Road Warrior Spartans Travel To Purdue
2/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
#6/5 Michigan State (20-4, 10-2)
vs. #19/21 Purdue (19-6, 8-4)
February 17, 2009
7 p.m. EST
West Lafayette, Ind.
Mackey Arena
Radio: Spartan Sports Network - Will Tieman (Play by Play), Gus Ganakas and Matt Steigenga (Color), Adam Ruff (Host) Flagship - WJIM 1240 AM/WMMQ 94.9 FM
TV: ESPN - Dan Shulman (Play by Play), Dick Vitale (Color), Erin Andrews (Sidelines)
Coach Izzo Press Conference Video
Coach Izzo Press Conference Audio
The Opening Tip
Michigan State travels to Purdue for the first of two meetings between the league powers in the final three weeks of the season. The Spartans are a perfect 7-0 in true road games this season, including 6-0 in the Big Ten, while the Boilermakers are 12-2 at home. MSU is rested for the final three weeks of the regular season, having not played since a Feb. 10 win at Michigan.
The Starting Five
1. A Great Stretch of Defense
A potent offensive team all season, Michigan State has won its last three games as a result of playing great defense. The Spartans are allowing just 45.3 points per contest, holding opponents to 31.4 percent shooting from the field, including 19.2 percent from 3-point range. MSU also forced opponents to commit 16.7 turnovers per game. It marks the first time the Spartans have held three straight opponents under 50 points since the 1951-52 season.
2. Big Ten Road Wins
Michigan State has won its first six league road games for the first time in school history. In six Big Ten road wins, the Spartans are averaging 71.3 points, led by Kalin Lucas at 19.2 ppg, while Durrell Summers (12.5 ppg) and Raymar Morgan (11.0 ppg) average double figures as well. MSU is dominating the glass, out-rebounding opponents by a +14.0 margin. The Spartans are also taking care of the ball, averaging just 12.3 turnovers per game. The 1999 and 1978 Spartan squads hold the school record with seven league road wins.
3. Lucas Dials Up His Scoring
Kalin Lucas has established himself as a top contender for Big Ten Player of the Year honors. He has ranked among the league and national leaders in assists all season, but he's recently elevated his scoring. Over the last 13 games, Lucas is averaging 17.7 points, ranking second in the Big Ten in scoring in conference games at 17.3 ppg. During the last 13 games, he is shooting 41.6 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from 3-point range and 87.2 percent from the foul line, averaging 6.0 free-throw attempts per game.
4. Roe's Recovery
Despite undergoing two knee surgeries since December 2007, including microfracture surgery last December, Delvon Roe is showing flashes of the skills that had him ranked among the elite high school players in his class nationally. In the fall, Coach Izzo explained that it might be February before Roe could really start to produce on a more consistent basis. Prior to the month of February, he was averaging 5.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 16.5 minutes. In four February games, he is averaging 9.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 22.5 minutes. Over the last three games, he is averaging 9.7 points and 7.0 rebounds. He recorded his first career double-double at Michigan (14 points, 10 rebounds) and was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Feb. 16.
5. It's All About Boardwork
Michigan State leads the nation in rebound margin at +10.1 (as of Feb. 16). MSU has led the Big Ten in rebounding margin in nine of the last 11 years. This season, the Spartans are 18-3 when out-rebounding their opponent. MSU has out-rebounded 14 straight opponents. It's a group effort for MSU, as six different players have led the team or shared the team lead in rebounding in a single game. In Big Ten play, the Spartans own a +12.2 rebounding margin.
MSU vs. Purdue Notes
Series History
Purdue leads the all-time series with Michigan State, 61-43, including a 38-14 advantage in games played in West Lafayette. MSU has won 14 of the last 20 games in the series. Tom Izzo is 14-9 in his career against Purdue.
