Grand Valley State forward Justin Ringler gets past freshman guard Kalin Lucas on a layup attempt during the Spartans’ matchup against the Lakers last Friday. Ringler helped the Lakers defeat the Spartans, 85-82, in double overtime, by completing four of his seven attempted field goals.
During the off season the MSU basketball program completed a $1.3 million project to upgrade the home locker room and lounge.
After Friday’s 85-82 double overtime exhibition loss to Grand Valley State, however, men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo gave players the boot from the state-of-the-art facility.
“It’s probably a little childish,” Izzo said.
“But at the same time putting these facilities in was one of my dreams of building a program, and I think how hard myself, my assistants and the players before them worked for it, and that’s the standard they have to withhold.”
Freshman guard Chris Allen, who led the Spartans with 15 points against Grand Valley State, agreed with Izzo’s assessment that Friday’s showing on the court was not up to MSU’s standards.
“I agree with coach on that because I felt that we didn’t deserve to be in there,” he said. “According to that game, I don’t think we played up to the standards of being in there. I don’t think we deserved it.”
For the past two days the players have been changing wherever they can, ranging from the weight room to out in the hallway, but Izzo said it’s up to the players how long they’re out of the locker room.
“They might earn it tomorrow or they might earn it next week,” he said. “I’m just going to try to hold them to a standard that we have to start playing.”
Film session
The Spartans look to bounce back from Friday’s disappointing performance with tonight’s final exhibition game against Michigan Tech, who went 13-15 last season.
During this week’s practices, Izzo has stressed defense and offensive execution to his team in the film room, and said he still plans to juggle lineups around when the Spartans play host to the Huskies tonight at Breslin Center.
“We’re still going to do some things with our lineup, still going to make sure certain combinations play together,” he said.
“What we’re trying to do now is spend a little more time at night in film.”
The extra film sessions have helped Allen, who said he was confused at times during Friday’s game in his first appearance as a Spartan.
“I was used to (playing with those guys), but at the same time, some of the spots I was in I didn’t know the plays for, so we’d get sloppy, or everybody was in different positions,” he said.
“So all this weekend we’ve been watching film to learn every spot so if that happens again we’re going to be fine.”
‘Quise questionable
Junior forward Marquise Gray suffered a knee injury in the first half of Friday’s exhibition game and has been held out of practice this week to avoid further injury.
Izzo said that Gray was just hit, and there was no twist or sign of structural damage.
“He missed yesterday, he missed today and unless he’s 99 percent I’m not playing him on Wednesday,” Izzo said.
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