Matt Trannon is all but ready to go for the Spartans but head coach Tom Izzo joked the senior forward is "in the doghouse" because he brought the flu to the rest of the team. Trannon participated in Sunday's warm-ups before the game against IPFW but did not play because he was "sicker than a dog," Izzo said.
Last season, the Flint native averaged 11.6 minutes in 26 games following the football season. He shot 68.8 percent from the field and was fourth on the team in rebounding with 3.3 per game.
Izzo said Trannon is an athlete in the mold of former MSU greats Jason Richardson and Morris Peterson — one that brings a multidimensional level to the team.
"I'm hoping Matt can bring some defensive presence and some athleticism," Izzo said. "He brings that versatility — the one thing that this team doesn't have."
Izzo said he foresees Trannon shifting to small forward, so the transition could take a little time.
"He's going to help us," Izzo said. "When? I don't know. To what magnitude? I don't know. But what I do like about him is he brings an attitude. And I like guys that bring an attitude — a positive attitude."
Not so fast, Rick
Izzo took a lighthearted approach to former-coach-turned-ESPN-broadcaster Rick Majerus' comments during the Spartans' game against Chaminade that senior guard Maurice Ager was a "non-athlete" but still voiced his disappointment, defending the quickest player on the team.
"What happened to Rick is, as soon as he jumped over the media side, he went brain-dead," Izzo said Monday during his weekly press conference. "But those are the kinds of things that defy thought. I mean, call him a bad shooter, call him a bad ball-handler but … that was a weird statement."
Last season, Ager was the Spartans' leading scorer, averaging 14.1 points in 26.3 minutes. Through five games this season, Ager is averaging 23.0 points in 35.4 minutes, once again leading the Spartans. He's also shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Izzo said to keep in perspective that Ager wasn't an All-American coming into MSU and has been hampered for two years because of injury. What matters is getting the national respect when it matters, Izzo said.
"As they say, he's going to have the last laugh — that's the way you have to look at it," Izzo said. "I love the way Maurice has practiced, I love the way he's changed his whole demeanor, I love the way he's changed his body … I've had some pretty good athletes but there aren't many that are better than Maurice Ager."
Practice does make perfect
Izzo said the Spartans are a "ways away" from the defensive team he expected them to be.
"What I'm trying to figure out is why," Izzo said. "There's some guys I know that are very good defensively that just weren't able to go. Is it the legs that they don't have yet or is it the defense?"
The fast break also isn't where Izzo wants it to be, he said.
But all these factors can be attributed to the quick turnaround the Spartans have had. The Spartans played about four-and-a-half games in five days in Hawaii, played a game Sunday and now face Georgia Tech on Wednesday in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
Izzo said he doesn't see a lack of effort, he just hasn't been able to get in adequate practice time for the players to work on specifics.
"One (practice) time in 10 days — contrary to popular belief by people and players, practice is important," Izzo said.
Davis honored
Senior center Paul Davis was named the Big Ten Player of the Week after averaging 22.5 points and 12.3 rebounds in four games. His free-throw shooting for the past three games is unblemished — he has hit 29 straight free throws.
A little dip
MSU dropped one spot in The Associated Press Top 25 poll and now sits at No. 13.
Duke, Texas, Connecticut, Villanova and Oklahoma retained the top 5 spots.
Three Big Ten schools moved up the rankings — Illinois jumped from No. 15 to No. 12, Iowa moved up to No. 14 and Indiana is now at No. 17. Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan also received votes.
