News and Notes from Spartan Basketball: NCAA Round One Edition

 Spokane, WA

This Spartan squad is ready for the dance. Photo courtesy of Greg Martin.

 

No one who has followed Spartan hoops for any amount of time questions Izzo’s ability to motivate. While telling the media yesterday that the comments by NMSU were not a big deal, all of his players knew about it. It had been discussed and once again Izzo has pushed a button on a star player.

 

I have followed Kalin since high school and I know him very well. I have never seen him as on fire for a game as this one. Yesterday he was emphatic with me, “I can not wait… I love tourney time.” He was confident that after the game they would know who he was and would be, “Hurting, too.”

 

Kalin is smooth. He doesn’t make on the record comments that give bulletin board material and he is taking this personal. For people that have questioned his heart this year, they need only see this. I am really excited to see how he responds. Does he press too hard? 

 

I asked Dwayne Stephens, MSU assistant coach in the locker room if he could look back at his success on the court and what Kalin’s extra motivation may mean, “Nothing if he doesn’t produce. Kalin didn’t need that, it was just extra.”

 

Durrell Summers is doing well. He is the most focused I have ever seen him. He told me standing in the locker room that, “None of it matters if you don’t win this time of year at Michigan State. I have really listened and practiced and I am just ready to play.”

 

Chris Allen admitted to being, “Anxious,” and said that the Spartans have, “That slow starting stuff in the past…Guys see what that does,” in the dance.

 

Draymond Green, who along with Delvon Roe has the highest basketball IQ on this team, had a great point that he is reminding his teammates of. He talked about how one possession can mean a ball game and one and done this time of year. “That one possession doesn’t necessarily have to be at the end of the game, either.” Great point. Whenever he hangs up his sneakers and calls it a career (hopefully a long time from now), he will be a great coach.

 

I was joking with Izzo at practice yesterday and we were talking about how things are this time of year. I told him that I love how loose he gets in the dance. He gave me a big smile and said, “I absolutely love this time of year.” Izzo is addicted to the adrenaline of this time of year.

 

Several players commented yesterday about what makes Izzo great. They all mentioned the late hours he works and the respect they have for him always watching film and being at the office. It reminded me of a quote Delvon gave me last year and I found it. This is from last year after the Penn State loss. “I think what makes this team not quit is that you come to the gym to shoot early in the morning and coach is there already. Then you come back late that night and he is there. I think Coach wills this team and his work ethic has to rub off. You can’t let your coach out-work you.”

 

Tom Izzo is 9-3 in first round games. 10-3 after tonight.

 

Tom Izzo called former Spartan Maurice Joseph this week ahead of the tournament to wish him well. That was a class act. MOJO left wanting to play and with no bitterness. Those relationships that Izzo builds are what make him special. One reporter asked me yesterday who covers another school, “Who else would do that?” I told him not many and he agreed.

 

Former Spartan assistant Brian Gregory, the current head coach at Dayton will be, “One of the lead candidates,” for the vacant Iowa job according to a source at Iowa. Gregory is a great guy and a true friend of Izzo and the program. The Big Ten would get much more difficult, but Brian is such a great guy and I would love to see him get it. I have no doubts he would listen and be interested.

 

I will have more on Gregory and Iowa on Saturday.

 

Lastly a big Spartan Nation shout out to the Chicago four. Great times guys. Tonight’s MSU win is dedicated to you all.