Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State And Oklahoma Meet In Sweet 16
3/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| No. 7 Michigan State (25-11, 12-6) vs. No. 3 Oklahoma (24-10, 12-6) | |
| Date | Friday, March 27, 2015 |
| Time | Approx 10:07 p.m. ET |
| Location | Syracuse, N.Y. | Carrier Dome |
| Television | TBS (Verne Lundquist, Jim Spanarkel, Allie LaForce) |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Will Tieman, Gus Ganakas, Matt Steigenga) |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Oklahoma |
| Statistics | Michigan State | Oklahoma |
| Live Stats | |
| Social Media | @MSU_Basketball  | Facebook  | Instagram |
| Full Coverage | 2015 NCAA Tournament Central |
THE OPENING TIP
Michigan State will face Oklahoma in the Regional Semifinal as the Spartans are making their fourth straight trip to the Sweet 16 and the seventh in their last eight seasons. The Spartans and Sooners have met once before in the NCAA Tournament, with MSU winning in the 1999 Sweet 16.
THE STARTING FIVE
1. Spartans In The Sweet 16
This is MSU's 15th trip to the Sweet 16 since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, including the 13th under Tom Izzo. Michigan State is 8-6 in Sweet 16 games since 1985, having won eight of its last 11. All-time, MSU is 12-6 in the regional semifinals. Tom Izzo is 8-4 in the Sweet 16.
2. Thirteen Sweet 16s In 18 Years
Since Michigan State's first trip to the NCAA Tournament under Tom Izzo in 1998, the Spartans have advanced to the Sweet 16 13 times in the last 18 years. During that same stretch, only Duke has more Sweet 16 appearances (14). No other team has more than 10 trips. MSU's seven trips to the Sweet 16 in the last eight years are the most in the nation.
3. MSU's NCAA Streak
Michigan State is making its 18th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015. It is the longest current streak among Big Ten schools and third longest in the nation. Only Kansas (26) and Duke (20) have longer current streaks. In fact, it is tied with Indiana (1986-2003) for the fourth-longest of all-time, and the longest in Big Ten history. North Carolina has the longest streak of all-time with 27 consecutive NCAA Tournaments between 1975-2001.
4. MSU's NCAA Defense
Michigan State is one of the best defensive teams in the NCAA Tournament. MSU held Georgia and Virginia to a .316 field-goal percentage, ranking second in the tournament behind only Kentucky (.303), and is holding opponents to .194 shooting from behind the arc, ranking third in the tournament and first among teams to play two games. As a team, MSU's 5.0 blocks rank tied for seventh, led by Branden Dawson's 3.0 blocks per game, ranking tied for fifth and tied for third among players to play in two games. MSU has held its last four NCAA Tournament opponents below 40 percent shooting.
5. At His Best When It Counts
Tom Izzo ranks sixth among active coaches for the best NCAA Tournament winning percentage at .733 (44-16). Duke's Mike Krzyzewski ranks first at .764 (84-26), followed by Louisville's Rick Pitino (.754, 52-17), Kentucky's John Calipari (.750, 36-12), North Carolina's Roy Williams (.747, 65-22), and Florida's Billy Donovan (.745, 35-12). Of those six, Izzo and Krzyzewski are the only coaches to appear in the last 18 NCAA Tournaments. In NCAA Tournament wins, Izzo (44) ranks fifth among active coaches, trailing just Krzyzewski (84), Williams (65), Syracuse's Jim Boeheim (53) and Louisville's Rick Pitino (52). Izzo's 44 wins are the most ever for a Big Ten coach.
MSU VS. OKLAHOMA NOTES
About Oklahoma
With a 72-66 win against Dayton, Oklahoma advances to its 10th Sweet 16 and first since the 2009 season when the Sooners advanced to the Elite Eight. Oklahoma's No. 3 seed is the highest since the 2008-09 season when the Sooners were a No. 2 seed. Overall, this is Oklahoma's 29th trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Oklahoma vs. The Field of 68
Prior to the NCAA Tournament, the Sooners were 11-6 against teams in this year's field of 68. Oklahoma played nine teams that reached the NCAA Tournament. In non-conference action, the Sooners earned wins against UCLA (75-65) and Butler (59-46) with a loss to Wisconsin (69-56). During Big 12 action, OU was 9-5 against teams in the tournament, highlighted by wins against Kansas, Oklahoma State and West Virginia.
Common Opponents
Michigan State and Oklahoma have two common opponents this season. The Spartans were 0-1 against Kansas this season with a 61-56 loss in Kissimmee, Florida. OU was 1-1 against the Jayhawks this year with a loss in Lawrence and a win in Norman. MSU was also 0-2 against Wisconsin with a loss in Madison and an overtime loss in Chicago in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game. The Sooners also fell to the Badgers at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.
