Michigan State University Athletics
MSU And Toledo Meet In Legends Classic
11/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
#2/2 Michigan State (2-0)
vs. Toledo (0-2)
November 20, 2009
6:30 p.m. EST
East Lansing, Mich.
Breslin Center
Radio: Spartan Sports Network - Will Tieman (Play by Play), Gus Ganakas and Matt Steigenga (Color), Adam Ruff (Host) Flagship - WJIM 1240 AM/WMMQ 94.9 FM;
TV: Big Ten Network - Tom Hamilton (Play by Play), Tim Doyle (Color)
Tickets: A limited number of tickets are currently on sale. Buy Tickets
Michigan State Game Notes
Toledo Game Notes
The Opening Tip
Michigan State hosts a pair of games this weekend as one of the regional sites of the 2009 Legends Classic. The Spartans face Toledo on Friday night. MSU is riding the momentum of a come-from-behind win against Gonzaga on Tuesday night. Toledo is making its first trip to Breslin Center since capturing an 81-76 decision in December 2002.
The Starting Five
1. The Start Of Something Great
On Nov. 20, 1995, 14 years exactly before the MSU-Toledo game, Tom Izzo made his debut as a Spartan head coach. Michigan State won the game, narrowly defeating Chaminade, 69-66, at the Maui Invitational. Quinton Brooks led the Spartan attack in that first game, totaling 21 points and eight rebounds, while Jamie Feick added 15 points and nine rebounds. Fast forward 14 years and Coach Izzo (338 wins) needs just two victories to tie Jud Heathcote as MSU's all-time winningest coach, amassing five Big Ten regular-season titles, five trips to the Final Four and a 2000 NCAA Championship along the way.
2. Legends Classic
Michigan State is playing Toledo and Valparaiso this weekend as part of the Legends Classic. The Spartans, along with Florida, Rutgers and UMass, are serving as regional hosts that will advance to play in Atlantic City, N.J., next Friday and Saturday (Nov. 27-28) in the championship rounds. Now in its third season, the Legends Classic is produced by The Gazelle Group, which also produces the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, the O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic, both of which MSU has participated in during past years. As part of the Legends Classic, MSU will honor Greg Kelser as a Legend of the Game at halftime of Sunday's contest vs. Valparaiso.
3. Hall of Famers
Former Michigan State coach Jud Heathcote and Spartan All-American Earvin "Magic" Johnson will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday night (Nov. 22) in Kansas City. Heathcote finished his 19-year coaching career as Michigan State's all-time winningest coach with 340 victories, capturing three Big Ten titles and the 1979 NCAA Championship. He coached seven All-Americans, 15 All-Big Ten honorees and 23 NBA Draft picks. Overall, he posted a 420-373 record in 24 seasons as a collegiate head coach. Johnson was a member of the 1979 NCAA Championship team and a two-time All-American. Despite playing just two seasons at MSU, he totaled 1,059 points and 491 assists. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
4. Go Green
Sophomore Draymond Green opened the season with his second career double-double, posting 11 points and 10 rebounds against Florida Gulf Coast. Although he scored just six points in the second game of the season, he produced another double-digit rebounding effort with 10 boards. Through two games, he leads MSU in rebounding at 10.0 rpg. Green is the third Spartan in the last five years to record double-digit rebounds in the first two games of the season, joining Paul Davis in 2005-06 (three games) and Raymar Morgan in 2007-08 (two games).
5. MSU In November
Michigan State has an all-time record of 82-24 in games played in the month of November. This includes a 58-3 mark at home. The last team to beat MSU at home in November was a David Robinson-led Navy squad that bested the Spartans, 91-90, in overtime on Nov. 29, 1986. Tom Izzo is 36-0 all-time at home in November.
MSU vs. Toledo Notes
Coach Cross
Gene Cross (Illinois, '94) is 7-27 in his second season as a collegiate head coach. Prior to becoming the head coach at Toledo, he served as an assistant coach for 12 years at Illinois-Chicago, DePaul, Virginia, and most recently, Notre Dame. In each of his last seven seasons as an assistant, Cross' teams participated in post-season play.
Series History
Michigan State leads the all-time series with Toledo, 4-3, although the series is tied, 2-2, in games played in East Lansing. The Rockets captured the last contest, an 81-76 decision at Breslin Center on Dec. 30, 2002. The Spartans' last victory in the series came during the 1999-2000 opener, a 78-33 decision on Nov. 22, 1999.
