Tom Izzo, Michigan State reinstates Derrick Nix to Spartans basketball team after marijuana-related issue

Photo -- Associated Press: Spartans senior-to-be Derrick Nix is getting another shot at being the leader of the Michigan State basketball team. He's capable of it. Hopefully he learned a valuable lesson from his recent drug-related court case.



By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

Derrick Nix will get his chance to lead the Michigan State Spartans basketball team next season.

The senior-to-be was recently charged with marijuana possession and operating a vehicle with the presence of drugs, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of impaired driving Thursday in a court in East Lansing. The marijuana possession charges were dropped, according to a report from CBS Sports and MLive.com.

Nix has had his ups-and-downs during his career at Michigan State. He's battled weight issues since leaving Detroit Pershing High, and even contemplated leaving the Spartans prior to the 2010 Maui Invitational. However, he matured greatly this season and helped lead the Spartans to the Sweet 16.

He caught a break Thursday. Hopefully he'll learn from his recent transgressions. 

"I (got to) become a man," Nix said, according to the CBS report, which cited the Detroit Free Press.

Initially, I had my doubts. I wasn't sure if Nix's issue from just over a week ago was a sign of prior problems. And if they were, I thought it would be best for Spartans coach Tom Izzo to cut ties with Nix. Izzo had put up with several team-related behavioral issues which led him to clean house and dismiss Chris Allen and Korie Lucious from the program. If Nix was on his way to becoming the next Allen or Lucious, he had to go.

From the sound of it, this was an isolated incident. Or, at the very least, an issue that could be handled without dismissal. Nix will be a key component for the Spartans next season. It's good to hear that he's willing to make up for his folly. As a young man, mistakes will be made. As a college athlete on scholarship, mistakes will be magnified, as Nix is held to a higher standard than the typical college student, who doesn't represent their institution at the level an athlete does.

Athletes are on TV and subject to media attention. The average student hanging out in the dorms is not. It may be a double-standard, but it does exist and should be addressed. Likewise, Nix should understand that his drug-related incident is commonplace among college students. They experiment with marijuana, but they're not on a full-ride, nor do they have to answer to Izzo. There is a difference. A huge difference.

As a follower of the college game, I'm glad that Nix is getting a second chance. Furthermore, I'm happy to hear that his court issue won't jeopardize his standing at Michigan State or cast a shadow on his adult life. This was a classic case of bad judgment. Nix needed to make the right call, however, he didn't. He chose to possess marijuana. He chose to smoke it, which led to his impaired driving.

Learn from this and move on, Derrick.

Michigan State Spartans should continue to work Derrick Nix into game plan next season

Photo: Associated Press -- Derrick Nix was a valuable contributor for the Michigan State Spartans this season. He should continue to be valuable next season if the Spartans stay committed to an inside game.



By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

Derrick Nix was a key to the Michigan State Spartans' success this year, and he should be even more valuable next season.

The slimmed-down, 6-foot-9, 270-pound junior improved his overall game, but relied mostly on his sheer girth to power his way to baskets around the rim. Nix, who played his prep ball at Detroit Pershing, helped re-establish a post game the Spartans lacked for years.

In the past, Nix appeared to play below his potential. He would get frustrated and put himself in foul trouble. But this season, Nix fouled out just once (74-69 loss to Duke) and demonstrated a matured comprehension of his role with the Spartans and improved understanding of the game in general.

Nix put up nearly eight points per game as the Spartans marched their way into the Sweet 16, more than doubling his average from his sophomore season of 2.7 points per game.

Nix's left-handed hook near the basket was the best weapon in his arsenal. However, he was able to attack the basket and rebound the ball with more authority, too.

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A main concern is consistency, though. While Nix quickly became a fan favorite this season, he didn't have the game most would have expected him to Thursday, when the Spartans fell 57-44 to the fourth-seeded Louisville Cardinals in a Sweet 16 battle in Phoenix.

Nix had four points and four rebounds in 19 minutes, but was a non-factor in the paint. The Cardinals became one of few teams to out-rebound the Spartans this year and seemingly eliminated any inside advantage the Spartans thought they had. Nix didn't have one foul Thursday. That could be viewed as disciplined play, but it could also suggest that Nix wasn't as aggressive as he should have been.

Typically a guard-driven offense, the Spartans greatly benefited from their inside game in 2011-12. Much of that success was due to Nix, who scored in double-figures 14 times, including a career-high 18 in the Spartans' 89-67 second-round tournament victory over LIU-Brooklyn.