Series History
Michigan State holds an overall record of 5-3 against Oklahoma. The two teams met last November when the Spartans stopped the Sooners (87-76) at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in Brooklyn. Keith Appling (27 points) and Gary Harris (21 points) paced the Spartans, while Branden Dawson posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Cameron Clark led all scorers with 32 points for the Sooners, while Isaiah Cousins added 15 points. The only time that the two teams met in the NCAA Tournament was in the 1999 Regional Semifinal in St. Louis, when No. 1 seed MSU stopped No. 13 seed Oklahoma (54-46), holding the Sooners to .333 shooting.
Coach Kruger
Lon Kruger (Kansas State, 1975) is 82-48 (.631) in his fourth season at the helm of Oklahoma. Overall, Kruger is 561-352 (.614) as a collegiate head coach. He became the first coach in Division I history to lead five different programs (Kansas State, Florida, Illinois, UNLV and Oklahoma) to at least one NCAA Tournament win. With the win against Dayton, he also became the first coach to take four programs to the Sweet 16 (Kansas State, Florida, UNLV and Oklahoma). This is the third-straight season that Kruger has led the Sooners to the NCAA Tournament.
Sooner Notes
Oklahoma is one of just six teams nationally (the only one among the "Power 5" conferences) that has started the same five players in every game this year ... Junior Buddy Hield was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, the third player OU history to receive that honor ... Senior TaShawn Thomas was also named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year ... Hield leads the Big 12 in scoring 17.3 ppg, while Ryan Spangler is third in the conference in rebounding, averaging 8.2 rpg.
NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES
MSU In The NCAA Tournament
Michigan State is making its 29th appearance in the NCAA Tournament with an all-time record of 61-27 (.693). MSU has made eight trips to the Final Four (1957, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010) and captured the NCAA Championship in 1979 and 2000. MSU's 61 wins rank tied with Syracuse for the eighth-most in NCAA history and rank second in Big Ten history, trailing only Indiana (64).
Izzo's NCAA Streak
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo is making his 18th-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. It's the second-longest active streak in the nation, trailing only Mike Krzyzewski, who is making his 20th straight trip this season. The 18-year streak is the longest in Big Ten history by a head coach (15, Bobby Knight, Indiana, 1986-2000), and the fourth-longest in NCAA history. Only Dean Smith (North Carolina, 23-1975-97), Roy Williams (Kansas/North Carolina, 20-1990-2009) and Krzyzewski have longer streaks.
Spartan Opponents In NCAA Tournament
Ten Michigan State opponents are in the field of 68 for the 2015 NCAA Tournament, including Big Ten foes Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin, and non-conference opponents Duke, Kansas, Notre Dame, and Texas Southern. Three of those teams are still alive in the Sweet 16. The Spartans were a combined 7-8 against the 10 teams entering the tournament, playing 15 of their first 34 games against tournament teams. Five of those 10 opponents earned a Top 4 seed.
Exclusive Company
Michigan State ranks sixth among all schools in NCAA Tournament winning percentage for teams with at least 20 tournament games. MSU's .693 winning percentage (61-27) trails only Duke (.748, 101-34), UCLA (.728, 99-37), North Carolina (.723, 112-43), Florida (.722, 39-15), and Kentucky (.715, 118-47). MSU's 61 tournament wins rank tied for eighth in NCAA history and second among Big Ten schools, behind Indiana (64).
Quick Turnaround Success
Michigan State's deep NCAA Tournament runs can be attributed to its success with quick turnarounds. Under Tom Izzo, the Spartans are a remarkable 20-4 in the second game of an NCAA Tournament weekend. All four losses have all come to No. 1 seeds or eventual National Champions. The .833 winning percentage is the best in NCAA Tournament history, ranking ahead of Mike Krzyzewski (.787, 37-10) and Dean Smith (.762, 16-5).
MSU In The Elite Eight
Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, Michigan State has advanced to the Elite Eight eight times (all under Tom Izzo), posting a 6-2 record. MSU is 8-4 all-time in regional final games.
Two Titles Not Too Shabby
Michigan State is one of just 14 schools to have won two or more NCAA Championships. Cincinnati, Florida, North Carolina State, Oklahoma State and San Francisco join MSU with two titles. Only UCLA (11), Kentucky (8), Indiana (5), North Carolina (5), Connecticut (4), Duke (4), Kansas (3) and Louisville (3) have won more titles.
MSU NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES
* Michigan State's defense held opponents to 58.5 points on .316 shooting, including just .194 from 3-point range.
