Following MSU’s Big Ten tournament championship loss, senior forward Branden Dawson displayed rare evidence of emotion.
Tears.
He and senior guard Travis Trice are entering the final stretch of their Spartan careers, and following such a tough defeat, Dawson just couldn’t hold back.
“It’s definitely emotional being that these are the last games of my career and Trav’s career,” Dawson said. “We have to treat every practice and every game like it’s the same.”
Dawson and Trice are no strangers to tournament success. They’ve won two Big Ten tournament championships and played for another, and they’ve made it to two Sweet Sixteens and an Elite Eight.
The lights get a little brighter in March, but for the pair of seniors, getting lost in the moment won’t be an issue.
“This is my fourth year, I’ve been through the ups and downs,” Dawson said. “I’ve been through a lot of tough games. To get caught up in the moment for me, I’d have to say that’s for the younger guys.”
Trice’s approach is to soak up the sights and sounds the rest of the way.
“I’m not trying to get caught up in it, I want to embrace it and just live in the moment,” Trice said. “That’s one of the beauties about this. You never know when your last game might be so you just have to live it up while you’re out there.”
Dawson was terrific in last year’s tournament, averaging just over 16 points and eight rebounds in MSU’s run to the Elite Eight.
Trice started the tournament off strong last year, scoring 19 points against Delaware in the opener. He played valuable minutes, filling in for a hindered Keith Appling.
Despite Trice’s game-changing ability, MSU’s success will ride on Dawson’s back. When Dawson is engaged and playing up to his potential, his teammates follow suit. This past weekend’s success in Chicago reflects this dynamic, and as Dawson played with the edge he did, MSU powered all the way to the title game.
“I think he is getting — if he plays with that energy, we are a different team,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “That puts a lot on Brandon and he should be willing to take on a lot now when you’re a senior.”
Raising banners still remains the goal for MSU, and after last year’s squad failed to make the Final Four, Trice and Dawson will have the opportunity to restart the streak for seniors.
“We came here to go to Final Fours and win championships and we haven’t had a chance to do that yet,” Trice said. “There’s definitely extra motivation now.”
