Don't Take If For Granted

Somehow the post Nebraska game blog got missed. And then MSU lost the next game. I’d like to apologize to all our fellow fans. I am now scrambling to put up a last minute blog before MSU takes on OSU today at 4:00 in order to prevent such a tragedy from occurring down in the lovely state of Ohio. 

I’d like to confess something. I have become a bit cocky this season. Understandably so, as MSU has risen far beyond its expectations as a “rebuilding” team, to becomes ranked #4 in the nation and 22-5. I have become too comfortable with going into halftime unconcerned with the score because I KNOW my team will scrape by for a victory in the second half. After watching the team struggle, come back, and then ultimately lose against Indiana, I questioned if I was the only one that was taking the “second half magic” for granted. Too many things may be being taken for granted. 

So, as the team attempts to reevaluate what needs to be done to remain at/near the top of the Big Ten and the NCAA rankings (which let’s be honest, seems less important this year than the fight for the Big Ten), I am going to step back and stop taking the privilege of cheering for a program that so rarely disappoints for granted. A program that appears to be guaranteed a spot in the NCAA tournament year after year. A program who’s coach is loved by friends and foes across the nation. A program that continually surpasses expectations. A program that saves it’s best basketball for March:) It’s good to be a fan of MSU Basketball.

Oops, there I am getting cocky again. I guess there are worst things in life. 

Enjoy it. Enjoy the program. Enjoy the season. Enjoy the team’s moments to shine. Senior night is approaching. March madness is just down the road. Don’t take it for granted.

And don’t take our amazing group of Freshmen players for granted....but that’s another blog because it’s time for tip off!!

Go Green!!!

And shout out to Trice for returning to the game! Now someone get the kid a helmet because we all know he’s not going to play any less tough! Trice and Harris have to be some of the toughest Spartans to have taken the court.

I’m still reeling over Tuesday night’s thriller between the Michigan State Spartans and the Michigan Wolverines.  If you are a Michigan fan, it was nothing but embarrassment and disappointment.  To Spartan fans, it was an incredible thrill ride--one for the record books.  Recall in an earlier post that I claimed that the best games are the ones that are true, close battles.  If you noticed, there was an asterisk with that comment that stated blowing Indiana or Michigan out by 30 points would also fall under the “best game” category.  You make comments like that truthfully, but not really under the belief that it would happen. But indeed, it did.  Tuesday night’s clash consisted of one team having a game for the record books and another team trying hard to just get something positive in the record books.

It's time to recognize. Don't stop recognizing Indiana or even Michigan. Everyone knows that the Wolverines aren't really that bad. BUT, it's time to recognize the Spartans as not only a good team but a National Title contender. This was a "coming of age" game, so to speak. It's a recognition that the Spartans have matured and just at the right time. No one doubted in early season play that we possessed talent, but it did seem that we couldn't sync our talent at the same time. We were inconsistent and rarely played a game for a full 40 minutes. But the Spartans have truly blossomed and Tuesday night was a statement to the rest of the Big Ten as well as teams across the nation: Watch out, because when the Spartans are on, they are a true force to be reckoned with. Their defense is stifling and their offense has the ability to make a hard punch to the gut of ANY opposing team. You think these guys are scared of Indiana and Duke? Guess again.

Why, you might ask, has this team developed and matured so much? Answer: brotherhood. Don't worry, I'm not going to get too sappy again, but truthfully, you can have a team with a lot of raw talent but if they can't learn to play together, they won't get very far. From the mouths of these players, they genuinely enjoy one another--even off of the court.  They play unselfishly and cheer each other on, rejoicing in the success of their teammates. They read eachother well, making fewer foolish decisions and thus, less turnovers. And lets face it: perhaps it took a brotherly fight in a hotel lobby for Payne and Dawson to grow up a bit because since their benched first half against Penn State, these two players have played impressive, aggressive basketball.

I couldn't be prouder of our guys, who played what izzo called "their best game in three years." This game places a confidence (hopefully not arrogance) in our young guys (Valentine, Harris, Costello, and Gauna) that they can compete with the big dogs...they have what it takes...even under pressure. The Spartans have the opportunity to show that Tuesday was no fluke as they take on Nebraska and then Indiana on Tuesday at the Breslin. If they take care of business tomorrow and another top team loses this weekend, you could be looking at a top-five team come Monday. Let's wait and see.

