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MSU 34 vs UM 17 2010 : Photo Gallery

MSU 34 vs UM 17 2010 : Photo Gallery

Drink it in Spartans...

Michigan State has nothing left to prove against Michigan; Spartans can compete with anyone

Michigan State has nothing left to prove against Michigan; Spartans can compete with anyone


Saturday, October 09, 2010, 10:12 PM
David Mayo | The Grand Rapids Press David Mayo | The Grand Rapids Press


ANN ARBOR -- Denard Robinson hung his head, something not seen around here this season until dusk began to fall over Michigan Stadium early Saturday evening. His Heisman Trophy hopes took a kick in the ribs. The infallibility of his Michigan Wolverines vanished over the course of less than three hours.

And the State of the State became clearer than ever.

Whether Michigan State finally has transformed into a dominant college football program remains to be seen.

Whether it has transformed into the dominant team within state boundaries has not.

The Spartans’ celebration after a 34-17 victory was surprisingly muted. They didn’t sprint en masse to their tiny sliver of fans in the southwest corner of Michigan Stadium for a round of sing-song praise. They didn’t toss helmets into the night sky. They didn’t, for sure, seem particularly surprised by the events of the day.



It is a team that has grown up, in a program that isn’t far behind, and they emptied the arsenal.

They intercepted two passes in the end zone and three on the day. They did not allow Robinson to run behind their defense a single time. They ran one play in which quarterback Kirk Cousins, on an end around from a Wildcat formation with Keshawn Martin taking the snap, threw a completion that covered half the field and set up a score. They ran the ball, then ran it some more.

And when the game ended, they reunited in the locker room with their head coach, Mark Dantonio, who worked from the press box three weeks after a heart attack, and Edwin Baker said he never had seen the boss so happy.

Baker, who rushed for 147 yards, said something else, too. He said the Spartans intended to show the whole world they were going to run the football, play Big Ten football, play championship-caliber football. Then, they did. His team is 6-0. The college football world is still theirs to seize.

“When you’re a little kid, you dream of playing games like this,” Baker said. “Today, we did that, and we had fun doing it. It’s a great feeling.”

For the third consecutive year, the Spartans handled the Wolverines, the first time they achieved such a feat since 1965-67, during the final vestiges of their last era of true national prominence.

But this time was different than the last two.

The game wasn’t close. There was no substantive Michigan rally, none of that gnawing feeling that Michigan State fans get in their gut -- the one bred into their lot, a virtual DNA strand unto itself, whenever these two teams meet -- that innately tells them to await the dropping of the other shoe.

That never happened because Michigan left points on the field. Plenty of them. Just about enough to make the difference in the game.

It never happened because Michigan State took those points away, forced Robinson to beat them with his arm, then discovered what others suspected, that if you can manage all of that, the sophomore dynamo isn’t consistent enough to win just with his arm.

Michigan was gallant. For much of the first half, it controlled the action. But it couldn’t stop the long play -- Michigan State had gains of 34, 61, 41, 41, 42 and 44 yards -- and it couldn’t win on Robinson’s heroics alone.

Three years ago, after Michigan pulled out an unlikely victory in this game, Mike Hart uttered his now-regrettable remark that spotting a lead to MSU, then coming from behind to win, was kind of like toying your little brother in basketball.

Michigan hasn’t beaten Michigan State in either football or men’s basketball since then.

“My freshman year, that was probably the worst feeling, being up in the game, then losing, and the comments after the game,” Greg Jones, Michigan State’s star linebacker, said. “I don’t understand. It was probably one of the worst feelings to have. I don’t think anybody wanted to have that feeling again.”

In a matchup of undefeated and nationally ranked teams, the Spartans responded with the biggest win in this series during the Dantonio era. They underscored that they are potentially a very, very good team with a balanced offense, the capability to make timely defensive plays, and outstanding special teams.

They have built a complete team capable of competing with anyone, nationally.

Whether they actually do so, they still have a half-season, plus a bowl game, to prove.

Whether they can do so with Michigan, debate no more.

MSU's 536 yards give Michigan a reality check

MSU's 536 yards give Michigan a reality check


BY MARK SNYDER
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER


Michigan State fans slapped the edge of the Michigan Stadium bowl, drawing attention to their location.

Then, as fans filed through the concourse after the Spartans’ 34-17 win over U-M on Saturday, the MSU faithful unfurled a green-and-white banner: “Little brother beat your a—again”

With the win marking three straight for the Spartans for the first time since 1965-67, there was more than the usual first-loss pain among the Wolverines.

“It does count a little bit more than one because it is Michigan State,” Michigan junior receiver Darryl Stonum said. “To us, it counts more than one, but on the record board it still counts as one. We’re still in the hunt for the Big Ten championship, and our goals are still alive.”

After Saturday, though, those goals may have to be re-evaluated.

Reality struck hard for the vaunted U-M offense and QB Denard Robinson.

The sophomore Heisman candidate exceeded his season’s total of mistakes, with three interceptions, little of his patented running burst and more than a few poor throws that cost potential touchdowns.

Adding to his receivers’ drops and lack of sustained tailback production, the season’s safety valve — a steamroller offense — wasn’t there.

“We made too many mistakes against a good team to win today,” coach Rich Rodriguez said. “We were just a little bit off, not only in the pass game, but the run game as well. Sometimes that happens and you’ve got to be able to overcome it with another big play offensively or a big play on special teams or a turnover on defense.

Something like that. (But) none of those things occurred today.”

The defense was as destructive as ever, allowing 536 yards of offense, the fifth-worst single-game performance in program history.

But this wasn’t even the methodical pounding put on by previous opponents. The big play scorched these Wolverines (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten).

They allowed five plays of more than 40 yards, including two rushing touchdowns (one for 61 yards, one for 41) and three passes (a 41-yarder that burned freshman Cullen Christian, then a 43-yard flea-flicker that set up their fourth touchdown midway through the fourth quarter and a 45-yarder to Mark Dell, getting to the Michigan 2).



The question now: How will the Wolverines react?

A close loss in East Lansing started last year’s downward spiral in the Big Ten season. This year’s decisive loss, with Iowa coming to Ann Arbor next week, puts U-M in a tenuous position.

“It’s very hard, it’s my last year, I don’t get another chance,” U-M tight end Martell Webb said. “You can’t dwell on the past. You’ve got to focus on Iowa.”

MSU won at point of attack

MSU won at point of attack

BY DREW SHARP
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

This will not sit well in Ann Arbor.

And it shouldn’t.

Michigan State has surpassed Michigan in football.

The indisputable evidence of this stunning transition lies in the tread marks stretched across the backs of a Michigan team not just humbled Saturday, but pummeled.

Had the Spartans survived a high-flying, scoreboard-tiring shootout on the game’s final drive, it might be more easily acceptable as a memorable classic that somebody had to lose. But this was a philosophy that triumphed.

Daring is necessary. Speed is an absolute in football, but nothing can replace the basic credo of physically winning at the point of attack.

Michigan got a harsh reminder that it cannot sustain success in the Big Ten through finesse. There inevitably comes a time when either you smack the guy lined up across from you in the mouth or you stand there and get smacked yourself.

Michigan exhibited a glass chin Saturday.

Don’t talk to me about the last 30 years. All that matters are the three years under Rich Rodriguez, and he’s now 0-3 against the Spartans. It’s the first time that the Spartans have won three straight against their primary rival since 1967 in the closing years of the Bump Elliott era when the Wolverines often played before a half-empty Michigan Stadium.

