One problem, it didn’t count. 

But that didn’t stop Appling. He went on to hit a free throw and two layups in the game. And nearly five minutes after his first three-pointer didn’t count, he hit one that finally did. 

“It felt good just to see the ball go through the hoop,” Appling said. “I felt my game open up when I got a couple steals. I feel like we’re getting it all back together now.”

Appling finished with 12 points, his highest total since he scored 16 points at Iowa on January 28 . 

But more importantly, he looked more confident and into the game than he has in a long time.

"Our fans really took some ownership in him,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “He’s been going through hell. When he hit that one, people in the upper deck were rising, and I told that to Keith as we walked off the floor. Every person in this building has your back.”

At halftime, Izzo told the team that they needed to stop just talking about how good this team could be and start walking it. 

Asked how much of that one-way conversation was directed at him, Appling was quick to answer.

“The majority of it,” he said with a smile.

All 12 of his points came in the second half, and Izzo said that’s the Appling that was playing at a Player of the Year level for the first couple months of the season.

Appling wouldn’t go as far as saying this is another start to the season, but with Branden Dawson and Adreian Payne starting to get into better shape, it comes close. 

“Our energy and intensity on the defensive end (is better),” Appling said. “There’s a lot of basketball left and we’ve got to practice hard and practice together and see where it takes us.”

All of his teammates said they were happy to have Appling closer to his normal self, but they all know there’s another level he can get to. 

For Izzo, there’s a lot more work to be done, and with Ohio State and the Big Ten Tournament on the immediate horizon, he’s taking it one step at a time. 

“Never do you have to tell Keith Appling to play harder,” Izzo said. “He’s had the weight of the world on his shoulders. It doesn’t come off in one night, but it takes a big step.”