Senior guard Keith Appling guards Minnesota center Elliott Eliason on Jan. 11, 2014, at the Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated the Gophers in overtime, 87-75. Betsy Agosta/The State News
For the last two months, the No. 4 men’s basketball team’s starting five has looked like a carousel. Injuries and illness have forced head coach Tom Izzo to solve a roster puzzle almost every game, trotting out nine different starting fives in the last 12 games. Despite those struggles, MSU has played tough, pulling out close games in key situations. Here are the top five starting rotations(in order) the Spartans have seen in their injury-plagued season.
— Matt Sheehan, The State News
Jan. 4 at Indiana (73-56, MSU)
Starting five: ?Payne, Dawson, Valentine, Harris, Appling
Starting five stats: ?24-47 shooting, 62 points, 22 rebounds, 5 turnovers
Best performer?: Gary Harris, 8-18 shooting, 26 points, 5 steals and zero turnovers
With sophomore forward Matt Costello out due to mononucleosis, the Spartans were missing one of their big men in the paint. It didn’t hurt the Spartans too much, as Harris was one of three starters to score in double figures to torch the Hoosiers on their home court.
Nov. 23 vs. Oklahoma (87-76, MSU)
Starting five: ?Costello, Payne, Dawson, Harris, Appling
Starting five stats: ?24-44 shooting, 71 points, 28 rebounds, 7 turnovers
Best performer: Keith Appling, 8-12 shooting, 27 points, 10-14 free throws
Senior guard Keith Appling made it his night, but he wasn’t the only one doing damage as sophomore guard Gary Harris and junior forward Branden Dawson combined for 39 points. It was one of the few moments where MSU wasn’t missing any key players, and this game shows how potent MSU can be with a full roster.
Dec. 28 vs. New Orleans (101-48, MSU)
Starting five?: Payne, Gauna, Valentine, Harris, Appling
Starting five stats: ?28-50 shooting, 79 points, 39 rebounds, five turnovers
Best performer: Keith Appling, 7-10 shooting, 27 points, 8 assists
MSU beat the brakes of the Privateers, but the fact New Orleans is a Southland Conference member takes some of the magic out of it.
Nonetheless, the Spartans’ starting five nearly put together 80 points and had four players scoring in double digits.
No matter how talented the opponent is, that is still impressive.
Dec. 31 at Penn State (79-63, MSU)
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Starting five: ?Payne, Dawson, Valentine, Harris, Appling
Starting five stats: ?23-53 shooting, 61 points, 32 rebounds, 9 turnovers
Best performer?: Branden Dawson, 8-14, 20 points, 9 rebounds
It wasn’t the prettiest showing in the first half, but the Spartans rallied in the second half to give MSU a win in its Big Ten opener. Rebounding was the key in this contest, as Dawson and Payne combined for 19 boards to dominate Penn State on the glass, 45-26.
Jan. 11 vs. Minnesota (87-75 OT, MSU)
Starting five: ?Costello, Dawson, Valentine, Appling, Harris
Starting five stats: ?16-44 shooting, 65 points, 36 rebounds, 7 turnovers
Best performer?: Keith Appling, 4-10 shooting, 24 points, 15-16 free throws
It took some overtime heroics, but the Spartans won a tough battle with Payne on the bench with a sprained foot, cleaning up rebounding stats.
