Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State Back In Action Vs. Oakland
12/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| #-/23 Michigan State (6-3) vs. Oakland (4-5) | |
| Date | Sunday, December 14, 2014 |
| Time | 8 p.m. ET |
| Location | East Lansing, Mich. | Breslin Center |
| Television | ESPNU (Jim Barbar, Bob Valvano) |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Will Tieman, Gus Ganakas, Matt Steigenga) |
| Tickets | Buy Tickets |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Oakland |
| Statistics | Michigan State | Oakland |
| Live Stats | | Mobile Users |
| Social Media | @MSU_Basketball  | Facebook  |
THE OPENING TIP
After a week of academic finals, Michigan State is back in action, hosting Oakland on Sunday evening. The Spartans and Golden Grizzlies are meeting for the third straight season and the eighth time in nine seasons. It's the second of seven straight home games for MSU.
THE STARTING FIVE
1. The 1,000-Point Club
Branden Dawson and Bryn Forbes both have a chance to reach the 1,000-point milestone vs. Oakland. With 983 career points, Dawson is poised to become the 46th Spartan to reach that milestone. Current Spartan Bryn Forbes has 998 career points, but 905 came in his first two seasons at Cleveland State. Two Spartans have never reached 1,000 career points in the same contest.
2. Spartans On Target From Deep
Michigan State is shooting a Big Ten-best .444 (83-187) from 3-point range this season, including .473 (70-148) over the last seven contests, ranking second in the nation (through Dec. 9). Freshman Marvin Clark Jr., is 12-of-24 from behind the arc, leading MSU and ranking tied for third in the conference. Bryn Forbes (.489), Denzel Valentine (.481), and Travis Trice (.411) are all shooting better than 40 percent. Forbes ranks seventh in the conference, while Valentine is ninth. (NCAA stats through Dec. 10)
3. Spartans Welcome Long Homestand
Due to a non-conference schedule that saw MSU open with six of its first eight games away from home, and opening Big Ten play with two home games, Michigan State is in the early stages of a stretch of seven straight games at Breslin Center. It's the longest homestand of the Tom Izzo era, and the longest at Michigan State since 1942 (Jan. 2-Jan. 26). The longest previous homestand of the Izzo era came when MSU opened the 2000-01 season with six straight home games.
4. Spartans Back At Home
Michigan State is playing just its fourth home game of the season as it hosts Oakland. The Spartans are the only ranked team to have played six of their first eight games away from home. MSU is also the only Big Ten team to play six games away from home. The average number of road/neutral contests for other Big Ten teams is 3.0. In fact, Penn State is the only other school to play as many as five. (Through Dec. 10)
5. Spartans Strong On The Glass
MSU owns a Big Ten-best +8.8 rebounding margin, having out-rebounded seven of nine opponents. In the Tom Izzo era, MSU has out-rebounded 512 of 664 opponents (.771), posting a 405-107 (.791) mark in those games. The Spartans have led the nation in rebounding in four of the last 15 seasons (2000, 2001, 2009, 2010), ranking in the Top 10 nine times and the Top 25 on 12 occasions. MSU has led the Big Ten in rebounding margin in conference games in 11 of the last 17 years.
MSU VS. OAKLAND NOTES
Series History
Michigan State leads the all-time series with Oakland, 12-0, including an 8-0 advantage in East Lansing. The Spartans and Grizzlies are meeting for the eighth time in nine seasons, including five straight seasons from 2006-07 to 2010-11.
Coach Kampe
Greg Kampe (Bowling Green, `78) is 523-391 in 31 seasons at Oakland, including a 259-229 record at the Division I level. In 2004-05, Kampe led Oakland to a Mid-Con Championship and its first NCAA Division I Tournament. In 2010 and 2011, Kampe directed the Golden Grizzlies to back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths. His 31 seasons at Oakland rank as the third-most for a Division I coach at his current school, trailing only Duke's Mike Krzyzewski (35) and Syracuse's Jim Boeheim (39).
