Men's Basketball Faces Road Test At Bradley
12/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 3, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
#9/10 Michigan State (6-1)
vs. Bradley (6-2)
December 4, 2007
9 p.m. EST
Peoria, Ill.
Carver Arena
Radio: Spartan Sports Network - Will Tieman (Play by Play), Gus Ganakas (Color). Flagship - WJIM 1240 AM/WMMQ 94.9 FM
TV: ESPNU - Lou Canellis (Play by Play), Mike Kelley (Color)
Watch Coach Izzo Press Conference - Dec. 3
The Opening Tip
Michigan State is known to have a great home court advantage, but will now go on the road into another strong home court, as Bradley has won 29 straight non-conference home games, just two behind MSU's active streak. Although this is the Spartans' first true road game of the season, they did play Missouri in front of 18,000 fans in Kansas City, most all of them cheering for the Tigers.
The Starting Five
1. Spartans Shooting Well - Michigan State is shooting a Big Ten-best 51.4 percent from the field this season, having shot better than 50 percent in five games. Last season, MSU shot 46.9 percent.
2. Value The Basketball - Michigan State is averaging 15.3 turnovers per game, but has done a better job taking care of the ball in the last two games, averaging 11.5 turnovers. The Spartans committed a season-low 10 turnovers against NC State, and followed with 13 against Jacksonville. The turnovers are not coming from the point guards, as Drew Neitzel, Travis Walton and Kalin Lucas combine to average just 5.0 turnovers per game. Neitzel leads the Big Ten with a 5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while Walton ranks 5th at 2.33-to-1, and Lucas is 7th at 1.94-to-1.
3. First Half Shooting - Michigan State has led at halftime of every game this season and one reason is its first-half shooting. The Spartans have shot 50 percent or better in all seven first halves this season, including a season-best 61.5 percent against ULM. Overall, MSU is shooting 54.2 percent in the first half (107-of-196).
4. Attacking The Offensive Glass - Through seven games, Michigan State has nearly as many offensive boards (94) as its opponents have defensive rebounds (108), as the Spartans grab 46.5 percent of their own missed shots. Against Chicago State, ULM and Oakland, the Spartans had more offensive rebounds than their opponent had defensive boards. MSU is averaging 13.4 offensive rebounds per game, and has recorded at least 10 offensive boards in five of the seven contests.
5. Spartan Depth - Nine different Spartans are averaging 15.0 minutes or more. At the same time, no Spartan is averaging 30 minutes. Drew Neitzel, leads the Spartans at 28.1 minutes per game, nearly eight fewer than he averaged last season (35.7 mpg), when he played more minutes than any Spartan since 1991.
MSU vs. Bradley Notes
Series History - Michigan State leads the all-time series with Bradley, 2-0, although the two teams have never met in Peoria. In addition to last year's game in East Lansing, the only other meeting came in December 1969 in the Utah Classic.
Coach Les - Jim Les (Bradley `86), is in his sixth season as both the head coach of his alma mater and as a collegiate head coach. During that time, Les has compiled a 90-75 record, which included an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2006, marking a first for the Braves since 1955.
The Last Meeting - Michigan State defeated Bradley, 82-53, last season in East Lansing. Drew Neitzel led four Spartans in double figures with 20 points, while Raymar Morgan added 18 points and seven rebounds, and Travis Walton chipped in 15 points and nine assists. Drew Naymick led MSU with 10 rebounds, as the Spartans held a 45-27 advantage on the glass. The Spartans led by just eight points at halftime, but used an 18-0 run to turn a 12-point second-half lead into a 30-point advantage with 11:56 remaining. Bradley shot 47.8 percent from 3-point range, but just 17.6 percent from inside the arc.
Braves Notes - Bradley averages 25.3 3-point attempts per game ... Bradley's three starting guards (Daniel Ruffin, Jeremy Crouch and Andrew Warren) have all attempted more 3-point field goals than 2-point field goals ... The Braves average 9.6 steals per contest ... The Braves have won 29 straight non-conference home games ... Daniel Ruffin is the nation's active leader with 533 career assists.