Sparty rules the state for the time being.

One of the MSU assistant coaches told me following the game that it was as though destiny had smiled upon this team considering the tribulations they’ve endured the last three weeks. They’ve played at an incredibly high level since head coach Mark Dantonio’s mild heart attack following the Notre Dame overtime victory.

The stakes increase for them now. They travel to Iowa in two weeks in the game that will determine Ohio State’s most serious challenger for the Big Ten championship.

The Spartans are now officially bowl eligible at 6-0. They’ve guaranteed themselves a trip to Ford Field and the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl at the very least already, but nothing short of nine wins now is acceptable considering what they’ve accomplished and the fact that their schedule doesn’t include the soon-to-be No. 1 ranked Buckeyes.

Dantonio always preached that he envisioned a program that would intimidate instead of being the intimidated.

It was Michigan that looked scared Saturday, a feeling never more accurately applied than when Rodriguez opted to punt the ball trailing 17 points with around six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

It made no sense trusting a defense that had proven itself incapable of standing up to Michigan State’s dominating offensive line. Rodriguez acknowledged afterward that he probably made a mistake in not trusting his team’s lone strength – its offense.

The Wolverines’ season is far from over although they’re probably the unhappiest 5-1 team in the country because they believed the national hype that Superman was their quarterback. But Michigan State just gave every future Michigan opponent the blueprint for defending Denard Robinson – a physical defensive front and linebackers who smartly didn’t over-pursue Robinson, staying in their lanes and waiting for him to come to them.


This loss will sting for awhile. Someone draped a banner outside Michigan Stadium following the game that read “Little Brother Just Kicked Your (Butt) Again.”

Little brother hasn’t just grown up. It’s passed big brother.

Pure Michigan TV Ad : Football

Fake field goal in overtime gives Spartans classic victory

Fake field goal in overtime gives Spartans classic victory



MATT CHARBONEAU - 
The Detroit News

East Lansing -- Another night game, another classic at Spartan Stadium.
The latest entry in the tradition of Michigan State-Notre Dame shockers went the Spartans' way Saturday night when punter Aaron Bates threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to tight end Charlie Gantt on a fake field goal for a 34-31 overtime victory.

As expected, the outcome produced emotions that ran the gamut.

"Wow, what a football game," Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. "We made a great play at the end of the game. But it was a big night for the Spartans."

And in the Notre Dame locker room, the feelings were the exact opposite.

"Words can't really explain it right now," Notre Dame safety Zeke Motta said. "It's just an awful taste in your mouth."

Before the final play, things were looking pretty grim for the Spartans (3-0). They had stopped the Fighting Irish on a key third-and-2 and forced a 33-yard field goal during Notre Dame's first possession of overtime.
But when the Spartans got the ball, they had trouble moving. Edwin Baker was dropped for a 2-yard loss and quarterback Kirk Cousins scrambled for 7 yards on second down. On third-and-5, Cousins took a sack, losing 9 yards and setting up what appeared to be a 46-yard field-goal attempt by sophomore kicker Dan Conroy.

"When he sacked the quarterback," Dantonio said. "I looked at him and said, 'Little Giants.' That's the name of the play."

What was the reaction from Bates? A confident nod and a simple, "OK."

"We practiced that play all week," said Bates, a senior captain. "Coach D loves running fakes, especially ones he draws up. He wanted to run it a couple other times during the game but the opportunity didn't come up.

"We had it on the right hash and they were running the defense we wanted them to run. Originally the play was made for Le'Veon (Bell), but they kind of got twisted up, which was what we wanted to happen. Charlie cleared up and I threw it out there. I knew he would make the catch."

While Gantt wasn't surprised to see the ball coming his way, it wasn't exactly how things had gone during practice.

"All through the week of practice I never got the ball once," the senior tight end said. "Le'Veon would shoot up the middle and catch it. Aaron did a great job of reading it, Le'Veon was covered and jammed two people. I got open and caught the ball."

And as the ball soared through the night sky, what was going through Gantt's mind?

"Just catch it, do not drop the ball," he said. "Once I caught it and knew I was going to score, the next thing I thought was, 'Don't get dragged to the bottom of the pile.' Last year against Michigan I was on the bottom of the pile and it was the worst feeling of my life. I just made sure to stay on my feet and celebrate with my teammates. It was the most incredible feeling of my life. In my entire life, it was the most amazing feeling ever."

The start of the game was not an accurate predictor to what was to come. Only 14 points were scored in the first half, which ended in a 7-7 tie.

Notre Dame's spread offense was in full force on its first scoring drive, 80 yards in nine plays capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dayne Crist to Michael Floyd to put Notre Dame up 7-0. A roughing the passer penalty on linebacker John Misch helped get the Fighting Irish to the Michigan State 7-yard-line before the scoring play.

The Spartans marched down on their next drive, but quarterback Kirk Cousins threw an interception in the end zone. It was the second straight week he's been picked off in the end zone.

"Maybe I'm playing a little too tight, I don't know," said Cousins, who finished 23-for-33 for 245 yards and two touchdowns. "I made some mistakes at times, but my teammates picked me up and we got the win."

He bounced back on the Spartans' next drive, however, connecting with Keshawn Martin from 6 yards out to tie the score at 7 late in the second quarter. The Spartans went 94 yards on seven plays after cornerback Johnny Adams intercepted a pass from Crist.

While the first half was lacking in scoring, it didn't take long to realize the big plays would starting coming in the third quarter.

Michigan State running back Edwin Baker, who had just 17 yards in the first half, got things going when he went 56 yards on Michigan State's second play of the third quarter to put the Spartans in front for the first time, 14-7.

Cousins connected with B.J. Cunningham for 18 yards on the first play, setting up Baker's run.

Notre Dame bounced right back, going 74 yards in six plays and only 1:46. Crist hit tight end Kyle Rudolph from 10 yards out to tie the score again.

Bell then got rolling. The freshman running back scored on a 16-yard run and went over the 100-yard mark for the second time in three games. But it was his run on a screen pass on third-and-12 that people will be talking about.

Bell was hit near the line of scrimmage and looked like he was going to go down for no gain. But he spun out of the tackle, regained his balance and carried another tackler to pick up 12 yards and the first down. On the next play, he barreled into the end zone to put MSU up 21-14.

"It was definitely exciting for me," said Bell, who finished with 114 yards on 17 carries. "When I first ran out of the tunnel, it's a night game and all of these people just yelling. But at the same time, I was nervous."

Notre Dame came right back again, going 77 yards in 11 plays, finishing it off with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Theo Riddick. The drive was kept alive when Adams was flagged for holding on third-and-16 from the 37-yard-line.

After Michigan State went three-and-out, Crist continued to pick apart the Spartans, hitting Floyd on a 24-yard touchdown pass to put the Fighting Irish back in front, 28-21.

But the Spartans fought back, forcing Notre Dame to punt for the first time in the second half. The offense then went 56 yards on four plays to tie the score at 28 with 7:43 to play.

On second-and-12 from the Notre Dame 24, Cousins scrambled from pressure, rolled to his right and hit Cunningham for the score.

Crist had a huge night for the Irish (1-2), going 32-for-55 for 369 yards and four touchdowns. Riddick had 10 catches for 128 yards while Rudolph had eight grabs for 80 yards and Floyd had six catches for 81.

None of it, however, was consolation to the Irish.

"It hurts," Rudolph said. "When you go out like that you've just got to come together as a team and believe in each other and come back on Monday."

