If you haven't seen the latest edition of Luke Winn's usually outstanding power rankings, check it out. It's good stuff except for one little problem that I see. Michigan State did not crack the top 16 but that's not the problem. I mean these pre pre pre season rankings don't mean anything right. There's no way he can be right or wrong in May. I actually like it when the "experts" underrate and disrespect the Spartans.

The problem is Winn's reason for keeping MSU outside of the top 16. Look at what he wrote about MSU in Memphis' space: "While Draymond Green will be the most-missed player in the country next season -- I don't have Michigan State in the top 16 because I think his do-everything game and leadership skills will be so hard to replace that it'll create a UConn post-Kemba Walker type of situation..." Now had he also mentioned the losses of Thornton and Wood too, I might be inclined to agree with the drop. And by the way, how could Winn not mention Brandon Wood? I mean, don't you know who he is!

But Winn only referred to the loss of Green so let's keep the focus there. For reference, you can see where he had those post Kemba UCONN Huskies ranked a year ago. That actually makes the MSU ranking even less credible but still. If the loss of Green will make MSU mediocre then certainly OSU is in for a fall right? I mean Sullinger had comparable usage and a higher offensive rating. Not to mention the senior leader, Buford, being gone too. No, they're ranked 7th? Interesting. Well how about Kentucky? I mean they lost the, nearly consensus, player of the year. The surefire #1 pick and most dominant player in college basketball. Not to mention their, um, whole starting 5 plus senior leader Darius Miller. They have to fall out of the top 16 right. No, they're ranked 4th? What? How can that be?

Look, I understand that Kentucky's freshmen are presumed to be otherworldly if for no other reason than they're going to Kentucky but to only move down a couple spots? MSU returns a lot more production, even though the loss of Green will hurt, and gets hammered down to 18? Does that seem right? I know the recruiting class isn't top 2 like Kentucky's but isn't it possible one or two of the incoming players can actually play? Is the assumption that MSU's returning players will suddenly forget how to dribble while the returnees at OSU will have no problems stepping up? If so, why? Did Tom Izzo forget how to coach? Why do other schools get the benefit of the doubt and Michigan State doesn't?

Again, this is all just fodder for conversation. It's not like MSU is being totally disregarded. I know other media outlets have them ranked very high going into next season. It's all meaningless. I just found Luke Winn's reasoning for downgrading MSU a little zany based on where he has other teams with similar changes ranked.

Not a good weekend for present and former Spartan ballers[J-Rich notwithstanding]. Brandon Wood goes and gets himself arrested and Adreian Payne shows up on a not so top 10 list.

While AP did nothing wrong or creepy, unlike Wood(allegedly), the list brings to mind what hasn't quite gone right. AP should be getting ready for an NBA career not appearing on lists with other underachievers. I'm thinking Coach Izzo thought the same thing when he secured AP's commitment. Already flush with bigs and hot after Matt Costello as a future prodigy, the thinking had to be that the athletic big man with a jumpa wouldn't be around long. In fact 18 of the top 35 RSCI prospects in 2010, where AP came in at #27, are currently in the NBA or expected to be picked in June.

My hope is that AP joins them sooner rather than later or not at all. My hope is that AP has an even greater sophomore to junior season leap than did Derrick Nix. Should be possible as long as he avoids more accidents. Then hopefully AP finds himself on some more desirable top 10 lists. As in 1st or 2nd team All B1G followed by 10 best big men in the 2013 NBA draft.

I caught a glimpse of Cliff Alexander yesterday as his Chicago Curie team was in Champaign for the annual Shootout at the Hall. The event is normally held on the campus of Univ of Illinois in that mushroom/space ship known as Assembly Hall but this year the NCAA forced them to move the event off campus to the local JUCO for some reason. Cliff has a nice game for a sophomore. Nice mid range J, active feet, runs the floor well. They actually use him on the full court press guarding the inbound passer and he was very active in forcing some turnovers in the backcourt. I didn't see him post up much so that's probably still a developmental area of his game and like most young big guys he needs to improve his free throw shooting. Very big kid with solid frame, not wiry. Probably still growing based on his age and the fact that his feet seem disproportionately big for his body. Bruce Weber and his ace recruiting assistant Jerrance Howard were in the house. In the 2nd half some of the Illini players showed up to watch as well. I know Cliff recently cited MSU as the leader right now but as with any Chicago prospect I have to believe Illinois will end up with a good chance. Cliff was disappointed that he didn't get to play in Assembly Hall but there's talk that the event can be moved back on campus next year and he'll likely get another chance. That's a major recruiting tool. At least 4 or 5 of the current Illini played in the event on campus while in high school.