* Michigan State averaged 14.0 fast break points.
* Four Spartans averaged double-figures in scoring, including Travis Trice (19.0 ppg), Branden Dawson (14.5), Bryn Forbes (10.5) and Denzel Valentine (10.0).
* MSU averaged just 7.5 turnovers.
* The Spartans are shooting .433 from behind the arc, with Travis Trice (6-13), Bryn Forbes (4-7) and Denzel Valentine (3-7), shooting a combined .481 (13-27).
THIRD ROUND NOTES - #7 MSU 60 - #2 VIRGINIA 54
* MSU advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season and a nation's best seventh time in the last eight years.
* MSU improved to 15-4 in the round of 32 since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
* Tom Izzo improved to 13-1 in round of 32 games, the best winning percentage (.929) in NCAA Tournament history.
* MSU improved to 20-4 in the second game of an NCAA Tournament weekend under Tom Izzo.
* MSU's defense held Virginia to .298 shooting, marking the Cavaliers' lowest percentage of the season.
* With four blocks, Branden Dawson tied the second-best single-game effort for a Spartan in NCAA Tournament history and also moved into second place in MSU career blocks.
* The Spartan senior class joined the 2001 senior class with four straight trips to the Sweet 16.
* MSU set season lows with 17 field goals and 40 field-goal attempts, and season highs with 20 free throws and 33 free-throw attempts.
* MSU committed a season-low six turnovers, including just one in the second half, marking the fewest by the Spartans since committing five vs. Michigan on Jan. 25, 2014, and the fewest in an NCAA Tournament game since committing five vs. North Carolina in the 1998 Sweet 16.
SECOND ROUND NOTES - #7 MSU 70 - #10 GEORGIA 63
* Michigan State became the ninth school to win 60 NCAA Tournament games.
* MSU improved to 14-4 in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament under Tom Izzo, and 23-6 overall.
* MSU improved to 9-1 all-time against current members of the SEC in the NCAA Tournament, including 7-0 under Tom Izzo.
* Tom Izzo passed Bob Knight for most NCAA Tournament wins by a Big Ten coach with 43 victories.
* With a team-high 16 points, Denzel Valentine scored in double figures for the first time in eight NCAA Tournament games.
* MSU improved to 11-0 when four or more players score in double figures.
* MSU held Georgia to 33.3 percent shooting, marking the third straight NCAA Tournament opponent to shoot below 40 percent vs. MSU. The 33.3 percent was the lowest by a Spartan opponent in the NCAA Tournament since Memphis shot .297 in the third round of the 2013 tournament.
* Bryn Forbes scored 14 points in his first career NCAA Tournament game, marking his most points since scoring 21 at Wisconsin on March 1.
* After playing just six minutes in the first half, Branden Dawson scored all 14 of his points and grabbed all six of his rebounds 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, 18 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 493 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).
Spartan & Sooner Are Friends And Teammates
Oklahoma junior Buddy Hield and Michigan State freshman Tum Tum Nairn Jr. both hail from the Bahamas. Nairn is from Nassau, while Hield is from Freeport. The two were also teammates in 2011-12 at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas. Hield averaged 22.7 points as a senior, while Nairn averaged seven points and seven assists as a sophomore as Sunrise Christian posted a 24-4 record.
Izzo Moves Up Big Ten Coaching List
Tom Izzo ranks third on the career Big Ten victories list with 233. He moved into sole possession of third place with win No. 229 vs. Ohio State, passing former Purdue coach Ward Lambert (228 wins). Indiana's Bob Knight is the all-time leader with 353 Big Ten wins, while Gene Keady ranks second with 265 victories. In terms of most wins at a Big Ten institution, Izzo already ranks third with 491, trailing only Knight (661 wins) and Keady (512).
All-Big Ten Spartans
Three Spartans were honored when the All-Big Ten Teams were announced on March 9. Branden Dawson was selected to the second team, while also being named to the All-Defensive Team. Travis Trice and Denzel Valentine were both third-team selections. Trice was the MSU recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Spartan Defense
On the season, MSU is limiting teams to 63.1 points on .395 FG%, including .318 from 3-point range. The Spartans lead the Big Ten in 3-point FG pct. defense, while ranking second in field-goal percentage defense and fifth in scoring defense. In conference games, MSU ranked second in 3-point FG pct. defense (.327), fourth in FG pct. defense (.412), and eighth in scoring defense (64.9 ppg). The all-time lows of the Izzo era were a .379 FG% in 2011-12 and .298 3FG% in 2001-02.
