Hype can be a blessing and a curse.
Senior forward Branden Dawson came into MSU with all the hype in the world and, as a result, has had blessings and curses during his career in East Lansing.
Weaving his way through injuries, criticism and the decision to hold off on the NBA, Dawson has changed the narrative to his Spartan career in his final season.
As his time winds down on his college career, his ceiling appears higher than ever. By making the unpopular decision to remain in school for four years, Dawson’s game has grown over the past few months, and it remains to be seen how much more he can develop.
“Right now, the ceiling — I’m feeling good about everything,” Dawson said with a wide grin.
His hard work is paying off for an MSU team that is firing on all cylinders heading into March. His evolution as a Spartan has been a journey, he said, a project with results that are still being discovered.
Becoming a Spartan
After averaging 28.7 points, 18.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists as a senior at Lew Wallace High School in Gary, Indiana, Dawson was selected as a 2011 McDonald’s All-American. A visit to East Lansing convinced Dawson to skip on in-state schools Indiana and Purdue to become a Spartan.
“When I came on my visit, I just fell in love with the place,” Dawson said. “(I) got along with the players. Coach — he never told me anything wrong from day one. Everything he told me, it came out to be the truth.”
As an 18-year-old, six-foot-six physical specimen, Dawson’s athleticism blended right in with the college game. Still, he had adjustments to make, and he said time management was an early struggle. New things were coming at him fast on and off the court.
“In high school, I was strong but my first year playing against North Carolina and guarding Harrison Barnes, you’re playing against guys who are lottery picks,” Dawson said. “Just adjusting to the game, just adjusting to the guys and how strong they were and the pace of the game.”
Dawson’s first collegiate game came in San Diego aboard the U.S.S. Carl Vinson during the Carrier Classic. Then-No. 1 North Carolina beat the Spartans, but Dawson provided a glimpse into the future, posting 10 points and seven rebounds against a talented Tar Heel squad.
His career was off to a great start, but it didn’t take long for a recurring pattern of adversity to set in.
Overcoming injuries
It’s a diagnosis no athlete wants to hear.
Torn ACL.
In the last regular-season game of his freshman year, Dawson suffered a torn left ACL against Ohio State. MSU managed to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament but bowed out to Louisville in the Sweet 16.
Dawson’s injury not only hampered his team’s immediate tournament aspirations but also his own goals to develop and train in the offseason.
“It hurt me a lot when I tore my ACL my freshman year,” Dawson said. “That was a summer where I could have worked on my game even more. Dealing with the injuries, it was just all about coming back with a different mindset and a different approach.”
Head coach Tom Izzo thought Dawson’s growth as a player took a huge hit.
“Coaches always say, ‘Players are made in the summer, and teams are made in the winter,’” Izzo said. “That poor kid missed a couple of summers, and when you miss a summer, and that’s when you’re trying to improve on your skill — then all of a sudden the year starts and you don’t get as much of a chance to improve on the skill stuff in the winter as you do in the summer.”
As a junior, Dawson slammed his hand against a table during a film session leading to a broken bone and almost a month of missed games. Upon his return, Dawson went on a postseason tear and helped the Spartans to a Big Ten tournament title and later scored a career-high 26 points against Harvard in the NCAA tournament.
In December 2014, Dawson fractured his left wrist and missed almost two weeks of time.
Former AAU teammate and fellow senior guard Travis Trice has dealt with his own health problems and injuries over the years and he said he’s always tried to be there for Dawson, someone he calls his “brother.”
“We just try and help each other through it and just really help each other more mentally,” Trice said. “We both know how frustrating it is, and we’re both there for each other.”
A spectacular senior year
Despite the injuries, Dawson had a chance to get drafted after his junior year. He passed up the NBA. However, with the hopes of taking care of some unfinished business.
He hadn’t defeated rival University of Michigan at Crisler Center in his career, but in mid-February that changed with an 80–67 thumping of the Wolverines.
On the court, the ultimate goal for Dawson is still to chase down a Final Four and National Championship.
Off the court, he will graduate with a degree in sociology.
Dawson told mis mother after his junior year that he would finish college and get his degree.
“She said just go ahead and finish and get your degree because that really can’t be taken away from you,” he said. “With that being said, it’s definitely been important for me and my family.”
Although MSU has dealt with its fair share of adversity, Dawson has never doubted his decision to return.
The evolution of his game
Dawson entered college dripping with raw athleticism, but putting the pieces together consistently has always been an issue. Izzo said that Dawson had “a lot better offseason” last summer, and it has shown this year through a more well-rounded game.
Every year he’s been at MSU, his minutes, scoring, rebounding and assist numbers have increased. He’s shown steady improvement and has laid rest to the talk surrounding his “motor.”
Because he’s taken classes over the last three summers, his course load is light this semester. As a result, Dawson has spent “classroom time” at Breslin Center with assistant coach Mike Garland.
“(At) 11:30 every day, he’s got Professor Garland, and they come in, and they shoot free throws and they watch film and he’s working on his shot,” Izzo said.
It’s easy to notice the improvements in Dawson’s turnaround jumper and even in his free throw shooting during his last three games. His passing, however, might be one of the most under-appreciated areas of his game.
“I think watching film, you just have to be a student of the game,” Dawson said. “I just know when teams are gonna double team me — if the defense is coming from the weak side or if the defense is coming from the middle.”
Dawson’s athleticism has always been reflected with his rebounding numbers. He is currently averaging 10 rebounds per game, and he’s top 10 in total rebounds in MSU history.
“It’s surreal, just to see my name amongst the greats who played here,” Dawson said. “It’s a great feeling and something that my son will remember, my family, friends. Just leaving a legacy here at Michigan State, you know.”
