Locked On Spartans - Daily Podcast On Michigan State Spartans Football & Basketball · Locked On Podcast Network, Matt Sheehan

WARNING SIGNS: MSU basketball MUST keep NDSU from shooting hot; Coen Carr the X-FACTOR for Spartans?

·34 min·2 clips

North Dakota State takes 26 threes per game and has five shooters above 37% from deep.

1. Locked On Spartans focuses on Michigan State's March Madness game against North Dakota State and the matchup questions around the Bison's shooting and rebounding. 2. Matt Sheehan hosts the episode, and Mike McFeely of The Forum in Fargo joins to explain North Dakota State because he has covered NDSU sports for 30 years. 3. The episode asks whether Michigan State's size, rebounding, and star power are enough to handle a 14-seed that can make threes and stay organized defensively. 4. Sheehan says North Dakota State shoots 26 threes per game and has five players making at least 37% of their attempts from deep. 5. He also says Damari Wheeler-Thomas averages 14 points per game and has scored above that average in seven of his last eight games. 6. Sheehan highlights NDSU's rebounding numbers, including top-20 defensive rebounding percentage and top-10 offensive rebounding for second-chance chances. 7. He contrasts that with Michigan State's top-five rebounding profile on both offense and defense in the Big Ten. 8. Sheehan says Jeremy Fiers has shot 43% from three over his last eight games since the Minnesota loss. 9. He also argues that Coen Carr fits the game because North Dakota State is not a highly physical tempo team and can be exposed in transition. 10. McFeely says Dave Richman has shifted NDSU toward more aggressive man-to-man defense, half-court trapping, and blitzing. 11. He says Richman's older approach was to sit back, protect the rim, and force mid-range shots, but this season has brought more steals and pressure. 12. McFeely describes North Dakota State as a 27-win team with a school-record season and a roster built on veterans plus transfers. 13. He says the Bison go eight players deep and can be led by different scorers such as Taye Smith, Andy Stefanowicz, or Mark High Strickland. 14. McFeely identifies Damari Wheeler-Thomas as the one player who can create his own shot and attack off the dribble. 15. He says Wheeler-Thomas was limited by health and leg injuries in earlier seasons, but he is healthy now and produced key baskets in the Summit League title game. 16. McFeely also points to Taye Smith as an X-factor who can hit five or six threes in a row and change the game flow. 17. The conversation is detailed and tactical, with Sheehan and McFeely moving between betting lines, rotations, and rebounding scenarios. 18. The tone stays conversational and Midwest-specific, with references to Fargo, the Big Ten, and past NCAA Tournament games against Oklahoma, Gonzaga, Duke, and Kansas. 19. Fans of Michigan State tournament prep and opponent scouting will get the most from it. 20. Casual listeners looking for a short recap without matchup detail may skip it.

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