A Shared Coaching History - Michigan State and Bradley were both stops during the coaching career of Forddy Anderson. He was 125-124 in 11 years at MSU, including leading the Spartans to the 1957 Final Four and Big Ten Championships in 1957 and 1959. Anderson came to MSU following a stint at Bradley, where he posted a 141-56 mark. His Bradley teams appeared in two NCAA Tournaments, including advancing to the championship game in 1954. Bradley also made two NIT appearances.
Game Seven Notes • Michigan State 80 - Jacksonville 51
* Michigan State's guard trio of Drew Neitzel, Kalin Lucas and Travis Walton teamed up to record 21 assists and just four turnovers.
* The Spartans recorded a season-high 23 assists on 29 baskets.
* Michigan State shot a season-best 56.9 percent from the field, while holding Jacksonville to just 37.5 percent shooting.
* After missing all four 3-point attempts in the first half, Michigan State made 5-of-8 shots from distance in the second half.
* For the second straight game, Michigan State had fewer turnovers than its opponent, as the Spartans held a 17-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
* Michigan State posted a 19-2 advantage in fast-break points.
* After Jacksonville scored the game's first basket, MSU scored the next 13 points and never led by less than five after that.
MSU Basketball Notes
Finding Success At The Foul Line - Michigan State is shooting a Big Ten-best .760 from the foul line. The Spartans are averaging 23.9 attempts and 18.1 makes per contest. In fact, MSU has made nearly as many free throws (127) as its opponents have attempted (128). In the Spartans' lone loss to UCLA, they made 93.3 percent of their attempts, but attempted just 15 free throws. Last season, MSU averaged 19.2 attempts and 13.8 makes. Individually, Raymar Morgan has the most trips to the foul line (44), averaging 4.7 points per game at the stripe. Drew Neitzel is MSU's career leader in free-throw percentage (.858).
I Love The 80's - The Spartan offense has scored more than 80 points in five of seven games this season, equalling last year's number of 80-point games. Last season, MSU scored 80 or more points in just five of 35 contests.
Hitting The Boards - Through seven games, Michigan State has a +10.4 rebound margin. Goran Suton paces the Spartans at 8.1 boards per contest, having grabbed 20 against Oakland, becoming the first Spartan since Kevin Willis in 1983 to record 20 boards in a game. In MSU's six wins, the Spartans have a +13.7 rebound margin, but lost the only game in which they were outrebounded (UCLA; 37-28). In 2006-07, MSU posted a +7.0 rebounding margin, outrebounding 24 of 35 opponents while tying three other teams. Last season, three different Spartans (Marquise Gray, Drew Naymick and Goran Suton) grabbed 10 or more rebounds in a single game.
Maintaining The Defense - Michigan State is holding its opponents to 37.6 percent shooting overall, and 30.2 percent shooting from 3-point range. Last year, MSU allowed opponents to shoot just 38.4 percent, the lowest percentage since 1958-59.
Freshmen Contributions - Michigan State has played three true scholarship freshmen (Chris Allen, Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers) this season. The trio is averaging 22.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 55.7 minutes.
Morgan Named Big Ten POW - Raymar Morgan was named co-Big Ten Player of the Week on Nov. 19, sharing the honor with Indiana freshman Eric Gordon. The Spartan sophomore averaged 19.0 points and 14.5 rebounds in the East Lansing Regional of the CBE Classic, earning Regional MVP honors.
Neitzel Among Career Leaders - Drew Neitzel sixth in MSU history with 472 career assists, just 19 behind Earvin Johnson. He is the Spartan career leader in free throw percentage (.858) and ranks fourth in 3-point field goals attempted (478) and fifth in 3-point field goals made (194).
Neitzel Moving Up Scoring List - Drew Neitzel ranks 31st in Michigan State career scoring with 1,133 points. He needs 14 points to pass Pete Gent (1,146 points) and 23 points to Lindsay Hairston (1,155 points). Neitzel scored his 1,000th-career point against Marquette in the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
MSU's Block Party - In 2006-07, Michigan State blocked a school single-season record 162 shots. Drew Naymick led the Spartans with 55 rejections, good for the second-best single-season total in MSU history. Idong Ibok had 33 blocks, the seventh-best single-season total at MSU. Naymick currently stands in fifth place on the MSU career blocked shots chart with 80 rejections. He is 17 blocks shy of Matt Steigenga in first place.