The Last Meeting In East Lansing
Michigan State defeated Oakland, 70-52, on Nov. 23, 2012, in East Lansing. Michigan State led 34-21 at halftime, but with 6:36 left in the contest, Oakland had trimmed the margin to four points at 55-51. The Golden Grizzlies then missed two 3-pointers that could have cut the MSU lead to a single point. On the Spartans' next possession, Derrick Nix kicked the ball out to Keith Appling for a 3-pointer to spark a 15-1 run to close the game. Playing against his brother Drew, MSU freshman Denzel Valentine recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. MSU held a 40-16 advantage in points in the paint, but 20 Spartan turnovers resulted in a 24-10 deficit in points off turnovers. MSU did own a 43-28 advantage on the glass. Appling led MSU with 20 points, while Duke Mondy paced Oakland with 16.
The Last Meeting
Michigan State defeated Oakland, 67-63, on Dec. 14, 2013, at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Golden Grizzlies held a 31-30 lead at the half, and with less than eight minutes left in the contest, the game was tied at 50. Keith Appling then knocked down a 3-pointer, registered a steal and assisted on a Branden Dawson basket. After another MSU steal, Appling scored on a transition layup and was fouled, converting on a three-point play and pushing MSU's lead out to 58-50. After totaling three points and four turnovers in the first half, Appling bounced back with 18 points and just two turnovers in the second. Adreian Payne (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Dawson (16 points, 13 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles for MSU. Duke Mondy led Oakland with 24 points. Fourteen offensive rebounds for MSU led to a 14-5 edge in second-chance points.
Golden Grizzly Notes
Oakland has made a 3-pointer in 811 consecutive games, ranking as the eighth-longest streak in the nation ... Oakland's roster features two players from the mid-Michigan area: redshirt-freshman Jalen Hayes (Lansing Sexton) and freshman Tom Cotter (Williamston) ... Hayes teamed with MSU's Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes to win a pair of Michigan Class B State Championships, playing for Valentine's father, Carlton ... Leading scorer and rebounder Corey Petros is a preseason All-Horizon League selection.
GM. 9 RECAP • MICHIGAN STATE 85 - ARK.-PINE BLUFF 52
Michigan State played an excellent first half of basketball and cruised to an 85-52 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. MSU made three 3-pointers and converted on a three-point play in its first five possessions in jumping out to a 12-2 advantage. Leading 24-11 midway through the half, the Spartans put the game away with a 12-0 run. The Spartans shot 65.5 percent in the first half, compared to 24.0 percent for the Golden Lions, holding a 54-20 advantage at the half. The lead stretched to as many as 37 points in the second half.
MSU VS. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF NOTES
* Michigan State's 54 first-half points were the most in an opening half since scoring 55 vs. Iowa on March 9, 2012.
* The Spartans recorded an assist on 27 of 30 baskets, including 18 of 19 in the first half.
* Matt Costello scored a career-high 15 points.
* Denzel Valentine dished out a season-high eight assists.
* Michigan State shot a season-high 55.6 percent (10-18) from 3-point range, including 60.0 percent (6-10) in the first half.
* MSU held a 31-2 edge in bench points, as 11 different Spartans recorded a point.
* The Spartans held a 34-12 edge in points in the paint.
* MSU had just five first-half turnovers, but committed 13 in the second half.
MSU BASKETBALL NOTES
Izzo's 20th Season
In his 20th season as Michigan State head coach, the 2014-15 campaign is Tom Izzo's 32nd year in East Lansing. An eight-time National Coach of the Year, Izzo has guided MSU to seven Big Ten Championships, four Big Ten Tournament titles, 17 straight NCAA Tournaments, six Final Four appearances, and the 2000 NCAA Championship in his stint as head coach. He is MSU's all-time winningest coach with 474 wins, and is the longest serving active men's basketball coach in the Big Ten. In addition, his 468 victories are the fourth-most by a coach in his first 19 years of coaching in NCAA history. The only high-major coaches with longer active tenures at one school are Syracuse's Jim Boeheim (39th season) and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski (35th season).
