25 Points for Number 25

I think Nix knew I was in the Alumni Izzone section on Saturday. He played as if he wanted to personally stick it to me for all of my doubts and disgruntle remarks I’ve made towards him these past four years. Izzo stated he has a “love-hate relationship” with Nix, “I love to hate him sometimes.” Once again, mine and Izzo’s great minds think alike. But on Saturday against Texas, I loved to love Nix. In fact, I loved EVERYTHING about Nix. I loved his 11 rebounds and 4 steals, I loved his free throws, I loved how his technical benefitted the team, and most of all I loved his 25 points. Did I mention his season high prior to this game was 11 points!? I’m not the only one jumping to join the Nix fan club. The Izzone was crazy for Nix, Izzo referred to him as a hero, and he was named Big Ten Player of the Week. 

The Nix we saw against Texas was a new man. He vowed to play with more emotion, more vocal expression, and more aggression. Nix did so and raised the ante to add more leadership, more confidence, and more basketball smarts. Nix saw that Texas was not doubling up on him (really Texas, what were you thinking!?) and he personally made them pay big time for their mistake. During this Christmas season, Nix made me and MSU fans everywhere believe in miracles. Maybe, just maybe, our big men can be the key to the team’s success like Izzo has been hinting at all year. Nix, with the assistance of Adreian Payne, sure made teammate Branden Dawson a believer.

“It is kind of an unstoppable beast when you got both of your big guys kind of dialed in,” Dawson said. “A lot of people said that Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne couldn’t play on the floor together and they showed it tonight. Adreian Payne, he can pop and hit a 15 footer. Derrick Nix is just a monster and a beast down low.” 

Nix talks often of owing the MSU basketball and Izzo and wanting to give back. Well Nix, wrap your performance Saturday up, stick a bow on it and present it to Izzo. 

I salute you Derrick Nix.

Go State!

Next up- # 19 MSU takes on #11 Minnesota for their Big Ten opener on Monday 12/31 at 2:00 on ESPN2

All I Want For Christmas Is Jabari Parker

The world may be coming to an end on December 21st, but Thursday, December 20th is that day that Duke and Michigan State fans are anxiously waiting for. 4pm Thursday to be exact. That's when ESPN's #2 recruit Jabari Parker will be announcing where he'll be playing come the 2013-2014 school year. Experts are split on where Parker will ultimately choose to play, and there's still a chance he'll throw a curve ball and choose BYU, Florida, or Stanford. Parker would be Izzo's best recruit since Shannon Brown and was called the best high school basketball player since LeBron James by Sports Illustrated. So why should he choose MSU....besides the fact that I (and I'm sure Izzo) put him on the top of my Christmas list for Santa? Read the below article to learn why.

Why Jabari Parker Should Choose MSU

Around the Big Ten

There's a first time for everything, as the saying goes, and yesterday was a first for me, and my two friends: RSMSUBball and PaleYellow.  We headed to the new Barclay's Center in Brooklyn proudly wearing Spartan t-shirts to watch a UofM game live against an opponent that wasn't Michigan State.  I felt out of place in a sea of maize and blue (their opponent, West Virginia, has similar school colors).  Our loyalties had to be clear as we entered the potential hostile environment.  Who did we root for, you may wonder.  I won't directly answer that question but I will say that my comrades and I rarely, if ever, cheered or clapped our hands, but we did take some notes.

Who is this Michigan team ranked third in the country and potentially first in the nation after Butler's overtime thrilling win over Indiana yesterday?  Are they really that good and do the Spartans have a chance to earn a W over them this season?  The answer is yes and yes.

After reading some on the Wolverine's team, I came in expecting stellar offense and not-so-great defense.  Those expectations were met.  Michigan's backcourt duo, Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr., led an impressive offensive effort with Burke's season-high 27 points and Hardaway's 25 points.  Whatever those two wanted, they got.  So, what does Michigan State need to watch out for?