Home Sweet Home - During Tom Izzo's career as head coach, the Spartans are 169-22 (.885) at home, including 146-13 (.918) over the last 11 years.
Non-Conference Home Winning Streak - Michigan State has won 31 straight non-conference games at the Breslin Center, good for the fourth-longest active streak in the nation. Only Duke (55 - vs. Michigan-12/8), Sam Houston State (40 - vs. Texas-Lutheran-12/4) and Washington (31 - vs. Pittsburgh-12/8) have longer active streaks. Bradley (vs. Michigan State-12/4) has won 29 straight non-conference home games.
Returning Talent - The Spartans return 89.8 percent of their scoring (2,043 points), 92.6 percent of their rebounding (1,021 rebounds), 93.2 percent of their assists (522 assists) and 89.4 percent of their minutes (6,256 minutes) from the 2006-07 squad.
Playing With Team USA - Raymar Morgan and Drew Neitzel had the opportunity to play for Team USA over the summer. Morgan made the 2007 USA U19 World Championship Team, winning a silver medal at the FIBA U19 World Championships. He started six of the nine contests, averaging 9.2 points (sixth most on the team) and 4.3 rebounds (fourth most). Neitzel made the 2007 USA Pan American Games Team, helping the team to a 3-2 mark. He led Team USA in minutes (29.6 mpg) and assists (2.2 apg), while ranking fifth in scoring (8.2 ppg).
Big Ten Favorites - Michigan State was selected the preseason Big Ten favorite by a 22-member media panel at Big Ten Media Day on Oct. 28 in Chicago. MSU was followed in the polls by Indiana and Ohio State. At the event, Drew Neitzel was also selected Preseason Big Ten Player of The Year, becoming the first Spartan to earn the preseason nod since Mateen Cleaves was the coaches' pick in 1999. Indiana's D.J. White, Ohio State Jamar Butler, Penn State's Geary Claxton and Illinois' Shaun Pruitt joined Neitzel on the all-league team.
MSU Among Decade's Best - In early May 2007, ESPN.com released a ranking of the top 10 programs of the last 10 years. Michigan State was tied for second in the consensus ranking of five college basketball experts. One of the five voters, Andy Katz, ranked MSU as the top program over the last 10 seasons. In ranking the Spartans at the top of the list, Katz used several supporting arguments including: appearing in a nation's best four Final Fours; winning four Big Ten Championships, two Big Ten Tournament Titles and the 2000 NCAA Championship; 10 straight NCAA Tournament appearances; 10 players selected in the NBA Draft; playing 32 ranked regular-season non-conference opponents; 30 graduates; 145 consecutive home sellouts and a .916 winning percentage at Breslin over the last 10 years.
Spartans On The Run - After Michigan State's season-ending loss to North Carolina in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, Tom Izzo promised that the Spartans would return to the up-tempo style of basketball that he prefers to play. Look for the Spartans to significantly improve on the 65.0 points they averaged last season. Instead, expect something similar to the 2004-05 squad that averaged 78.5 points per contest, the most by any Izzo-coached team.
The Other Foundations - While an up-tempo offense is Tom Izzo's preferred style, his best teams are also built around exceptional rebounding and strong defense. In fact, MSU led the Big Ten in rebounding margin in 2006-07 for the eighth time in the last 10 years. Defensively, the Spartans allowed opponents just 57.2 points per game, the lowest total since 1951-52. While that number might increase due to a faster pace of game, the field-goal percentage defense need not increase. Last year, MSU allowed opponents to shoot just 38.4 percent, the lowest since 1958-59.
A Perfect 10 - Michigan State made its 10th straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007. It is the longest current streak among Big Ten schools and fifth longest in the nation. Only Arizona (23), Kansas (18), Kentucky (16) and Duke (12) have longer current streaks. It is also the second longest streak in Big Ten history. Indiana appeared in 18 consecutive tournaments between 1986 and 2003.
Preseason All-American - A second-team All-American as selected by Dick Vitale and CBS Sports.com in 2006-07, Drew Neitzel opens the 2007-08 season as a popular pick for first-team All-America honors. In fact, Neitzel is a preseason first-team All-American according to The Associated Press, Athlon Sports College Basketball, Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook and Dick Vitale. Teammate Raymar Morgan made Vitale's fourth team.