Dawson Attacks The Glass
Branden Dawson grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds at Notre Dame, eclipsing his previous high of 13 established last season vs. Oakland. The 18 rebounds are tied for the most by a Spartan since Goran Suton grabbed 20 vs. Oakland in 2007. Dawson's nine offensive rebounds are tied for the third-best single-game effort in MSU history (since 1986-87). He currently leads the Big Ten in rebounding at 9.0 boards per contest.
Valentine Brings Florida Heat Up North
Joined by teammate Travis Trice on the Orlando Classic All-Tournament Team, Denzel Valentine had an exceptional Thanksgiving weekend in Florida. In three games, Valentine averaged a team-best 19.3 points, shooting .543 (19-35) from the field and .609 (14-23) from 3-point range. He scored a career-high 19 points in the quarterfinals vs. Rider, only to better that effort one night later with 25 points against Marquette. His solid play continued at Notre Dame, scoring a team-high 22 points, shooting 7-of-13, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range. He's averaging 17.6 points and shooting .606 (20-33) from 3-point range in the last five games.
Breslin Advantage
Michigan State is 342-50 (.872) at home all-time since Breslin Center opened in 1989, including 177-38 (.823) in Big Ten play. Under Tom Izzo, the Spartans are 268-35 (.884) at Breslin, including a 136-25 (.845) conference record. MSU has won 49 of the last 55 (.891) games at Breslin.
Forbes Healing Nicely
Bryn Forbes opened the season playing with a broken bone in his left (non-shooting) hand. Through the first two games, he shot .286 (4-14) from 3-point range while playing with a larger brace. Healing in the hand has allowed him to use a smaller brace beginning with the Loyola contest. In the five games that followed, he shot .500 (10-20) from behind the arc. Forbes' brace was reduced in size once again before the Notre Dame contest, as he is shooting .727 (8-11) from 3-point range in the last two games.
Improvement At The Charity Stripe
Michigan State struggled from the foul line through the first four games of the season, shooting just .540 (27-50). Over the last five games, however, MSU is shooting .674 (58-86).
Starting Suits Trice Nicely
In his first year as a primary starter, senior Travis Trice is proving he is up to the challenge. He ranks fourth in the Big Ten in assists (5.4 apg) and leads the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.1), pacing the Spartans in both categories. He is tied for sixth in 3-point field goals made (2.6). Trice entered the year having started just eight games in his career, but he did average 9.3 points and 3.6 assists in those eight games last season.
Spartan Defense
Over the last seven games, Michigan State is holding opponents to 58.4 points and a .352 FG%, including .269 from 3-point range. On the season, MSU is limiting teams to 61.0 points on .377 FG%, including .292 from 3-point range.
Long Range Firepower
Michigan State established a school single-season record in 2013-14 with 307 made 3-pointers, 54 more than the previous school record. The Spartans made 10 or more 3-pointers in 14 games, including a school single-game record 17 at Purdue, tying the Big Ten record for a conference game. This season, MSU is averaging 9.2 made 3-pointers per contest, ranking tied for the lead in the Big Ten. Denzel Valentine leads MSU with 25 made 3-pointers, ranking fifth in the conference (2.8 pg). The Spartans have made eight or more 3-pointers in seven of nine games, including four games with 10 or more.
Playing The Best
Since the 1997-98 season, the year of Michigan State's first of 17 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans have played 188 games against ranked opponents. That total ranks first among teams that have appeared in a Final Four since then. The Spartans are followed by North Carolina (169), Kentucky (163), Illinois (162), Duke (161) and Texas (161). (Through games of Dec. 10)
Spartans Share The Ball
Unselfishness is a trademark of all Tom Izzo teams. That was never on display more than it was last year, as the Spartans established a school single-season record with 637 assists, leading the Big Ten with 16.76 assists per game. For the year, MSU is averaging 17.8 assists per game, recording an assist on 63.0 percent of its baskets. In four games, MSU has recorded an assist on more than 70 percent of its baskets (vs. Navy 18 ast., 25 FG - 72.0%; vs. Loyola 27 ast., 36 FG-75.0%; vs. Santa Clara 22 ast., 29 FG - 75.9%; vs. Ark.-Pine Bluff 27 ast., 30 FG-90.0%).