He'll be a senior next season, and there are more guards on the way. However, the Spartans should remain committed to the inside game and further explore Nix's potential. He could become one of the most dominant big men in the Big Ten.

Follow Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Michigan State's Derrick Nix refers to Michigan as 'Little Nephews;' comment good for rivalry

Photo: MLive.com


By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

Derrick Nix has hardly ever held back his emotions. But after a comment Sunday, Nix, unknowingly or not, set him self up to be a target. He'll have to shoulder more of the Spartans' load in the Big Ten Tournament in order to escape his latest hot sound bite.

Last season, Nix, who was then a sophomore, questioned his team's leadership under seniors Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers. He wasn't wrong to do so, but there is often a time and place for such comments.

And Sunday, after the Spartans' last-second 72-70 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes, Nix again let his emotions take flight as he answered questions from reporters. Although the Spartans won the Big Ten regular-season title, they also had to share it with Ohio State… and Michigan, the Spartans' arch nemesis.

"It's real emotional because we're Big Ten champs, but at the same time, none of us are happy," Nix said Sunday. "And that shows what type of group of guys we've got. Because my freshman year (2010) we won and we shared, but everyone was happy. But we're not happy toward this one, just sharing it. That just comes with all the blood, sweat and tears we've put in, because this meant a lot to us and really meant a lot to our seniors."

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The Spartans gave up a 15-point lead to Ohio State, which was fueled by William Buford's spirited shooting performance. The Buckeyes senior scored a game-high 25 points, but that wasn't the worst part of Sunday's loss, Nix says—sharing the title with Michigan was.

"We had to share it with our little nephews, and that sucks," Nix said. "So now they're happy because we lost. We got to just try to win this Big Ten tournament."

Nix's "Little Nephews" comment was a derivative of former Wolverines football player Mike Hart's "Little Brother" comment a few years back. That comment was bulletin board material for the Spartans, who went on to beat UM four straight years on the field.

It's understandable that Nix was upset after Sunday's loss. In fact, one would expect—given Nix's track record—for him to say something along those lines. Now—and probably more so with the loss of freshman Branden Dawson—Nix will have to step up and help lead Michigan State.

If he does, the "Little Nephews" comment will be forgotten, likely considered a humorous point for the Spartans to talk about as they celebrate a tournament title. If Nix fails, and the Spartans lose, his comment could come back to haunt him as Hart's comment has seemingly haunted the Wolverines on the football field for the the past four years.

When it comes to Michigan-Michigan State, there are little, if any boundaries when it comes to "trash talk." Each side has thrown darts, but they've been confined more so to football than basketball. As co-champions, the Wolverines will likely look to make Nix eat his words.

Nix's comment is the fuel for the Wolverines. Not that they were in need of motivation, but it makes this year's Big Ten Tournament all the more personal for Michigan and Michigan State. It will also seep into the NCAA Tournament, as each team won't only compete against those in their regions, but against one 

another.

As if March Madness couldn't get any "madder," enter Nix's "Little Nephews" sentiment. It's good for the Spartans and good for the Big Ten. But it's great for fans on both sides.

Michigan State Spartans 'Nix' Sully and the Ohio State Buckeyes

By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

Michigan State junior center Derrick Nix was justifiably excited Saturday night after his team's 58-48 win over the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena in Columbus.

The Spartans' much-improved big man took to Twitter after the win, most likely referencing the victory with a Tweet of "R.I.P to da competition."

With the win, the 12th-ranked Spartans not only halted Ohio State's 39-game home winning streak (lost six of last eight at home to MSU), but they also evened the Big Ten standings, with both teams gridlocked at 9-3 for first place in the conference.

It's looking all the more likely that Spartans-Buckeyes duel March 4 in East Lansing will settle the Big Ten race, which, this season, has been one of the most competitive of any in the nation.

Nix's performance, along with strong individual efforts from senior Draymond Green and sophomore Adreian Payne, showed that the Spartans are once again a gritty, physical team. And those types of teams directed by 17-year veteran coach Tom Izzo are incredibly dangerous—especially in March, which is quickly approaching.

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Put the Nix on Sully

Nix finished with a bench-high six points in 19 minutes, with four of those points coming in the second half after nimble moves past Buckeyes star Jared Sullinger, who had 10 turnovers Saturday.
While Sullinger had a team-high 17 points, he shot just 5-for-15 from the field, and the majority of his opportunities in the paint were heavily contested by Nix, Payne and Green.