Go State!

#4 UofM vs #8 MSU....Are You Serious!!!??

One best parts of writing a blog...you get to quote yourself! So as we approach what may be one of the biggest games of Izzo’s career and most definitely of this season, let’s look back at some wise suggestions made by Ruthie Lehr (Around the Big Ten- December 16, 2012) and review where we’ve come from and where we must go today. 

Ruthie Lehr recommendations to conquer UofM:

-Watch and cover the three

UofM can still light up the three. However, MSU has had plenty of time to plan out who to shut down and how and has been successful in the past with doing just that. A healthy Trice will help us with this. 

-Appling must contain Burke to a season-low

Appling has an amazing ability to stay cool and play smart in big games like tonights. If he stays out of foul trouble he’ll be able to make Burke work for each and every shot.

-We must grab ‘n go. Get the rebound and run the ball

Izzo has not been thrilled with this year’s rebounding. I’m hoping coming off a recent game against Minnesota has taught us how to fight more for the ball. Big goal is to grab ‘n go AND not get injured in the battle! In addition, we’ve had experience changing the tempo of the game to fit our needs. 

-Decrease the turnovers

Turnovers are still a struggle but the team has come far since December! Valentine has played more minutes and is becoming a “sophmore” player, greatly decreasing unforced turnovers. Looking forward to seeing what Dawson, Harris, and Appling can do on defense to force and score off turnovers!

The team is still injured but that hasn’t slowed them down yet. I’d love to see Trice get some minutes in....maybe while wearing a helmet. Fortunately we’ve had some time now to practice with different rotations, which will help the team dynamic on the court. MSU has come incredibly far as a team this year. They are still a grind it out second half team, but a team that is coming off of a win against Purdue during which they showed they can come out for the win from the beginning. And UofM is coming off from an emotional loss. It’s unlikely that is shook their confidence....this is UofM after all....but it should help our freshmen’s confidence. 

I’m sticking to my statement from one of my earlier post, Stepping It Up In The (Fist)Fight For The Big Ten-January 18, 2013. If EVERY player can step it up, big and small, in the paint and behind the 3, we can defeat anyone in our path. Well exciting news! MSU has been doing just that! The win against Purdue was a team effort with BOTH the bigs and the guards contributing. The 3s have been increasing, thanks largely to Appling, Harris and (who’d of thought it, Payne). The team has fulfilled these two bloggers expectations and we’re both anticipating a win tonight!

 #4 UofM vs #8 MSU 

Two teams in the top 10 fighting it out for the bragging rights of the state! Soooo worth the lack of sleep I’m getting tonight! Cheers to all you Spartans, I lift my pregame coffee to you!!!

Go Green!

The #1 shift

Bruised, battered, and bloodied, the Michigan State Spartans managed to tie their series with the Minnesota Gophers on Wednesday night and keep their hopes of a Big Ten Title alive.  The first half was a battle of defenses with both teams shooting poorly from the field and ending the first 20 minutes of play with the Gophers edging the Spartans 20-18.  The highlight of the half was the number of turnovers tallied by the Spartans: ZERO.

Adjustments were made in the second half and within about seven minutes, the Spartans had already doubled their score and looked alive.  With Trice out, due to concussion-like symptoms, Appling was forced to play more minutes than usual.  Harris played with a poor back, and Payne had to take a break in order to stop-up a bloody nose.  When Appling popped his shoulder out near the end of the game, it seemed the team might inevitably fall apart.  But with Appling's return from the locker room and a W secured under their belt, all the pain and blood was worth it.

The win on Wednesday kept Michigan State tied for second place in the Big Ten with their rival, Michigan.  But then Thursday happened.  Thanks to literally a last second layup on an inbounds play, Illinois defeated #1 Indiana.  The win shifted the top of the Big Ten into a three-way tie between Indiana, Michigan, and Michigan State.  And with a month left in Conference play, how will it all play out?  Do the Spartans have a chance at maintaining their lead in the Big Ten?  Here's what the rest of the season looks like for the top leaders:

Indiana:
February 10: Ohio State.  The Buckeyes are one game behind a first place spot.  The game will be played in Columbus.  I'm rooting for a Buckeye win.

