Men's Basketball Hosts Minnesota Wednesday
2/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 3, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
#13/14 Michigan State (17-4, 7-2)
vs. #19/19 Minnesota (18-3, 6-3)
February 4, 2009
8:30 p.m. EST
East Lansing, Mich.
Breslin Center
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: Big Ten Network - Tom Hamilton (Play by Play), Steve Smith (Color), Mike Hall (Sidelines)
Coach Izzo Press Conference Video
Coach Izzo Press Conference Audio
Coach Izzo Radio Show - Feb. 2
The Opening Tip
Michigan State will look to get back on the winning track as it hosts Minnesota on Wednesday night. The Spartans currently lead the Big Ten by a half game over Purdue and one game over Minnesota, Illinois and Penn State. MSU opened conference play at Minnesota on Dec. 31, taking a 70-58 victory. The Spartans are playing the third of five games in a 13-day span.
The Starting Five
1. 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 three games, they have combined for 123 points as Summers is averaging 18.7 points, and Lucas is averaging 22.3. Lucas is leading the Big Ten in scoring in league games at 19.2 ppg. Summers has elevated his play over the last four games, scoring in double figures in each game, averaging 16.8 points and shooting 53.5 percent from the field (23-of-43).
2. Glass Cleaners
Goran Suton leads the Big Ten in rebounding in conference games at 9.9 rpg. Overall, he averages 8.3 rpg, which would rank first in the league if he had played in 75 percent of MSU's games. 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 (3.44 orpg) and defensive boards (6.44 drpg). His efforts are a large reason MSU owns an impressive +13.6 rebounding margin in league games.
3. Michigan State's Balanced Attack
Through the first 21 games, Michigan State has proven to have great depth. Eight Spartans average 12.3 minutes or more, while 11 average 7.0 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. Seven different players have led MSU in scoring in a single game this season. On the boards, three Spartans average 5.1 boards per contest, as MSU paces the league in rebounding margin.
4. 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 13-0 when scoring 70 or more points, but just 4-4 when scoring fewer than 70. Defensively, MSU is 15-0 when allowing fewer than 70 points, but 2-4 when allowing more than 70.
5. It's All About Boardwork
Michigan State leads the nation in rebound margin at +10.4 (as of Feb. 2). MSU has led the Big Ten in rebounding margin in nine of the last 11 years. This season, the Spartans are 15-3 when out-rebounding their opponent. MSU has out-rebounded 11 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 +13.6 rebounding margin.
MSU vs. Minnesota Notes
Series History
Minnesota leads the all-time series with Michigan State, 56-55, although the Spartans enjoy a 35-19 advantage in games played in East Lansing. The Spartans have won nine of the last 10 and 14 of the last 17 meetings. Tom Izzo has a 17-7 all-time record against the Golden Gophers.
Coach Smith
Orlando "Tubby" Smith (High Point, `73) is 425-162 in his 18th season as a collegiate head coach, including 38-17 in his second season with Minnesota. Prior to his arrival in Minneapolis, he spent 10 seasons as head coach at Kentucky, leading the Wildcats to the 1998 NCAA Championship. His head coaching career also includes a two-year stint at Georgia and four seasons at Tulsa.
Smith Vs. MSU
Tubby Smith has faced Michigan State nine times, including six games when he was at Kentucky. The Spartans are 7-2 against Smith overall, including victories in the 1999 and 2005 Elite Eights.
The Last Meeting
Michigan State and Minnesota opened their respective conference schedules on New Year's Eve in Minneapolis. The Spartans got 11 first-half points from Chris Allen, including three 3-pointers and led by as many as nine points in the first stanza, but the Golden Gophers pulled within one point at halftime. The Spartans opened the second half on an 8-1 run and never led by less than four after that. In fact, MSU kept its lead in double digits for the final 8:35 of the contest. Kalin Lucas established a career high with 24 points and Goran Suton (11 points, 12 rebounds) and Raymar Morgan (10 points, 10 rebounds) tallied double-doubles. On the glass, MSU out-rebounded Minnesota, 49-27, grabbing 23 offensive rebounds compared to just 16 defensive rebounds for the Golden Gophers. It was the most offensive rebounds Michigan State had recorded in a Big Ten contest since 1998.