Can You feel it?

Football in all of it's idiotic, sweaty glory is almost here. I'd like to offer some thoughts to those that are sick of watching their baseball teams squander their chances for greatness on a nightly basis (I'm looking in your direction White Sox) on the subject of Spartan Football in 2010.

1. Kirk Cousins is a Pro : This kid was arguably the third best QB in the Big Ten last year when looking at all of his statistics. With a 142.6 rating and only 9 sacks given up the entire season, Kirk will only be smarter, stronger and faster this year.

2. Receivers : Blair White, the Big Ten's #2 receiver last year overall is gone now, but we have an armada of talent for Cousins to throw to. BJ Cunningham, Keshawn Martin and even Keith Nichol (yes, Cousins' backup QB from last year) will provide the flash to open up the running game dash.

3. Winning the Close Ones : Excluding the Penn State game, we lost 5 games by a combined 23 points last year. That's only 4.6 points a game. That equates to one missed tackle, one more block or one kept turnover a game. This has to change this year.

4. Dantonio : This is coach D's fourth year at MSU. We shall see if the seeds he sowed four years ago grow into a strong class of Seniors.

5. Michigan : Let us not forget, Michigan, the great Maize from A2 finished last in the Big Ten last year. Let me say that again. Michigan finished LAST in the Big Ten last year. If that's not motivation, I don't know what is.

6. Home Sweet Home : We play 12 games in the Big Ten season. 8, yes EIGHT of those games are at home this year. We don't leave Spartan Stadium until the middle of October, the SIXTH game of the season against, you guessed it, UM. The first UM v MSU game in their newly rennovated stadium. Can't wait to rain at that parade.

Wake me up on September 4th when we get to take on the Broncos in game 1...


SpartyOn!

IT'S OFFICIAL. IZZO STAYING AT MSU.

Scott Westerman, Executive Director of The MSU Alumni Association, just announced that Tom Izzo will be staying at MSU. He announced this to the Southwestern Michigan Alumni Club at their annual MSU Steak Cookout at around 7:20 PM. There was never any question. SpartyOn!

Tom Izzo: A Michigan Gem who Belongs in East Lasing

Tom Izzo: A Michigan Gem who Belongs in East Lasing

June 12, 10:36 AM · Bill Amadeo - Sports Business and Marketing Examiner
San Francisco Examiner

Sometimes in life, we come close to perfection.  Maybe it's a job, maybe it's a relationship or maybe it's just a fleeting moment that will stick with us for a lifetime.  While perfection is rare in life, it is even more unusual when it happens in the world of sports.  One such "perfect" relationship is Tom Izzo as the head coach of the Michigan State Spartans Basketball Team.  Sadly, this relationship may be coming to an end.  Consider this article as one last plea to keep the man where he belongs:  On the campus of Michigan State University wearing green and white and leading the Spartans to yet another Final Four.

The Stats

No one can question the brilliance Tom Izzo has displayed in his coaching career.  The man who began his career at Ishpeming High School in Michigan has evolved into the best basketball mind of his generation.  During his tenure at Michigan State, Izzo has won a National Title in 2000, led the Spartans to six Final Fours and six Big Ten Championships.  Tom Izzo is a role model for anyone in the coaching profession.  If there is one quote which would describe his career, it would have to be one he made to the media several years ago. Izzo was quoted as saying, "We'll play anybody, anyplace, anytime. It doesn't matter, morning, noon or night, and it doesn't matter who it is."  Is there any wonder he is so beloved in Michigan?

The History

While no one can dispute his accomplishments, the story gets even better.  Tom Izzo grew up in Iron Mountain, Michigan which is located in the proud states Upper Peninsula (UP).  Coming from the UP and evolving into a legend was no easy task but that is just what Tom Izzo has done.  There are generations of Michigan State Alumni who look at Izzo as a hero and for him to leave his beloved school would be a tragedy in the world of sports.  There are millions of reasons for Tom Izzo to stay.  However, there are also 30 million reasons he may go.

The Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers want Izzo to be their coach.  They have offered him a six-year contract with $30,000,000 in guaranteed salary.  This will double his current salary and allow Izzo to coach at the next level.  Rumors are that if LeBron James is coming back to Cleveland, Izzo will join him.  There is also reason to believe that James is making a demand for Izzo.  Only time will tell what will happen.

The Fans

The fans in East Lansing are distraught that Tom Izzo could leave and this is something they never thought would happen.  One of the biggest Michigan State fans in the world is B.J. Rycus who is an alumni and the Vice President of Rycus Flooring in Lansing, Michigan.  Rycus, who had a stellar high school athletic career and has coached at different levels is concerned that Izzo could take his whistle to the NBA.  Rycus, like so many other MSU supporters, are terrified this could happen.

When asked his thoughts on the potential move, Rycus was quoted as saying, "There has never been a more perfect match between a coach and a university than MSU and Tom Izzo.  The blue-collar coach from the U.P. matched with the Land Grant University.  Tom Izzo belongs in East Lansing."

The Outcome

The objective sports fan has to wonder, is this really about money?  Tom Izzo makes more than three million a season in Michigan and lives like a king.  A move to the NBA could be a mistake.  While his large bank account would get even bigger, what if it didn't work out?

Just as LeBron James belongs in a Cleveland Cavalier uniform, Tom Izzo should be seen pacing the sidelines of the Breslin Center.  If Tom Izzo leaves this school, it will be a mistake for his career and heartbreak for the loyal fans of Michigan State.

Tom, if you're reading this, please do the sports world a favor:  Stay in East Lansing where you belong and bring the MSU another national title.

As one MSU grad stated today, "The waiting is the hardest part."  Good luck Mr. Izzo.  In every sense of the word, the ball is in your court.

Izzo plays best for the home team

Izzo plays best for the home team

By Gerry Ahern, Yahoo! Sports

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Tom Izzo isn’t going to Oregon. He’d be crazy to go to the New Jersey Nets. He shouldn’t go anywhere and here’s why: Because he is the perfect fit at Michigan State and he couldn’t duplicate his success in Eugene, Newark or any other city, college or pro.

Izzo has become the preeminent college coach of the past decade because he owns the state of Michigan and its fertile pipeline of players. A native of Iron Mountain in the Upper Peninsula, he can supplement his homegrown crop with a guy or two from outside as necessary.

And once those players get to MSU, he knows how to motivate them and get the most out of them. He’s done it time and again, perhaps never better than how he managed to take this season’s team to the Final Four.

“It was great coaching,” said Goran Suton, a standout on last year’s Spartans who made it to the national title game against North Carolina. “With handling all the adversity and injuries, it’s unbelievable that they have gone this far.

“I wish I was still on the team.”
Tom Izzo has taken Michigan State to six Final Fours, and the latest trip may be his most impressive coaching job yet.

Suton, who now plays professionally for Spartak in Russia, is right in his reverence. Look at what Izzo has done under less-than-perfect circumstances this March.

• Star point guard Kalin Lucas goes out with a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in the first half against Maryland, and in comes Korie Lucious, a sophomore reserve. Lucious looks more than comfortable running the show, hitting clutch jumpers to cap tournament wins over Maryland and Northern Iowa.

• Izzo sends Durrell Summers to the bench multiple times during the regular season and in the Big Ten tournament, but when he needs scoring punch and defense in the NCAAs, he picks him up and has him scoring at a 20-point per game clip and guarding like a madman.

• Delvon Roe tears the meniscus in his right knee in February, but keeps logging 20-plus minutes, keeps banging the boards. Why? Because he wants to prove he can contribute and tough it out.