First, they must watch and cover the three.  Burke, Hardaway, and freshmen Stauskas, can all shoot the three.  Hardaway made four of eight threes last night and Stauskas has been making 63.6 percent of his threes throughout the season, according to Luke Winn as of December 5th.

Appling and Burke have similar styles so that match up should be a fun one to watch.  Both can shoot and both love to penetrate the paint for an easy lay up or pull-up jump shot.  Appling is a great defender so I'm hoping he can contain Burke to a season-low rather than a season-high.

Michigan's defense is not as great as their offense and our Bigs in Payne and Nix can take on Jordan Morgan any day.  We must play in the paint and not rely on perimeter shooting as our only source of offense.  The Wolverines also appeared sluggish, at times, getting back on defense.  MSU loves to run the ball.  We must grab 'n go.  Get the rebound and run the ball.  Appling, Trice, Valentine, Harris, and Dawson, all have quick hands and make quick baskets.  Michigan is a team we just might find some success with our fast offense(provided they don't fix this issue anytime soon).

But no matter what, with the emotion that goes into an arch-rival game, MSU is looking at a brutal battle with their in-state opponent.  Basketball basics will be key: rebounding, defense, and making shots.  MSU will not win with 20 turnovers and if they don't defend the three, forget about bragging rights.

Good/bad news?  Both teams have almost two months to prepare: first match is February 12, 2013.  My vote is the Spartans!  How about you?

Respect the Game

                                           mlive.com

The Spartans held Arkansas-Pine Bluff scoreless for almost the first 10 minutes of the game, claimed 27 rebounds by half , and victoriously defeated their opponent 76-44. And Izzo was furious. Furious with moments of soft defense, poor confidence and shooting, and (once again) way too many unforced turnovers. With 8:29 left in the game and a win secure, Izzo called a time out to inform his players of his displeasure-  Izzo style. His mood did not change with the conclusion of the game, stating, “If we play as sloppy as we did, we’re going to get punched in the mouth.” Ouch. That very response, though, is why I love Izzo. It’s why players desire to play for him (though they may not have felt that way at practice on Thursday). It’s why his players always improve tremendously throughout the season, why we as fans don’t fret about a rocky start in the fall, and why come March, the Spartans are inevitably a force to be reckoned with. Izzo screams, paces, scowls, and passionately demands the best out of each player because he cares how you play every moment and every play of the game. To use his own words, Izzo respects the game. The ENTIRE game.

Out of respect for Izzo and the team, let’s not overlook both the team’s victory and that of its individual players. The Spartans were an intense swarm of....well Spartan warriors.... on defense, their defensive pressure keeping APB to the low score of 12 points at half (7 of which points came in the last 2:20 minutes of the first half). The Spartan’s took back some of their “Christmas giving spirit” by stealing from APB all over the court (Kearney with 4 steals, Harris with 3, Appling and Payne with 2, and Dawson, Trice and Valentine each with 1). They pulled down a total of 42 rebounds to APB’s 27, and Appling, Dawson, Nix, and Costello all contributed blocks to the already (mostly) aggressive defense. They respected the game by playing like Spartans- fiercely playing the defensive end of the court and the board. 

What shone through to me, though, was the passion and skill that DID shine through specific players amidst a team that became, in their own words, a bit too relaxed at the end. Appling began using his voice more to call out players for unforced turnovers (Thank you Appling! Lets let Izzo conserve his own hoarse voice and stop repeating himself!). Payne sprang to the boards with a vengeance for a grand total of 8 rebounds, with Dawson right behind him with 7. Guana became a big man off the bench with 6 points, 3 assists (!!!), and 2 rebounds within 8 minutes. Valentine, to quote my excited blogging partner, looked like a kid in a candy store with his passion for the game as he accumulated 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists (the team and Valentine will continue to mesh and his numbers of assists will grow. Mark my words!). But when I look for a player to exemplify respect for the WHOLE game, each play, each moment, Trice stands out. Injury upon recovering from illness, and he continues to play with confidence from behind the mask. Trice respects the game and all of its players, acknowledging his strengths and that of his teammates in order to make the necessary plays. 12 points, and 4 for 7 from behind the three (for our current Spartan team, that is huuuuuge). But my favorite Trice stat- 5 assists. Second leading scorer of the game. Top in assists. 

