Michigan State Spartans coach Tom Izzo is 'extremely valuable,' especially in March, says MSU legend Shawn Respert

Photo: Wikimedia Commons


By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

The value of a great coach can never be underestimated, especially during the NCAA Tournament.

Tom Izzo, Michigan State's head coach, is renowned for his sideline savvy and ability to get the most out of his players—and that becomes all the more evident each March when Izzo, who has coached his way to a national title and six Final Fours, continuously has his Spartans in the hunt for glory.

For the 10th time during his tenure, Izzo has Michigan State, the West Region's top-seeded team, in the Sweet 16. He's two wins away from the 2012 Final Four in New Orleans, but first has to derail Rick Pitino's fourth-seeded Louisville Cardinals on Thursday in Phoenix.

Izzo's presence alone is probably worth at least a few points each game. He knows what to do, and when to do it. Far from just a coach, Izzo is an institution—a figurehead of the hardwood worth his weight in gold come March Madness.

"He's extremely valuable," said Spartans legend Shawn Respert, who remembers Izzo as a determined assistant under the iconic Jud Heathcote.

In the trenches year-in and year-out, Izzo's mastery of managing talent is quite difficult to contend with. Out-witting "Mr. March" is nearly as challenging as winning the tournament itself. It's safe to assume that potential opposing coaches would rather see the Spartans bow out early than devise a game plan to knock Izzo out of his comfort zone.

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"He's been (to the NCAA Tournament) 15 straight times and has 17 years of head coaching experience—he's at the point where he's seen it all," Respert said. "You're not going to surprise Tom Izzo with a new offense or new out-of-bounds plays."

At times, however, Michigan State doesn't benefit from Izzo's tact for Xs and Os. Instead, players reap reward from digesting what they're told and making their own wise decisions on the court.

"Coach Izzo's magic is that it's not about him knowing it all—it's how he can relate that (to players)," said Respert, who now works for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves as a player mentor and developer. "That's where Michigan State sets itself apart from a team that makes the tournament every now and then."

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Confidence evident with Michigan State Spartans' Tom Izzo and Keith Appling, but LIU-Brooklyn won't back down

Photo: MLive.com

By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

A confident coach, along with a confident star player, will likely bode well for the fifth-ranked, No. 1-seeded Michigan State Spartans during the NCAA Tournament.

The Spartans, who sit atop the West Region bracket, have LIU-Brooklyn as their first opponent at 9:20 p.m. Friday in Columbus, Ohio—a team that likes to run the court, just like Michigan State.

Michigan State sophomore guard Keith Appling is comfortable with the task of keeping up with the Blackbirds, who are coming off back-to-back NEAC titles. Furthermore, he's comfortable with doing the same against teams like Missouri, which is the No. 2 team in the West.

"I like the fast-paced game, because it's a lot more fun to be a part of," Appling said during a recent interview. "Lot of up-and-down, very fast-paced. There's going to be a lot of easy opportunities to get baskets on the fast break."

Spartans coach Tom Izzo, who was recently named CBS Sports' Coach of the Year, is also confident with his team's speed and ability to run the floor. Having Appling in charge makes things a little easier.

"…For the most part, with Keith, I think we can push it now, he's getting to the point where he can push it and make decisions when he gets down there, something (freshman guard) Travis (Trice) has to keep working on," Izzo said.

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"Keith's learning how to pull it out, and that's going to be important, too, because there are teams that run better than we do that are in this group. If we face them, we're going to have to figure out how to do that under control.

"But I still say getting some easy baskets, getting some shots, we're really looking at getting the ball into the first post more, off our break, instead of just getting wide-open shots or layups. And if you keep your big guys running, and we think we have two or three that we can rotate in there, the advantage goes to us."

LIU-Brooklyn coach Jim Ferry knows his team will be backed against a wall Friday. And he's OK with that. The Blackbirds coach said during a recent interview that he is willing to fight fire with fire—or in this case, speed with speed, when it comes to matching up with the Big Ten regular-season and conference tournament champion Spartans.

