New piece by Robin

[Norm Peterson]

It's a free article, so I was able to read it.  Not a lot earth-shattering in there; however, I was intrigued by this nugget:

 

During Monday's weekly Big Ten teleconference, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo noted one of the obvious differences between the Huskers now and where they were earlier in the year - the absence of junior point guard Deverell Biggs, who was dismissed from the team shortly after the Minnesota game. Izzo credited Miles for adjusting his lineup and how he "got rid of a bad apple", which seemed to have rallied his team together. Miles declined to comment one way or another on how Biggs' situation directly impacted the Huskers, but said he's been proud of the way his players responded to the adversity.

"You never know how those things are going to work," Miles said. "I've been a head coach 19 years and I've seen it go both ways. Usually it's just the dynamics of the team and individuals, how together the group is. It was an unfortunate situation what happened with Deverell, but at the same time, it was a decision I thought was necessary, and the guys have really rallied around each other. We've been fortunate. We've come out and we've played really good basketball."

 

First, I didn't realize other league coaches would notice or be aware of internal discipline on our team much less draw the connection that many of us have about the difference between how the team played with him versus how the team has played without him.

 

Second, can you believe Miles is still trying to take credit for the decision to dismiss Biggs?  It's like he doesn't want Shawn Eichorst to get any credit for how the team has improved its play over the last month.  

[Donkey]

Watch enough game film on a team and you start seeing the nuances which make a team good or hold it back.  Izzo probably noted a difference when Biggs was on the floor.

[throwback]

There's no question NU's defensive rotations are significantly better with Parker & Rivers on the floor for more minutes, and I'm sure opposing coaches see that on film study.

 

Biggs would take a lot of chances on defense, and he'd sometimes come up with steals like he did vs OSU and late vs Iowa. But more often he'd miss, leaving his teammates having to help and leaving NU vulnerable. And his defense against ball screens was really bad, night and day difference vs Parker.

 

I'm sure part of it also is a team just finally finding its stride defensively, becoming more mature. When all 5 guys on the floor are buying in on the defensive end though, it makes that progression and maturity happen quicker I believe.

[Mr. Red]

Although I agree with the possibility of Biggs's departure affecting the cohesiveness of the team, I think that with a young team like we have we would continue to gel and play together better later in the season like this regardless of wether Biggs was still here or not

[uneblinstu]

Although I agree with the possibility of Biggs's departure affecting the cohesiveness of the team, I think that with a young team like we have we would continue to gel and play together better later in the season like this regardless of wether Biggs was still here or not

Maybe. Depends on what his influence was on the locker room. If he was a negative influence, it could just have easily worked the other way. We'll likely never know for sure and of course the goal is always to get better, but I don't know that we'd be in this spot with Biggs still on the roster. I don't think it's a coincidence this team has played its best ball starting almost immediately after Biggs left.

[hskr4life]

I think Biggs may have had a more negative impact than people think or want to let on. Just a hunch, but something sounded funky after hearing the players wanted him gone after the Cincy game and the coaches kept him. You don't just throw a teammate under the bus unless you have serious problems.

[jimmykc]

I think Izzo is just making a logical assumption and not that he has any inside info on the Biggs situation. After all, not many coaches dismiss "good apples" from their teams.

[colhusker]

Cue the OSmonds!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjfT1D1lg-E

[royalfan]

Although I agree with the possibility of Biggs's departure affecting the cohesiveness of the team, I think that with a young team like we have we would continue to gel and play together better later in the season like this regardless of wether Biggs was still here or not

I think you are correct.  And if Biggs were still here and we are better without him Miles would have figured it out IMO.  But it doesn't really matter anymore.  We are playing good basketball without him and we have another scholarship.  He was not a difference maker and did make some losing plays at key moments. 

[hhcmatt]

I think Izzo is just making a logical assumption and not that he has any inside info on the Biggs situation. After all, not many coaches dismiss "good apples" from their teams.

 

Yup, i doubt Izzo had the time to watch game film of a player no longer on the team.  Sounds logical to me.

It might be addition by subtraction.  It might be the team was going to play better regardless.

[Norm Peterson]

Cue the OSmonds!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjfT1D1lg-E

Or not, and just say we did.  (Although Marie was pretty hubba hubba back in the day.)

[Donkey]

 

I think Izzo is just making a logical assumption and not that he has any inside info on the Biggs situation. After all, not many coaches dismiss "good apples" from their teams.

 

Yup, i doubt Izzo had the time to watch game film of a player no longer on the team.  Sounds logical to me.

It might be addition by subtraction.  It might be the team was going to play better regardless.

 

 

He may not have watched film just to watch Biggs, but I can guarantee Izzo and his staff watched Nebraska game film before and after Biggs left the team.  Any coach who doesn't watch game film is not prepared for the match up.

[extremehoops]

I think if the players disagree with a coach getting rid of a player as being unfair to the dismissed player you would of heard something from at least one of the 15 players. Nobody said anything that Biggs deserved to stay on as part of the team.