Here's another little factoid for you. Do you know who they beat

in the Peach Jam championship game that year? I sure don't. Some dude from BYU named AJ Dibonza.

Wow, that's the event to be at. Oh my god. And and also on that team that AJ was on was Tyron Stokes,

who's the number one player in next year's. I mean, oh my god. Like, whoa, you need to go back and watch

that game. It was going to have to. Wow. Okay. Excellent. Anyway, I just say that to say all these

dudes have done is win. And I know a lot of people Matt have said like Caleb fosters out. And so Duke

takes a big regression. I have been resolute all the way back to last summer that I think

Caden Booser is a better pure point guard than his Caleb Foster. Obviously Caleb has the experience

on him. And he's he had was growing in big ways up ahead of his foot fracture injury. But man,

Caden has stepped up. If it I truly believe Jerry McNamara and Sienna sends Duke home. If it was

not for Caden Booser's performance in that first round game, right? And so the combination of that

plus Pat Gongba is back now. He played in their last game. Came off the bench as he's recovering from

injury as well with ACC defensive player of the year stepping in in the starting lineup in his

place. So no big deal there. So the pieces are there. Isaiah Evans has turned it up a notch at the

two. I mean, he's got the length. He's their kind of conkniple this year. They're shooting guy,

but can get to the rim and finish a little bit. And so the pieces are there. But Duke has certainly

looks susceptible while St. Johns, as you said, kind of a bit of a rocket ship. But I just I worry

with St. Johns about the shooting. But I worry with Duke about how you gonna how you gonna handle

Zubia. Do you for in this game because good grief, right? You would have to bring brass knuckles.

Yeah, figuratively or literally that's going to be a physical physical and a basketball that St. John's

brings. I love their style. It's like it answers the question that no one has asked like what if

Michigan State basketball was even somehow more physical than they already are. And it's answered

with Rick Patino St. John's theory. Delight to watch. It's tax time. But for a lot of us, the old

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Darling, right? Who is like sure? In the in the offseason, Rick Patino had talked about like,

oh, we're bringing in Ian Jackson from North Carolina to be our point guard. He's not a point guard,

like a media. He was like, what are you talking about? And and they struggled. They didn't really

have a garden. I said, look, I know Dylan Darling is coming in. He's little. He doesn't have the

but it's like he is their best option as a true point guard. And here he has flourished lately.

And having the whatever to say, I've not scored all game long, but let's call this final play for

me with three seconds left to beat Kansas. I mean, church bells. This dude is ready. This

dude is ready for this stage. So I'm interested to see that match up. But it's what I mean,

just the lineup on Friday. We start with that game. Then we go to Bama Michigan, then the Michigan

state Yukon, then Tennessee Iowa State for a nice little defensive battle around. I mean, it's stupid

on this like the the whole the the chalk that we have complain about it. But look at the product

that we get, baby. We got great basketball. That is literally what I wanted to end on their

Isaac before we let you go. I had to talk about that. And it is a set up here because yeah,

March madness is the perfect event. If you get Cinderella offsets, that is a great time. But

if you don't, the payoff on that second weekend, it's banger after banger after banger. So Isaac

of all these great games that we have, you can only watch one game this weekend. You were you

ran into the worst. Whatever the opposite of a genie that doesn't grant wishes is you get to watch

one game. What one game are you watching of the eight taking place Thursday? We'll call it a college

basketball Grinch. How about that? Yeah, we go. I like that. Yep. Um, and just obviously we can't

forecast the head to the elite eight game yet. So you're just asking me of the eight sweet 16 games.

Absolutely man. I'm. Can I have one from each night? Yeah, five will be not okay. Yeah,

because Thursday, the game that excites me the most is Illinois Houston because of this like

elite offense that Illinois has versus this elite defense that Houston has. In Houston,

this game is being played. And I think that's great. I'm super excited to see Darius Acuff go

up against my national champion pick Arizona. But it's that Illinois Houston oil and water

situation that I can't wait for. That's the last tip on Thursday night.

Uh, my pick for Friday has been Duke in St. John's. And so I'm just going to stick with that. I

just, I just like basically I've been calling it a battle for MSG because Madison Square Garden

is one of St. John's home arenas. But Duke people call Madison Cameron North, right? And so

rightfully so I think winner, the winner of this game gets to claim MSG as theirs for all time.

So give me that one. I love that. The one that I might circle here. Yeah. Well, it had to do with

an upset. So I'm kind of going against my own set up to the conversation here. But I just obsessed

with the idea of Iowa and Nebraska. One of them are getting to the elite. Right? Oh god,

it's awesome. I can't get it off of that. So then Nebraska ball storyline, dude, is one is

got to be the greatest story of this season. Amazing. Yeah. It is going to be a loaded slate Thursday,

Friday. I've also got my Detroit Tigers playing on Friday night. The same time as Michigan state.

Okay, but this is what we look for. We root to feel like this for another day. Isaac,

can't thank you enough. I'm glad you got to be one of the busiest people in the whole lot.

The network right now. So it's like we're carving out about 20 minutes here to talk to us.

You're absolutely a pleasure. She and thanks for having me for sure. Anything you want to plug

here coming up by the way, for let you go. I mean, I hate to just let you walk out with

outside. Yeah, I think the biggest thing would be we've got coming up this weekend. We'll be

bracket breakdown for Amazon Fire TV. Andy Patten and I will be back in the studio there in Dallas

along with Butler legend Gordon Hayward and Carolina National Champion Jesse Holly and

Kylin Mills, who a lot of you big 10 folks will know from working with the big 10 network.

She's an absolutely great host. And so you can check that out on Amazon Fire TV devices,

but we're also putting all those shows on the Lockdown College basketball YouTube feed as well.

So you can check that out anywhere there. I tell you that's the biggest thing to plug right now.

Guys, we will be back because this is all we're doing. We're talking Michigan State hoops every

single day right here locked on spars, but until next time take care of yourselves. Love you all. Go Green.

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