'Bigs' are key to Spartan victory
Joey Nowak
After MSU’s victory against Ohio State last week, Buckeyes head coach Thad Matta admitted a secret.
He said while they’d never just give away a basket, they were willing to allow MSU’s big men some open jump shots.
One player in particular, MSU senior center Drew Naymick, took advantage of Matta’s game plan, finishing with a season-high 11 points. After the game, Naymick said he and his cohorts knew the situation and he just rose to the occasion, becoming the difference-maker in a spotlight game.
Occasions like that night are what will get MSU through the season and a tough Big Ten schedule.
A lot has been said of the dependence on senior guard Drew Neitzel and emerging superstar status of freshman guard Kalin Lucas. But after each game, MSU head coach Tom Izzo reiterates that to succeed, both offensively and defensively, the “bigs” need to come to play.
Sometimes they’re garbage points. Junior center Goran Suton always seems to be in the right place at the right time for gritty rebounds or putbacks, leading the team in double-doubles.
Other times, like with Naymick’s 5-for-6 shooting night, it’s unexpected.
And still, it determines an outcome almost perfectly. The Spartans are 13-1 in games that junior forward Marquise Gray scores double figures.
They’re also 4-0 when he has 10-plus rebounds and 3-0 when he logs a double-double.
Neitzel may be the team’s MVP, Lucas may be the Second Coming and junior guard Travis Walton may be the glue guy, but if MSU’s bigs don’t come to play, Spartan victory is in jeopardy.
Joey Nowak is a State News men’s basketball reporter. He can be reached at nowakjo2@msu.edu.
Published on Monday, January 21, 2008
Comments
jason
01/22/08 @ 1:30pm
This is just like the other guys article with respect to our best player, Raymar Morgan. Why aren’t either one of you talking about Raymar? It is true that he has been aweful one way or another the last 2 games, but he has been overall the most consistant threat (barring foul trouble) that we have had all year…it was great to see Neitzel play well for what seems to be the first time this year, and although Raymar is our best player, I believe even if Drew is what he is capable of, but we need Neitzel to be great in order for this team to be special.
Ryan
01/22/08 @ 5:11pm
Jason pretty much touched on all bases. I think Jason and I should be writing these articles for you and your buddy Sean. I’m not so sure the Spartan ‘bigs’ are the key to victory. It’s more along the lines of, every big is pretty much a role player, playing a relatively simple role and need to just be average for us to have a chance to win. The players that actually need to play well and who will be the ‘keys’ to Spartan victories are the best players on the team- Neitzel, Morgan (whom you nor Sean even mentioned), Lucas and maybe Walton.