Double-doubles are great, but Payne stole the show

Green tallied his 14th double-double of the season, further showing that he should be considered one of the top two players—if not the top player—in the Big Ten. However, as impressive as Green was Saturday, Payne stole the show with a seemingly new-found aggressive style.

Spectators have long awaited for Payne's physical side to come out. He's shown it sporadically throughout his two years in East Lansing, but Saturday was proof positive that Payne is capable of being a fiery player.
Averaging about seven points per game this season, Payne scored 11 of his season-high 17 in the first half.

Four of Payne's six rebounds were on the offensive glass, which complemented his season-high four assists and two steals. If the sophomore continues to play like he did Saturday, the Spartans should flourish with the ability to rely on him to attack the basket.

Appling of Izzo's eye

Late in the second half, Ohio State surged with a 6-0 run, cutting Michigan State's once 10-point lead to just 44-40. The Spartans couldn't sink a bucket for close to five minutes, going 0-for-6 in that stretch and committing three turnovers.

But then Izzo called a timeout. He looked to star sophomore guard Keith Appling, who helped the Spartans rattle off an 11-3 run and eventually close the door on the Buckeyes.

Appling's speed and finesse have been key ingredients to the Spartans' success. However, his free-throw shooting has been helpful, too, evidenced by his 5-for-6 showing at the line Saturday. Four of those five makes came as the Spartans rallied, showing that Appling, who scored 14 points in the win, can get to the line—and make his shots—when Izzo needs a run stopped.

Follow Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Michigan State's trouncing of UMKC was an effective pre-Big Ten tune-up

This article was originally published on Yahoo! Sports
By Adam Biggers

Sure, the 19th-ranked Michigan State Spartans have one more non-conference battle before hosting the Indiana Hoosiers on Dec. 28 at the Breslin Center—they host Lehigh on Dec. 22—but Monday night's 89-54 romping of the University of Missouri-Kansas City was a great step toward heading into the Holiday break with a healthy confidence.

The game was over before it started, really. Michigan State had beaten 61 prior un-ranked, non-conference teams at the Breslin Center, stemming back to Dec. 30, 2002, and there was little doubt that they'd make it 62 with a win over UMKC.

Michigan State (10-2) jumped out to a 16-2 lead over the 'Roos (7-6, 1-1) by way of Derrick Nix's lefty-hook and never looked back. It was clear that the Spartans would roll onto a sizable victory after that play, although, there were plenty more on the way.

Freshman Branden Dawson scored a career-high 16 points, shooting 8-for-12 from the field and throwing down a couple raucous dunks in the process. Spartans coach Tom Izzo recently said that it would only be a matter of time before Dawson became a star at Michigan State.

While Dawson's ravaging of a Summit League opponent doesn't qualify him for stardom just yet, he's had showings against better foes that have suggested he'll be there soon.

Dawson continues to look more and more like the five-star phenom Spartans followers couldn't wait to see play. With a little brushing up on his perimeter defense—he was burned twice, by my count, Monday—he'll be the real deal.

Seniors Draymond Green and Brandon Wood also turned in spirited performances, with Green tallying 10 points and 11 rebounds and Wood finishing with 16 points (3-for-3 from 3-point range).

Green… well, what more could be said about Green? Even against what fans—not the Spartans—would call a "cupcake" team, he battled in the paint, crashed the boards and hit the deck for loose balls. The Spartans are his to command, and he showed why he's well-respected—he never lets up.

Nix, a junior, looked good in the paint, however, he appeared to roll his left foot when going up for a rebound in the second half. He returned to the bench under his own power, and by the looks of things, he'll live. Along with Nix, Adreian Payne helped limit the 'Roos to nearly zero production in the paint.

In fact, the 'Roos, who came in as one of the nation's top 3-point shooting teams (42 percent), looked hesitant to come inside the perimeter. That hesitation was warranted, as the Spartans blocked six shots in the first 20 minutes, forcing the 'Roos to stick to what they knew, and that was shooting the long ball.

But, that didn't work out too well for UMKC, which shot 22 percent from beyond the arc in the first half and a sub-par 31 percent from the floor. The poor shooting performances, along with a stingy and powerful Spartans defense, led UMKC to a 40-20 deficit at the break.