“Coach wasn’t happy at all,” Trice said, “We weren’t either. We were disappointed in ourselves. That’s not the way we play. You can’t relax like that. We’ve got bigger thing to play for.”

Thank you Trice for respecting the game. For admitting the faults of the team, while maintaining the appropriate respect for the Spartan basketball team. Soft is NOT the way we Spartans play. And, as a true Izzo prodigy, Trice knows that EVERY game and EVERY moment is a valuable wind on the road to the Final Four. 

Next Game- Saturday December 8th at 2pm at the Breslin against Loyola Chicago

Go State!

Spartan's Overpower AR-Pine Bluff msuspartans.com

A rotation that worked

Something clicked yesterday.  The team we saw on the floor was a different team we saw from the previous game against Miami.  What changed? We can state the obvious home court advantage, Nicholls State playing without their top three players, etc. And while all those reasons are true, the Spartans also found a rotation that worked.

For starters, Payne became a sixth man rather than starting with Nix.  But the real butter on the toast was Dawson positioned as the power forward, a position he does not normally play.  The man did a phenomenal job as the four and not only was 4-5 for his own field goals, but also helped create baskets from other players as well.  At one point, his quick hands anticipated a pass from Nicholls State, stole the ball, and dribbled it down the court for one of his famous one-handed dunks.  I watched a special on the Big Ten Network, later in the evening, about the Top Ten Dunkers in the Big Ten.  With greats like Greg Kelser, Shannon Brown, and Jason Richardson, all making the Top Ten, I thought to myself, "Give Dawson time, and he will be on that list some day."  His athleticism was by far a highlight and enabled his team to play with great speed and confidence.

Then there were our Bigs.  Payne got a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.  The man wanted the ball.  This was a stark contrast to the game against Miami where our Bigs played like they were Goliath who had just been hit with a stone.  Payne and Nix wanted the ball and attacked the basket.  In fact, every Spartan who played yesterday was in attack mode.  That's right, they battled against the Trojans.  Harris and Valentine made clear that their freshmen success was not pure luck, but was here to stay.  Valentine connected with Nix for a simple alley-oop dunk.  Valentine did a no-look pass to Harris for another quick play in the paint.  Those kind of plays come from knowing your teammates well.  If they're coming from the hands of freshmen, expect more of this.

Some might argue that you can't take too much stock in yesterday's performance as it was based on a short-handed Nicholls State team.  True.  But games like this are important to remind teams of what they're made of, what they can do, and perhaps, try out a rotation that from what we saw, seems to work.  For Michigan State, that win was not only necessary for our actual record, but also for our morale as well.

And last, but certainly not least, our team likes each other.  They celebrate each other's successes whether on the court and from the bench.  Smiles were all around the Breslin.  And from my couch, the smile was pretty big as well.

Next up: Arkansas-Pine Bluff on December 5th.

Finding a rhythm

After a few close wins at home, I must confess that I wasn't feeling too great about the potential outcome of yesterday's game against Miami.  Between our turnovers and the appearance of fatigue, it seemed like a trip to Miami would not be a restful stop for our guys.

When game time arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find both Harris and Trice back in the line ups.  They would provide much needed rest for Appling as well as more offensive options.  While Harris and Trice both did their part (12 points and 9 points, respectfully), our big men, Payne and Nix, were near absent.  Their confidence seemed shaken and their presence in the paint would hardly scare a fly.