Neitzel On Cousy List - Senior point guard Drew Neitzel is one of 36 Division I candidates for the 2007 Bob Cousy Award. Presented annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the award recognizes the top collegiate point guard participating in NCAA Divisions I, II and III. The selection committee is comprised of college basketball experts including media members, former coaches and players. Candidates are evaluated on their ability to maximize their team's collective potential, their leadership, their core basketball skills and overall team acheivement. Neitzel is the only Big Ten player on the list, which also includes two Division II and Division III candidates.
Spartans Make Wooden And Naismith Lists - Raymar Morgan and Drew Neitzel are two of 50 players nationwide to earn a spot on the 2007-08 Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T preseason candidate watch list. The Naismith watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its preseason criteria on player performances from last season and expectations for the 2007-08 season. Morgan and Neitzel are two of just four Big Ten players on the Naismith watch list, where they are joined by Penn State's Geary Claxton and Indiana's D.J. White. Neitzel was also selected one of the top 50 preseason candidates for the 2007-08 John R. Wooden Award. The John R. Wooden Award, presented by the Los Angeles Athletic Club, has been presented annually since 1976. Neitzel and White are the only Big Ten players on the preseason list for the Wooden Award. Last season, Neitzel was one of 22 players to appear on the final ballot for the Wooden Award.
Spartan Opponents In The Polls - Four Michigan State opponents are ranked in the latest The Associated Press Top 25, including No. 4 Texas, No. 7 UCLA, No. 15 Indiana and No. 20 Brigham Young. (Based on Dec. 3 rankings.)
Spartans In The NBA - Eight former Spartans are currently on NBA rosters, including Maurice Ager (Dallas Mavericks), Charlie Bell (Milwaukee Bucks), Shannon Brown (Cleveland Cavaliers), Paul Davis (Los Angeles Clippers), Morris Peterson (New Orleans Hornets), Zach Randolph (New York Knicks), Jason Richardson (Charlotte Bobcats) and Eric Snow (Cleveland Cavaliers).
The Book On Tom Izzo
Coach Izzo - In his 13th year, Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan, '77) is 284-122 (.700), and 133-63 (.679) in the Big Ten, as the coach of the Michigan State basketball program. In 2005, he passed Benjamin Van Alstyne to become the second-winningest coach in MSU history, trailing only Jud Heathcote (340) in total wins. In his 12 seasons as a head coach, Izzo has won National Coach of the Year honors four times, including the Clair Bee Award in 2005 and NABC honors in 2001. In 1999, Izzo was named National Coach of the year by Basketball Times, while earning similar honors from The Associated Press, Basketball News and the USBWA in '98.
Among The Big Ten's Best - Tom Izzo's .679 winning percentage in Big Ten games ranks third all-time among league coaches with at least 10 years of service, behind former Indiana coach Bob Knight (.700) and Purdue's Ward Lambert (.685). In all games, Knight ranks first at .734, followed by Wisconsin's Walter Meanwell (.712), Lambert (.709) and Izzo (.700). With 133 conference victories, Izzo ranks 13th all-time, five behind Northwestern's Arthur Lonborg.
Izzo Among Best Ever - Through his first 12 seasons, Tom Izzo won 278 games, ranking ninth in college basketball history for most wins by a college coach in his first 12 years.
Graduating Student-Athletes - In Tom Izzo's 12 full years directing the Spartan program, 82 percent of his players who completed their eligibility also left with a degree. In the last eight years, 27 Spartans have received their undergraduate degrees, including five each in 2001, 2003 and 2007.
Izzo's Coaching Tree - Six current Division I head coaches all served as assistants to Tom Izzo, including Jim Boylen (Utah), Tom Crean (Marquette), Brian Gregory (Dayton), Stan Heath (South Florida), Stan Joplin (Toledo) and Doug Wojcik (Tulsa). Gregory is in his fifth year as head coach, after leaving MSU in the spring of 2003. Crean directed Marquette to the 2003 Final Four, while Heath directed Kent State to the Elite Eight in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. Wojcik is in his third season at Tulsa. Mike Garland served as head coach at Cleveland State for three seasons after leaving Izzo's staff in 2003. He is now back as an assistant coach at MSU. Most recently, Jim Boylen left MSU following the 2007 season, and is in his first season with Utah.
