How many times has senior forward Liz Shimek been named Big Ten Player of the Week already this season?
Four. Even though it seems like every other week, she is bringing home the honor.
And then by her side, there is senior guard Lindsay Bowen, who is averaging more than 12 points per game and currently holds the MSU career record for three point baskets and second in all-time scoring.
Earlier this week, Shimek was named to the Midseason All-American Team for the Women's Wooden Award, a prestigious honor in college basketball.
Bowen is leading the MSU women's basketball team in assists, steals and free throws.
It seems like these two seniors are holding down the MSU box score every game — in almost every category. And what does MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie think about it? Not a big deal.
Her pride in these two top stars is endless, but when it comes to the team as a whole, that is a lot more important to her — and that goes for Shimek and Bowen as well, she said.
At McCallie's Monday press conference, a member of the media asked her about these two players' standout performances, and her answer was simple.
She doesn't think that there should be so much focus on the players because that is not what they want — they just want the team success.
McCallie credits the redefinition of the program and its positive development to players like these two. I agree. I get annoyed with the amount of publicity and talk that goes into the "stars" of teams.
It seems to become less and less about the competition and the minutes in action and more about the fame factor.
By the time Sunday's Super Bowl rolled around, I had heard the name Jerome Bettis or "The Bus" so much, I almost developed a twitch from the overload.
While watching the game, I was talking with one of my roommates, and I asked her why she thinks that there was such a big deal being made Bettis — besides his Detroit roots and retirement from professional football.
I mean, I know that is a lot, but was that it? That doesn't seem like enough for the amount of press that seemed to be about him last week.
In comparison, there was no player picked out on the Seattle Seahawks and put front and center before and during the game. My roommate said that was probably the case — the Seahawks didn't have that "standout" player. She compared the Super Bowl runners-up to the Detroit Pistons, a team known for solid talent across the roster, but no superstars.
Then, after hearing McCallie talk about the focus of her team the next day— and how as a team they try not to spotlight people — I was reminded of that earlier conversation.
The Pistons are known around the country for their skills, which helped lead them to their 2004 NBA Champion title.
I can rattle off three or four names that could probably carry the team on their own but don't really need the extreme celebrity status to do so.
So this is what the Spartans have learned, and I even think they are a bit ahead of the learning curve.
Sure, Shimek and Bowen are amazing. Yes, they carry the team and they deserve copious amounts of attention for that. But the aim to be unified together towards a goal, instead of two headliners and a handful of sidekicks, will take them far in post-season play.
The team doesn't necessarily have the privilege of as much depth as the Pistons, but this is something McCallie has said they are looking to improve in this last part of the season. Their attitude and philosophy seems right on.
This season poses ridiculously high expectations on the women's team to repeat last year's NCAA tournament run.
But, I think, if Shimek and Bowen had the choice of heading toward their goal with one attitude, it would be together as one team of hungry, fighting Spartans.
Laura Collins is the deputy sports editor and can be reached at colli313@msu.edu.