February 19: Michigan State.  Could very well be the deciding game for the Big Ten Title.  My vote is the Spartans.

March 5: Ohio State again.

March 10: Michigan.  Could also be a deciding game for the Big Ten Title.  I'll pick who I want to win that game as it gets closer.

Summary: The Hoosiers have had an overall successful and impressive season but some major battles are still to be fought.  I didn't even mention another game against Minnesota, where the Gophers will seek revenge from their previous loss.

Michigan:

February 9: Wisconsin.  Though the rankings don't show it, Wisconsin is a tough team to beat, especially when playing on their home court.  Somehow those Badgers manage to slow any team down and force them to play their style of ball.  Interestingly, this is the only time the two teams will meet this season.  Go Badgers!

February 12: Michigan State.  The two rivals will battle it out at the Breslin.  The intensity level of that game will generate enough heat to melt all the snow currently accumulating outside my window.  You know my pick for that game.

March 2: Michigan State again.  One team will be seeking revenge.  The other, aiming to hold on to their bragging rights.

March 10: Indiana as stated previously.

Summary: Similar to the Hoosiers, several big games still to be played to test the Wolverine strength.  Michigan only plays the Badgers AND the Gophers once this season.  Is this an advantage for their record but a disadvantage for their long-term growth as a team?  Tomorrow will give us a clue.

Michigan State:

February 9: Purdue.  Though the Boilermakers have not made national clamor, they are 5-5 in the best conference in the country.  That's not too shabby.  This will not be an easy game for the battered Spartans.

February 12: Michigan.  See above.

February 19: Indiana.  See above.

February 24: Ohio State. Played in Columbus, the Buckeyes will be out to tie the series.  Coming right after the game against the Hoosiers, this game will be a true test of grit.

March 2: Michigan. Not a lot of rest for the weary.  I'll be pleased coming out of this three game stretch with a 2-1 record.

March 7: Wisconsin. A little more offense than the last meeting would be nice.  Maybe the izzone will help.

Summary: Yikes.  Spartan fans need to look on the bright side.  Every tough game makes us better, stronger, and more prepared for the emotion-packed games during March Madness.  Last year, our guys surprised many in the nation (and even me, I'll admit) by beating Ohio State on their home court.  Our guys this year almost made it happen at Indiana.  They got it in them to surprise the critics and win these big games both at home and even more so, on the road. Let's get it done!

Basketball and life?

I was so touched by RSMSUbball's earlier post in honor of Jimmy V and Tom Izzo, that a simple comment would just not do.  A follow-up post was in order and so here it is.  Why do I (or we) love basketball so much?  Why do I spend hours every season watching and analyzing (and yelling) at this game?  After all, it is just a game.   

Well, for one it is just plain fun, as RSMSUbball point out.  Oh, back in the day, I too played the game. There was something about shooting a ball and watching it go through the net with a swoosh.  I would often go outside in the evening and shoot around in my back yard or play a game of lightening with neighbors.  For a few years, I played on a school team and the sense of camaraderie gained from a team is difficult to find elsewhere.  In addition, a sports team encourages and almost forces disciplined habits.  You just don't have a lot of free time so the little time you do have, has to be used productively.  And lastly, a team takes a bunch of individuals who are all out to be the stars, and turns them into a true team, out for a greater good (Remember the Titans ring a bell?).  I enjoy the fast-paced drama that unfolds, the strategy played out, and a team form together.  Selfish, individualistic teams, a contradiction of terms I might add, are easy to spot and they're not fun to watch.  But a true team is fun and impressive to watch (especially if they also have talent...just saying).

But one of my favorite things about basketball (or insert your favorite sport here) is that it teaches the ever-important but quickly fading quality of perseverance.  In the age of quick-fixes and instant media downloads, working and waiting for anything just seems not only silly but inefficient!  Ah, but as the saying goes, all good things are worth waiting and fighting for.  And this is what basketball teaches.  You want the W?  You will have to fight for it.  Isn't it true that our favorite games are the ones that were won with a hard fought fight, rather than a blow out of 30 points?***  In every true test of the game, you meet with setbacks, disappointments, frustrations, and serious tests of the will, and watching a team come together and overcome them, is exhilarating and inspiring to watch.

