First-Place Michigan State Travels To Illinois
2/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
#9/9 Michigan State (22-5, 12-3)
vs. #20/20 Illinois (23-6, 11-5)
March 1, 2009
4 p.m. EST
Champaign, Ill.
Assembly Hall
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: CBS - Dick Enberg (Play by Play), Bob Wenzel (Color)
Listen To Spartan Sports Podcasts
Coach Izzo | Raymar Morgan | Goran Suton
The Opening Tip
Michigan State opens a stretch of its final three regular-season games with a trip to Illinois. The Spartans hold a two-game advantage in the loss column over Illinois and Purdue in the Big Ten standings. In the first meeting of the season, Michigan State used a second-half rally to defeat the Illini. MSU boasts a Big Ten-best 6-1 record in league road contests.
The Starting Five
1. 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 13 different starting lineups this season, including nine in the first 12 games. Eleven different Spartans have started a game this season. The Spartans are a perfect 5-0 when Morgan, Roe and Suton are all in the starting lineup.
2. Izzo Moves Up Conference Win Chart
With 157 conference victories, Tom Izzo ranks 10th in Big Ten history. With his next Big Ten win, Izzo will tie Ohio State's Fred Taylor and Wisconsin's Walter Meanwell for eighth place in league history. Izzo's .686 winning percentage in Big Ten games ranks second all-time among league coaches with at least 10 years of service, behind only former Indiana coach Bob Knight (.700).
3. Big Ten Road Wins
Michigan State is a Big Ten-best 6-1 in league road games. In seven Big Ten road games, the Spartans are averaging 68.9 points, led by Kalin Lucas at 18.4 ppg, while Durrell Summers (12.3 ppg) also averages double figures. MSU is dominating the glass, out-rebounding opponents by a +12.7 margin. In the six road wins, MSU averaged just 12.3 turnovers per game, but committed 22 in the loss at Purdue. The 1999 and 1978 Spartan squads hold the school record with seven league road wins.
4. Walton In A Sharing Mood
With 518 career assists, Travis Walton ranks sixth in Michigan State history. Over the last four games, he has totaled 17 assists and just three turnovers, including averaging 6.0 assists in his last two contests. His 3.63 assist-to-turnover ratio leads the Big Ten in conference games. He needs 44 assists to pass current Spartan assistant Mark Montgomery (561 assists) for fifth place.
5. Beating The Best
According to the ESPN.com InsideRPI Daily (Feb. 27), Michigan State and Connecticut are a nation's best 10-2 against the RPI top 50. Pittsburgh and Illinois have eight wins against the RPI top 50, while four other schools have seven. The Spartans are ranked No. 6 in the RPI, and their strength of schedule is ranked No. 7.
MSU vs. Illinois Notes
Series History
Illinois leads the all-time series with Michigan State, 53-52, including a 34-16 advantage in Champaign. Tom Izzo is 15-11 in his career against the Illini.
Coach Weber
Bruce Weber (Wisconsin-Milwaukee, '84) is 254-107 in his 11th season as a collegiate head coach, including 151-53 in six seasons at Illinois. Prior to his arrival in Champaign, Weber posted a 103-54 mark at Southern Illinois.
The Last Meeting
Michigan State defeated Illinois, 63-57, on Jan. 17, 2009, in East Lansing. Illinois led 34-27 at halftime and pushed the lead up to nine early in the second half. Trailing 54-51 with 6:10 left, MSU went on a 9-0 run over the next 2:30 to claim a 60-54 lead, including four points each from Raymar Morgan and Kalin Lucas. The Spartan defense held Trent Meacham and Demetri McCamey to a combined six points on 1-of-16 shooting, including 1-of-14 from 3-point range, after the duo entered the game averaging a combined 24.5 points per game. MSU committed 15 first-half turnovers, but just three in the second half, including just one in the final 14:51. Conversely, Illinois committed seven in the first half and 11 in the second. Goran Suton led MSU with 12 points, and Marquise Gray scored nine of his 11 points in the first half. Alex Legion scored 15 points off the bench and Calvin Brock scored 13. MSU held a 42-30 advantage on the glass.
The Last Meeting In Champaign
Michigan State defeated Illinois, 59-51, on March 6, 2008, in Champaign. MSU trailed 21-11 with 10:46 left in the first half, but responded with a 20-8 run over the next 8:15. With the score tied 31-31 at the half, the Spartans opened the second stanza on a 7-0 run and never led by less than three after that. Goran Suton recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, adding a team-best four assists, and Drew Neitzel led all scorers with 17 points, while Drew Naymick scored a season-best 12 points. It was the only game all season that MSU won despite being out-rebounded (29-28). Illinois made nine of its first 12 shots, but just 11 of its next 33, and shot just 9-of-19 from the foul line.