• Chris Allen tears a ligament in his right foot, but is willing to drag it around and knock down some 3-pointers to keep the opponent honest.

• Raymar Morgan struggles with consistency, but scores the game-winning points at crunch time in two tournament games.

• Draymond Green helps direct the offense, makes smart passes, rebounds and defends with vigor, all while coming off the bench.

The list goes on and on.

“He is gonna try to get the last little bit you got,” Summers said of Izzo. “You can be tongue hanging out of your mouth dying, and he’s still gonna try to get a little bit more out of you. I think that’s what makes him special at this time of year.”

Would Izzo have that kind of depth, that kind of heart at Oregon or anywhere else on a year-to-year basis? Would the pros in New Jersey respond to his stomping, prodding, in-your-face approach? It seems unlikely.

Phil Knight and Oregon have all that Nike money to toss around. The soon-to-be deep-pocketed Nets, under Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov, could up the ante. But Izzo already pulls in more than $3 million a year at MSU and is under contract through 2016. His boss, athletic director Mark Hollis, happens to be one of his closest friends.

As successful as Izzo has been – 364-145 record, six Final Fours and a national championship over 15 seasons – there will always be interest in his skills. It has become a rite of spring in mid-Michigan. There was the dalliance with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks in 2000, the Kentucky job in 2007, then again last year. Now, the reported interest from Oregon and from the Nets.

Izzo is worthy of all the attention and overtures because he is so good at what he does. He is driven by how to do things his way, the right way. He loathes those who try to take shortcuts. At 55, he has said he doesn’t plan to coach into his golden years, as did his predecessor and mentor Jud Heathcote. His plan is to retire in time to enjoy some of what he has worked so hard for.

Doesn’t sound like a man interested in a rebuilding project.

Izzo reiterated Tuesday that he hasn’t been contacted by Oregon. He scoffed at the report, asking why the school would tell a TV reporter of its coaching search strategy. He noted that a week ago, Minnesota’s Tubby Smith was reportedly the leading candidate for the job. He’s done this dance so many times before.

“I’ve been fortunate that my name does come up for some jobs because that’s a privilege, not a right,” Izzo said. “Yet it always comes at a bad time as far as distractions. I can only promise you guys that this will not be one. I am going to put everything I can into trying to bring this university its third crystal ball and that is all I’m doing.

“As long as they want to keep me, I plan on being here.”

To a man his players said they pay no attention to the buzz. Just the type of response they would have been coached to give.

“I think what most of them hope is it’s a pro job because they think I’d be dumb enough to take them,” Izzo said jokingly. “I already told a couple of them, ‘I had you for two or three or four years, you think if I took a pro job I’d take you with me for more pain for another three or four years?’

“We laugh about it.”

Izzo is known to show a sense of humor with his team. He can also chew hide with the best of them. His tough-love tactics wouldn’t play in the NBA. Mega-millionaires generally tune out plain-old multi-millionaires. The pro game is much more about the guys who wear the uniforms, not the suits.

It’s just the opposite in college ball. The people known by one name aren’t Kobe and LeBron. They are Krzyzewski and Izzo.

Geographically speaking, a move to another college town makes little sense.

Izzo’s ability to recruit the likes of Detroit, Flint and Saginaw wouldn’t help him as much in another region. He joked last week about telling his best friend, former NFL coach Steve Mariucci, that he never had to change his driver’s license.

There’s probably a part of the hyper-competitive Izzo that would like to prove wrong those who say a “college coach” can’t get it done in the Association. He certainly silenced those who questioned his hiring as Heathcote’s replacement back in 1995. All he’s done since is wallpaper the Breslin Center with Big Ten title banners and Final Four flags.

With two more victories, he could add more national championship bling to the trophy case.

Then there’s the ultra-promising future in East Lansing. Lucas had successful surgery Tuesday and will likely return next season. Summers is expected back as well along with Roe, Allen, Green and Lucious. The only key loss is Morgan, a graduating senior.

And in comes center Adreian Payne of Dayton, Ohio, guard Keith Appling of Detroit, forward Russell Byrd of Fort Wayne, Ind., and forward Alex Gauna of Eaton Rapids, Mich. That’s a five-star, a four-star and two three-star recruits, respectively, according to Rivals.com.

“What he has built here is a legacy,” Suton said. “He can beat any record out there staying here. I think it’s more of a pride thing than a money thing. But I can’t speak for him. I don’t think he’s leaving. I don’t think he ever will.”

So relax Michigan State fans.

Tom Izzo should be staying.

That’s what’s best for him and best for you.

Michigan State returns to Final Four again

By NANCY ARMOUR, AP National Writer 52 minutes ago

ST. LOUIS (AP)

Don’t bet against Tom Izzo and Michigan State this time of year.

Raymar Morgan’s free throw with less than 2 seconds left gave the Spartans a 70-69 victory over Tennessee in the Midwest Regional final Sunday, sending Michigan State to its sixth Final Four in 12 years and second in a row.

No team in the country—not North Carolina, not Kentucky, not UCLA—has done it better during that span. And all six trips have come under Izzo, the hard-nosed coach who preaches defense, rebounding and physical play.

“I like it more than I used to,” Izzo said of playing in March. “It’s even better than I thought.”

Oh, and how’s this for some symmetry? This happens to be the 10th anniversary of the “Flintstones,” the team that gave Michigan State its second national title. Highlights from that run were included in the video montage of past championships that played on the Edward Jones Dome’s massive Jumbotron during halftime.

The fifth-seeded Spartans, last year’s national runner-up, will be looking for championship No. 3 next weekend in Indianapolis. They play Butler, also a No. 5 seed and sure to be the hometown favorite, in the semifinals Saturday night.

The Spartans (28-8) led by as many as eight in the second half, but Brian Williams pulled sixth-seeded Tennessee (28-9) within 69-68 on a putback with 2:10 left. Korie Lucious, who took over as point guard after 2009 Big Ten player of the year Kalin Lucas ruptured his Achilles’ tendon last weekend, missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 29 seconds left and Scotty Hopson got the rebound.

Hopson was fouled at the other end, and made the first. But after a Michigan State timeout, he missed the second and Lucious—generously listed at 5-foot-11 — ended up with the rebound.

Draymond Green fed the ball inside to Morgan, who got hacked by J.P. Prince with 1.8 seconds left.

Morgan made the first and, after timeouts by both teams, missed the second—on purpose. Williams came up with the rebound but Prince fumbled the inbounds pass and had to heave up a prayer just before the buzzer.

“It’s just tough, 1 second,” Prince said. “You want to shoot it perfect but you’ve got to rush. You don’t want it to come down to a half-court shot, but that’s what it came down to.”

Prince wasn’t even close, and Michigan State and its fans—led by Spartan-in-chief Magic Johnson—began what’s become a traditional postgame celebration.

“I’m not surprised,” Johnson said. “Tom Izzo does his best in the NCAA tournament.”

Hard to argue with that.

Izzo, who took over from longtime mentor Jud Heathcote for the 1995-96 season, is 6-1 in the regional finals. The only loss was to top-seeded Texas in 2003.

Michigan State is the only team from last year’s Final Four to make it back. Heck, North Carolina, which demolished the Spartans in the title game, didn’t even make the NCAA tournament. Neither did Connecticut, and Villanova was knocked out in the second round.