The Last Meeting
Toledo defeated No. 14 Michigan State, 81-76, on Dec. 30, 2002, in East Lansing. MSU held an early 16-9 lead, but Toledo answered with four straight 3-pointers to take a 21-16 lead. With 1:47 left in the half, the Rockets extended the lead to 41-33, before MSU scored the final five points of the half. In the second stanza, MSU reclaimed a one-point lead at 44-43, before UT went on an 11-1 run. The Rockets led by as many as 13 and held a 67-56 advantage with 8:34 remaining. MSU answered with a 15-4 run to tie the game at 71 with 2:00 left, capped by a Chris Hill 3-pointer. In the final minute, however, UT made seven-of-eight free throws to snap MSU's 36-game non-conference home winning streak. Nick Moore led the Rockets with 19 points, hitting four 3-pointers. Toledo shot 52 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range. Chris Hill led MSU with 19 points.
About Toledo
Toledo is shooting 46.3 percent from 3-point range, led by Stephen Albrecht at 47.1 percent (8-of-17) ... The Rockets, however, are allowing opponents to shoot 50.8 percent from the field ... Toledo's roster features no seniors, two juniors, four sophomores, and nine freshmen; the Rockets are tied for third nationally with 10 underclassmen ... Toledo's 15-player roster features players from 11 different states.
Game 2 Recap - MSU 75-Gonzaga 71
* Durrell Summers led MSU with 21 points and 11 rebounds, recording his first career double-double and tallying a career high in boards.
* With 10 rebounds, Draymond Green recorded his fourth-career double-figure rebounding game.
* MSU was out-rebounded, 23-21, in the first half, but out-rebounded the Bulldogs, 23-15 in the second stanza.
* MSU rallied from a 13-point first half deficit (23-10). The last time that the Spartans rallied from a 13-point deficit was the 2009 Sweet Sixteen against Kansas.
* After going scoreless in the season opener, including shooting 0-of-4 at the foul line, Raymar Morgan scored 16 points in 22 minutes off the bench, hitting 10-of-11 free throws, including 10 in a row after missing his first.
* After scoring just 12 points in the first 13 minutes of the game, MSU scored 63 in the final 27 minutes.
* MSU's defense allowed Gonzaga to make just one field goal in the final 4:41.
* Michigan State's bench outscored Gonzaga's reserves, 26-8.
MSU Basketball Notes
Countdown To 340
Tom Izzo currently stands as Michigan State's second-winningest coach of all time with 338 wins. With his fourth win of the season, he will tie Jud Heathcote as MSU's all-time winningest coach.
Chasing 1,000
Kalin Lucas has 968 career points in just over two seasons at Michigan State. The Spartan sophomore needs just 32 points to become the 40th player in MSU history to score 1,000 career points. Lucas has scored in double figures in 13 straight games dating back to last season. His teammate, Raymar Morgan currently ranks 25th in MSU history with 1,206 points. He needs seven points to pass Kirk Manns and Ken Redfield (1,212 points each) and move into 23rd place on MSU's all-time scoring list.
It's All About Boardwork
Last season, Michigan State led the nation in rebounding margin at +9.3. MSU has led the Big Ten in rebounding margin in 10 of the last 12 years. In 2008-09, the Spartans out-rebounded 33 of 38 opponents, posting a 27-6 record when out-boarding the opponent. Michigan State has out-rebounded each of its first two opponents by a margin of +13.0.
Strong Debut
Center Derrick Nix had one of the top freshman debuts in Michigan State history. Nix's 14 rebounds set an MSU freshman debut record, besting the previous mark of 10 held by Matt Steigenga and Ben Tower. Nix (11 points, 14 rebounds) also became just the second freshman in MSU history to debut with a double-double, joining Steigenga (15 pts., 10 reb.). Nix is the 2009 Hal Schram Mr. Basketball honoree, having led Detroit Pershing to a Michigan Class A State Championship.
MSU's Three-Guard Attack
Michigan State features one of the best backcourts in the nation. In fact, Lindy's College Basketball Magazine ranked it the best. The foundation of the backcourt is the junior trio of Chris Allen, Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers, giving MSU one of the most athletic and offensively potent attacks in the country. Through two games, the trio is averaging a combined 46.5 points (Lucas-21.0, Summers-19.0, Allen-7.5). Korie Lucious adds 5.5 points off the bench.
Big Ten Favorites
After winning the 2009 Big Ten regular-season title by four games, Michigan State was selected as the preseason conference favorite for the 2009-10 men's basketball season, as voted upon by a 24-member media panel. Purdue and Ohio State were chosen to finish second and third, respectively. Reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Kalin Lucas was tabbed as Preseason Player of the Year.
Lofty Expectations
The Michigan State men's basketball team is ranked second in the 2009-10 Associated Press Preseason Top 25 and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Preseason Poll, both of which were released Thursday, Oct. 29. Seven of MSU's opponents are ranked, including Texas (No. 3 AP/No. 3 ESPN), North Carolina (No. 6/4), Purdue (No. 7/7), Ohio State (No. 15/15), Michigan (No. 15/16), Illinois (No. 23/25) and Minnesota (No. 24/18). MSU's No. 2 ranking in the AP Top 25 is its highest preseason ranking in school history, having previously been ranked No. 3 in 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2003-04.