"We have to be able to compete with them on the glass so we can get our transition game going," Ferry said. "There's no question about it.

"If we can get the game going in transition a little bit, then I think we're going to put some pressure on them. We play at one of the highest tempos in college basketball period. We average 85 points a game in league and 82 overall. We're one of the fastest teams up and down the court. We got to get them to play that way. We do."

One has to like Ferry's statement. Sure, a 16th-seeded team isn't regularly viewed as a threat—and that couldn't be more true when it's set to collide with Michigan State, a team which many feel could land in the 2012 Final Four in New Orleans.

But, and there is a "but," the Spartans are far above any competition LIU-Brooklyn faced this season. And with Izzo ready for March—and one of his star players eager to take the court—the Blackbirds are ripe for an ousting.

Appling has elite-level speed. Not to say LIU-Brooklyn has no shot of containing him, but once the former Detroit Pershing High star gets going, he's hard to stop—that goes for any team, Missouri included.

Expect the first half Friday to be back-and-forth. That much is inevitable. Michigan State averaged about 72 points per game in the Big Ten—a conference not known for overly fast-paced action. LIU-Brooklyn has the tools to keep the game close in the first 20 minutes.

However, the Spartans have tournament experience. And that's not just a reference to past NCAA Tournaments. Look back to their win at Gonzaga, a victory that was considered to be of tournament-caliber. Although some pieces are young, Michigan State has an experienced senior in Draymond Green and Austin Thornton, both of whom have been to the Final Four.

Looking past any opening-round opponent is never a good idea. But in this case, doing so wouldn't be out of the question. Michigan State's firepower, accompanied by its leadership and experience, should make light work of the Blackbirds on Friday night.

It's OK to project Michigan State Spartans to 2012 Final Four in New Orleans because they're capable of getting there

Photo: Associated Press -- Michigan State senior Draymond Green (left) congratulates teammate Brandon Wood after Sunday's 68-64 Big Ten Championship Game win over the Ohio State Buckeyes.


By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

If you forecast the Michigan State Spartans in the 2011 Final Four, you may have been a bit on the optimistic side. Well, you were probably closer to delusional if you thought the Spartans were among the four best teams in the country a year ago. They were uncharacteristically bounced from the opening round by UCLA after struggling to secure a bid to March Madness—it wasn't Michigan State's finest season.
But this year is different.

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Whether you're a die-hard Spartans fan, or a college basketball expert, the 2012 Spartans appear as a championship-caliber team to an array of different fans and groups. And it's OK to project the Spartans to land in the 2012 Final Four in New Orleans because they are indeed one of the top four to five teams in the nation. ESPN's Hubert Davis sees the Spartans losing to North Carolina in the title game while his colleague, Digger Phelps, believes Michigan State will beat Kentucky for the championship.

The Spartans' past track record certainly suggests that they'll be a team to contend with during March Madness. They're fresh off a 68-64 conference title win over Ohio State. which they shared the Big Ten regular-season title with (and Michigan). The Spartans then earned a No. 1 seed in the West Region, played in Phoenix, because of their resume.

If Michigan State isn't primed for the tournament, I don't know what team is.

Michigan State boasts senior star Draymond Green, who won the Big Ten Player of the Year Award and is considered one of the best players in all of college basketball. Not since former Wake Forest star Tim Duncan in 1997 has a player from a major conference averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds and three assists per game. But Green did it this year.

In fact, other than Kansas' Thomas Robinson and Kentucky's Anthony Davis, there aren't many players with the ability or resume that Green possesses. That's a definite plus for a title-hungry team like the Spartans.

Review the Spartans' individual and team accomplishments thus far—it's perfectly logical to think that a team that played the toughest schedule, won arguably the most competitive conference's regular-season and tournament titles and boasts one of the nation's elite players could go all the way.

In 2010-11, just getting in the tournament and extending its 14 straight postseason appearances seemed to be good enough for Michigan State. However, this year's team isn't last year's Michigan State. It's a more cohesive unit capable of competing alongside the NCAA's best teams.