Coach Painter
Matt Painter (Purdue, `94) is 100-51 in his fifth season as a collegiate head coach, including 75-46 in his fourth season at Purdue. After one year as head coach at Southern Illinois, he served as associate head coach at Purdue in 2004-05 in Gene Keady's final year as Boilermaker coach.
The Last Meeting
Purdue defeated Michigan State, 60-54, on Feb. 12, 2008, in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers used a 12-0 run over 2:05 late in the first half to turn a 22-16 lead into an 18-point advantage. Michigan State opened the second half on a 21-6 run over the first 11:17 to pull within a single point. On four occasions the Spartans were within a point, but could never take the lead. The Spartans were out-scored, 21-0, from 3-point range, and committed 19 turnovers, compared to just 11 by the Boilermakers. Fourteen of MSU's 19 turnovers came in the first half. Kalin Lucas led the Spartans with a season-high 20 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the field and 6-of-8 from the foul line. Raymar Morgan added 12 points and seven rebounds. Robbie Hummel led Purdue with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Boilermaker Notes
Purdue ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring defense (57.8 ppg), while leading the conference in field-goal percentage defense (.373) ... The Boilermakers boast a turnover margin of +3.48 ... Chris Kramer ranks second in the Big Ten with 2.0 steals per game, while JaJuan Johnson leads the conference with 2.32 blocks per contest. In league games, Johnson averages 2.50 blocks per game ... Freshman Lewis Jackson leads all league freshmen with 3.5 assists per game ... Purdue is 19-0 when holding opponents to 64 or fewer points, and 0-6 when allowing 65 or more.
Game 24 Notes - Michigan State 54 - Michigan 42
* Michigan State held Michigan to 15 first-half points, the fewest by any conference team in a half this season.
* Tom Izzo recorded his 155th Big Ten victory, moving into sole possession of 10th place in league history.
* Delvon Roe recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, including 11 points in the first half.
* Michigan State's freshmen and sophomores scored 45 of the Spartans' 54 points.
* Michigan's 42 points were the fewest by a Spartan opponent this season, while the Wolverines' 16.7 percent 3-point shooting was also a season-low by an MSU foe.
* MSU's defense allowed just two Wolverine points in the final 9:01 of the first half and just two points in the final 3:21 of the second half.
MSU Basketball Notes
Life Away From Home
Michigan State is 6-0 in league road games for the first time since joining the Big Ten in 1950-51. Prior to this season, the Spartans had never won their first four league road games. MSU is 7-0 in true road games, winning at No. 21 Minnesota, Penn State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Iowa, Michigan and IPFW. The Spartans have also played six neutral site games, the most by a Michigan State squad in the regular season since the 2005-06 season. MSU is 11-2 away from the Breslin Center. Only Niagara (13) and Connecticut (12) have more wins away from home. Michigan State and Connecticut are the only teams not to lose on an opponent's home court this season. MSU played nine of its first 13 games away from home.
Beating The Best
According to the ESPN.com InsideRPI Daily (Feb. 16), Michigan State is 8-1 against the RPI top 50, tied with Connecticut for most wins against the top 50. Duke, Oklahoma and Pittsburgh have seven, while five schools have six. The Spartans are ranked No. 6 in the RPI, and their strength of schedule is ranked No. 10.
Glass Cleaner
Goran Suton leads the Big Ten in rebounding both overall (7.8 rpg) and in conference games (8.8 rpg). In conference play, Suton has recorded double-figure boards against Minnesota (12), Penn State (14), Northwestern (14) and Iowa (11). He leads the league in offensive rebounds (3.00 orpg) and ranks third in defensive boards (5.75 drpg). His efforts are a large reason MSU owns an impressive +12.2 rebounding margin in league games. With 758 rebounds for his career, Goran Suton ranks ninth in MSU history, 45 behind Lindsay Hairston (803) in eighth place.