Taking Care Of The Ball
Michigan State is averaging 11.39 turnovers per game. That ranks as the lowest average of the Tom Izzo era, as last year's squad averaged 11.58 per game. MSU is averaging just 9.2 turnovers over the last 11 games, including six games with eight or fewer.
Freshman Starting Point Guards
Tum Tum Nairn Jr. has started both NCAA Tournament games at point guard for Michigan State, joining a select group of Spartans. Drew Neitzel (2005) and Kalin Lucas (2008) are the only other freshman point guards to start for Tom Izzo in the NCAA Tournament. The only other freshman to start at the point for the Spartans in the NCAA Tournament is Magic Johnson (1978).
Dawson In The Postseason
Over the last two years, Branden Dawson has excelled in the postseason. He has scored in double figures in 11 of 12 Big Ten and NCAA Tournament games in 2014 and 2015. Over the 12 games, he's averaging 15.5 (186) points and 7.9 (95) rebounds, while shooting .634 (78-123) from the field. Last year, he averaged 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds in four NCAA Tournament games. This year, he's averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. For his career, he's averaging 11.8 points and 7.1 rebounds in nine NCAA Tournament games.
Surging Spartans
Michigan State is playing its best basketball at the right time of the season. MSU has won 10 of its last 13 games, with just three of the games being played at home. The Spartans have won six of their last seven games against seven teams that each made the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
Trice's Late Surge
Senior Travis Trice is playing some of the best basketball of his career in his final stretch run as a Spartan. Over the last 13 games, Trice is averaging a team-best 17.8 points and 4.5 assists, including shooting .395 from 3-point range. In the last 11 games, he's averaging 18.8 points and 4.5 assists. Before the regular-season game at Wisconsin, Trice had assumed the role of a Morris Peterson and Draymond Green, former Spartans that starred off the bench. In five games off the bench, Trice averaged 17.2 points and 5.8 assists.
MSU In March
Michigan State is 86-35 (.711) in March since the 1998-99 season. For his career, Tom Izzo is 93-42 (.689) in March. Over the last six-plus years (2009-present), MSU is 40-15 (.727) in what Coach Izzo calls his favorite month of the year.
Spartans Share The Ball
MSU is averaging 16.9 assists per game, leading the Big Ten and ranking fifth in the nation, recording an assist on 64.3 percent of its baskets. The 16.9 average is the fourth-best of the Izzo era, trailing only 2000-01 (17.5), 2007-08 (17.5) 2004-05 (17.1). The 607 assists this season rank as the fourth-best single-season total in school history, just four behind 2008-09, 24 behind 2007-08, and 30 behind 2013-14. In 15 games, MSU has recorded an assist on more than 70 percent of its baskets.
Valentine Regains The Outside Touch
In 13 non-conference games, Denzel Valentine shot .500 (35-70) from 3-point range. In the first eight conference games, he shot just .289 (13-45), making two or more 3-pointers in just four games, including just two with more than two. Beginning with the first Michigan contest, he's shown signs of regaining the early season form, shooting .419 (44-105) over the last 15 games, hitting four or more 3-pointers in seven of the last 15 games, including five vs. Ohio State and seven vs. Minnesota.
It's All About Boardwork
Michigan State owns a Big Ten-best +6.0 rebounding margin, having out-rebounded 27 of 36 opponents, ranking 22nd in the nation. In the Tom Izzo era, MSU has out-rebounded 532 of 691 opponents (.770), posting a 420-112 (.789) 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. Including this season, MSU has led the Big Ten in rebounding margin in conference games in 12 of the last 18 years and in 13 of 20 seasons under Tom Izzo.
Dawson Climbs Rebounding Chart
Branden Dawson is on pace to finish among the all-time leaders in Michigan State career rebounding. With 873 career boards, he stands in eighth place in MSU history, 14 behind Goran Suton (887 rebounds) in seventh place.
Valentine Deadly From Behind The Arc
With 92 made 3-pointers, Denzel Valentine ranks tied with Shawn Respert (92, 1993-94) for fifth on the MSU single-season chart, standing three behind Chris Hill (95, 2002-03), and five behind Drew Neitzel (97, 2007-08). Valentine has attempted 220 3-pointers, ranking seventh on the single-season list, one behind Maurice Ager (221, 2005-06), and 10 behind Gary Harris (230, 2013-14).
Spartan Seniors
Spartan seniors Branden Dawson, Travis Trice and Keenan Wetzel were honored in a ceremony following MSU's game vs. Purdue. Over the last three-plus seasons, the Spartans have posted a 110-37 mark, advanced to four straight NCAA Tournaments, including becoming just the second Spartan senior class (2001) to appear in four Sweet 16s, captured two Big Ten Tournament crowns (2012, 2014) and the 2012 Big Ten regular-season championship. The 110 wins make this the third-winningest class in MSU history behind just the classes of 2001 (115 wins) and 2002 (112 wins). Dawson ranks in the MSU career Top 10 in rebounds, blocks and steals, while Trice reached 1,000 career points during the Big Ten Tournament. Wetzel has appeared in 46 career games.