A few good looks…

There were plenty of unselfish plays to go around Monday night. The Spartans had 14 assists at the half, and Izzo praised the Spartans' willingness to spread the ball around during his post-game interview with the Big Ten Network's Greg Kelser (Special K).

Nix's hustle in the first half was something to take note of. He's been giving more effort, it seems, each and every game. After sinking his lefty-hook in the first half, he ran down the floor, blocking Fred Chatmon's shot at an open lay-up.

Dawson's dunks were the icing on the cake. His best came in the first half. He took advantage of the mismatch, leaped from right edge of the charge circle and threw down a nice one-handed flush. It was a highlight dunk you'll see on all the recap shows, trust me.

The play gave Michigan State a 23-11 edge and let the flood gates open. Well, there were a couple plays that could be given credit for that, but that's one I chose to cite. Dawson's one-handed, breakaway dunk in the second half gave the Spartans a 51-23 cushion. That was a morale-crushing play, too.

Wood helped ensure the Spartans would post a beyond-lopsided victory with a dagger 3-pointer with about six minutes to play, giving Michigan State a 76-46 lead.

Walk it out, walk-ons…

Keenan Wetzel, seemingly eighth-year senior Anthony Ianni and even Dan Chapman got a little action. It was nice to see Ianni sink a free-throw, as he's been a guy who I've really admired for giving a lot with little in return—kind of like a bigger, meatier Tom Herzog. Those guys make the program go 'round, believe it or not.

Adam Biggers has followed NCAA basketball for over 20 years, specifically the Michigan State Spartans. He can be reached by e-mail at Adam.Biggers @Yahoo.com, or, by Twitter @AdamBiggers81.

Michigan State Spartans centers Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne answering questions of effectiveness

This article was originally published on Yahoo! Sports

By Adam Biggers

If the Michigan State Spartans were to be a truly competitive team this season, their centers, Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne, had to respond to criticism and up their levels of play.


And after a 74-67 tournament-like road win Saturday at 22nd-ranked Gonaga (5-3), both showed improvement, providing confidence to Spartans followers that their team would indeed have a forceful inside game in 2011-12.

Nix and Payne each did an adequate job of containing star Bulldogs center Robert Sacre, who scored just eight points from the field, with the other eight coming from the free-throw line.

Prior to the game, Nix said Sacre would be a challenge. Matter of fact, out of all the players Nix has faced in his collegiate career, he said Sacre was the toughest to handle.

"I ain't ever played anybody stronger than he is," Nix told reporters. "I saw him in a few games this year. He looks even stronger and he has good post moves."

Nix muscled Sacre on Saturday, looking more like the mammoth force he was at Detroit Pershing just three years ago, and less like an underachieving talent struggling to survive the rigors of the Big Ten.

Payne, who scored nine points to Nix's eight, was effective in a different manner than his teammate was. A long, athletic 6-foot-10 gazelle-like center, Payne used his long arms to his advantage, blocking two of Sacre's shots. Payne forced two turnovers in the paint, and along with Nix, helped the Spartans (8-2) compete in a battle on the boards—a battle in which the Spartans lost for the first time all season (35-25).

Nix had a team-high six boards, while Payne brought in three. Nix had one of his better games of the young season, considering the fact that it was against a robust opponent on the road. He needed to show up in a meaningful road game to gain confidence.

To combat the size of Sacre, a 7-footer, both Spartans centers had to show up to play. Nix was physical, and Payne used his athleticism. The combination worked well for Tom Izzo's Spartans.

Payne has scored in double figures four times this season, nearly doing it for a fifth time Saturday with nine points. Last year, as a freshman, Payne scored in double figures just twice—10 points in a 96-66 season-opening win over Eastern Michigan, and 10 in a 71-61 loss to Ohio State.

Nix had five more rebounds four times last season. He's matched that feat this year, with a season-high nine coming in the Spartans' 67-55 season-opening loss to the then top-ranked North Carolina Tarheels.

Saturday's game was a just glimpse of what Nix and Payne, when working together as one, could do this season for the Spartans. Their statistics certainly indicate that they're on the rise, improving greatly from a year ago.

If they can establish the same type of continuity that the guard unit is developing, the Spartans will be a well-rounded team capable of playing a complete game on all fronts.

Adam Biggers can be reached by e-mail at Adam.Biggers@Yahoo.com, or, by Twitter @AdamBiggers81