MSU's Defensive Stopper
Travis Walton is asserting himself as the best defender in the Big Ten. A two-time All-Big Ten Defensive Team member, he plays a solid defense that, while occasionally resulting in a steal, will hardly ever allow a perimeter player an open look. Consider some of the following games by the players he has guarded: A.J. Abrams (Texas) 8 points - 3-10 FG, 0-4 3FG; Jon Diebler (Ohio State) 7 points - 2-8 FG, 1-6 3FG; Sherron Collins (Kansas) 6-14 FG, 2-8 3FG, 8 turnovers; Jake Kelly (Iowa) 6 points, 3-6 FG, 5 turnovers; Trent Meacham and Demetri McCamey (Illinois) 6 combined points, 1-16 FG, 1-14 3FG; Craig Moore (Northwestern) 11 points, 3-11 FG, 2-10 3FG; Lawrence Westbrook (Minnesota) 6 points, 2-7 FG; Devan Dumes (Indiana) 5 points, 2-5 FG; Manny Harris (Michigan) 7 points 2-10 FG, 1-6 3FG. Against the Illini, Walton added three steals, including two big strips in the second half, while tallying four steals against Minnesota. In league games, he ranks fourth in the conference in steals at 1.58 spg.
Morgan Battles Illness
For nearly a month, Raymar Morgan has been battling walking pneumonia/mild form of mononucleosis, limiting his playing time and production. Prior to sitting out the last three games, he had started just two of the previous five games, averaging 16.2 minutes and just 3.0 points on 33.3 percent shooting, including just 5.5 minutes per game in the last two games. A healthy Morgan is a key to MSU's long-range hopes, as he was averaging 15.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 27.1 minutes prior to the Illinois contest, leading the Spartans in scoring and shooting 60.0 percent from the field.
Defending The Three
Michigan State leads the Big Ten in 3-point field-goal percentage defense in league contests, allowing opponents to hit just 30.6 percent of their shots from behind the arc. Over the last three games, opponents have made just 19.2 percent of their 3-pointers (10-of-52).
Spartans Shooting Better
Michigan State is shooting 46.4 percent from the floor in the last six games after shooting 42.5 percent in the previous seven. In three of the last six contests, the Spartans have shot 49.1 percent or better, including two games at better than 50 percent. In the previous seven games, MSU's best shooting effort was 48.3 percent.
70 Is The Magic Number
The 70-point mark is an important number for Michigan State's success, both offensively and defensively. The Spartans are 15-0 when scoring 70 or more points, but just 5-4 when scoring fewer than 70. Defensively, MSU is 18-0 when allowing fewer than 70 points, but 2-4 when allowing more than 70.
The Turnover Story
Michigan State is 12-1 when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent, and 3-0 when turnovers are equal, but just 5-3 when committing more. The Spartans are 14-1 when committing fewer than 15 turnovers, but just 6-3 when committing 15 or more. In their wins, the Spartans average just 13.1 turnovers per game, compared to 16.8 turnovers in losses. In the first two games of the season, Michigan State averaged 9.5 turnovers and held a combined 47-17 edge in points off turnovers. In the five games that followed, the Spartans averaged 17.6 turnovers, resulting in a 93-57 deficit in points off turnovers. In the next nine games, MSU averaged 12.6 turnovers, while opponents averaged 12.8, giving the Spartans a 135-96 edge in points off turnovers. In the next two games against Illinois and Northwestern, MSU averaged 18.0 turnovers, leading to a 27-47 deficit in points off turnovers. In the six most recent games, MSU is averaging 12.2 turnovers, resulting in a 102-62 advantage in points off turnovers. Last season, the Spartans averaged 13.6 turnovers, which was the lowest average of the Tom Izzo era.
Working On The Defense
In the first six games of the year, MSU's defense allowed opponents to score 72.5 points on 44.7 percent shooting. In the last 18 games, the Spartans are allowing just 60.4 points on 40.2 percent shooting, including just 30.6 percent from 3-point range.
