News and Notes from Spartan Basketball 04/13/10 Edition

Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers will return for the 2010-2011 season. That isn’t a shocker, but with the eyes of the college basketball world on East

Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers will return for the 2010-2011 season. That isn’t a shocker, but with the eyes of the college basketball world on East Lansing next year, it is good news for them.

 

One of the most underrated aspects of Summers is his heart. He will work harder than he ever has this off-season, and with a monster season could skyrocket up the draft boards.

 

The 2010-2011 season is going to be special. I realize that is stating the obvious, but the issues and distractions this team had to endure in 2010 will not be tolerated by Izzo. He will work the kinks out this off-season, and with the influx of talent from one of the nation’s top recruiting classes next year should be magical.

 

Here is a heads-up reminder. The schedule has yet to be released, but every year Izzo’s teams lose some early games that cause some in the Spartan Nation to go crazy. Izzo will have a lot of experiments with the influx of freshman along with the talent already on hand. I always say you judge Izzo in March and that will be the same next year.

 

There is a lot of talk about the incoming class and there should be. They are all talented. Russell Byrd’s impact, I think, will shock some people. He has a wicked shot, but what people may not know is that he spent his entire senior season focusing on defense. His upside is amazing.

 

Tommy Herzog was nothing less than a gentleman at MSU and a great kid. I do not see him returning next season, but in my book will always be one of the great Spartans as a human being. He won’t get a banner hung, but should forever be known as the fantastic person he is.

 

I still think Chris Allen’s return is at best 45/55. We shall see over the coming days, but I think a lot of people are missing his status as they worry about Kalin and Durrell.

 

I hope Spartan fans are not like those from the past. How many expected when Biggie and Duffy were no longer on the scene to wait this long for a return to prominence? Only one Rose Bowl since Duffy left? Spartan fans are experiencing greatness and what could be a one in a generation type success with Izzo. I hope everyone is taking the time to enjoy it. That includes those at the University who don’t work in athletics.

 

Izzo is the face of the University in and outside of athletics. I sure hope those outside of athletics get it. Some of them may not embrace or like it, but he is an ICON and I would love to see the University, outside of athletics, do more to embrace that. More on that later.