“There is nothing greater than going to a Final Four that I know of,” Izzo said, “except winning it.”
And while it’s hard to beat that title in 2000, this might be the finest coaching job Izzo has done. In addition to losing Lucas, Delvon Roe is playing on a torn meniscus and Chris Allen has an aching foot. The Spartans have been forced to go to an offense-by-committee, led by Durrell Summers.

Summers, who played just 9 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, finished with 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Morgan and Green added 13 each, and Morgan also had 10 rebounds.

Tennessee, meanwhile, will have to take comfort in knowing it got further than any other Volunteers team. This was their first appearance in the regional finals, and there is no question they belonged.

They made their first six shots of the game—going 4 for 4 from 3-point range, shot 51 percent overall and had four players in double figures, led by senior Wayne Chism’s 13 points.

Prince finished with 12 on 5-of-5 shooting, and Williams had 11.

Tennessee has long been a basketball powerhouse—in women’s hoops. But coach Bruce Pearl has energized the men’s program, as evidenced by the orange-hued dome and the Vols’ first appearance in the regional final. Few would have thought the Tennessee men would last longer than the top-seeded women, who were beaten by No. 4 Baylor on Saturday in the regional semifinals.

“We came to St. Louis expecting to win two games and we played pretty well both nights,” Pearl said.

“We saw all that orange out there. This isn’t close to home, either. They got in their car and they drove here. I think they enjoyed this group tremendously.”

Though they were going against a program that oozes experience—“Final Fours are a big thing in this program,” Green said Saturday—the Vols came in with swagger and strut.

Chism’s 3-pointer put them up 50-45 with 15:46 left and prompted another roar from the thousands of Tennessee fans who had made the trek north. But come tournament time, the Spartans simply find a way to get it done. Cranking up the in-your-jersey defense that makes Big Ten opponents shudder, they held the Vols without a field goal for the next 7 1/2 minutes while ripping off a 14-1 run.

Chris Allen made a 3, and Summers converted a three-point play after being fouled on a jumper just inside the line. After Williams’ free throw, Morgan scored on a layup and Lucious hit a 3-pointer to put the Spartans up 56-51 with 12:25 to play.

As a timeout was called, Lucious held up his right hand toward the Michigan State section as if to say, “Bring it on.”

Green then converted another three-point play, giving the Spartans a 59-51 lead, the largest of the game, with 11:42 to play.

But the Volunteers had one more run in them. Bobby Maze scored on a layup— Tennessee’s first field goal since 15:46—and Williams followed with two jumpers to put the Vols back on top, 62-61, setting up the frenetic finish.

Buzzer-beating victory shows how much Michigan State has grown

Buzzer-beating victory shows how much Michigan State has grown

George Dohrmann : SI : Monday, March 22, 2010

(5) Michigan State 85    (4) Maryland 83

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Attached to the Michigan State locker room at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena is a small room with cement block walls and a black table against the far wall.

At halftime of the Spartans second-round game against Maryland on Sunday, point guard KalinLucas sat on that table, his left foot wrapped in ice. He had been told moments earlier that his Achilles tendon was likely torn, and tears rolled down his face.

Michigan State coach TomIzzo would later say that what happened next was one of his "prouder moments" as a coach. One by one, Lucas' teammates lined up to enter that small room. Among them was KorieLucious, the 5-foot-11, sophomore guard who would become the team's primary ball-handler and director with Lucas out. He hugged Lucas and repeated what many of the Spartans had told the fallen guard: "I got your back. All us here got your back."

A half of basketball later, Lucious was on his back on the court, his teammates and even Sparty, the school's faux-muscled mascot, piled on top of him. Lucious' three-pointer at the buzzer gave the Spartans an 85-83 victory and the school's ninth trip to the Sweet 16 in the last 13 years. But, as Izzo and his players would say later, the team won not because of a single shot, but rather because all the players finally believed what they said to Lucas at halftime.

"It's no secret that if you put us in this situation three weeks ago, we wouldn't have won this game," said forward DraymondGreen, whose three-pointer with 20 seconds left was part of a dramatic finish that included four baskets in the final 35 seconds, including two brave drives by Maryland's GreivisVasquez, all of which could have been game-winners. "It was a matter of us becoming closer as teammates and better teammates to each other. With us doing that you can pull off games like this."

One of the least highlighted, yet most remarkable aspects of the NCAA tournament is its ability to purge the past. A player with a troubled history can rewrite his reputation with one memorable shot. A coach with a spotty record can get his team on a run and, suddenly, he is a genius. The water from the spring in Lourdes doesn't heal as effectively as March glory.

On Sunday, there was little talk of Izzo's frustration with the lack of leadership shown earlier in the season by Michigan State's veterans, including Lucas, whom he kicked out of one practice. No one mentioned the scene on the bench during the Spartans' loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament, when Izzo chastised junior guard DurrellSummers for not playing defense and told junior ChrisAllen, who was suspended for that game for an undisclosed rules violation, that he "let two seniors down."

Any discord was buried deep in delirium, and why shouldn't it be?

College basketball remains the realm of the juvenescent, where teambuilding and maturity are not just catchwords. Every team, every kid is a work in progress, even one coached by Izzo, with his long history of driving the Spartans deep into the Dance.

"I don't wan to get too dramatic -- it is the [second round] of the NCAA tournament -- but where this win really ranks high is me having been telling this team a little bit about why you have got to be a better teammate and why you have togetherness," Izzo said.

Summers, the talented but at times undisciplined junior guard, scored 26 points, including 6-of-7 on three-pointers, but his finest moment came when he approached Izzo postgame. "I still got a long ways to go, Coach," he said, and his coach smiled.

"You all know what I did to Durrell [benched him late in a Big Ten tournament game against Minnesota]. I told him in practice yesterday that that the only reason I sat him was so he would have more legs today," Izzo said. "He laughed. I laughed, and he did have some legs today. He did a hell of a job."

After the game, Izzo and Lucas hugged and then Izzo walked to midcourt, where he waited to be interviewed by CBS. He repeatedly wiped his eyes, tears that he would say later "were of joy and sorrow": joy for witnessing, finally, the galvanizing of his team, and sorrow for Lucas, his best player, who will surely miss the Spartans next game against Northern Iowa and any beyond that.

"[Kalin] grew today, too," Izzo said. "A lot of guys that grew, they're all the same size, but their hearts and heads are a lot bigger."

SPARTYON : March Madness is Happening in 3, 2, 1...

Hey Spartans - Don't know if you know, but wherever you are in the world, you can watch the entire game online, for FREE.

FOLLOW THIS LINK AND GO GREEN!

http://mmod.ncaa.com/

What a difference one year makes

SpartyOn.com : What a difference a year makes

It's March Spartans, and I think we all remember what happened last March. We played for the National Title and came up a bit short. That hurt. But take a look at what's happening down on Tobacco Road. This is an excerpt from a Yahoo.com article about the biggest failures of this bball season. The old addage, 'a picture is worth a thousand words' really comes to mind though :

North Carolina : No one was predicting the Tar Heels would win a second consecutive national title. But no one was predicting them to go 5-11 in the ACC, either. UNC went 11-3 in the 2009 portion of the schedule, with the losses to Syracuse, Kentucky and Texas. Nothing embarrassing there, right? But then the calendar turned, and things went sour quickly. There was a loss to the College of Charleston on Jan. 4, followed by a 1-3 start in ACC play. That 1-3 turned into 2-7 rather quickly, and the season spiraled out of control.