Though the Spartans cut down on their turnovers (only 12, compared to 20 in the last two games) and grabbed 16 offensive rebounds (that's second chance shots, people!) the loss is plain and simple: if you don't score, you don't win.  You can't go over five minutes without scoring when you are already down and expect to win.   But see, this is where you should turn to your Bigs, feed them in the paint, and create offense.  Instead, we ran the "Dribble-Pass" play, whose name speaks for itself.  And to be fair, our guards did feed Nix and Payne the ball but not much happened when they did.  Both only attempted five field goals the entire game.  

What's the point?  Our guys are lacking familiarity and routine with each other, which leads to a steady rhythm.  Part of why Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio State, are already so good is because they have a team that is not only solid but set as well.  Cody Zellar, Aaron Craft, and Tim Hardaway Jr. are playing with teams who aren't still figuring out whose in the starting line up.  In Izzo's words, "

"That was a hard game to coach. I didn't know how to approach it, and I probably didn't do a great job. It's going to get better once we get our rotation down. I still like where I think we've got a chance to go, but I sure don't like it right now."
 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/men/gameflash/2012/11/28/80081_recap.html?sct=cb_t2_a5#ixzz2DfhiMa7h

Our team has one of our most talented freshmen classes that we've seen in awhile and it will take time for Izzo and the team to figure out just how everyone will be played. The good news is that it will come eventually and as Izzo said, our team's potential is high, but last night was a low.

Watch MSU bounce back against Nicholls State on Saturday, December 1st!

Ah Izzo!

Top Izzo Quote Of The Week:


"I think our guys, they're going to be hell of citizens when they get done with basketball because they are guys that, the Christmas season must last all year," Izzo said. "They're not (merely) turning the ball over. They're giving gifts away.
"A turnover is when a team makes a play and intercepts it. A gift is when you give somebody something. You just give it to them. We're giving things to them right now."

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2012/11/tom_izzo_michigan_state_giving.html

The Apple of Izzo's Eye

I’m making everyone, sports announcers and Izzo included, ‘I Heart Appling’ T-Shirts. Because right now, who doesn’t love Appling? Izzo loves him (“I’m not an easy guy to please, but I’m really proud of him. And he’s doing it in an exciting way.”) Reporters love him (just google Michigan State Basketball and you’ll notice that every headline includes the name Keith Appling). Even the opposing teams’ coaches love him (“Keith Appling was terrific tonight,” Kansas coach Bill Self said). The Appling love, however, stems from more than just his stats and clutch plays. It’s because Appling became a hero by doing it the ‘right way’. He listened to his coaches, worked hard, dedicated himself to both ends of the court, and became ‘a man’ (Izzo’s words, not my own!). In other words, Appling is an ideal player for Izzo. In addition, he’s humble, a joy to watch play, and TOUGH (just ask Izzo!). 

“The one thing I don’t worry about is that’s one tought hombre”, Izzo said of Appling. “I would’ve told him the same thing I told Cleaves: ‘Have a sprained ankle, just do it after the game. I don’t have time for it right now.’ I love that about Appling. He’s tougher than nails.”

With Trice and Harris out (update: Trice will hopefully be returning this Wednesday and Harris will not need surgery and could return Wednesday or soon after!!!!), Appling has had to greatly step up his minutes. While the man must be exhuasted, he has been playing like a little Detroit raised Energizer Bunny. And Izzo and I couldn’t be prouder!

It's Appling's time to shine. Go State!

Next up: MSU takes on Miami (FL) in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge at 7:30 pm Wednesday, November 23

Mike Carter/U.S. PRESSWIRE

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2012/11/michigan_states_keith_appling_19.html

Not individual stars but a team

As I was sitting on the train heading to my brother's for Thanksgiving, I ran across the following article

Some Things Don't Change by Howard Byrant.  This is one of the best articles on Tom Izzo and his career as Head Coach of MSU men's basketball.  Don't take my word for it...READ IT!  Bryant quotes,

"Izzo has won consistently without the Kentucky-Duke formula of top-two or -three recruiting classes or obvious next-level talent...Yet there are the Spartans, somewhere in the top 15 or 20 annually to start the year, growing stronger as the year goes on, winding up in the top five or a 1-seed."

