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.
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!!??
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