Illini Notes
Illinois leads the nation in assist percentage, recording an assist on 70.6 percent of its baskets ... With 23 victories, Illinois is one of the nation's most improved teams, having totaled just 10 victories last year ... Illinois leads the Big Ten in field-goal percentage defense (.388) and 3-point field-goal percentage defense (.297) in league games ... Led by Demetri McCamey at 11.8 ppg, four different Illini average double-figures in scoring ... Illinois has used the same starting lineup for 27 straight games.
Game 27 Notes - Michigan State 62 - Iowa 54
* Michigan State's three freshmen combined for 32 of the Spartans' 62 points, as Delvon Roe (16 points) and Korie Lucious (12 points) each tallied season highs.
* Michigan State held a 30-7 advantage in bench points.
* Michigan State held Iowa to 35.0 percent shooting in the first half, but allowed the Hawkeyes to shoot 55.0 percent in the second half.
* Kalin Lucas and Travis Walton each recorded six assists for the Spartans.
* Michigan State grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, compared to just two offensive rebounds for Iowa.
MSU Basketball Notes
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 seven February games, he averaged 8.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 22.0 minutes. 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. Most recently, he scored a season-best 16 points vs. Iowa.
Morgan Battles Illness
For over a month, Raymar Morgan has been battling walking pneumonia/mild form of mononucleosis, limiting his playing time and production. He returned to action last week, averaging 16.3 minutes and 3.3 points in the last three games. Before that, he missed three games after playing limited minutes in the prior four. 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 first Illinois contest, leading the Spartans in scoring and shooting 60.0 percent from the field. MSU is 15-2 with Morgan in the starting lineup.
Glass Cleaner
Goran Suton leads the Big Ten in rebounding in conference games (8.4 rpg) and ranks second overall (7.7 rpg). In conference play, Suton has recorded double-figure boards against Minnesota (12), Penn State (14), Northwestern (14), Iowa (11) and Wisconsin (10). In league action, he leads the league in offensive rebounds (3.13 orpg) and ranks fourth in defensive boards (5.27 drpg). His efforts are a large reason MSU owns an impressive +11.8 rebounding margin in league games. With 779 rebounds for his career, Goran Suton ranks ninth in MSU history, 24 behind Lindsay Hairston (803) in eighth place.
Life Away From Home
Michigan State is a league-best 6-1 in league road games after winning its first six conference 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 7-1 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 11-3 away from the Breslin Center. Only Connecticut (13), Niagara (13) and Gonzaga (12) have more wins away from home. MSU played nine of its first 13 games away from home.
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. He split his responsibilities against Wisconsin, holding Joe Krabbenhoft to two points and no rebounds in the first half and Trevon Hughes to two points and just two shots in the second half. In league games, he ranks fifth in the conference in steals at 1.67 spg, including four steals against Wisconsin and Minnesota and three against Illinois.
It's All About Boardwork
Michigan State ranks second in the nation in rebound margin at +10.0 (as of Feb. 23). MSU has led the Big Ten in rebounding margin in nine of the last 11 years. This season, the Spartans are 20-4 when out-rebounding their opponent. MSU has out-rebounded 16 straight opponents. It's a group effort for MSU, as seven 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 +11.8 rebounding margin.
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 20 games, the Spartans are allowing just 60.2 points on 40.4 percent shooting, including just 30.5 percent from 3-point range.
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 16 games, Lucas is averaging 16.6 points, ranking second in the Big Ten in scoring in conference games at 16.2 ppg. During the last 16 games, he is averaging 5.6 free-throw attempts per game, shooting 86.7 percent from the foul line. He's led MSU in scoring in nine of the last 16 games.
Defending The Three
Michigan State ranks third in the Big Ten in 3-point field-goal percentage defense in league contests, allowing opponents to hit just 30.4 percent of their shots from behind the arc. Over the last six games, opponents have made just 25.0 percent of their 3-pointers (29-of-116).
Suton Closing In On 1,000-800 Club
Senior center Goran Suton is closing in on joining an exclusive club, as he looks to become the eighth player in Michigan State history to record 1,000 career points and 800 career rebounds. He currently has 960 points and 779 rebounds, needing 40 points and 21 rebounds to join Greg Kelser (2,014 pts., 1,092 reb.), Paul Davis (1,718 pts., 910 reb.), Andre Hutson (1,393 pts., 835 reb.), Mike Peplowski (1,185 pts., 906 reb.), Lindsay Hairston (1,155 pts., 803 reb.), Bill Kilgore (1,099 pts., 814 reb.) and Johnny Green (1,062 pts., 1,036 reb.).