Take a quick glance at the West Region bracket. Though it is challenging, it's not too much to expect Michigan State to emerge from it. Yes, Missouri is a great team, and so are Marquette and Florida. St. Louis and Long Beach State are formidable adversaries, too.

Each of the aforementioned has its own particular strength. But Michigan State, although lacking a bit of depth, seems to be the most complete unit—one could argue that Missouri is—in the West. The Spartans have showed they can dictate the tempo of a game, go big or small, crash the boards and be successful under nearly any condition.

The Spartans have a strong corps of guards, led by Keith Appling and Brandon Wood. With both at their peaks, Michigan State could be a difficult team to defend off the dribble and from the perimeter.
Centers Adreian Payne and Derrick Nix each had respectable Big Ten Tournaments and possess the ability to control the offensive and defensive glass. Rebounding, as it has been in the past, is one of the Spartans' strength this season. They posted a Big Ten-best 38 boards per game, good for 26th nationally.

Of course, the past is the past. But if you're into coincidence, remember this: The last time the Spartans won the Big Ten Tournament, they won the national title (2000). Each of the previous three times the Spartans earned a No. 1 seed in The Big Dance, they went on to reach the Final Four (99-01). And they have this Izzo guy on the sideline—just food for thought.

Video: Big Ten Player of the Year Draymond Green highlight reel. 

Michigan State's Draymond Green wins Big Ten Player of the Year honors

Photo: MLive.com

By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

It should come to no surprise that Draymond Green was named the Big Ten's Player of the Year.

The Michigan State Spartans' do-everything senior star led his team to a share of a regular-season conference title, scoring 15 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing three assists per game in the process. His presence alone was the key to the Spartans' success. For without Green, many viewed Michigan State as an average group in the Big Ten—but that's what a player of Green's caliber does: Makes his team better.

For the past two seasons, Green has shown that he was much more than an around-the-basket scorer, showcasing his 3-point prowess and ability to move the ball as well as any player his size in the country. At 6-foot-7, 230 pounds, Green played, at times, more like a point guard rather than a forward. His 17 double-doubles in Big Ten play only highlighted what was an incredible resume this season. However, an outright Big Ten title would have made it glow.

A year ago, the Spartans hobbled into March Madness, only to meet their demise in the first round by way of a loss to UCLA. But, because of Green, the Spartans rose to the top of the Big Ten standings this season and solidified themselves as a top 10 team in the nation.

A first-round loss doesn't appear to be in the cards for Michigan State (24-7, 13-5) this March. Most college basketball pundits feel Michigan State could make a run to, or past, the Sweet 16.
And again, that's due to Green.

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"He's the most versatile player maybe in America," said Spartans coach Tom Izzo, who was named the league's Coach of the Year. "He does as many things or more things than anybody I've seen in this league in a while."

Green became the seventh Spartans player to earn the Big Ten Player of the Year distinction, joining legends like Scott Skiles, Mateen Cleaves, Shawn Respert, Morris Peterson and Jay Vincent. Considering the aforementioned players' resumes, Green also put himself in the category of the historically great players to ever suit up in East Lansing.

While joining the ranks of the Spartans elite was certainly the icing on the cake, Green started the season with a more attainable goal: Winning conference player of the year honors. As a senior of his stature should, Green weighed his competition at the season's start.

"Coming into the season, being named Player of the Year was something that Coach Izzo and I had talked about, but everyone thought it would be Jared Sullinger," Green said in a statement. "Usually the best player on the best team gets a lot of publicity, and as we got better and started to win more games, I started getting thrown into that conversation.

"As my play started getting better, it became more of a realistic goal to have. It was a goal I set because I like to set goals, but it seemed so far out of reach coming into the season…"

While he was officially given the honor Monday, Green, for all intents and purposes, won the Player of the Year award two weeks ago. He was named the BBWA's Player of the Week and was fresh off a stellar performance in a 58-48 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus. It was obvious he no longer had any competition in the race.