What's Bryant's point?  Izzo recruits talented players, no doubt, but his aim isn't to find NBA-ready players to secure his spot in the Final Four.  He instills in his players somewhat old-school values: toughness, team-work, and appropriate selflessness.  Those boys work hard.  Period.  These aspects have been discussed in earlier posts so I won't elaborate too much, but it was this exact formula that brought the Spartans another W last night against Oakland.  

Honestly, it wasn't a pretty win.  The game should have been a blow out but due to an obscene amount of turnovers, Oakland was always in reach, until the end.  With Harris and Trice still out, Appling played another brilliant game.  In 38 minutes, he led the team in scoring with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and only one turnover.  Hats off to Appling.  But lets face it, in order for MSU to really make a deep run this year, we need more than just Appling playing well each game.

ENTER Payne and Valentine.  Both players played with great poise and patience.  Payne not only scored at the rim but made some impressive jump shots as well, making him more than just a threat in the paint. Valentine, with the excitement of playing against older brother, Drew, in front of a home crowd, played like he owned the Breslin.  The young freshman put up a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) and appeared all over the court.  His youthful energy lifted the Spartans near the end when they really needed to pull away from Oakland and claim the game as theirs.

The Spartans continual challenge will be to limit the number of turnovers.  At one point, the announcer shared that we had made 20 baskets and also committed 20 turnovers.  Those have got to go.  I trust Izzo is working on that with his boys.  Making wise decisions under pressure is called maturity and with a young, inexperienced team, mistakes are bound to happen, and at a relative high rate.  The rate will start to drop as the season progresses.

Question is: Who will step up next game?

Next up: Louisiana-Lafayette.  GO STATE!

During Action

This post is coming during the action rather than after.  The following excerpt may be a mixed bag of many thoughts rather than one cohesive point.  My apologies.  This game is up and down and filled with some thrilling plays (thank you Dawson!) and annoying frustrations (elbows above the shoulder, for example).

To start, having Harris out for the game has clearly thrown off our rhythm, the little rhythm we had begun to feel this season.  For a freshman player to already have such a deep impact on a team says a lot about this young player.

There's more: WHERE IS OUR DEFENSE?!? The Broncos have had FAR too many open looks.  I'm not just talking about our defense not putting a hand up, I'm talking about Bronco players being completely alone.  You would think our guys ate Thanksgiving dinner before the game!  Add to that their second-chance shots from offensive rebounding, and its no wonder that this is actually a "good game" rather than a blow out.  We have seen great defensive stops from Dawson and Appling, who are golden when it comes to anticipating the opposing offense.  They read, get their hands in, and go for the steal.  Thank you.

Free throws?  Let's make 'em.

Valentine.  I can't wait to see what the Izzone puts on posters for this guy with a last name like that.  But besides his last name, that boy's got talent.  Sure. Sure.  He could be more consistent.  But he's a freshman and similar to Harris, I'm excited to see what he brings as the season progresses.  He had some key plays down the stretch.

Payne.  I love it when you fire up and use your frame.  And when you bank a shot in from the free throw line.  It makes you more than a post player.

Dawson.  That one-handed swoop dunk best make the highlight reel on Sports Illustrated tonight.  That boy has flash like Jason Richardson.  Its been awhile.

I'm starting to calm down a bit.  Game is almost over.  Appling does what he does best: finish.

Ahhhh former Spartans:)

Too good to not post! Take a minute to join in the laughter! Includes Draymond Green's FIRST NBA basket...and technical foul.

Draymond Green and Zach Randolph

I Am Thankful For a Strong Guard Duo!

I spent the MSU-Texas Southern game on an airplane and.....the horror....Frontier Airlines did not show the game!! To land with the score alert of a 69-41 win popping up on my phone helped me kick off the Thanksgiving holiday with a fist pump. Seeing today that we are now ranked 15 was icing on the cake. And with Indiana, OSU, and UofM all ranked in the top 5, my anticipation for the Big Ten is rising to new levels. 