UNC finished 3-5 at home in the ACC. The guard play has been bad on both ends of the court. Big man Ed Davis was lost for the season in mid-February. A touted freshman class had to play too many minutes, and those guys just weren't ready to play consistent high-caliber basketball."

Green Day : Michigan State Spartans Destroy Michigan En Route to Sixth Big Ten Championship Under Tom Izzo

3.7.2010 SpartyOn.com : Michigan State Spartans Destroy Michigan En Route to Sixth Big Ten Basketball Championship Under Tom Izzo

In case you missed it, here are some of the facts and quotes from around the web on what was a great day in East Lansing :

• Michigan State continued its basketball dominance of Michigan with little resistance in the final regular-season game for both teams.
  
• The 11th-ranked Spartans have not only swept the two-game series with the Wolverines, but earned a share of the Big Ten title with a 64-48 victory before a raucous Breslin Center crowd Sunday afternoon.
  
• Michigan trailed by as many as 29.
  
• Michigan State was tough on both sides of the ball, at one point holding Michigan without a field goal for six minutes in the first half, and then opened the second half with a devastating 10-0 run to build a 42-14 lead with 16:31 left. In the first four minutes of the second half, Michigan had four quick turnovers.
  
• The Wolverines were 1-of-11 from the 3-point line (9.1 percent) and shot 21.7 percent in the first half. Sims and Harris combined to go 2-of-11. They had 11 turnovers.
  
• If Raymar Morgan can maintain his momentum, the Spartans will have a shot to give Izzo his second national title and the school its third.
  
• Michigan might not even earn a spot in the NIT and might be relegated to the College Basketball Invitational or CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Beilein looked as upset as he’s been in three seasons on Sunday, but he refused to sound defeated.
  
• Michigan’s Manny Harris and Sims made only one shot each in the first half as their team matched a Big Ten-low with 14 points, outscoring Morgan by only a point. Harris missed nine of 10 shots, finishing with four points, and Sims scored just nine.
  
• The Wolverines’ season has been full of setbacks since being ranked No. 15 in The Associated Press preseason poll, and the lowlight might’ve been getting routed at Michigan State after a 28-point win over Minnesota.
  
• Michigan might not even earn a spot in the NIT and might be relegated to the College Basketball Invitational or CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Beilein looked as upset as he's been in three seasons on Sunday, but he refused to sound defeated. ''We have a plan and we're working on it,'' Beilein said. ''I'm very confident in the plan.''
  
• Michigan State has won 18 of 21 against its rival overall and 11 straight at home.
  
• “This is definitely one of the best places to play,” DeShawn Sims said. “They definitely put on a show.”

Ex-Spartan star Ryan Miller to take spot on world stage

Ex-Spartan star Ryan Miller
to take spot on world stage

Neil Koepke • Lansing State Journal • February 12, 2010

All season long, Ryan Miller's focus has been about
providing the Buffalo Sabres with elite-level
goaltending.

Mission accomplished.

The former Michigan State All-American and East
Lansing native has been brilliant during the first f
our months of the National Hockey League season.

Late this weekend, however, Miller will turn his
focus to another challenge: leading Team USA to a
medal at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
Preliminary-round games begin Tuesday.

"I think we have the talent to win. It's about coming
together as a team,'' said Miller, 29, who still calls
East Lansing home in the offseason.

It's not a surprise Miller will be America's starting
goalie. He's considered among the best in the
world. Still, Miller finds the singular attention to be
awkward.

"It's surreal,'' he said. "I've worked hard to put myself
in this position, but not so much for the recognition
as being part of a team that wins.

"There's nothing better than accomplishing
something as a group. It's one game, but ultimately
you want to keep it going and win (an NHL)
championship.''

Or an Olympic gold medal.

Canada will be the favorite for the gold medal, with
Russia and Sweden expected to contend. The
Americans are the underdogs.

"We have a young, talented team and we'll have a lot
of fun playing an up-tempo style,'' Miller said.
"We're focusing on coming together in the first three
(preliminary) games. We have to buy into the system
and I know I have to play at a certain level. If we play
hard and well, we'll be dangerous.''

Celebrity status

Miller's celebrity extends beyond the ice. He is the
face of the Sabres and one of the most popular
athletes in Buffalo. He's a mid-Michigan celebrity,
too. After all, he's one of "those" Millers - the first
family of Michigan State hockey. His cousin, Kevin,
is a former Olympian. His brother, Drew, plays for
the Detroit Red Wings.

But right now, Ryan Miller is on the largest stage -
in Vancouver - although he will miss the opening
ceremonies because NHL games are still going on.


Miller is using popularity to benefit others. In 2006,
he founded the Steadfast Foundation, a nonprofit
organization that is "dedicated to assisting those
afflicted and affected by the consequences of cancer
and especially childhood forms of the disease.''

He started the foundation in honor of his cousin,
Matt Schoals of DeWitt, who was diagnosed with
leukemia at age 16 in 2005.

"I had done hospital visits but it was never so real
as when Matt was diagnosed,'' Miller told NHL.com.
"He inspired it, but a lot of other young people did
as well.''

Schoals died in 2007, one month after his 18th
birthday. Miller still has "Matt Man" printed on the
back of his mask below a cartoon bulldog, dressed
in a green sweater with an "S" on it.

Giving back


"Ryan understands that he's in a position to make a
difference to influence young people and use his
status to make people aware how important it is to
give back,'' his mother, Teresa Miller, said.

"He's still very driven as an athlete, but he has a
certain confidence in himself that comes with age.
He's the same young man he always was, with solid
values and a good work ethic.''

Former MSU hockey coach Ron Mason can attest to
Miller's work ethic.

"He's always had the talent, skill and work ethic. He's
could focus better than almost every player I've
coached,'' Mason said. "He was always about the
next shot, making the saves."

More than hockey

But life for Miller is about more than stopping
speeding hockey pucks. He has numerous interests
outside the game, ranging from playing guitar,
sitting in with local bands in Buffalo, photography,
movies, discovering good restaurants and hanging
out with friends and family.

"It's been important for Ryan to have interests
outside of hockey,'' Teresa Miller said. "He's
involved in a lot of things and he's very good about
being staying close to us, his siblings and his
friends. I think it keeps him grounded.''

MSU decides to keep the old logo

I graduated in 93 with a degree in Advertising and another in Graphic Design from Michigan State. As the owner and Creative Director of a Bay Area Advertising & Design firm ( see brainblaze.com ) I've always envisioned a day when I could design a mark for State. If you look over time, we have had numerous graphics that have represented us - some good, some better. Old 'Gruff Sparty' will always be my favorite, although the school has done its best to squash any use of him. If we look into the future, say 50 or even 500 years, likely there will be another mark that is created. I don't think the question was whether or not the new logo was good, it seemed to be more of a shock to the alumni that the one we now know and love would be thrown out in lieu of one designed by Nike in a semi-obvious ploy to resell everything logoized MSU.

Mr. Hollis, if you're out there, please give an MSU alumni a shot at this (when it's appropriate) and then present your true fans with the opportunity to vote and decide in true Spartan democratic manner. It could be a marketing coup in and of itself gaining national attention. This time around in the positive manner. Nice work to all the Spartan faithful. Remember though, change is not bad nor evil, and blocking change blindly can lead to entrapment in old ways which may stgnate and hinder. Think of our swords against the arrows at Thermopolaye (sp?). The new mark was a good attempt at giving the old one a more sinister & powerful presence, actually more correct in helmet design but unfinished. Posted at SpartyOn.com and SpartanZone.com

Shannon Brown has friends in high places

Shannon Brown has
friends in high places

President Obama wishes the Lakers' guard good luck in the dunk contest.