Green may not the be the "sexy" pick for the award. He may not be the flashiest, most exciting player to watch, either. But he is the most valuable to his team, and without a doubt the premier leader in the Big Ten—if not in the country. There aren't many players who can do what Green does physically, or mentally, for that matter. And for that, he's most deserving on the conference's crowning achievement.

Other Spartans honorees...

Senior Austin Thornton won the Big Ten's Sportsmanship Award.

Freshman Branden Dawson was named to the All-Freshman Team. 

Sophomore Keith Appling was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team.

Tom Izzo earned his third Big Ten Coach the Year Award, although, he says Tom Crean of Indiana, John Beilein of Michigan or Fran McCaffrey of Iowa were also deserving.

Defense, defense, defense: Michigan State Spartans prove they're a team to fear with win at Purdue

By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

Sunday was a defensive performance that the Michigan State Spartans may look back on at the end of the season, one that showed the nation that they're not only one of the Big Ten's elite but, perhaps, one of college basketball's top defensive units.

Coach Tom Izzo's eighth-ranked Spartans (22-5, 11-3) held the Purdue Boilermakers (17-10, 7-7) scoreless for nearly five minutes to open the second half in West Lafayette en route to posting an impressive 76-62 victory, which gave them a one-game lead over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten standings.

The Boilermakers fashioned an 8-0 run midway through the second half—which was powered by freshman Anthony Johnson—but had trouble in the paint and from the perimeter, going on 0-for-9 and 0-for-10 streaks from the field.

As past Izzo teams have, the Spartans have absolutely buckled down defensively over the past weeks, evidenced by consecutive wins over the Buckeyes in Columbus and Wisconsin Badgers in East Lansing. Just three days ago, the Spartans held the Badgers to 34 percent from the field in a 69-55 win. Michigan State held Ohio State to just 26 percent from the field during a 58-48 win Feb. 11.

The Boilermakers shot a combined 34 percent from the field Sunday, but that statistic was heavily influenced by a somewhat decent showing in the first 20 minutes. The second half, however, was a different story for coach Matt Painter's team, which shot roughly seven percent from the field during the final 20 minutes.

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Contesting shots, forcing off-balance and ill-advised attempts was the theme for the Spartans, who were led Sunday by senior Draymond Green's 20 points and 10 rebounds. Green, along with freshman Branden Dawson, junior Derrick Nix and sophomore Adreian Payne, were extremely effective protecting the paint Sunday, holding Purdue to 12 points and forcing the Boilers to attack the perimeter—and that move didn't bring the Boilers much luck, resulting in a 6-for-22 performance and 27 percent field goal conversion rate (consistent with what the Spartans have allowed from 3-point distance this season).

Purdue committed just six turnovers Sunday. However, some statistics prove to be a bit misleading, as one could consider many of the Boilermakers' missed opportunities in the second the same as a turnover.

The Spartans made the Boilermakers pay for those misses, evidenced by a Keith Appling steal/assist that resulted in a thunderous dunk by Dawson, one of the Big Ten's elite freshman.

The Spartans' dominance on the boards has been a topic of discussion among college basketball pundits everywhere. Once an Izzo-coached team establishes itself on the glass, championship-caliber seasons surely follow. Michigan State out-rebounded Purdue 38-27 Sunday, keeping in line with its +11 rebound per-game average.

Follow Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Tom Izzo has vintage-like team with 2011-12 Michigan State Spartans

A photo of a younger Tom Izzo was appropriate for this piece.

By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81


Two wins this season have convinced me that the 12th-ranked Michigan State Spartans have truly returned to Tom Izzo basketball: Saturday's 58-48 win at third-ranked Ohio State and Feb. 5's 64-54 "revenge" win over Michigan, which is now ranked 22nd.

It's no secret, the 2010-11 season -- even more now, in hindsight -- was about as close to a disaster as the Spartans have had under Izzo, who is in his 17th year as Spartans head coach. Not only was the leadership absent, but the physical brand that Spartans spectators have grown accustomed to was nowhere to be found. You could dig through the stats, comparing the numbers (which I have), but a quick look at the records says it all: The Spartans went 9-9 in 2010-11, and now sit at 9-3 with six games to play.