Now, after studying multiple resources to increase my understanding of the previous game that I so tragically missed.....let’s break it down and attempt to preview the upcoming MSU-Boise State game. I’d like to make the bold (or maybe not so bold anymore) prediction that we will be known this year for our strong guard duo of Appling and Harris. Harris continues to play like a confident veteran, leading the team againt Texas Southern with 19 points. He averages 16 points per game so far this season, making him only 1 of 3 players in MSU history to score double figures in his first three games. Appling came into this season with high expectations and a need to step it up for a team missing an irreplaceable player....yes, a moment of silence for Draymond Green. And step up he did. Appling averages 13.3 points per game and is top for assists at 3.7 per game. But more importantly, Appling’s dedication during the off season has paid off and he went from being 25% behind the 3 point line to 56%. That is a stat that has to make even Izzo smile (and not in the scary run for your life at halftime type way). That is Spartan dedication and strength. 

This Tuesday we face Boise State. MSU does well against Boise State this year so I’m feeling confident! We are amidst a 4 home game streak. Our freshmen continue to show increasingly confidence, Appling is showing himself to be an experienced point guard, and Costello should be playing for more minutes. So yes, as I said, I feel confident. Boise State is said to also have a strong guard duo (remember the names Derrick Marks and Anthony Drmic for Tuesday’s game). I expect MSU’s to be better. In fact, I expect Harris and Appling to surpass expectations. Could be slightly bias:) In addition, whatever magic Marks and/or Drmic can work on the court, it will fizzle out when confronted with the likes of Dawson. That man is...JUST....THAT....GOOD! Do I even need to voice who I predict will come out victorious? 

As you sit down to watch the MSU-Boise State game (Tuesday at 8pm on the BTN), I present to you some questions to ponder:

When will we see Trice back and healthy? How will his combined summer illness and concussion impact his game this season?

Who will Izzo settle on for the starting lineup? Will it include Nix? 

How many Big Ten teams can we get into the top 25 this season? Top 10? Top 5? 

And....what do you think about Maryland and Rutgers joining the Big Ten!!!???

Resources of study include isportweb.com, espn.go.com

The Difference

Yesterday's thrilling win against Kansas, a 67-64 victory, gave a glimpse into the grit, passion, and sheer talent of the Michigan State Spartans basketball team.  How did the Spartans go from a disappointing 62-66 loss on Friday against unranked UConn to a win against talented, #7 ranked Kansas?  Its a fair question.  It certainly wasn't due to the Spartans solving their turnover problems-they committed two more errors against Kansas than against UConn.  Did Keith Appling light up the basket more than the game before?  Nope.  He had 19 points last night versus 17 points on Friday.  Appling does deserve special attention though after playing a solid game without his back up point guard, Trice, to give him needed rest.  Appling played with great energy, passion, and smarts.

And as Appling was, so was the rest of the team.  The team displayed considerable poise, confidence, and toughness for most of two full halves while these traits only showed up in the second against UConn.  Gary Harris looked more like a seasoned sophomore than a frightened first year and simple things like making layups and freethrows were more the norm than the exception.

But what really helped on Tuesday night was, to state the obvious, that the Spartans did not allow themselves to get in the hole 16 points before they woke up and decided to play.  The largest deficit against Kansas was seven points.  Rather than letting offense happen, they created offense.  Plays were made, rebounds grabbed, and loose balls chased after.  I'm not calling it a pretty game.  Spartans still committed 17 turnovers and our big men could score more, but for the second game of the season, I like what I see.    And if Izzo matures this team they way he matures every team under his tutelage, these Spartans will be more than a force to be reckoned with come March.

The Few (5 at at a time to be exact), The Proud, The Spartans!