Michigan State's Balanced Attack
Through the first 24 games, Michigan State has proven to have great depth. Eight Spartans average 11.8 minutes or more, while 11 average 7.1 minutes or more, although Kalin Lucas is the only player to average more than 29. Two players average double figures in scoring, while three more Spartans average 9.3 points or better for the highest scoring team in the Big Ten. Seven different players have led MSU in scoring in a single game this season. On the boards, three Spartans average 5.4 boards per contest, as MSU paces the league in rebounding margin.
Hitting The Offensive Glass
Michigan State leads the Big Ten in offensive rebounds, grabbing 14.21 per game. The Spartans are grabbing 41.4 percent of their missed shots, collecting 341 offensive rebounds compared to 483 defensive boards for the opponent. In three games this season (Wichita State, Minnesota, Northwestern), MSU has grabbed more offensive boards than the opponent has grabbed defensive rebounds. In Big Ten play, MSU has totaled 179 offensive rebounds compared to 223 defensive boards for the opponents, averaging 14.92 offensive boards per game. The 23 offensive rebounds MSU collected at Minnesota were the most by a Spartan team against a Big Ten opponent since 1998.
MSU's Detroit Duo
Spartan sophomores Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers have been playing with each other since middle school and were AAU teammates in the Detroit area. Over the last six games, they have combined for 189 points as Lucas is averaging 17.0 and Summers is averaging 14.5 points per game. Lucas ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring in league games at 17.3 ppg. Summers has elevated his play over the last seven games, averaging 14.0 points and shooting 48.6 percent from the field (35-of-72).
Juggling The Lineup
Due to injuries to Goran Suton and Delvon Roe early in the year, and Raymar Morgan's illness as of late, Michigan State has used 12 different starting lineups this season, including nine in the first 12 games. Ten different Spartans have started a game this season.
Suton's Presence
After missing six straight games with a left knee injury in November and December, Goran Suton has appeared in the last 16 games, averaging 10.3 points and 8.0 boards in 26.4 minutes. Suton injured his knee in the second game of the season against IPFW on Nov. 19. After his knee did not respond to rest, he underwent arthroscopic surgery on Dec. 4. His first full practice came on Monday, Dec. 15. He returned to action against The Citadel on Dec. 17, scoring four points and grabbing five rebounds in 17 minutes. In a win over No. 5 Texas, Suton played 26 minutes off the bench, scoring a team-best 18 points. Against Oakland, Suton led MSU in both scoring (16 points) and rebounding (9 rebounds). He posted a double-double against Minnesota (11 pts., 12 reb.), Penn State (13 pts., 14 reb.) and Northwestern (15 pts., 14 reb.). MSU is 16-2 with Suton in the lineup.
MSU's Sixth Man
Chris Allen has been Michigan State's sixth man for most of the season. He has come off the bench in 19 of the Spartans' 24 games, and has been the first sub off the bench in 12 of the last 16 games in which he's come off the bench. Allen has also elevated his play as of late, averaging 10.8 points over the last four games, shooting 51.9 percent from the field, including 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from 3-point range.
20-Win Seasons
With a win at Michigan, Michigan State recorded its 10th 20-win season in the last 12 years, all under head coach Tom Izzo. Of the 18 20-win seasons in Spartan history, Izzo has been involved in 15 of them, 10 as a head coach and five as an assistant.
The Free Throw Story
Traditionally a strong free-throw shooting team, Michigan State is shooting just .683 from the charity stripe. MSU is averaging 23.4 free-throw attempts per game, compared to just 18.0 attempts for Spartan opponents. In league play, the Spartans are shooting better, connecting on 71.0 percent of their attempts, ranking fifth in the league.
Lending A Helping Hand
Michigan State is recording an assist on 63.6 percent of its baskets (404-of-635). The Spartans average 16.83 assists per game, ranking second in the Big Ten, and 13th in the nation. Against Alcorn State, MSU established a new school record with 35 assists. Individually, Kalin Lucas ranks fifth in the conference with 4.75 assists per contest, while freshman Korie Lucious dished out 11 against Alcorn State, the most by any Spartan this season.