Balanced Scoring
Michigan State features a balanced scoring attack with four players averaging in double figures, and seven players averaging 6.7 points or more. Five different Spartans have led the team in scoring in a single game, as seven different players have scored in double figures at least once. There have been three games in which five Spartans have reached double figures.
MSU's M.A.S.H. Unit
Michigan State is dealing with some injury issues in the early portion of its non-conference schedule. Freshman Javon Bess underwent surgery in late October on a broken bone in his right foot and is out until mid-late December. Sophomore Alvin Ellis III suffered a sprained right ankle after just three minutes against Navy and did not return to action until playing five minutes against Notre Dame. He's yet to play more than eight minutes in any contest. Junior Bryn Forbes has not missed any time, but has played while recovering from a broken bone in his left (non-shooting) hand. Senior Branden Dawson missed MSU's game vs. Santa Clara with the flu, which also limited his minutes at the Orlando Classic. In total, MSU has lost 16 games due to illness and injury.
Double-Double Trouble
Four different Spartans have posted a double-double this season as Matt Costello (vs. Loyola-13 pts., 11 reb.), Branden Dawson (vs. Notre Dame-16 pts., 18 reb.), Gavin Schilling (vs. Santa Clara-14 pts., 11 reb.) and Denzel Valentine (vs. Santa Clara-13 pts., 11 reb.) each have one. For his career, Dawson has 13 double-doubles, while Valentine has totaled five.
Trice Nominated For Good Works Team
Travis Trice is one of 158 male nominees for the 2015 Allstate NABC Good Works Team. This prestigious community service award recognizes a distinguished group of student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to enriching the lives of others and contributing to the greater good in their communities. From the nominees, a distinguished voting panel will select a 10-member team comprised of five student-athletes from the Division I level and five from Divisions II, III and the NAIA.
All-Time Block Leaders
Branden Dawson is tied with Goran Suton for seventh in Michigan State history with 90 career blocks, just behind Ken Johnson (96) and Matt Steigenga (97). Adreian Payne is the MSU career leader with 141 blocks. With 64 blocks in just over two seasons, Matt Costello could appear in the Top 10 later in the season.
MSU's Sunrise Connection
Freshmen Marvin Clark Jr. and Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn Jr., both products of Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, are making big contributions as Spartan freshmen. Clark Jr. ranks tied for fifth on the team in scoring at 7.2 ppg, and leads the Spartans in 3-point field-goal percentage, connecting on .500 (12-of-24) of his attempts. Nairn Jr. ranks third on the team with 3.6 assists per game, and has shown remarkable leadership skills for a freshman.
Preseason All-American
Branden Dawson was named a preseason first-team All-American by The Sporting News. He was a preseason first-team All-Big Ten selection as chosen by Lindy's Sports and Sporting News. ESPN.com ranked Dawson No. 15 in its player rankings, while ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman named him a third-team All-American. Dawson was also selected to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 list and the Naismith Award Watch List.
MSU In The Rankings
Michigan State is currently ranked No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25. Six Spartan opponents are ranked in the Top 25: Duke (No. 2 AP/No. 2 USA Today), Wisconsin (5/6), Kansas (10/10), Ohio State (12/12), Maryland (19/20) and Illinois (RV/25).
Prep Teammates
Michigan State's roster features three pairs of high school teammates. Junior Denzel Valentine has been reunited with high school classmate Bryn Forbes, who spent his first two seasons at Cleveland State. The duo teamed to appear in three-straight Michigan Class B title games from 2010-2012, capturing the state championship in 2011 and 2012. Forbes transferred to MSU this past June, and later received a waiver from the NCAA allowing him to play this season. Freshmen Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn Jr. and Marvin Clark Jr. both attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas. They were teammates during the 2012-13 season, posting a 29-1 record, with Clark as a senior and Nairn as a junior. Clark then did a year of prep school at Sunrise Christian last season, while Nairn finished his high school career. Sophomores Alvin Ellis III and Gavin Schilling were teammates at Chicago De La Salle as juniors in 2011-12. Ellis graduated from De La Salle, while Schilling spent his final season at Findlay Prep in Nevada. In addition, although Branden Dawson (Indiana) and Travis Trice (Ohio) attended high school in different states, they were AAU teammates for SYF Players over the summer.