Dawson's Double-Doubles
Branden Dawson posted double-doubles in eight Big Ten games (Indiana, at Iowa, at Maryland, Penn State, at Rutgers, Michigan, Ohio State, at Michigan), leading all Big Ten players in conference games. Against Nebraska, he grabbed 18 rebounds, a personal best against a Big Ten opponent. Dawson grabbed double-figure rebounds in 11 conference games, averaging a Big Ten-best 9.8 rebounds per game in Big Ten play (9.3 rpg overall). He has nine double-doubles this season and 21 for his career.
Valentine's Versatility
Denzel Valentine is arguably the most versatile player in the Big Ten and the numbers provide the evidence. The Spartan junior is the only player to rank in the Top 15 in the Big Ten in scoring (14th), rebounding (13th) and assists (6th). He also ranks in the Top 15 in 3-point field-goal percentage (5th), 3-point field goals made (2nd), assist-to-turnover ratio (8th), and defensive rebounds (6th).
Dawson In Elite Group
Branden Dawson and Draymond Green are the only players in Michigan State history to rank in Top 10 in Spartan career rebounds, blocks and steals. Dawson currently ranks second in blocks (135), seventh in steals (160), and eighth in rebounds (873). In addition, Dawson is tied with Shawn Respert for seventh in MSU history with 118 starts, one behind Kalin Lucas (119) and two behind Raymar Morgan (120).
Tum Tum In The Starting Lineup
Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn Jr. has started 14 games this season, including the last 13. In his starts, Nairn is averaging 2.9 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 25.0 minutes per contest. MSU is 11-3 when Nairn starts.
MSU Attacks The Offensive Glass
In Big Ten play, Michigan State averaged a Big Ten-best 11.7 offensive rebounds per contest. The Spartans grabbed 34.1 percent of their missed shots in conference games, ranking third in the Big Ten. MSU averaged 12.4 second-chance points in Big Ten play, outscoring opponents by +4.0 points per game. Overall, MSU ranks fifth in the Big Ten in offensive rebounds (11.2 orpg) and fourth in offensive rebound percentage (.337). The Spartans average 11.2 second-chance points, outscoring opponents by +2.7 points per game.
Dawson's Defense
Branden Dawson was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team, as his strength and athleticism give him the versatility to guard nearly any position on the floor. Consider what some of the best players in the Big Ten have done against Dawson: Maryland's Jake Layman (Dec. 30) (Avg. 15.8 ppg entering the game - 4 pts., 2-4 FG, 0-2 3FG), Indiana's Troy Williams (Jan. 5) (13.6 ppg - 0 pts., 0-2 FG, 1 reb.), Iowa's Aaron White (Jan. 8) (17.2 ppg - 8 pts., 2-4 FG, 1-1 3FG), Michigan's Zak Irvin (Feb. 1) (13.6 ppg - 11 pts., 5-14 FG, 1-6 3FG). He is one of two players to rank in the Top 15 in the Big Ten in steals (13th, 1.2 spg), blocks (5th, 1.6 bpg) and defensive rebounds (2nd, 6.1 drpg). In conference games, he ranked 10th in steals (1.2 spg), second in blocks (2.1 bpg) and second in defensive rebounds (6.6 drpg).
A Hall Of Fame Coach
On Thursday, Feb. 12, Tom Izzo was formally inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame at MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit. The rest of the class included recently retired New York Yankees great and Kalamazoo-raised Derek Jeter (not in attendance due to flight issues), Detroit Red Wings forward Sergei Fedorov, University of Michigan All-American and Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin, NHL All-Star and Westland native Mike Modano, Livonia's four-time Olympian, and gold-medal winning swimmer Sheila Taormina and Aleta Sill, from Dearborn, the nation's first female professional bowler to reach $1 million in winnings. Detroit Lions All-Pro defensive tackle Doug English was also named in a special selection by the Hall's Legends Council. Izzo is also a member of the Northern Michigan, Upper Peninsula and the National Italian-American Sports Halls of Fame.
