To say the least, the MSU men's basketball team hasn't lived up to any of the preseason hype.
In fact, they have turned Final Four aspirations into mediocrity. Those who envisioned MSU's sky-high expectations didn't expect perfection through 17 games. But a 10-7 mark has to be worse than a worst case scenario. The Spartans also have a lackluster 2-3 record in the Big Ten. Ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press preseason top 25 poll, MSU dropped out in mid-January and stopped receiving votes a week later.
The reasons for the decline are endless.
The Spartans are playing without a true point guard - arugably the most important position on the court - and the injury bug has riddled the team.
Lack of consistency at the free throw line (97 percent against Ohio State on Jan. 9 and then 43 percent against Iowa two nights later), turnovers (15.6 per game) and cold shooting streaks (31.9 percent combined against Purdue on Jan. 14 and Minnesota on Saturday) have also been thorns in the Spartans' sides.
"For Michigan State, their problems are simple and correctable," ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas said. "They are turning the ball over a little too much and that has allowed their opponents to get more scoring opportunities.
"But keep in mind, they were just a couple of possessions away from winning all three of those games (Iowa, Purdue and Minnesota)."
Nevertheless, The State News men's basketball reporters are here to hand out mid-season grades to the Spartan basketball team, carefully examining the positives and negatives.
Overall: C+
Slightly better than average describes MSU's play thus far in the 2002-03 campaign. When a team expected to take home the Big Ten crown loses at home to Toledo and loses five games in a six-game stretch, something just isn't right. The Spartans netted a huge road win against Kentucky on Dec. 14, but since then, MSU hasn't been able to record a victory away from the friendly confines of Breslin Center.
If the Spartans can erase their recent funk from memory (Dec. 30-Jan. 18), the ship could be righted and MSU could make some noise coming down the stretch in March. But the fact is, if the season ended today, it would be hard to include the Spartans in the field of 65.
Offense: B-
Despite MSU head coach Tom Izzo expressing his desire for a more offensive-minded season, the Spartans have not delivered. But with their final point total hovering around 70 each game, at least one part of their game is consistent.
Sophomore guard Chris Hill has shined in the spotlight with his 14.9 points per game, while three other Spartans (senior forward Aloysius Anagonye, sophomore guard Kelvin Torbert and sophomore forward Alan Anderson and freshman guard Maurice Ager) chip in more than eight points per contest. Ager has been a secret weapon of sorts, reaching double figures in five of the nine games he's played in all season and showing signs of a future Spartan star.
The spreading of the wealth and the ability to have numerous players contribute points in crunch time could benefit the Spartans down the stretch.
Defense: B
Defense has always been an area MSU prides itself on. Despite losing seven games so far and three in the Big Ten, the Spartan defense has shown much consistency.
One of the reasons for the relatively high mark in the face of seven losses has been the Spartans' toughness and improvement. Anderson and Torbert have continued to be solid defenders, and Anagonye has always been an anchor of the hard-nosed Spartan defense style.
Also, the Spartans have been getting some key defensive efforts from some unexpected sources. Sophomore guard Tim Bograkos has proved his worth on defense, often times coming off the bench to give his teammates a defensive lift. Hill has steadily improved, too, giving what Izzo called his best defensive performance of the year Wednesday against Penn State.
The weak spots in MSU's defense, though, have been consistent nearly all season. The Spartans continue to have difficulty guarding the opponent on the perimeter and still allow themselves to get burned on dribble penetration (see Purdue's Willie Deane and Oklahoma's Ebi Ere). The need to rely on less physical freshman in the frountcourt has also hurt interior defense when Anagonye is in foul trouble.
Frontcourt: C
With an explosive core of shooters around the three-point arc and opposing defenders playing tight, MSU's big men were supposed to create a strong presence in the paint. There have been small flames of brilliance, but the absence of a continuous blaze has been evident.
Anagonye has been the most consistent player inside, but his numbers (8.3 points and 6.2 boards per game) aren't enough to carry the weight inside. Freshman Paul Davis was a monster in the pre-conference season but didn't raise any eyebrows in conference play until dropping seven points against Penn State on Wednesday night. To Davis' credit, he has been playing all season with either a hand or ankle injury.
Senior forward Adam Ballinger has been the team's biggest disappointment. After being the second go-to guy last season, Ballinger has slipped into a regressive state this year, leaving the Spartans searching for a second weapon for the duration of the season.
Backcourt: C+
The Spartan guards are hurting this season, no question about it. MSU lacks a true point guard, which will continue to hurt. And it remains a question of how long it will take the sophomore trio of Hill, Torbert and Anderson to fully come into their own.
Covering the point has meant that Spartan guards, particularly Hill, aren't permitted to play the position they're best suited for. Plus, losing junior guard Rashi Johnson for eight games to a stress fracture hasn't helped. Johnson is a capable point guard, but his ailments have kept him sidelined. Once Johnson is able to re-enter the lineup and make contributions, the Spartans' point guard controversy should be slightly better off.
One pleasant surprise for MSU has been Ager. The Detroit native has excelled despite his limited playing time from injury, often creating his own shot and working the perimeter to find open teammates. Most likely MSU's best athlete when healthy, Ager has truly brought a spark to an overworked and in all likelihood, underrated, backcourt.
The jury may still be out on how soon MSU's guards can fully develop into prime time players, but things are steadily looking like its just a matter of time.
Coaching: B+
Give credit to where credit is due. Head coach Tom Izzo and his staff have shown an extraordinary amount of effort and devotion to this year's squad in the face of adversity. But, knowing Izzo, who would expect anything less?
Point one: The coaching staff has been dealt a rough round of injuries to key players. Davis, expected to make immediate contributions to the team, has been hobbled by hand and ankle problems since December, and Ager hasn't been 100 percent all season. A stress fracture and fainting spell in a Christmas practice limited time for Ager, who has since made key contributions.
Point two: MSU is without a natural point guard. Hill and Anderson have done formidable job covering the point, but they are being asked to play a position they are not naturally cut out for. Early departures of former Spartans Marcus Taylor (2002), Jason Richardson and Zach Randolph (both in 2001) have created the lack of player personnel, but the enthusiasm and knowledge that Izzo and staff have brought this year should not be penalized for that.
Point three: Job security. Izzo may have joked about his job being in question following a Jan. 18 loss to Minnesota, but count on associate head coach Brian Gregory to be the first to exit the Spartan coaching fold. Gregory runs a tight ship on the bench and practice, and other colleges with head coaching vacancies are sure to notice. Don't discredit Izzo for a 10-7 record, he's still the same coach who won a national championship just three years ago.