Prior to the game on Friday, Izzo commented via radio that games like this (referring to playing before the military) help us to remember that sports/basketball is not life or death. Thank goodness! Those were words to recall for comfort during the first half of the Spartans opening game.  More assurance comes from remembering last year’s first two games (I know, I too tried to block some games from my memory), played by unranked Michigan State. The same team that later cut down the nets at the Big Ten Championship Tournament, claiming a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Like it or not, we save our time to shine for later in the season. So no, I’m not worried.

Speaking of shining, there were some shiny diamonds in the rough throughout the game, so here we are to put on our loyal Sparty smile and recall those moments and players. Hero of the game goes to Dawson. Dawson is healthy, he’s back with passionate energy and I expect him to just continue to get better as the season moves forward. As for the teamwork and leadership discussed in my previous blog.....I saw a lot of passing.....I also saw a lot of passing by us to UConn.....mmhmm, back to the loyal Sparty smile. :) We came back from behind by 16 points, Appling played long and hard, and Harris exhibited great confidence as a Freshman playing in a high profile first true game of the season. 

The game played Friday at Ramstein Air Base may not have been a life or death situation, but it was more than just a game. It honored our service men and women, it honored our veterans of past and present, it honored college basketball, and it honored Michigan State University. I was proud before AND after to be a Spartan. Proud to be an alumni of the university that played in BOTH the FIRST college basketball game played on an aircraft carrier (2011) and on a military base overseas. Win or lose, no matter what comes in the future (and I hope more games like Friday’s are to come), Michigan State made history. There will be no other “first games” of this kind. We were it. 

Mark Hollis and Tom Izzo have creatively and graciously paved the way for college basketball to be about more than just a game. What an honor to be able to be proud of an athletic program not solely due to it’s winning record (though what a record it is!!), but its integrity, patriotism, and drive to have its team play for more than just the points on the scoreboard. Pause and think about that for a minute. Got a Sparty smile on your face yet? Be proud to represent Michigan State University. Its basketball program has certainly represented it well. 

Go State, and Happy Veterans Day!

Some Mark Hollis Facts:

2001- Helped mastermind the MSU vs UofM outdoor hockey game at Spartan Stadium

2003- Architected the “BasketBowl”, MSU vs Kentucky at Detroit’s Ford Field (this concept of placing the court in a football stadium has been used in the last four Final Four games. 

2011- His vision led to MSU playing in the first basketball game played on an aircraft carrier

2012- Named Athletic Director of the Year by Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal

Pure Michigan State Awesomeness Mark Hollis!

It's the classic sports plot: take a group of young, selfish players, who all think they're something and mix it with an inspiring, hard-nosed coach and voile! A true team forms.  Suddenly they go from disappointing losses to beating out their snobby, mean-spirited competition.  And somewhere in these made-for-hollywood teams, you have the quiet hero who doesn't get all the attention but somehow manages to make big plays when big plays are needed (usually right as the time is about to expire) and is willing to get less glory if it will help his team win.

Though Tom Izzo's squads may not be cut out for the Big Screen (though I'd be the first one in line to see "The Flint-Stones"), they almost fit the mold.  Join scrappy, cocky talent like Appling and Dawson with Izzo's high expectations and scary "smiles" to form a team ready to conquer the likes of University of Michigan, Kentucky, and Duke.  I'm picturing the trailer as we speak.  But one component is missing: whose the quiet hero of the team?  My pick? Travis Trice.

The six foot sophomore guard out of Ohio is spunky, quick, and sometimes, a step ahead of his team.  As a typical freshman, though mistakes were present for the young player, he also came in with fresh energy and impressive moves.  His no-look-behind-the-back passes not only caught his audience off guard but usually his team as well.  They weren't ready for him.  While Trice, in those moments, could have attempted to make a play for himself, he often chose his teammate instead.  Though his plan didn't always follow through, expect to see more of this action this season.  As Trice continues to develop telepathy with his teammates, his "trick" plays will be all the more impressive and enjoyable to watch.

