Indianapolis — The Spartans can’t help but feel they left something on the table.
It might sound absurd, given No. 7 seed MSU’s role as David in a Final Four filled with Goliaths. The other three teams — Duke, Wisconsin and Kentucky, were all No. 1 seeds and dominant regular season performers.
The Spartans expected to compete against a young, athletic and highly-skilled Duke team. They expected their magical run to continue. But as head coach Tom Izzo said last Wednesday, there is no team of destiny. The Blue Devils proved that on Saturday.
“I feel bad because I didn’t think people got to see the team that has won 12 out of the last 15 games,” Izzo said. “Give Duke credit and give our seniors credit for getting us to a place that most people didn’t think we’d get to.”
After big games from the freshman duo Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow, Duke defeated the Spartans at Lucas Oil Stadium, 81-61, to advance to the National Championship round of the NCAA Tournament.
A loud, confident postseason run came to an abrupt end.
Izzo repeatedly said after the game he got everything he could out of this team, a team that was criticized for being untalented, undisciplined and primed for a first-round exit, assuming they even qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
“I got a lot out of a lot of teams over the years,” Izzo said. “This was squeezing blood out of a rock. This team gave me everything they had to give me. They played through so many things.”
Senior guard Travis Trice said despite the surprise tournament run, he still believes MSU left something on the table in the final game. But given the disappointment the regular season brought, the senior can’t help but feel proud of his team.
“A lot of people counted us out; didn’t think we were going to be here; didn’t think we were going to be in the tournament,” Trice said. “I think that’s definitely a high point for this group. We wanted to win it all, so that’s disappointing. And for me personally, I’m done. But I’m just happy for this group, the way they competed this year.”
“I’m happy. I’m proud of the way these guys responded all year. They never quit.”
Never in the game
Izzo pinned most of the blame for the loss Saturday night on himself.
It was a slopfest of a game. Duke attempted 37 free throws, making 27 of them. They locked down defensively after MSU got off to an early 14-6 lead, holding the Spartans to 35 percent shooting the rest of the way.
Freshman forward Justise Winslow led the Blue Devils with 19 points and nine rebounds, and freshman center Jahlil Okafor added 18 points and six rebounds.
The Spartans battled foul trouble through most of the second half. Quick whistles and an inability to limit penetration caused sophomore forward Gavin Schilling, junior guard Matt Costello and senior forward Branden Dawson to spend extended minutes on the bench.
“I was embarrassed for the people sitting behind us,” Izzo said. “We did not play good. I give them a lot of credit, but I’m not giving them all. We’ve got to get that straight right now. I’m not giving them all. I gotta do a better job. There’s been different players through that span of time. Same coach.”
With the loss, Izzo is now 1-9 in his career against Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Junior guard Denzel Valentine shared a few words with his head coach immediately after the loss.
“I just looked at him and said, ‘I’m going to get you here next year, coach,’” Valentine said. “It was a heck of a run. I’m just mad we lost because of BJ (Dawson) and Trav, what they’ve been through, what we’ve been through as a team this season. We got to tip our hat off to Duke. They were the better team today.”
A vow to get back
Valentine vowed to bring the Spartans back to the Final Four next year. Izzo said to get there, the Spartans have some work to do. More importantly, he has some work to do.
“I have to get some players who can drive the ball and get fouled,” Izzo said. “We gotta do a better job at recruiting.”
Krzyzewski has always been a great recruiter. In recent years, that hasn’t been Izzo’s strong suit. The talent disparity was obvious on Saturday and MSU’s momentum didn’t stand a chance.
“Is that going to drive me? Damn right it’s going to drive me,” Izzo said. “At the same time, the problem when you get this deep or when you schedule the way you do is that you play good people. And some of them are better than you.”
Regardless of the finish, there was a sense of satisfaction from players and coaches after the loss. The Spartans made the most of this season and next year the Spartans will see the contributions of West Virginia transfer guard Eron Harris, who sat this season out due to NCAA transfer regulations, and the addition of ESPN five-star recruit Deyonta Davis, a power forward from Muskegon.
“I told them, never forget this moment,” Dawson said. “Never forget this feeling. I know these guys are going to get better this summer, and they’re going to have an incredible team next year. We just told them don’t forget this feeling and make it back.”
Up until last season, every four-year player under Izzo had made a Final Four. When MSU lost to UConn in the Elite Eight last March, Keith Appling and Adreian Payne missed that opportunity.
Izzo learned from former MSU head coach Jud Heathcote to cherish these opportunities, because they aren’t promised. MSU surpassed the odds to get there this year. Next year, expectations will be higher.
“There (are) certain opportunities to get so far, and you may never get back there,” Izzo said of the lesson he learned from Heathcote. “That drives you. You could be good. You could be real good. You could be great. Last year, we were great. We were good enough to win it all. And we didn’t even get there.”
Trice and Dawson renewed that streak this year. The future for Trice is currently unclear, but Izzo expects Dawson to test the NBA waters.
“Travis, he gave me his all,” Izzo said. “Believe it or not, Branden Dawson, a cool thing for me and him will be graduation and then getting to a place to play more basketball.”
This season will be considered a stepping stone for MSU. Izzo hasn’t been to the National Championship round since 2000. That’s the next step, and he won’t quit until he reaches it.
“We’re on that never-ending chase to make sure. I’ve said to many of you, we have one more level to go,” Izzo said. “And I’m not leaving until I get to that one more level.”
Valentine shared a similar sentiment.
“We want to put ourselves in another bracket by winning the national championship,” Valentine said. “Next year, we’re going to be on a mission.”