The Last Meeting In East Lansing
Michigan State defeated Minnesota, 65-59, on Jan. 5, 2008, in the Big Ten opener for both teams. The Spartans led by 13 points early in the second half, but the Golden Gophers pulled to within a single point at 58-57 with 4:18 remaining. MSU responded by scoring the game's next seven points. The Spartans held a 17-4 advantage in fast break points and owned a 45-25 margin on the glass. Michigan State did commit 19 turnovers, leading to 17 Gopher points. Raymar Morgan led MSU with 31 points and 10 turnovers, becoming the first Spartan to go for 30 points and 10 rebounds in a Big Ten game since Morris Peterson in 2000. Kalin Lucas added 17 for MSU. Spencer Tollackson led Minnesota with 12 points.
Golden Gopher Notes
Minnesota is nationally ranked for the first time since 2002 ... Minnesota's roster features players from eight different states and Canada ... The Golden Gophers lead the Big Ten in steals (8.90 spg) and blocked shots (6.76 bpg) and rank second in offensive rebounds (12.38) ... Al Nolen ranks third in the conference in assists (5.14 apg) and leads the league in steals (2.19 spg), while teammate Damian Johnson ranks fourth in steals (1.94 spg) ... Johnson (2.28 bpg), Ralph Sampson III (1.67 bpg) and Colton Iverson (1.43 bpg) rank third, fourth, and fifth in the league in blocked shots ... Nolen ranks second in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.00).
Game 21 Notes - Penn State 72 - Michigan State 68
* Michigan State allowed its second opponent in three games to shoot better than 50 percent from the field, as PSU out-shot MSU, 56.3 to 42.6 percent.
* MSU led by 13 points with 6:11 left in the first half, but Penn State closed the stanza on a 22-8 run. PSU led by as many as 12 points late in the second half, but the Spartans pulled within a single point at 69-68.
* The Spartans held a 23-9 edge in second-chance points.
* MSU's defense held Penn State without a field goal and to just four points over the final 6:53 of the game.
* MSU lost for the first time all season when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent. Penn State, however, turned 12 Spartan turnovers into 19 points.
* Penn State made its first eight shots of the second half.
* Raymar Morgan played just three minutes due to illness.
MSU Basketball Notes
The Turnover Story
Michigan State is 9-1 when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent, and 3-0 when turnovers are equal, but just 5-3 when committing more. The Spartans are 12-1 when committing fewer than 15 turnovers, but just 5-3 when committing 15 or more. In their wins, the Spartans average just 13.3 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 three most recent games, MSU is averaging 12.3 turnovers, resulting in a 53-39 advantage in points off turnovers. Last season, the Spartans averaged 13.6 turnovers, which was the lowest average of the Tom Izzo era.
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. Against the Illini, Walton added three steals, including two big strips in the second half.
Morgan Battles Illness
Raymar Morgan is currently fighting walking pneumonia, limiting his playing time and production. He has started just two of the last 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 contests. A healthy Morgan is a key to MSU's long-range hopes, as he was averaging 15.2 points and 27.1 minutes prior to the Illinois contest, leading the Spartans in scoring and shooting 60.0 percent from the field.
Hitting The Offensive Glass
Michigan State leads the Big Ten in offensive rebounds, grabbing 14.71 per game. The Spartans are grabbing 42.2 percent of their missed shots, collecting 309 offensive rebounds compared to 423 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 147 offensive rebounds compared to 163 defensive boards for the opponents, averaging 16.33 offensive boards per game. The 23 offensive rebounds MSU collected against Minnesota were the most by a Spartan team against a Big Ten opponent since 1998.
MSU's Home-Court Advantage
Since the Breslin Center opened for the 1989-90 season, Michigan State has posted a 262-39 (.870) home record, including 165-15 (.917) in the last 12 seasons.
Lucas Dials Up His Scoring
Kalin Lucas has ranked among the league and national leaders in assists all season, but he's elevated his scoring as of late. Over the last 10 games, Lucas is averaging 19.5 points, leading the Big Ten in scoring in conference games at 19.2 ppg. During the last 10 games, he is shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from 3-point range and 86.8 percent from the foul line, averaging 6.8 free-throw attempts per game.
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 15 games, the Spartans are allowing just 63.5 points on 41.7 percent shooting, including just 32.4 percent from 3-point range. In the last three games, however, Spartan opponents are shooting 50.7 percent from the floor, including 42.4 percent from behind the arc.
Suton's Presence
After missing six straight games with a left knee injury, Goran Suton has appeared in the last 13 games, averaging 10.8 points and 8.6 boards in 26.7 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 points, 12 rebounds), Penn State (13 points, 14 rebounds) and Northwestern (15 points, 14 rebounds). Michigan State is 13-2 with Goran Suton in the lineup.
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.
The Free Throw Story
Traditionally a strong free-throw shooting team, Michigan State is shooting just .677 from the charity stripe. MSU is averaging 23.4 free-throw attempts per game, compared to just 17.9 attempts for Spartan opponents.