Keeping The 3-Pointer In Perspective
Michigan State is shooting .388 from 3-point range this season, good for the fourth-best percentage of the Tom Izzo era. But on-target shooting does not equal an over-reliance on the outside shot. MSU has attempted 693 3-pointers in 2,009 field-goal attempts, meaning 34.5 percent of its shots are from behind the arc. That percentage ranks as the second-highest percentage of the Izzo era, behind 2013-14 (36.3%). It's the sixth time in Izzo's 20 seasons that more than 30 percent of the shot attempts have been 3-pointers, joining the 2004-05 (32.8%), 2010-11 (32.7%), 2003-04 (31.2%) and 1999-2000 (31.1%) squads.
Balanced Scoring
Michigan State features a balanced scoring attack with three players averaging in double figures, and five averaging seven points or more. Six different Spartans have led the team in scoring in a single game, as eight different players have scored in double figures at least once. There have been six games in which five Spartans have reached double figures, two more times than all of last season. The Spartans are a perfect 11-0 when four or more players score in double-figures, and just 14-11 when three or fewer Spartans hit double-figures.
Dawson Attacks The Glass
Branden Dawson leads the Big Ten in rebounding at 9.0 boards per contest. In conference games, he averaged a Big Ten-best 9.8 rebounds, recording double-figure rebounds in 11 conference games. Twice this season, he's grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds - at Nebraska and at Notre Dame. 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 against the Irish are tied for the third-best single-game effort in MSU history (since 1986-87). The 18 rebounds at Nebraska mark a personal best against a Big Ten opponent. Should Dawson continue to lead the Big Ten in rebounding, he'll be the first player 6-6 or shorter to do it since Wisconsin's Patrick Tompkins in 1991 (overall). He's already the first to do it in conference games since Minnesota's Richard Coffey in 1988.
Spartans On Target From Deep
Michigan State is shooting .388 (269-693) from 3-point range this season, ranking second in the Big Ten and 30th in the nation. In conference play, MSU shot .368, ranking third. Individually, Bryn Forbes (.430) ranks fourth in the Big Ten, while Denzel Valentine (.418) ranks fifth.
Valentine Nears 1,000 Career Points
Denzel Valentine needs five points to become the 48th player in Michigan State history to score 1,000 career points. He will join teammates Branden Dawson, Travis Trice and Bryn Forbes as teammates that all surpassed the 1,000-point mark this season.
All-Time Block Leaders
Branden Dawson is second in Michigan State history with 135 career blocks, six behind Adreian Payne (141 blocks). Dawson ranks fifth in the Big Ten overall (1.6 bpg) and second in conference games (2.1 bpg). With three blocks against Penn State, Dawson joined Draymond Green and Payne as the only players in MSU history with 1,000 career points and 100 career blocks. With 102 blocks, Matt Costello ranks sixth, four behind Delvon Roe (106 blocks) in fifth.
20-Win Seasons
With a win over Purdue on March 4, MSU recorded its 15th 20-win season in the last 18 years, all under head coach Tom Izzo. Of the 23 20-win seasons in Spartan history, Izzo has been involved in 20 of them, 15 as a head coach and five as an assistant.
Trice From Distance
Travis Trice is positioned to end his career as one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in MSU history. Trice sits in sixth place in career 3-pointers (193), nine behind Maurice Ager (202) in fifth place. With 486 career 3-point attempts, Trice ranks fifth in MSU history, 46 behind Ager (532) in fourth. He is seventh in the conference in 3-point field goals made (2.3).
A Thin Line Between Victory And Defeat
In eight of Michigan State's 11 defeats, the Spartans have either led or been within a possession in the final minute of the contest, with five of the losses coming in overtime (one in double overtime). Against Kansas, MSU trailed by just three points in the final minute with possession of the ball. At Notre Dame, MSU led by six with under eight minutes left, before falling by a single point in overtime. In an overtime upset loss to Texas Southern, MSU led by eight points with eight minutes to play, and by six with under four minutes to play. In the Big Ten opener, MSU led Maryland by five with under five minutes to play and by four with under two minutes left in overtime, before losing a two-point game in double overtime. At Nebraska, MSU rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit to pull within three points and then two points in the final minute. Against Illinois, MSU trailed by three points in the final minute, with four free-throw attempts to take the lead, but could make just two, cutting the deficit to a single point. The Spartans then had possession of the basketball with a chance to take the lead but could not score. Against Minnesota, the Spartans led by six points in the final minute and couldn't close out the game, eventually falling in overtime. In the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game, MSU led Wisconsin by 11 points with 7:45 left and by two points in the final 20 seconds before falling in overtime.
Valentine's Continual Improvement
Always known for his versatility, Denzel Valentine has worked hard to become a terrific shooter. After shooting .281 (16-57) from 3-point range as a freshman and improving to .377 (43-114) as a sophomore, Valentine is one of the best shooters in the conference this season. He ranks second in the Big Ten in made 3-point field goals per game (2.6) and fifth in 3-point field-goal percentage (.418; 92-220).