To win in the Big Ten, a team has to be physical. Wisconsin, Purdue and Ohio State were tough last year, and ended the season as the league's top teams. The Spartans are playing just as, if not more, physical as any team in the Big Ten through this season's first 12 games. And they will finish the year as one of the league's best teams, barring an unforeseen meltdown.

Izzo has said that this year's team is one of the tougher teams he's had in some time. When I heard that, a couple thoughts went through my mind.

1.) Was it "coach talk?" I don't think Izzo would try to paint a pretty picture, but after the debacle from a year ago, I could see the coach being a bit more optimistic than he's been in the past. Nothing wrong with that.

2.) Maybe the Spartans, who routinely are among the nation's top rebounders, are really as tough as Izzo says. The second part of that thought was "That could be scary."

The win over the Wolverines on Feb. 5 showed that this year's team was mentally tough, especially after the Spartans dropped their three previous meetings with their in-state rival. Green out-rebounded Michigan himself, 16-15. That showed me that there was at least one senior that lived and died the rivalry, and didn't want his last game against the Wolverines to be a loss.

Senior leadership is present, even if it's just Green and Austin Thornton, who has surprised me with his play. He deserves the minutes he gets. Although he has considerably less attempts than most of the top 10, Thornton is the Big Ten's best 3-point shooter, statistically, shooting 12-for-21 (.571 percent). His energy and hustle have proven valuable, too.

The emergence of Adreian Payne and Derrick Nix certainly hasn't hurt, either. Since Goran Suton, Paul Davis, Drew Naymick, Delvon Roe and Raymar Morgan, I've been looking for a Spartans player with a keen sense on how to rebound and facilitate the offense -- Payne and Nix, although different from the aforementioned, have done similar jobs as those in the mentioned group. 

Sure, the Spartans are shooting from the perimeter a bit too much this year, evidenced by a 3-point rate of 29 percent. But they're making up for it by playing trademark Izzo ball, evidenced by a +11 rebound per-game margin and 3.9 blocks per game, third-best in the Big Ten.

If you have longed for the days of grind-it-out Spartans teams, and want to put last season far, far, far back in the rear-view mirror, sit back and enjoy the ride -- the 2011-12 Spartans could prove to be a vintage team under Izzo.

“I don’t feel any different than I felt a month ago, or six months ago: Ohio State’s the best team in the league,” Izzo said after Saturday's win. “But on this given day we were able to get them.”

Izzo may not feel any different. But the majority of Spartans followers would probably disagree with him: Michigan State, which is looking like an Izzo team of old, is the best in the league until proven otherwise, or a loss March 4 to the Buckeyes -- whichever comes first.

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

The fire still burns in Michigan State Spartans coach Tom Izzo's belly

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

During the LeBron James-Cleveland Cavaliers saga two years ago, there was speculation that Michigan State Spartans basketball coach Tom Izzo wouldn't be in East Lansing for long.

In fact, many thought that Izzo, who was offered the Cavaliers coaching job by Spartans alum and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, would bolt for the NBA to coach James in Cleveland. It was valid speculation, too. Izzo had been offered a job by the Atlanta Hawks just a handful of years prior, and the thought of Izzo coaching at the highest level of basketball had been thrown around by pundits and analysts alike.

Well, the James saga ended with the now-infamous "I'm taking my talents to South Beach" televised event, and Izzo stayed put in East Lansing, winning his 400th game Wednesday as the Spartans coach with a victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

It would be somewhat logical to assume that Izzo, who had twice flirted with the idea of leaving Michigan State, could, in theory, leave the program in the near future. But that's not so. This season, Izzo looks as if he's having fun again, and he has no exit strategy or plan to leave the program -- in the near future, at least -- that he built into a national powerhouse.

