Michigan State University Athletics
MSU Plays Valparaiso On Sunday
11/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Michigan State (3-0)
vs. Valparaiso (1-2)
November 22, 2009
12 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
Valparaiso Game Notes
The Opening Tip
Michigan State hosts Valparaiso in the second game of the East Lansing Regional of the 2009 Legends Classic. The Spartans are looking to run their record to 4-0 while also hoping to provide head coach Tom Izzo with his 340th career victory, tying him with his mentor Jud Heathcote for the most in Michigan State history.
The Starting Five
1. Countdown To 340
Tom Izzo currently stands as Michigan State's second-winningest coach of all time with 339 wins. With his next win, he will tie Jud Heathcote (340-220) as MSU's all-time winningest coach.
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. Kelser Honored As Legend Of The Game
Greg Kelser was a member of the Michigan State basketball team from 1975-79. An All-American and Academic All-American in 1979, Kelser was a key member on Michigan State's first NCAA Championship team. To this day, he is one of just three players in Big Ten history with over 2,000 career points (2,014) and 1,000 career rebounds (1,092). Over the course of his career he averaged 17.5 points, including a career-best 18.8 points as a senior, and 9.5 rebounds, including 10.8 boards as a sophomore. He currently ranks fourth in career scoring and remains MSU's all-time leading rebounder.
4. 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 420-273 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. The ceremony will be covered live on SIRIUS XM Radio (SIRIUS-122/XM-143) from 9-11 p.m. ET. The event will be taped by ESPNU and broadcast on Dec. 13 at 9 p.m.
5. MSU In November
Michigan State has an all-time record of 83-24 in games played in the month of November. This includes a 59-3 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 37-0 all-time at home in November.
MSU vs. Valpo Notes
Coach Drew
Dr. Homer Drew (William Jewell, '66) is 603-400 in his 33rd season as a collegiate head coach, including 334-278 in 21 seasons at Valparaiso. Drew currently ranks seventh among active Division I head coaches in career victories, trailing only Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Calhoun, Jim Boeheim, Bob Huggins, Tom Penders and Gary Williams. Drew's career also includes stops at Bethel College and IU-South Bend. At Valparaiso, Drew has led his team to the postseason on eight occassions, including seven trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Series History
Michigan State leads the all-time series with Valparaiso, 3-1, including a 2-1 advantage in games played in East Lansing. Outside of a meeting in the 2000 NCAA Tournament, every other game was contested in the 1920s.
The Last Meeting
Michigan State opened its journey to the 2000 NCAA Championship with a first-round game against Valparaiso on March 16. The top-seeded Spartans defeated the No. 16-seeded Crusaders, 65-38. MSU made sure it wouldn't be the first No. 1 seed to lose in the first round, jumping out to a 20-3 lead. Mateen Cleaves led the Spartans with 15 points and eight assists, but the real story was the Michigan State defense, limiting Valparaiso to 25.0 percent shooting from the field, including 21.7 percent from 3-point range. Valpo's 38 points tied the second-lowest scoring output in NCAA First and Second Round history, while its 25 percent shooting tied the third-lowest percentage in NCAA First and Second Round history.
About Valparaiso
Seven newcomers have seen game action for the Crusaders this season ... In addition to #2 Michigan State, Valparaiso's non-conference schedule includes #6 North Carolina, #7 Purdue and #11 Butler ... Valpo will play 10 of its first 13 games away from home, including eight true road games ... Sophomore guard Brandon Wood leads the Horizon League in scoring (22.3 ppg).
Game 3 Recap - MSU 75-Toledo 62
* Michigan State committed just six turnovers, including just one in the second half. It marks the lowest total for the Spartans since a Feb. 28, 2008 contest vs. Wisconsin.
* Delvon Roe recorded his second career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, tying his career high in rebounds. Roe had been scoreless in MSU's first two games.
* Each one of Michigan State's five starters scored in double figures as Draymond Green (15), Chris Allen (14), Kalin Lucas (12), Delvon Roe (11) and Durrell Summers (10) accounted for 61 of MSU's 75 points.
* Kalin Lucas and Korie Lucious combined for 10 assists and no turnovers.
* Michigan State out-scored Toledo, 24-2, in fast break points.
* The Spartans struggled shooting from the foul line and 3-point range, connecting on 11-of-26 free throws (42.3 percent) and 4-of-17 shots from behind the arc (23.5 percent).
* MSU held a 37-20 lead with 3:16 left in the first half, but Toledo closed the half on a 10-0 run.
* In the second half, the Spartans pushed the lead out to 18 points on four occasions, but could never extend it beyond 20 points.
MSU Basketball Notes
Chasing 1,000
Kalin Lucas has 980 career points in just over two seasons at Michigan State. The Spartan sophomore needs just 20 points to become the 40th player in MSU history to score 1,000 career points. Lucas has scored in double figures in 14 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. MSU has out-rebounded each of its first three opponents by a margin of +10.0.
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). Although he missed recording 10 boards against Toledo, he still leads the Spartans at 9.3 boards per contest.
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 three games, the trio is averaging a combined 43.0 points (Lucas-17.3, Summers-16.0, Allen-9.7). Korie Lucious adds 6.3 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.
Home Sweet Home
During Tom Izzo's career as head coach, the Spartans are 196-24 (.891) at home, including 173-15 (.920) over the last 13 years (1997-98 to present). MSU has defeated 42 consecutive non-conference opponents at the Breslin Center, dating back to a Dec. 3, 2003 loss to Duke.
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.
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 339-137 (.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 (.712) 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.