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 7-5 when scoring fewer than 70. Defensively, MSU is 20-0 when allowing fewer than 70 points, but 2-5 when allowing more than 70.
The Turnover Story
Michigan State is 13-1 when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent, and 3-0 when turnovers are equal, but just 6-4 when committing more. The Spartans are 16-1 when committing fewer than 15 turnovers, but just 6-4 when committing 15 or more. In their wins, the Spartans average just 13.2 turnovers per game, compared to 17.8 turnovers in losses. Last season, the Spartans averaged 13.6 turnovers, which was the lowest average of the Tom Izzo era.
Hitting The Offensive Glass
Michigan State leads the Big Ten in offensive rebounds, grabbing 14.11 per game. The Spartans are grabbing 41.3 percent of their missed shots, collecting 381 offensive rebounds compared to 542 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 219 offensive rebounds compared to 282 defensive boards for the opponents, averaging 14.60 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.
Michigan State's Balanced Attack
Through the first 27 games, Michigan State has proven to have great depth. Eight Spartans average 11.3 minutes or more, while 10 average 9.2 minutes or more, although Kalin Lucas is the only player to average more than 29. Three players average double figures in scoring, while two more Spartans average 9.1 points or better for the highest scoring team in the Big Ten. Eight 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.
Suton's Presence
After missing six straight games with a left knee injury in November and December, Goran Suton has appeared in the last 19 games, averaging 10.5 points and 7.8 boards in 26.5 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. 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.), Northwestern (15 pts., 14 reb.) and Iowa (16 pts., 10 reb.). MSU is 18-3 with Suton in the lineup.
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 nine games, they have combined to average 26.6 points as Lucas is averaging 15.2 and Summers is averaging 11.4 points per game. Lucas ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring in league games at 16.2 ppg. Summers has elevated his play over the last 10 games, averaging 11.4 points and shooting 47.2 percent from the field (42-of-89).
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 22 of the Spartans' 27 games, and has been the first sub off the bench in 14 of the last 19 games in which he's come off the bench. Allen has also elevated his play as of late, averaging 9.4 points over the last seven games, shooting 45.8 percent from the field, including 39.3 percent (11-of-28) 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 .687 from the charity stripe. MSU is averaging 22.9 free-throw attempts per game, compared to just 17.8 attempts for Spartan opponents. In league play, the Spartans are shooting better, connecting on 71.2 percent of their attempts, ranking sixth in the league.
Lending A Helping Hand
Michigan State is recording an assist on 63.8 percent of its baskets (445-of-698). The Spartans average 16.46 assists per game, ranking second in the Big Ten, and 14th in the nation. Against Alcorn State, MSU established a new school record with 35 assists. Individually, Kalin Lucas ranks fifth in the conference with 4.58 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 1,100 points for his career, he ranks 34th on the MSU all-time scoring chart. He needs 10 points to pass Al Ferrari for 32nd place.
Bench Scoring
MSU's bench has out-scored the opponent's bench in 19 of 27 games this season. The Spartan reserves have out-scored the opponent subs, 715-461, an average of 26.5-17.1.
Spartans Hit The Mark
After leading the Big Ten in field-goal percentage for the last five seasons, the Spartans currently rank third in the league in field-goal percentage (.460). Individually, Raymar Morgan ranks third in the conference, connecting on 55.1 percent of his shots.
Lucas Dishes It Out
Kalin Lucas ranks third in the Big Ten with a 2.40-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while ranking fourth in the conference at 4.63 helpers per contest. Lucas has recorded one or no turnovers in 15 of 27 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.
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 .436, averaging 5.3 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. 9 in The Associated Press poll and the USA TODAY/ESPN coaches' poll. Four Spartan opponents are also ranked, including North Carolina (#4 AP/#5 USA Today/ESPN), Kansas (#15/15), Purdue (#16/16), Illinois (#20/20) and Texas (#25/24). MSU is 3-2 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. Most recently, Delvon Roe was honored on Feb. 16 after a double-double at Michigan.
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 327-135 (.708), and 157-72 (.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 just 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 (.707). With 157 conference victories, Izzo ranks 10th all-time.
Izzo Against Ranked Opponents
In his 14 years of coaching, Tom Izzo is 68-66 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 191-24 (.888) at home, including 168-15 (.918) 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.