Like many others, including Jimmy V, I learn from the game important life lessons.  As a teacher, perseverance in the face of setbacks, confusion, and sometimes failure, is one of the most difficult traits to instill in my students.  A student who sees the value of a challenge is rare.

As an individual, with my own life battles, I want and expect it all to be quick and easy.  It seems that everyone else in life has it that way, right?  But watching a tough basketball game reminds me that my own personal battles are also worth the fight.  Ok, I admit, that I don't always have these deep reflections every game, but that's why you got to stick with a team so you can track their ups, downs, wins and losses.  You'll find these lessons seeping in over time.

So I guess this was a quick shout out to my favorite game, basketball, and why it is important for all of us to be part of some kind of team in life.

On the lookout: Michigan vs Ohio State playing as we speak.  AND of course, Michigan State vs. Minnesota tomorrow, 7 pm.  I'd like to see Ohio State win this one, but it's going to be a brutal battle.  And can Michigan State get revenge for their close loss against their Big Ten opener vs Minnesota?  We need an answer for Rodney Williams.

See you tomorrow.

***The exception to this statement is if we beat Indiana or Michigan this season by 30 points.  I'm really okay with that.

Finding A Way

It was the best of halves, it was the worst of halves. What a difference a half makes. I can only imagine the “conversation” occurring in the MSU locker room following the inept first half against Illinois. Gus Ganakas and crew cracked themselves up attempting to imagine for themselves the “little adjustment message” Izzo likely gave his team. Of course these were the same announcers who held a semi serous debate regarding which one of them was going to step up to play guard after MSU lost Harris and Trice to injury and risked the early exit of Valentine to foul trouble. Whatever occurred inside that locker room, it helped the Spartans to do what they have done all season- find a way to win. They found a way to move on after a loss against Indiana. They found a way to overcome their lazy first half and go on a 14-0 run. They found a way to step up as Spartan warriors and win shorthanded. 

Izzo will tell you that the numbers lie. And yes, there was an overall sense of regression that settled over Thursday’s win. But let’s look at some of these stats for a moment with our rose colored....or optimistic Spartan green colored....glasses on. Gary Harris is starting to leave his footprints upon the Breslin court early as a freshmen. Before going out of the game with back spasms and a tweaked foot, Harris scored 14 points. But Harris was not the lone freshmen star thursday evening. Valentine has taken advantage of coming off the bench and found a way to adapt his skills to the wisdom of both his father and Izzo. Valentine proved himself yet again as a Spartan warrior, with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, when his team was down both on the scoreboard and in players. “He was all that AND THEN SOME!” was the best description of Valentine heard that night. These two freshmen have most definitely “found a way” to make plays, make baskets, and make their mark.

And then there was the man who found a way to rise up from his personal defeat and truly live out the call to “Never give up!” While his teammates showed their best and worst inside the time clock of one game, Appling depicted his worst of times and best of times respectively at Indiana and against illinois. As predicted, Appling heroically rose up from his hiding place beneath a towel on the sidelines to become the victor upon the the floorboards of the Breslin. 24 points 7 assists, 8 rebounds. If he hadn’t convinced you before, there is no denying that Keith Appling has earned his place as the go to lead scorer and captain of the team (and Big Ten co-player of the week). When the clock ticks down on a close Spartan basketball game (as it so often does this season), Appling will lead the Spartans in “finding a way” to grasp the win. Not bad for a quiet junior asked to fill the already legendary shoes of Draymond Green. His tattoo and motto for life and the game says “respect all, fear none”, but maybe it should say “respect all and fear the Spartans”. 

Speaking of finding a way, Detroit’s Keith Appling and Derrick Nix have been finding their way off the court as well. Once again showing what REALLY matters.

Appling Summer Wake Up Call

Keith Appling Quietly Matures

Best Izzo Quote of Week:

"He'll (Nix) be the first human being in his family to graduate," Izzo said. "It'll be a cold day in hell before I do anything but him graduated. If he has to sit the rest of the games, he'll sit. He knows it. For that kid to graduate in four years would be triumphant for me, and I mean that in a positive way."

(MLive)

Go Spartans!

The Spartans must next find a way to win at the Breslin in round two against Minnesota on Wednesday, February 6 at 7pm


*Free Throw Defense!!??