"I don't have a game plan," Izzo said during a recent radio interview. "Everyone says you should have one, but I really don't have one. I think as everything else, it's a feel. There's nothing that feels in the near future."

In the past, Izzo has said that he would like to win another national title with the Spartans before considering vacating his post as the mayor of East Lansing, rather, the head coach at Michigan State. Six Final Fours, a national title in 2000 and runner-up status in 2009 fuels the fiery coach. He has his team in great position to capture a Big Ten title, but, perhaps more importantly, make another deep run into national tournament known as March Madness.

"Really it comes down to how you feel and what your energy level is," Izzo said. "I think one thing that I promised myself is the day I don't want to go recruit all 20 days of the summer, time for me to get out. There are certain things that are part of these jobs you got to do 'em. If you don't want to talk to alums, you don't want to go out and recruit, you probably shouldn't have the job."

And Izzo is right. If a coach feels that he's lost the ability to draw in top talent, he probably should hang up the whistle. However, Izzo has brought in the likes of Keith Appling, a savvy guard who is most definitely the future of the Spartans offense; and Branden Dawson, a freshman who is a "star" in the making, according to the 17-year veteran coach.

Adding to his recent recruiting success is Gary Harris, one of the top players in the 2012 class who recently committed to Michigan State. Harris has been on Izzo's radar for some time, and landing the Indiana prep star only shows that Izzo hasn't lost that fire that he's become revered for.

Izzo, who will soon turn 57, has at least 10-15 years of coaching left. There have been several coaches who have stayed on the sidelines until their 70s, and Izzo most definitely fits that mold. Basketball is in his blood. Michigan State is in his blood. He won't stop until he's satisfied.

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 right where they need to be in Big Ten basketball standings

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

The Northwestern Wildcats' Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill. is a challenging venue to play at, and so is the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, home to the Michigan Wolverines.

And coach Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans, who were ranked ninth in the most recent Associated Press polls, found that out the hard way, dropping consecutive games to the Wildcats and Wolverines within the past week and snapping a 15-game win streak.

While the Spartans (15-4, 4-2) could have used at least one win during that stretch, they're still in the thick of an early race in the Big Ten that promises to play out to a memorable finish. Just six games through the conference slate, for most teams, anyway, the Spartans are among a group of four two-loss teams, and the likes of Indiana, which has lost four, and Wisconsin, which has three losses, are essentially clinging to slim chances of catching up to conference-leader Illinois, and contenders Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State.

In the grand scheme of things for Izzo's Spartans, early road losses could prove to be a positive, energizing the team for an important five-game stretch, which includes four at the Breslin Center, where they've yet to lose this season (11-0).

Michigan State will likely benefit from hosting a struggling, but unpredictable, Purdue Boilermakers (14-5, 4-2) squad in East Lansing, and then Tubby Smith's equally perplexing Minnesota Golden Gophers (14-5, 2-4), who have shown signs of life. While each team is capable of giving the Spartans fits, it's unlikely they'll come out with wins at the Breslin Center if Michigan State returns to form.

A road trip to Illinois is the obvious, glaring hurdle for the Spartans, who will have to endure trips to Indiana and Ohio State—assuming they win-out at home—in order to get their first Big Ten title since winning back-to-back crowns starting in 2008-09.

One has to like the Spartans' chances of escaping a rigorous conference slate with five or less losses, possibly four, given their history at the Breslin Center under Izzo. Two early losses may be cause for some to to worry, but rest assured that getting road games at Michigan and Northwestern out of the way somewhat lessens the load—Welsh-Ryan and Crisler are both arenas with somewhat mysterious home-court advantages.

The Buckeyes still have trips to Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, among others, left on their schedule. Don't forget a date at Northwestern, either. Among those four, Ohio State, assuming it can win-out at home, would have to take two, in all likelihood, to win the Big Ten.

Indiana, with four losses already, has to go to Purdue, Wisconsin and Michigan—and with four losses, the likelihood of the Hoosiers running the table, especially with its upcoming road opponents looming, is very slim.