Lending A Helping Hand
Michigan State is recording an assist on 62.9 percent of its baskets (356-of-566). The Spartans average 16.95 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 5.00 assists per contest, while freshman Korie Lucious dished out 11 against Alcorn State, the most by any Spartan this season.
Walton Moves Up Career Assists Chart
With 495 career assists, Travis Walton ranks sixth in Michigan State history. He needs 67 assists to pass Mark Montgomery (561 assists) for fifth place.
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 16 of 21 games this season. The Spartan reserves have out-scored the opponent subs, 564-364, an average of 26.9-17.3.
Lucas Dishes It Out
Kalin Lucas paces the Big Ten with a 3.09-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while ranking fifth in the conference at 5.00 helpers per contest. As of Feb. 2, he ranks eighth in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio. Lucas has recorded one or no turnovers in 14 of 21 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.
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 (.467). Individually, Raymar Morgan ranks second in the conference, connecting on 58.0 percent of his shots.
Beating The Best
According to the ESPN.com InsideRPI Daily (Feb. 4), Michigan State is 7-1 against the RPI top 50. Only Oklahoma (9) has more victories against the RPI top 50, while Duke, Connecticut and Kansas have six.
Roe's Recovery
Despite undergoing two knee surgeries in the last 12 months, 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 first four games of the season, he averaged 15.0 minutes and 3.5 rebounds. In the next 17 games, he is averaging 5.5 rebounds, 5.0 points and 17.2 minutes per contest.
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 .455, averaging 6.0 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. 13 in The Associated Press poll and No. 14 in the USA TODAY/ESPN coaches' poll. Six Spartan opponents are also ranked, including North Carolina (#3 AP/#4 USA Today/ESPN), Purdue (#12/13), Texas (#16/17), Minnesota (#19/19), Illinois (#23/21) and Kansas (#21/24). MSU is 2-1 against ranked opponents this season.
Spartans On The Run
Michigan State leads the Big Ten in scoring offense at 75.5 points per game, a sign of the up-tempo pace the Spartans are playing in 2008-09. This year's edition of the Spartans could challenge the 2004-05 squad for the highest-scoring team of the Tom Izzo era. In '04-05, MSU averaged 78.5 points en route to a Final Four appearance.
Life Away From Home
Michigan State is 5-0 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 6-0 in true road games, winning at No. 21 Minnesota, Penn State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Iowa and IPFW. The Spartans have also played six neutral site games, the most by a MSU squad in the regular season since the 2005-06 season. MSU is 10-2 away from the Breslin Center, tied for the most victories away from home in the nation. Michigan State played nine of its first 13 games away from home.
Big Ten Road Wins
Michigan State has won its first five league road games for the first time in school history. In five Big Ten road wins, the Spartans are averaging 74.8 points, led by Kalin Lucas at 20.0 ppg, while Durrell Summers (13.4 ppg) and Raymar Morgan (11.0 ppg) average double figures as well. MSU is dominating the glass, out-rebounding opponents by a +16.2 margin. The Spartans are also taking care of the ball, averaging just 12.6 turnovers per game.
Lucas Earns 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. He scored 20 points against the Buckeyes and followed with 22 against the Jayhawks. For the week, he shot .579 (11-of-19) from the field, .714 (5-of-7) from 3-point range and .882 (15-of-17) from the foul line. It is the first weekly award of the his career and the second straight for a Spartan as Raymar Morgan was honored on Jan. 5. In addition, Lucas was named National Player of the Week by ESPN.com's Andy Katz.
Morgan Earns Big Ten Player of the Week Honor
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. In a win at No. 21 Minnesota, Morgan scored 10 points and collected 10 rebounds. He posted another double-double at Northwestern, leading the squad with 22 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 9-of-13 from the field. For the week, he shot 54.2 percent (13-of-24) from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range and 4-of-5 from the foul line. It is the third weekly award of Morgan's career.
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 (Charlotte Bobcats), 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 322-134 (.706), and 152-71 (.682) 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 .682 winning percentage in Big Ten games ranks third all-time among league coaches with at least 10 years of service, behind former Indiana coach Bob Knight (.700) and Purdue's Ward Lambert (.685). In all games, Knight ranks first at .734, followed by Wisconsin's Walter Meanwell (.712), Lambert (.709) and Izzo (.706). With 152 conference victories, Izzo ranks 11th all-time.
Izzo Against Ranked Opponents
In his 14 years of coaching, Tom Izzo is 67-65 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 188-24 (.887) at home, including 165-15 (.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.