Morgan Reaches 1,000
With eight points against Oakland, Raymar Morgan became the 38th player in MSU history to score 1,000 career points. Now at 1,090 points for his career, he ranks 34th on the MSU all-time scoring chart. He needs 10 points to pass Bill Kilgore for 33rd place (1,099 points) and 20 points to pass Al Ferrari for 32nd place.
Bench Scoring
Michigan State's bench has out-scored the opponent's bench in 17 of 24 games this season. The Spartan reserves have out-scored the opponent subs, 641-423, an average of 26.7-17.6.
Lucas Dishes It Out
Kalin Lucas paces the Big Ten with a 2.78-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while ranking fifth in the conference at 4.75 helpers per contest. As of Feb. 16, he ranks 12th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio. Lucas has recorded one or no turnovers in 15 of 24 games. Against Oklahoma State, Lucas recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and a career-best 10 assists. As a freshman, Lucas ranked fifth in the Big Ten in assists (3.81 apg) and seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.88), while his 137 assists were the fourth most ever by a Spartan freshman.
Walton Moves Up Career Assists Chart
With 505 career assists, Travis Walton ranks sixth in Michigan State history. He needs 57 assists to pass Mark Montgomery (561 assists) for fifth place.
Spartans Hit The Mark
After leading the Big Ten in field-goal percentage for the last five seasons, the Spartans are taking aim at a sixth straight statistical crown. Michigan State currently ranks third in the league in field-goal percentage (.465). Individually, Raymar Morgan ranks second in the conference, connecting on 58.0 percent of his shots.
Lucas Earns Wooden Midseason Honors
Kalin Lucas is one of the top 30 midseason candidates for the John R. Wooden Award, as selected by the Los Angeles Athletic Club's John R. Wooden Award Committee. Lucas is one of nine players who were not on the 50-name preseason list. He is also one of just two Big Ten players to appear on the list, as he is joined by Michigan's Manny Harris. Approximately 20 players will make the national ballot in early March. More than 1,000 voters, comprised of sports media members and college basketball experts from across the nation, will then cast their votes to determine both the 10-member All American Team and Player of the Year. In late March, the 10-player Wooden Award All American Team will be announced.
Finding A Shooting Touch
Travis Walton worked hard in the offseason to improve his offensive game, but was unable to find the range during the first two games of the season, making just one of his first six shots. He quickly found the shooting touch in the first two games of the Old Spice Classic, scoring a career-high 16 points in each contest, while shooting a combined 15-of-20 (.750) from the field. On the season, Walton is shooting .446, averaging 5.6 points per game, scoring in double figures in four games.
MSU's X-Factor
Marquise Gray is a real X-factor for the Spartans in the sense that when he is productive, Michigan State almost always wins. Gray has scored in double figures 17 times in his career, and the Spartans are 16-1 in those games. The lone loss came against North Carolina in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, where Gray tallied 11 points. In addition, MSU is 4-0 when Gray grabs 10 or more rebounds and 3-0 when he posts a double-double.
In The Rankings
Michigan State is ranked No. 6 in The Associated Press poll and No. 5 in the USA TODAY/ESPN coaches' poll. Four Spartan opponents are also ranked, including North Carolina (#3 AP/#3 USA Today/ESPN), Kansas (#15/18), Illinois (#18/16) and Purdue (#19/21). MSU is 3-1 against ranked opponents this season.
Spartans Earn Player of the Week Honors
Kalin Lucas was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Jan. 12 after averaging 21.0 points in a pair of Spartan victories over Ohio State and defending national champion Kansas. In addition, Lucas was named National Player of the Week by ESPN.com's Andy Katz. Raymar Morgan was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Jan. 5 after averaging 16.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in a pair of Spartan road victories at No. 21 Minnesota and at Northwestern.