Let me just present a possible scenario of what to expect from Trice this season: the Breslin is getting anxious and quiet as MSU is in need of a basket.  Someone needs to make a big play quick.  Appling dribbles the ball down the court and passes it off to Trice, who drives it in, almost making you believe he is about to attempt a layup against his 6'10" opponent.  At that moment, you realize your tortilla chip is in desperate need of salsa (assuming you're watching the game from home like most of us have to).  You glance away, dip your chip, and look back in time to see the ball being dunked single-handedly by...ADREIAN PAYNE?!?  Huh? Didn't Trice just have the ball? In watching the replay, you realize that at the moment of chip-dipping, Trice did one of his behind-the-back passes to Payne, who was waiting for him at the basket to smash the ball in with one hand.  Trice could have attempted two points for himself but instead, created offense.  He helped make the big play that got the Breslin to their feet.

Scrappy, impressive, fun, and less selfish than most, Travis Trice will be a quiet hero and perhaps even get louder as the season goes on.

Be a Good Teammate

It’s no surprise that after the emotional roller coaster of the past years of MSU basketball Izzo chose to plaster the statement “Be a Good Teammate” across the chest of his players.  Leadership. Teamwork. Chemistry. These qualities have been discussed almost as much as Nix’s weight loss during the preseason. Draymond, Cleaves....they both appeared to ooze leadership and teamwork with a smile on their faces. This year, we got a team brimming with young talent, lead by one captain that wears his emotions and gratitude for MSU, the team, and Izzo for the world to see, and another captain known for an astonishing ability to connect with each player. Where does this put the team in regards to leadership, teamwork, and team chemistry? According to Izzo, that is the number one question mark. And getting his players to be “really, really good teammates” is his self proclaimed “number one issue”. Yet, in my oh so wise opinion, Izzo sounds optimistic.....or as optimistic as Izzo can ever sound.

So what does it mean to ‘be a good teammate’? And what could that mean for the 2012-2013 MSU basketball season? According to Izzo, it means more than just leadership. It means caring about the program and your fellow players (in addition, Izzo describe at media day that it means preventing distractions rather than causing them. For the sake of my optimism, however, I’m going to avoid thinking about past dramas and the resulting build up of the Iowa State basketball team). In other words, it means playing for something/someone other than yourself (cue The Journey theme song). Remember back to the road to the National Championship game in Detroit? Remember watching a team step up during March Madness when their leader, Lucas, went down to an injury? Or when last years team brought back part of the Big Ten Tournament net for Dawson? Teamwork, being a good teammate, playing for more than oneself, it all makes a difference. 

This year we are filled with young, energetic talent. However, a talented player is one thing, a true team of “good teammates” is another. We’re hoping to see THAT be what makes the magic happen. Already there are signs that maybe, just maybe, Izzo can allow himself to be optimistic in his team meeting the expectation proclaimed upon their T-shirts. Word is that the freshmen are like brothers. Their personalities and skills appear to balance each other and they seem to actually enjoy spending time together and supporting one another. Both freshmen and upperclassmen talked of putting the goals of the team first, along with their role as a leader and team member. In addition, Nix and Byrd were unanimously voted as team captains by their own teammates due to their already exemplified commitment to the university, the team, and its players. However, being a good teammate in the off season is one thing. Putting it into practice to make a statement as a team during the season is another. I do not know what this season will bring, but I can’t think of a better place to put the team to the test than our game on Friday in Germany.

I’ll wrap up with a quote by freshman forward Matt Costello. It hints at what it means to be a good teammate. But more so, it makes me proud to be a Spartan....and go “awwwww!”

“Not many people get the opportunity to play basketball at Michigan State University, one of the top five programs in the nation. I can’t waste this opportunity that has been given to me. I need to take this time that God has gave me and use it to the best of my ability. I am blessed and honored to be part of this and don’t want to waste it.”

Go State!

quotes taken from coverage of MSU Basketball Media Day on msuspartans.com