Spartans Back In Action Vs. UMass
11/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
2009 Legends Classic
#2/2 Michigan State (4-1)
vs. UMass (2-3)
November 28, 2009
5:30 p.m. EST
Atlantic City, N.J.
Boardwalk Hall
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: HDNet - Kenny Rice (Play by Play), Tim McCormick and Seth Davis (Color)
MSU Basketball Notes
* Michigan State won the only prior meeting with UMass, 93-45, on Dec. 27, 1985, at the Lobo Classic in Albuquerque, N.M.
* Tom Izzo is currently tied with his mentor Jud Heathcote with 340 career wins. Izzo needs one more win to become Michigan State's all-time winningest coach.
* With 20 points against Florida, Kalin Lucas became the 40th player in Michigan State history to score 1,000 for his career. Lucas has scored in double figures in 16 straight games.
* Michigan State is in a stretch where it will play four of five games away from East Lansing. Last season, MSU was 19-5 away from East Lansing, including 10-4 on a neutral court.
* At least one Spartan has recorded a double-double in all five of Michigan State's games. Draymond Green is the most recent Spartan, posting 15 points and 11 rebounds against Florida. Green has two double-doubles on the season, as does Delvon Roe, while Derrick Nix and Durrell Summers each have one.
* Although Florida shot a Spartan opponent season-high 41.0 percent from the field, MSU is holding opponents to 36.9 percent shooting on the season, including 24.0 percent from 3-point range. Four of MSU's five opponents have shot less than 23 percent from behind the arc.
* Michigan State has out-rebounded all five opponents this season, posting a +12.4 rebound margin. The Spartans are averaging 16.6 offensive boards per contest and have grabbed 44.6 percent of their misses. Under Tom Izzo, MSU has out-rebounded 374 of 478 opponents (78.2 percent).
* Nine Spartans are averaging more than nine minutes per contest, while Kalin Lucas (30.0 mpg) is the only one at 30 minutes per game.
* Michigan State is 84-25 all-time in the month of November.
* Michigan State's three junior guards (Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers and Chris Allen) are the Spartans' three leading scorers, paced by Lucas at 17.4 ppg. The three average a combined 42.8 points per contest.
* Despite standing just 6-foot-6, Draymond Green leads the Spartans in rebounding at 9.0 boards per contest, including three games with double-figure rebounds.
