Senior guard Bryn Forbes, 5, and the rest of the MSU Spartans get excited during the game against Northern Michigan on Nov. 4, 2015 at Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated the Wildcats, 94-53.
There was a sense of urgency at practice for MSU Basketball Wednesday evening, something head coach Tom Izzo said his team was lacking against Ferris State. Only two days out from starting the season against Florida Atlantic, the Spartans paid attention to all the details, trying to perfect an already impressive style of play.
Fast paced, and mobile the Spartans will have to avoid a lackadaisical effort if they’re to avoid an upset.
“We gotta play defense I think that’s key,” sophomore guard Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr, said about what it will take to win on Friday night. “Play defense and rebound.”
The Spartans enter Friday night’s contest coming off of two straight exhibition wins. The Spartans defeated Ferris State 93-57 on Monday and Northern Michigan 94-53 on Nov. 4. Florida Atlantic enters the game having played only one exhibition, defeating St. Thomas 75-58.
“I can’t wait,” senior guard Denzel Valentine said about his senior season getting underway. “FAU looks like a tough team on film, they’re gonna be coming in here ready to play, so I’m really excited to play Friday in front of the Izzone and have it be official.”
Leading the charge for the Spartans, unsurprisingly, are senior guards Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes. The two combined for 68 points in the exhibition games with Valentine shooting 12 of 25 from the field and Forbes shooting 11 of 17 from beyond the arch.
“I feel good, I feel like I’m in my flow right now,” Forbes said about his strength behind the three point line. “The passers we got, they put the passes where they need to be, that helps me especially.”
FAU will come looking to shoot the ball from the three point line as 51 percent of the points MSU has given up have come from beyond the arch. The Spartans had trouble defending the three against Ferris State, as the Bulldogs hit six of their 10 three pointers in a row.
FAU is led by guard Adonis Filer and forward Jeantal Cylla. Cylla had a game high 19 points in FAU’s victory while Filer chipped in 17 points. Cylla was 3 for 7 from three point range.
The Spartans, however, will face a FAU team shooting only 36.8 percent from three point range, and only 39 percent from the field.
The Spartans have dominated on the boards, collecting 97 rebounds through two games, while only giving up 61 rebounds. Valentine has also lead the team in this regard collecting 17 rebounds in two games.
Perhaps the surprise for the Spartans thus far has been the play of freshman Matt McQuaid. The 6-foot- 5, 190 pound guard from Duncanville, Tex. has chipped in 16 points and logged 37 minutes, including 22 minutes on Monday against Ferris State.
McQuaid also is a threat from three, shooting 50 percent from the behind the arch. McQuaid is second on the team in assists with 11 trailing only Valentine who has 17.
Something to watch for is the rotation of subs. With Gavin Schilling more than likely sidelined Friday after being in a boot on Wednesday, more guys will get an opportunity to play, one of those guys will be Deyonta Davis, Izzo said Wednesday.
“He’s going to get an opportunity to play more,” Izzo said. “Normally I like what I’ve been seeing, but that last game he didn’t adjust to the officiating well. In general he’s got to adjust. I’m looking for him to get some more time.”
Davis had 12 points in the exhibition opener but ran into foul trouble against Ferris State. Before fouling out, he finished with five points.
The game Friday tips off at 7 p.m. at Breslin Center, with ESPN3 broadcasting the game.
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