Wisconsin, with three losses, has a road duel with Illinois, the Big Ten's only one-loss team, on Sunday, along with trips to East Lansing and Ohio State to contend with. Again, assuming the Badgers win-out at home, getting away with less than five road losses will be a task.

While Illinois has just one loss, games at Ohio State, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin have yet to be played. The current scenario suggests, if both teams remain steady, that Michigan State, Michigan and Illinois could be considered the Big Ten's front runners based on remaining schedule and number of losses to this point.

Considering the fact that the Spartans are a relatively young team with just one senior with considerable experience in Draymond Green, Michigan State should consider itself somewhat fortunate to be in the position it's in. Ohio State was the preseason pick to take the Big Ten, with Izzo's Spartans picked to finish in the top four. Somehow, like in 2010, when Izzo's team isn't expected to do much, it does the opposite. A trip to the Final Four might be a year or two away for Michigan State, but a third Big Ten title in the past four years is certainly attainable.

Follow Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Michigan State Spartans-Michigan Wolverines' clash will say plenty about Big Ten basketball race

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

The ninth-ranked Michigan State Spartans (15-3, 4-1) likely don't need much motivation heading into Tuesday's match with the 20th-ranked Michigan Wolverines (14-4, 4-2).


No, an 81-74 road loss Saturday to the unranked Northwestern Wildcats, which snapped its 15-game win streak, and two losses to the Wolverines last season are enough for Michigan State to put its best foot forward Tuesday at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor—and so is holding its top position in the Big Ten.

Perhaps the Spartans were due for a road loss Saturday. Maybe they were flying too high after posting 15 straight wins, their most since 1998-99, and needed to be knocked down a notch. Either way, with one loss, the Spartans now join the ranks of the blemished, no longer owning the conference's only perfect record.

"A good coach always has to find somebody to blame," Spartans coach Tom Izzo told reporters. "It's usually an assistant. But I don't blame any of my assistants. But I did have a problem with my scout team this week. I did not think they did the job that we needed to do the day that we left (for the Chicago area). And I let them know that after the practice. They're very valuable, too.

"People have trouble understanding how certain players that don't really play can have an impact on a team. And we didn't simulate (Northwestern) as well (as we needed to)."

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A three- or four-loss record, like in years past, will probably be good enough to win the league. With Ohio State, Indiana and Wisconsin having early slips, and Illinois right in the mix, Tuesday's game between the Spartans and Wolverines will be an early indicator of which team wants to hoist a Big Ten banner the most.

A win for the Spartans would create a cushion between their competitors, while another loss for Michigan would lump it with the majority of the pack. Suffering a setback Tuesday would make life difficult for the Tim Hardaway, Jr.-led Wolverines, who have dates with Ohio State and Indiana in the coming weeks, to make it through the conference schedule with four or less losses.

Keys to victory

MSU

Draymond Green scored 14 points Saturday against Northwestern, but he didn't lead the offense like he usually does. With just eight field goal attempts, Green was far below his average of 14 per game. While the Spartans' problems weren't solely Green's fault, the senior didn't play up to par—and that was one of the many reasons the Spartans lost their first Big Ten game of the year.

Green has to be, well, Green, on Tuesday. He has to control the boards to the best of his ability. He averages just over 10 rebounds per game, best in the Big Ten, to go along with 15.8 points.

Despite a loss Saturday, Michigan State shot 50 percent from beyond the arc (9-for-18) and committed just 13 turnovers. The Spartans will need another showing like that Tuesday at Crisler. Shooters like Brandon Wood and Keith Appling have to be sharper than they were Saturday if Michigan State wants to snap a two-game losing streak to Michigan.

UM

Tim Hardaway, Jr. is one of the Big Ten's most prolific scorers and is capable of changing games' paces with his athleticism. Averaging about 16 points per game, Hardaway, Jr. has to lead the Wolverines offense if Michigan wants to go 3-0 against MSU in the past three meetings. Freshman phenom Trey Burke averages just over 14 points per outing, and if he gets clicking with Hardaway, Jr., problems could mount for Tom Izzo's Spartans.

