Head coach Tom Izzo, left, and junior forward Adreian Payne joke during a press conference announcing Payne’s decision to finish out his college career and not enter the 2013 NBA Draft on April 28, 2013, at Breslin Center. Julia Nagy/The State News
Moments after junior center Adreian Payne delayed his professional career late Sunday night for his senior season at MSU to chase a national championship, it drew flashbacks of 2010.
That year, Durrell Summers, a junior at the time, also turned down the NBA after an impressive run through the NCAA Tournament. Like Payne, he returned to a stacked Spartan roster that began the season ranked No. 2 with aspirations of cutting down the nets.
That season ended as one of the most disappointing and frustrating of head coach Tom Izzo’s career, as MSU stumbled to a 19-15 record and exited the NCAA Tournament in the first round.
With Payne now on board for the 2013-14 season, the Spartans once again are poised to begin the year as a top-five team, and should be favored to win the Big Ten.
His return makes MSU one of the most experienced teams in the country, perhaps only outclassed in talent by Kentucky’s distinguished incoming freshman class.
This feels like it could be the season that erases the bad memories of the 2010 campaign.
Factors such as Izzo openly stating he’s hungrier than ever to take his program to a higher level make it seem that way. Throw in the fact that freshman guard Gary Harris and sophomore guard/forward Branden Dawson are getting their first full summers as collegiate players to develop their game, and that helps Izzo’s cause.
At his press conference Sunday, Payne openly spoke about the team’s expectations of playing for a national championship and their potential to reach that goal with Harris also returning to school. It’s up to him and soon-to-be senior guard Keith Appling to keep the streak of four-year players reaching the Final Four under Izzo alive.
“We all have one goal and that’s get to a championship,” Payne said.
The Spartans are aware of the opportunity in front of them and certainly appear to have the potential to deliver Izzo that elusive second championship ring. He turned to Payne on Sunday and said he expected and demanded to be playing for a Final Four or better.
Payne’s announcement was a major win for Izzo, who admitted he thought as late as Friday Payne was entering the draft. It came down to a last-minute meeting with his high school coaches from Dayton, Ohio for Payne to make his decision.
It is a decision that could pay long-term dividends for Izzo if he is able to add another national championship or Final Four run to his résumé. It would certainly earn him clout as he continues to chase elite-level prospects in Chicago and across the country.
The Spartans start next season in a situation much like they did in 2010 – they’ll even get a crack at likely No. 1 Kentucky in November.
It will look like 2010 at first, but at least until we see them in action, there’s no indication this team will finish anything like it did 2010.
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