By Broderick Turner LA Times
January 27, 2010

They all stood in a private room listening to President Obama on Monday before the ceremony took place, shaking his hand, in awe that he knew them all.

The president ventured over to Shannon Brown and wished the Lakers' guard good luck in the dunk contest.

Brown smiled and then got the shock of his life.

When the team had its public ceremony in front of family, friends and the worldwide media a few minutes later Monday, President Obama again wished Brown good luck in the dunk contest.

"When he did that, I didn't know what to do, man," Brown said, smiling. "I was like, 'This dunk contest needs to hurry up.' I got kind of juiced. I need to be out there now."

The dunk contest will be held Feb. 13 during All-Star weekend at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Brown, however, is quick to point out that he's more than just a dunker.

But Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards, Brown made five field goals, three of them dunks.

His first dunk was from a lob pass from Lamar Odom, the second was from a lob pass from Derek Fisher and the third was a dunk on his own, off a missed free throw.

Each one had the crowd inside the Verizon Center cheering.

"I don't really label myself as just a dunker," said Brown, who finished with 11 points. "I try to have a complete all-around game, even though today I didn't make no shots. Most of my points did come off dunks, but I try to have a complete game, man.

"But when I have a chance to dunk the ball, I think it gives everybody a little bit boost of confidence on the team and it gets us going a little bit."

Brown is from Chicago and Obama began his political career there.

So the president knows who Brown is. Also, Obama watches and plays basketball when he gets the opportunity.

From the sound of it, Obama will be watching the dunk contest, or at the very least, the president will find out the results.

"He just added a little bit of pressure," Brown said. "That's well-worth-it pressure. I'd rather have pressure from the president than anybody else."




See :

http://www.letshannondunk.com/
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-lakers27-2010jan27,0,5224359.story

Spartans' Tom Izzo still motivated by struggles against Michigan early in career

Spartans' Tom Izzo still motivated by struggles against Michigan early in career

By David Mayo | The Grand Rapids Press

January 26, 2010, 9:00AM
ANN ARBOR -

The set of the jaw and grit of the teeth betray it.

Tom Izzo hasn’t forgotten.

It wasn’t always the case that Michigan State dominated the Michigan basketball series. Many of today’s Spartans certainly can’t remember it.

Draymond Green said he never even paid attention to Wolverines basketball as he grew up in Saginaw. And Kalin Lucas said he was unaware that Izzo’s first five games against Michigan resulted in five double-digit losses.

“But coach, if he did lose those five straight -- I know coach, and he was most likely pissed off,” Lucas said.

In some ways, he still is.

The games weren’t close. The margins were 22, 29, 13, 20 and 10 points. They brought some snarky comments, including one from a certain Grand Rapids columnist who called Izzo Michigan’s “lapdog.”

The three seasons involved included a pair of NIT berths, after five of Jud Heathcote’s last six teams qualified for the NCAA tournament, and there was open question whether Heathcote’s former assistant was the right guy for the job.

Tom Izzo's early struggles against Michigan caused some to wonder if he was the right man for the Michigan State job.About the same time, over at the rival university, football fans wondered the same thing about one Lloyd Carr.

Both would win national championships.

Both would enjoy extended periods of dominance against their in-state rival.

And both fueled themselves, for years thereafter, with those early memories.

“I’m motivated by the 12 years before those five games,” Izzo said Monday, leading into tonight’s showdown at Crisler Arena here. “I’m motivated by the fact that every alum in this country is motivated by it. I’m motivated because it stands in the way of us, hopefully, getting to our goals at the beginning of the year.

“But your rival is your rival. And I’ve said a million times, people try to make it out ‘Is he as passionate about it? Does he hate them as much?’ And the answer is yes to all those things. OK? It’s yes to all those things.”

He has respect for Michigan, he said, heightened during the Tommy Amaker era, when the Wolverines reached the cusp of the NCAA tournament but never quite made it, with a resultant coaching change.

That grew with the John Beilein hiring -- and now, the Michigan coach, after losses each of the past two years, when the rivalry was played only once each season, is the one burdened with proving he can win the Great Lakes State showdown.

“I have respect for coaches. I have respect for programs,” Izzo said. “But it is what it is. And I’m sure the feeling is mutual down there.”

Izzo said he thinks he became obsessed with Michigan in his early years as head coach, and with how fans and alumni emphasized that wanting to win wasn’t enough, that hatred also is requisite.

He didn’t really need that lesson, though. He already could draw upon the memory of some good U-M teams in the 1980s, one of them a 1989 national championship team, followed in short order by the Fab Five. Including his years as an assistant under Heathcote, Izzo lost 19 of his first 29 games against the Wolverines.

That has changed, of course. The Spartans have won 16 of 19 in the series, over a 12-season span.

Defeat honed the senses. The “passion to win, the sleepless nights, the excitement” remain the same, whether trying to preserve a winning streak or break a losing skid.

Motivation gets stirred by talking to ex-players about their Michigan reminiscences, or by hearing from alumni about the water-cooler expectations they have the next morning.

It’s 2010, a different era in the relationship between Michigan and Michigan State basketball. But in the buildup, the preparation, the anticipation, for one man, it is always 1995.

“I think back to those beatings,” he said. “I think back to things that happened back then.”

Then he sets his jaw, grits his teeth, and plots retribution.


BE SURE TO CHECK OUT :


http://www.coachizzo.com

http://www.SpartanZone.com

One-on-one with Kalin Lucas

One-on-one with Kalin Lucas

by Jason King, Yahoo! Sports


A few months before the start of the season, Michigan State point guard Kalin Lucas emerged from an East Lansing tattoo parlor with a new design etched into his right arm.

Surrounding a picture of a scowling, saber tooth tiger was the phrase “Attack Or Be Killed.”

“I came up with the saying myself,” Lucas said. “Being ranked No. 2 in the preseason and having made it to the Final Four last year, I knew we were going to have a bull’s-eye on our back, a target. So I just had to get this on my arm.

“I look at it before every game. It reminds me that we’ve got to stay in attack mode, or we’ll be killed.”

The Spartans have more than lived up to the moniker thus far. At 17-3 overall and 7-0 in league play, Michigan State has a two-game lead over second place Wisconsin (5-2) in the Big Ten standings.

Lucas is one of the main reasons.

Last season’s conference player of the year, Lucas is averaging a team-high 15.8 points and 4.1 assists. On Saturday his 3-pointer with 1:27 remaining lifted the Spartans to a 65-64 come-from-behind victory at Minnesota.

The shot couldn’t have been more gratifying for Lucas, who was criticized by coach Tom Izzo earlier this season for a lack of leadership. Izzo went as far as to remove Lucas from the starting lineup for a game in late December, but these days he’s anything but upset with the 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior.

“It was the best Lucas has been all year,” Izzo told reporters after Saturday’s game. “Are we looking for him to be a rah-rah guy? No. We’re looking for him to demand stuff on the court. You can lead in different ways.”

Lucas – a native of Sterling Heights, Mich. – took time after Sunday’s practice to chat with Yahoo! Sports.

Q: Some guys can’t wait to get away from home after they graduate from high school. Why did you choose to stay close to home?

A: Mainly because I wanted my friends and family to be able to come and watch my games. They were at all my basketball and football games in high school. In college I wanted the same thing. Plus, I’ve got a little brother that looks up to me a lot. I wanted him to be able to come watch me play whenever possible.