Keeping each team's stars out of the game is an obvious key to victory. However, Michigan is more than Hardaway, Jr. and Burke—Zack Novak, Evan Smotrycz and Stu Douglass are dangerous 3-point shooters (each better than 35 percent from 3-point range). When the Wolverines get hot from beyond the arc, they're hard to stop. And if the long ball fails, like it did last week during a 59-41 thrashing of the Wisconsin Badgers when they shot just 26 percent from long range, the Wolverines can always rely on Plan A: Hardaway, Jr. and Burke, like they did in the win over Wisconsin.

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.

Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans will get tournament-like test on the road Saturday from Gonzaga Bulldogs

This article was originally published on Yahoo! Sports

By Adam Biggers

Coach Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans (7-2) already have a solid home win under their belt, a 65-49 bouncing Nov. 30 of the Florida State Seminoles during the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.

And while Michigan State showed glimpses of its strength in losses to North Carolina and Duke early on, both of those games were played at neutral sites—not true "road" games, by definition.

Aboard the USS Carl Vinson in the waters outside of San Diego on Veteran's Day, then top-ranked North Carolina disposed of the Spartans, 67-55. Four days later, Nov. 15, the Spartans fell 74-69 to Duke during the State Farm Champions Classic at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The Spartans, fresh off an 89-69 win over Central Connecticut State at the Breslin Center, haven't had their will truly tested on the road, unless, of course, a 72-40 blowout triumph over Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti counts.

Which it doesn't.

Saturday, against the Gonzaga Bulldogs (5-2), the Spartans will finally get their opportunity to prove that they have made strides in the right direction, and possibly crack the top-25 rankings, with a win at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Wash.

The lack of road games presents a challenge when attempting to gauge the Spartans' effectiveness away from East Lansing. Last season, the Spartans didn't earn their stripes on the road until Jan. 3 after beating Big Ten foe Northwestern 65-62 in Evanston. Minus a tournament win at Chaminade, the Spartans were hardly competitive away from the Breslin Center, posting an embarrassing 2-8 record.

The lack of team chemistry could to be blame, maybe even the lack of preparation. But that shouldn't be the case Saturday, because by all accounts, the Spartans are a much more tight-knit unit this winter and have just as much, if not more, potential to be successful as the 2010-11 team had.

Gonzaga has made the NCAA Tournament each season since 2000 under 12th-year coach Mark Few. The Bulldogs qualified each year since 1999, but Few was then an assistant. He's coached Gonzaga to WCC titles each year, except 2003, during the same span. If the Bulldog's impressive track record is of any indication, the Spartans, who lost in the first round last season to UCLA, will have their fourth duel with a potential tournament squad this season (UNC, Duke, Florida State).

A win over Gonzaga at Spokane would likely bolster the Spartans' confidence after the lackluster season they had a year ago. Saturday's game is more than a road game, it's almost like an early tournament game, due to the level of competition it will face.

Izzo will be reunited with his mentor, the legendary former Spartans coach Jud Heathcote, who lives in Washington. As one of the figureheads of Spartans basketball, Heathcote's opinion carries a significant amount of weight, especially to Michigan State followers.

He coached the Spartans to their first national title in 1979 and has kept close tabs on Izzo and the Spartans since his retirement in 1995, the year Izzo took the reins.

The Spartans certainly have the talent, with young guards Travis Trice and Keith Appling proving more than capable of running Izzo's offense. Senior Draymond Green has his team under control, while Trice's fellow freshman Branden Dawson has shown glimpses of steady play.

"I think Tom's going to have a real good team come March," Heathcote said during an interview with a Michigan-based radio show. "The guards are starting to get better every game. Draymond Green is maybe the best player in the Big Ten. But what bothers me is the inconsistency of the two centers, both (Adreian) Payne and (Derrick) Nix. They have their moments, but they're not enough.

"(Payne's) got to do more, and he can do more. He's such a good athlete. But there's an awful lot of good athletes in the game of basketball that aren't good basketball players."

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