Home Sweet Home
During Tom Izzo's career as head coach, the Spartans are 195-24 (.890) at home, including 172-15 (.920) over the last 13 years (1997-98 to present). MSU has defeated 41 consecutive non-conference opponents at the Breslin Center, dating back to a Dec. 3, 2003 loss to Duke.
Unanimous Vote
Senior forward Raymar Morgan and junior guard Kalin Lucas were unanimous selections for team co-captains as voted on by their Spartan teammates.
Experience At Many Positions
Michigan State returns seven of its top nine scorers from last year's Final Four squad, and five players that averaged 17.9 minutes or more per game last season. Eight current Spartans enter the season having started at least one game for Michigan State.
Not So Much At One
The position of concern for the Spartans will be at center. Michigan State must replace Goran Suton, Idong Ibok and Marquise Gray, three five-year players that appeared in 380 games (starting 162), playing a combined 5,808 minutes over the course of their careers. Their void must be filled by the trio of red-shirt junior Tom Herzog, and true freshmen Derrick Nix and Garrick Sherman. Herzog enters the season with 29 games of experience (starting 1), for a combined 100 minutes of action. The trio of Gray, Ibok and Suton combined for 13.9 points and 12.1 rebounds per contest.
Another Strong Non-Conference Schedule
Michigan State will be tested early and often during its 2009-10 non-conference schedule. The Spartans will take road trips to play at No. 6 North Carolina and No. 3 Texas. The last time MSU played two ranked non-conference teams on the road was 2003-04 (No. 6 Kansas, No. 17 Syracuse). The last time MSU played two top-five non-conference teams on the road was 1999-2000 (No. 2 North Carolina, No. 2 Arizona). In addition, MSU will host Gonzaga and will play Florida on a neutral court in the Legends Classic in Atlantic City.
Big Ten Even Stronger
While MSU's non-conference slate is rough, the Big Ten schedule is even tougher, as the conference will feature its strongest lineup in the last decade or so. Six different league schools (Michigan State, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State and Purdue) are ranked in The Associated Press Top 25. The last time that MSU played five different ranked schools during league play came during the 1999 season when the Spartans played six different ranked league opponents. In addition, all five members of the 2009 All-Big Ten First Team are back.
Individual Accolades
Junior Kalin Lucas and senior Raymar Morgan have been named preseason candidates for the John R. Wooden Award. In addition, Lucas earned a spot on Dick Vitale's Preseason All-Rolls Royce Team and was named the nation's best point guard by Lindy's College Basketball. He was also named preseason first-team All-Big Ten by Lindy's and Athlon Sports College Basketball. Morgan was named a fourth-team preseason All-American by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. He also earned all-league accolades from Lindy's and Athlon. Delvon Roe earned all-league honors from Athlon, while Durrell Summers was recognized by Lindy's.
Honors For Spartan Backcourt
Lindy's College Basketball selected Michigan State as having the nation's best backcourt. Villanova, California, Kansas, Washington, Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Mississippi and Purdue round out the top 10.
Spartans In The NBA
Five former Spartans are currently on NBA rosters, including Charlie Bell (Milwaukee Bucks), Shannon Brown (Los Angeles Lakers), Morris Peterson (New Orleans Hornets), Zach Randolph (Memphis Grizzlies) and Jason Richardson (Phoenix Suns).
The Book On Tom Izzo
Coach Izzo
In his 14th year, Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan, '77) is 338-137 (.712), and 160-72 (.690) 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 14 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. He earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 1998 and 2009.
Among The Big Ten's Best
Tom Izzo's .690 winning percentage in Big Ten games ranks second all-time among league coaches with at least 10 years of service, behind former Indiana coach Bob Knight (.700) and just ahead of Purdue's Ward Lambert (.685). In all games, Knight ranks first at .734, followed by Wisconsin's Walter Meanwell (.712), Izzo (.711) and Lambert (.709). With 160 conference victories, Izzo ranks eighth all-time.
Izzo Among Best Ever
Through his first 14 seasons, Tom Izzo won 336 games, ranking seventh in college basketball history for most wins by a college coach in his first 14 years.
Izzo's Coaching Tree
Five current Division I head coaches all served as assistants to Tom Izzo, including Jim Boylen (Utah), Tom Crean (Indiana), Brian Gregory (Dayton), Stan Heath (South Florida) and Doug Wojcik (Tulsa). Gregory is in his seventh 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 fifth 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 third season with Utah. Stan Joplin, an assistant during Izzo's first season, spent 12 seasons as head coach at Toledo.