An Impressive Streak
Michigan State made its 11th straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2008. It is the longest current streak among Big Ten schools and fifth longest in the nation. Only Arizona (24), Kansas (19), Kentucky (17) and Duke (13) have longer current streaks. It is also the second-longest streak in Big Ten history. Indiana appeared in 18 consecutive tournaments between 1986 and 2003.
Spartans In The NBA
Seven former Spartans are currently on NBA rosters, including Maurice Ager (New Jersey Nets), Charlie Bell (Milwaukee Bucks), Shannon Brown (Los Angeles Lakers), Morris Peterson (New Orleans Hornets), Zach Randolph (Los Angeles Clippers), Jason Richardson (Phoenix Suns) and Eric Snow (Cleveland Cavaliers).
The Book On Tom Izzo
Coach Izzo
In his 14th year, Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan, '77) is 325-134 (.708), and 155-71 (.686) in the Big Ten, as the coach of the Michigan State basketball program. In 2005, he passed Benjamin Van Alstyne to become the second-winningest coach in MSU history, trailing only Jud Heathcote (340) in total wins. In his 14 seasons as a head coach, Izzo has won National Coach of the Year honors four times, including the Clair Bee Award in 2005 and NABC honors in 2001. In 1999, Izzo was named National Coach of the year by Basketball Times, while earning similar honors from The Associated Press, Basketball News and the USBWA in '98.
Among The Big Ten's Best
Tom Izzo's .686 winning percentage in Big Ten games ranks second all-time among league coaches with at least 10 years of service, behind former Indiana coach Bob Knight (.700) and ahead of Purdue's Ward Lambert (.685). In all games, Knight ranks first at .734, followed by Wisconsin's Walter Meanwell (.712), Lambert (.709) and Izzo (.708). With 155 conference victories, Izzo ranks 10th all-time.
Izzo Against Ranked Opponents
In his 14 years of coaching, Tom Izzo is 68-65 against ranked opponents.
Izzo Among Best Ever
Through his first 13 seasons, Tom Izzo won 305 games, ranking seventh in college basketball history for most wins by a college coach in his first 13 years.
Graduating Student-Athletes
In Tom Izzo's 13 full years directing the Spartan program, 83 percent of his players who completed their eligibility also left with a degree. In the last nine years, 29 Spartans have received their undergraduate degrees, including five each in 2001, 2003 and 2007.
Izzo's Coaching Tree
Five current Division I head coaches all served as assistants to Tom Izzo, including Jim Boylen (Utah), Tom Crean (Indiana), Brian Gregory (Dayton), Stan Heath (South Florida) and Doug Wojcik (Tulsa). Gregory is in his sixth year as head coach, after leaving MSU in the spring of 2003. Crean directed Marquette to the 2003 Final Four, while Heath directed Kent State to the Elite Eight in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. Wojcik is in his fourth season at Tulsa. Mike Garland served as head coach at Cleveland State for three seasons after leaving Izzo's staff in 2003. He is now back as an assistant coach at MSU. Most recently, Jim Boylen left MSU following the 2007 season, and is in his second season with Utah. Stan Joplin, an assistant during Izzo's first season, spent 12 seasons as head coach at Toledo.
Home Sweet Home
During Tom Izzo's career as head coach, the Spartans are 189-24 (.887) at home, including 166-15 (.917) since the start of the 1997-98 season.
Coaches Vs. Cancer
During the 2007-08 season, Tom and Lupe Izzo launched the Michigan State chapter of the Coaches Vs. Cancer program. Now in its second season, the Izzos are looking for an even better year. Signature events for 2009 include the Suits and Sneakers Fundraising Challenge, where employees donate funds for the right to wear sneakers in the work place, an NCAA Final Four Reception (April 3, 2009), and Izzo Goes To Broadway (May 6, 2009), a cabaret style show featuring special guests and professional talent, directed by Broadway director and East Lansing native Greg Ganakas at the Wharton Center on the MSU campus. For more information on any of these initiatives contact Kate Follett from the American Cancer Society at 517-664-1370.
