Game Day: Marygrove
Not much to say about today's game except that it could be like Siena Heights, but I wouldn't expect such a defensive first half.
I see the game mostly in terms of PT and experience for the younger players, e.g., Nobles, Stone, EA, etc.
Despite the negativity here for playing non-D-I opponents there is something to be gained.
Digressing for a moment, marathon runners do not train the same every running day of every week. Some runs might be 14 - 17 miles but not too fast. Others might be 6 or 7 miles at a quicker pace, but not race pace. Another might be a 10K race. Or a 10 mile race.
Each run is designed for some specific purpose, e.g., distance, speed, recovery (e.g., a slow 5 miles a few days after a marathon), etc. Runners might map out their running for say a 2-week period, taking into account any races, work, weekends, etc. All carefully planned.
Similar I think coaches want to get something DIFFERENT out of each game.
MSU is a game for the team to be challenged esp. a team which has excellent 3-ball shooters and tough post players.
A 3-game, 3-day tourney is designed to replicate a conference tourney.
A non-D-I game is good for the kids and the bench, some rest for the starters, etc.
The game(s) around Christmas/New Years are to work games into the holiday season and keep them sharp for the start of the conference season.
So the MSU game was the grueling race in my analogy and Marygrove is the 'recovery workout.' We would not want back-to-back BIG games, for example.
(This post was last modified: 11-25-2015 07:05 AM by emu steve.)
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