It Wasn’t Pretty But the #3 Michigan State Spartans Improve to 8-0 with Best Win of the Season 71-67 Over Louisville Behind MONSTER Performance By Kenny Goins
It Wasn’t Pretty But the #3 Michigan State Spartans Improve to 8-0 with their best Win of the Season 71-67 Win Over Louisville, Behind MONSTER Performance By Kenny Goins
Breslin Center
East Lansing, MI
Michigan State went out to California, won the Wooden Legacy and got back to East Lansing as fast as they could. They looked exhausted and didn’t play their best basketball tonight, but none of that mattered. The Spartans did exactly what ELITE teams do and on an off night, find a way to win. Tonight it was another young player who watched his star emerge.
Led by 25 points by Denzel Valentine and 20 points by Bryn Forbes the performance of the night was an amazing showing of toughness from Kenny Goins who took control of the boards for MSU with a team 13 rebounds. MSU owned the boards 40 to 30. Goins who is one of the favorites on the team played more like Charles Barkley and owned the ball. He frusted the bigger Louisville players proving heart is the biggest muscle in the body.
The humble Goins said of his performance tonight, “It was really not about me. We win as a team here and I am just really proud of my team.†His teammates made it about him. Captain Denzel Valentine said, “He was un…be…lieveable. He got my respect tonight. When he plays like that we need him.â€
Captain Tum Tum Nairn who isn’t healthy said of Goins play, “I am so happy for him. Kenny is such a hard worker and great guy and to see that being rewarded was special. We need Kenny and the good news is that he can play at a high level.â€
Izzo beamed with pride talking about the red shirt freshman from Troy, Michigan saying, “Kenny was fresh. The difference in the game was Kenny did a helluva job in the boards.†Don’t let Goins aw shucks Howdy Doody routine fool you, his smile was ear to ear when I pressed him about his performance and he paused, looked down and said, “It was special.†When I asked him what it is like to hear Izzo and his teammates call him the difference in a big game he simply said, “I don’t know if I would have believed I would hear that.â€
It won’t go down as the prettiest MSU win, but it was impressive considering the circumstances. MSU had 16 turnovers compared to 13 for the Cardinals. MSU had 17 assists on 23 baskets again showing their trademark unselfish play. MSU shot 42% and the Cardinals were barely better at 43%. How lopsided was this game? Louisville lead for 31:28 of the 40 minute game and the games was tied for 2:34.
Tom Izzo said of his teams guts performance that, “Our big keys to the game we had to rebound well and ended up we did. I was worried we would let the crowd motivate us and not the other way around. Everywhere the ball bounced we got it. We had some guys play better. We have a lot of work to do. I feel fortunate to win that. I would almost say we stole it.â€
I asked Izzo about his team finding a way to win when they looked exhausted and he said, “Considering what this team has been through it was an unbelievable win. I told them we needed to do things to energize the crowd and I’m not sure they did, but they got us going. It was like old times.â€
Valentine also took pride in his team finding a way to win saying, “No excuses. We don’t do excuses here, but we had to find a way to win. We take pride here in finding ways to win.â€
I asked Nairn about his plantar fasciitis. I wondered if it will be an injury that lingers with him all year or if he can expect some relief? “I think it is going to linger the entire season. I won’t be able to do much more outside work to improve my game than shooting a lot of extra free throws.â€
While widely heralded as one of the best college basketball coaches in history, Pitino finds both himself and his program embattled in an alleged scandal as they entered the Breslin Center tonight. ESPN broke a story in which former players and recruits told the network that they had attended parties with strippers that was paid for paid for by the team's former graduate assistant coach Andre McGee. One of them admitted to have sex with one of the strippers. The parties were said of have occurred at Billy Minardi Hall.
Katina Powell is publishing a book entitled, "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen," in which says that almost two dozen sex parties took place at the campus dormitory named after Pitino’s late brother in law. According to ESPN, a Louisville spokesman told them in response to their report, "Coach Pitino has no plans to step down and he absolutely didn't know about the allegations."
The ESPN report states that, “Outside the Lines reviewed Powell's journals, text messages and phone records and independently confirmed that text messages sent to Powell to arrange the parties came from McGee's cellphone. Further, Outside the Lines has independently confirmed a wire transfer of $200 from McGee to Powell on one occasion.†You can read the entire report WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.
Unfortunately for Pitino if the NCAA follows its rules, as many question their integrity in doing, he is still responsible while claiming he was unaware of his former employee’s alleged actions. According to NCAA Division 1 Bylaw 11.1.1.1 a head coach is presumed responsible for all of the actions of all assistant coaches and administrators who report directly or indirectly to them.
I was going to ask Pitino in light of this rule if he was considering resigning in the wake of the scandal if the allegations are proven true. He decided not to come to the post-game interview room to face questions from the MSU press. He also did not make himself available to the media afterward. He instead chose to send out an assistant coach.
Sadly in today’s NCAA climate they are very quick to jump on players for actions (no matter how small) while often letting of high tier institutions and coaches off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist in my opinion. Frankly it is a leading reason we need NCAA reform.
The Spartans will return to action on Saturday at noon, right back here at the Breslin Center. That game will be televised by ESPNU.