Q: I’ve heard you and your brother are really close. Tell me more about him.

A: His name is Javin and he’s 10. He plays basketball, too. I just love him. That’s my little man. This summer we spent a lot of time together. Most of the time, when I go home, we’ll go to the movies or to the mall. During basketball season it’s hard to spend a lot of time with him. He comes to my games, but a lot of the games start late, so when the game is over he has to leave right away so he can get home and take a shower and be ready to go to school in the morning.

Q: How would you describe him to someone else? Do people say he reminds them of you?

A: No, my little brother reminds me of my dad. My dad is a jokester. He loves to play around all the time and he’s always smiling. That’s how my little brother is, too.

Q: I know that you take a lot of pride in the fact that you grew up just outside of Detroit. What is it you love the most about your hometown?

A: It’s just a city of hard-working people. That’s why it was so good that the Final Four was there last year. The city was going through some hard times. People were losing their jobs and getting laid off. A couple of my aunties were laid off. Bringing a Final Four to Detroit was a blessing for all of those people. It gave them something to smile about.

Q: Did the loss to North Carolina in the championship game ruin your Final Four experience? Or will you still look back on it with fond memories.

A: We obviously wish we would’ve won, but it was still positive. We brought a lot of smiles to people’s faces. They didn’t have to worry about their jobs or being laid off – even if it was only for a weekend. What we brought to the people of Detroit, what we showed them, was that if you work hard, it will pay off. We worked hard all season, and it paid off in the end. All the summer workouts, all the time we spent lifting weights, watching extra film. It was all worth it in the end.

Q: Who are some of the guys you really look forward to playing against, guys you really get juiced up to play?

A: I like going against Kansas. I like playing against the best teams and the best players, and I think Kansas is the top team out there. And Kansas has Sherron Collins. He’s a point guard just like me. We’ve got a lot of mutual respect for one another. We worked at Deron Williams camp together last summer in Dallas.

Q: What makes Sherron so tough?

A: He’s just really, really strong. He doesn’t care who is in front of him. He knows he can get past them because he’s so strong and powerful. And he can create his own shot. That’s big when you’re 5-foot-10. That’s what I like the most about his game.

Q: There have been so many close games in the Big Ten this year, games that have gone right down to the wire. I know you’re at the top of the standings, but you probably don’t feel like you can relax, do you?

A: We can’t take a rest at all. Plus, Coach Izzo wouldn’t let us do that if we wanted. We may be on top right now, but at the same time, we haven’t played a lot of road games. We’ve still got to go to Purdue and Wisconsin and Illinois. It’s still going to be tough on us. We’ve got to keep our focus and stay in the gym.

Q: Is the league as good as you’ve seen it since you’ve been at Michigan State?

A: Definitely. The conference has some great players. When you’re a part of the Big Ten you’ve got to come out ready to play or you’re going to lose. In the Big Ten you’ve got to be ready to grind.

Q: If you could vote for one player in the Big Ten to get player of the year besides yourself, who would it be?

A: Draymond Green, Durrell Summers, Raymar Morgan. One of those guys.


Q: Good answer. Changing the subject … Coach Izzo held you out of practice a few weeks ago because he thought you could be doing a better job as a team leader. Looking back on it now, can you see how the disciplinary tactic could’ve been a good thing?

A: It was a good thing. But at the same time, we’re looking forward now. We’re past that. Coach and I are back on the same page. We’ve got the same goals. We’re trying to keep a strong record and keep winning. I think it was good what he did, but I’m not worried about it anymore. It’s in the past.

Q: Did it strengthen your relationship with him?

A: It did. I think me and Coach are closer now. We sit down and talk more. Everything is great between me and him. With him being the coach and me being the PG, we’ve got to be on the same terms. We’ve got to see eye-to-eye on things, and right now we do. We’ve got to keep building on our relationship and we’ll be fine.

Q: I read where he looked at you in the huddle near the end of the Minnesota game and told you to take over. Then you hit the game-winning 3-pointer. It has to feel good for your coach to have that kind of confidence in you.

A: I actually knew he was going to tell me that before we got into the huddle. He said it and kinda winked at me. I already knew what time it was. I just came down and made a big play. At the same time, my teammates made some big plays also. We had some huge stops on defense and other guys made big shots. It was a team win.

Q: If I were a fly on the wall in your locker room, what would I see? Are you guys a goofy, fun-loving team that likes to cut-up? Or are you mature and businesslike?

A: Our team is both. We can be serious at times but, for the most part, this a team that loves to have fun. We joke around a lot. There are a lot of characters on our team. We’ve got some goofy guys on our team that love to laugh.

Q: Who decides what music plays in the locker room? Who has control of the tunes?

A: No one is in control. If someone wants to play something, they go and play it. If no one likes it, they’ve got to change it.

Q: What gets played the most?

A: Probably something by Lil Wayne or Gucci.

Q: How have you adjusted to the spotlight that comes along with being a college basketball star and the face of a program, where you’re always on television and in the news?

A: The main thing is me staying humble and not trying to be bigger than the program, where I think I’m better than everyone else just because I’m on a magazine. I just try to stay humble and keep God first in my life.

Q: Speaking of magazines, I stumbled across a signed copy of Sports Illustrated on E-Bay the other day with you on the cover. I think it was selling for about 50 bucks. Does it make you feel weird that people would pay for your signature?

A: I didn’t know people were doing that until last year, when we got to the Final Four. I went and looked on the Internet and saw people selling the same stuff we signed. I was like, ‘Those people are making money off of me!’ I guess you can’t worry about it.

Q: If you could get someone’s autograph – or if you could pose for a picture with a famous person – who would it be?

A: I’d want to get my picture with Ashanti. She’s beautiful. I’ve loved Ashanti since I was in middle school.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? Something totally unrelated to basketball?

A: I like playing Xbox. I love playing video games.

Q: Do you and your teammates have anywhere you like to hang out? A restaurant or a club?

A: A lot of times we go to Red Lobster or Applebee’s after games, just to chill and get something to eat.

Q: I’m sure there will be plenty more celebratory meals to come. Does this team have the same potential as last year’s?

A: Of course we do. I think our team is better than last year’s. It’s still kind of early, but we’re making a lot of progress. The best players on the team are starting to play better. If that continues, we’ll be in good shape.

MSU Campus Webcam

Every wonder what's happening at old MSU right now? Take a look...

http://www.spartyon.com/webcam.html

Feeling a Little Beaten Down?

Feeling a Little Beaten Down?

It was a big weekend for Spartan Basketball fans. After a great showing against Wisco then beating up on Iowa, a bunch of higher ranked teams lost big. After checking out the list, be sure to set your DVRs to record "The Journey" on The Big Ten Network. It's porbably the best produced sports show I've seen that take you under the stands and into the locker rooms of every Big Ten BBall team in their year long quest to Indy.

The top 10 losses last week...

Monday : #9 NC
Saturday : #4 Purdue, #5 Duke, #8 WV
Sunday : #1 Kansas

Also, these Top 25 Teams lost : 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24

I guess a better way to say it would be 14 of the Top 25 ranked teams lost this week. Looking at our only losses this season so far, two were to top ten ranked teams at their home courts and the only other was to Florida on the East Coast. Once again, Izzo has his team where he wants them, not in the blinding spotlights of the front page, but maturing with every game and building on a great run.

Here's some info on the VERY cool 'The Journey' : http://www.bigtennetwork.com/journey/

GO GREEN and SPARTY ON.