Big Ten Schedule
Moving to a 14-team conference for 2014-15, each Big Ten team will play five schools twice, four schools on the road, and four schools at home. Michigan State will go home and home with Maryland, Indiana, Northwestern, Michigan, and Illinois. The Spartans will host Penn State, Ohio State, Minnesota, and Purdue, while traveling to Iowa, Nebraska, Rutgers, and Wisconsin. Eight of Michigan State's 13 Big Ten opponents appeared in the 2014 postseason, including five in the NCAA Tournament (Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Wisconsin), two in the NIT (Illinois, Minnesota) and one in the CBI (Penn State).
Spartans In The NBA
Michigan State leads all Big Ten schools with eight players appearing on NBA rosters this season. Gary Harris (Denver) and Adreian Payne (Atlanta) are in their rookie seasons after being selected in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft. They join former Spartans Alan Anderson (Brooklyn), Shannon Brown (Miami), Draymond Green (Golden State), Zach Randolph (Memphis) and Jason Richardson (Philadelphia) in the NBA. Kalin Lucas (Memphis) signed a free-agent contract in November and appeared in his first career game on Nov. 19.
Spartans Sign Strong Recruiting Class
Michigan State signed three talented players to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Kyle Ahrens (G, 6-5, 195) led Versailles (Ohio) High School to the Ohio Division III state title game as a sophomore. He was averaging 22 points, seven rebounds as four assists as a junior before suffering a season-ending leg injury in the sixth game of the season. Deyonta Davis (F/C, 6-10, 215) is a five-star big man who averaged 15.0 points, 13.6 rebounds and 7.1 blocks as a junior at Muskegon High School, leading his team to a perfect 28-0 mark and a Michigan Class A state championship. He established a Michigan state high school single-season record with 199 blocks in 2013-14. Matt McQuaid (G, 6-5, 180) averaged 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds as a junior at Duncanville (Texas) High School. He exploded during the off season, averaging 15.6 points in the 2014 Nike EYBL circuit, shooting 45.1 percent from 3-point range. ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman called him "arguably the best pure shooter in the country."
The Book On Tom Izzo
Coach Izzo
In his 20th year, Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan, '77) is 474-190 (.714), and 221-101 (.686) in the Big Ten, as the head coach of the Michigan State basketball program. He ranks as the winningest coach in Michigan State history, having passed his mentor Jud Heathcote with his 341st career victory on Nov. 28, 2009. In his 19 full seasons as a head coach, Izzo has captured eight National Coach of the Year awards, including the Clair Bee Award in 2005 and NABC honors in 2001 and 2012. 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 also earned National Coach of the Year accolades from CBSSports.com in 2012. He earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 1998, 2009 and 2012.
Among The Big Ten's Best
Tom Izzo's .686 winning percentage in Big Ten games ranks fourth all-time among league coaches with at least 10 years of service, behind Wisconsin's Bo Ryan (.703), former Indiana coach Bob Knight (.700), and Ohio State's Thad Matta (.695) and ahead of former Purdue coach Ward Lambert (.685). In all games, Matta ranks first at .770, followed by Knight (.734), Ryan (.729), Izzo (.714), Wisconsin's Walter Meanwell (.712), and Lambert (.709). With 221 conference victories, Izzo ranks fourth all-time.
Izzo Among Best Ever
Through his first 19 seasons, Tom Izzo won 468 games, ranking fourth in college basketball history for most wins by a college coach in his first 18 years.
Izzo's Coaching Tree
Three current Division I head coaches all served as assistants to Tom Izzo, including Tom Crean (Indiana), Brian Gregory (Georgia Tech), and Mark Montgomery (Northern Illinois). Stan Heath has been a head coach for 12 seasons, with stints at Kent State, Arkansas and South Florida. Mike Garland served as head coach at Cleveland State for three seasons and Stan Joplin, an assistant during Izzo's first season, spent 12 seasons as head coach at Toledo. Jim Boylen was head coach at Utah for four years. Doug Wojcik spent nine seasons between Tulsa and College of Charleston.