Trice Shares The Ball
Travis Trice ranks second in the Big Ten in assists (5.1 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9), ranking 18th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio, leading the Spartans in both categories. With 185 assists this season, he is four behind Drew Neitzel in 10th place on the MSU single-season list, five behind Mark Montgomery in ninth, and six behind Travis Walton in eighth.
Long Range Firepower
Michigan State is averaging 7.5 made 3-pointers per contest, ranking third in the Big Ten. Denzel Valentine leads MSU and ranks second in the Big Ten with 92 made 3-pointers (2.6 pg). The Spartans have made eight or more 3-pointers in 16 games, including eight games with 10 or more. MSU's 269 made 3-pointers and 693 3-point attempts are the second-highest single-season totals in school history. Only last year's squad had more makes (307) and attempts (783).
The 1,000-Point Club
Branden Dawson ranks 26th in MSU history with 1,282 points, needing 15 points to pass Matt Steigenga (1,296 points). Travis Trice scored his 1,000th-career point vs. Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament. With 1,078 career points, he ranks 42nd in MSU history, three points behind Goran Suton (1,081 points), 21 behind Bill Kilgore (1,099 points). Bryn Forbes (1,220 points) has also eclipsed the 1,000-point career mark this season, although 905 of those came in his first two seasons at Cleveland State. Denzel Valentine needs five points to join the club.
The Costello-Schilling Combination
Junior Matt Costello (7.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and sophomore Gavin Schilling (5.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg) have combined to give MSU a solid post presence. The two Spartans average a combined 12.3 points and 9.4 rebounds, shooting .580 (181-312) from the field.
Free Basketball
Michigan State is 2-5 in overtime games this season, as the seven overtime games are the most the Spartans have ever played in a single season. Five of the overtime games have been played in East Lansing. The Spartans are tied with Charlotte for the most overtime games (7), and are the only team in the nation with five overtime losses. MSU entered the season having won seven straight overtime games, dating back to a loss to Minnesota in the 2010 Big Ten Tournament.
Costello Off The Bench
Matt Costello started the first six games of the season, averaging 6.2 points and 7.5 rebounds in 20.2 minutes, shooting .593 from the field. He's come off the bench in the last 30 games, averaging 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 20.8 minutes, shooting .583 from the field. Costello has posted two double-doubles on the season.
Dawson's Injury And Illness
Branden Dawson suffered a stable, non-displaced fracture on his left wrist after taking a hard fall in the Dec. 17 contest vs. Eastern Michigan. He missed MSU's next two games vs. Texas Southern (Dec. 20) and The Citadel (Dec. 22). He returned to the lineup against Maryland (Dec. 30), totaling nine points and 11 rebounds, while wearing a brace. He had the brace removed prior to MSU's second game vs. Maryland (Jan. 17). Earlier this season, Dawson missed the game against Santa Clara (Nov. 24) with the flu, and came off the bench vs. Rider (Nov. 27) and Marquette (Nov. 28) while recovering from the same illness. In the home finale vs. Purdue (March 4), Dawson took an elbow to the face and was limited to just nine minutes against the Boilermakers, and missed the following game at Indiana (March 7).
Bess Out Of Action
Javon Bess missed the first 10 games of the season while recovering from a broken right foot. He made his debut against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 17. His development was further stunted by a pair of sprained ankles suffered since the return from the holiday break, limiting him to just 33 total minutes in the first four Big Ten games. He then started the next three games in Big Ten play, averaging 5.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 18.3 minutes per contest, while bringing some toughness to the Spartan lineup. But pain returned in the foot, forcing him to come off the bench in two games. He has not played since Feb. 1 and has been ruled out for the season.
Double-Double Trouble
Five different Spartans have posted a double-double this season as Branden Dawson (vs. Notre Dame-16 pts., 18 reb.; vs. Indiana-14 pts., 13 reb.; vs. Iowa-14 pts., 15 rebs.; vs. Maryland-14 pts., 10 reb.; vs. Penn State-12 pts., 10 reb.; vs. Rutgers-17 pts., 11 reb.; vs. Michigan-19 pts., 10 reb.; vs. Ohio State-15 pts., 11 reb.; vs. Michigan-23 pts., 13 reb.) leads MSU with nine. Matt Costello (vs. Loyola-13 pts., 11 reb.; vs. Texas Southern-17 pts., 10 reb.), Gavin Schilling (vs. Santa Clara-14 pts., 11 reb.; vs. Penn State-11 pts., 10 reb.), Denzel Valentine (vs. Santa Clara-13 pts., 11 reb.; vs. Nebraska-21 pts., 11 reb.) and Travis Trice (vs. Northwestern-18 pts., 11 ast.; vs. Minnesota-21 pts., 10 ast.) each have two. For his career, Dawson has 21 double-doubles, while Valentine has totaled six.
Ranked Opponents
Michigan State is currently ranked No. 22 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 23 the Associated Press Top 25. Six Spartan opponents are ranked in the Top 25: Wisconsin (No. 3 AP/No. 3 USA Today), Wisconsin (4/5), Virginia (6/6), Notre Dame (8/8), Kansas (10/11), and Maryland (12/12).
Playing The Best
Since the 1997-98 season, the year of Michigan State's first of 18 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans have played 195 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 (181), Texas (173), Duke (168), and Kentucky (167). (Through games of March 22)
MSU's M.A.S.H. Unit
Michigan State has dealt with injury issues for much of the season. Freshman Javon Bess underwent surgery in late October on a broken bone in his right foot. After missing the first 10 games, he made his debut against Eastern Michigan. He played in the next 12 games but has since been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Sophomore Alvin Ellis III suffered a severe sprained right ankle after just three minutes against Navy and did not return to action until playing five minutes against Notre Dame. Junior Bryn Forbes did not miss any time, but he played with a brace on his left (non-shooting) hand while recovering from a broken bone for the first 10 games. Senior Branden Dawson missed MSU's game vs. Santa Clara with the flu, which also limited his minutes at the Orlando Classic. Against Eastern Michigan, he suffered a wrist injury that kept him out of action for two games. In the home finale vs. Purdue, Dawson took an elbow to the face and was limited to just nine minutes against the Boilermakers, and missed the following game at Indiana. In total, MSU has lost 34 games due to illness and injury for its rotation players.
Wollenman Honored For Academics
Colby Wollenman has been named to the Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District 5 First Team. The forward from Big Horn, Wyoming, owns a 3.98 overall GPA as a physiology (pre-med) major. He is joined on the All-District 5 First Team by Butler's Alex Barlow, Western Michigan's Austin Richie, Valparaiso's Alec Peters, and Xavier's Matthew Stainbrook.
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.
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 (Minnesota) 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 the 2015 Hal Schram Michigan Mr. Basketball Award winner. He 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."
MSU VS. NORTH CAROLINA STATE NOTES
About North Carolina State
NC State advanced to the Sweet 16 by defeating ninth-seeded LSU, 66-65, in the second round, and upsetting top-seeded Villanova in the third round, 68-65. The Wolfpack tied for sixth in the ACC standings with a 10-8 conference mark.
North Carolina State vs. The Field of 68
Prior to the NCAA Tournament, NC State played 10 teams in this year's field for a total of 13 games, and collected a 4-9 record in those contests. In non-conference action, the Wolfpack played five NCAA Tournament teams, defeating Boise State but falling to Cincinnati, Purdue, West Virginia and Wofford. Against ACC opponents, NC State split matchups with Duke and North Carolina, lost twice to Virginia, topped Louisville, and lost to Notre Dame.
Common Opponents
Michigan State and North Carolina State have both played Duke, Notre Dame, Purdue and Virginia. MSU went 2-2 against those teams, playing each school once, while NC State went 1-5. The Spartans lost to Duke in the Champions Classic in Indianapolis, and the Wolfpack split their two meetings against the Blue Devils, defeating them at home, but falling in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. Both teams lost to Notre Dame in overtime, as the Spartans fell in South Bend in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, while NC State dropped a home contest to the Irish. The Spartans defeated the Boilermakers in East Lansing, but the Wolfpack fell at Purdue in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Against UVA, Michigan State beat the Cavaliers in the third round of the NCAA Tournament last weekend, while NC State dropped both matchups.
Series History
North Carolina State leads the all-time series over MSU, 5-2. In the last matchup between the two teams, the No. 10 Spartans defeated the No. 24 Wolfpack, 81-58, on Nov. 28, 2007, in the Breslin Center. The schools have met one previous time in the NCAA Tournament, with seventh-seeded N.C. State coming away with a 69-58 victory over No. 10 MSU in the first round in 2002 in Washington, D.C.
Coach Gottfried
Mark Gottfried (Alabama, 1987) is 92-51 (.643) in his fourth season as head coach at North Carolina State. Overall, he owns a 370-206 (.642) record in 18 seasons. He has led the Wolfpack to four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament (5-3 record), including two Sweet 16 appearances (2012, 2015).
Wolfpack Notes
Junior guard Trevor Lacey, a Second-Team All-ACC selection by the media and a finalist for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, leads the team in scoring (15.7 ppg.) and ranks second in assists (3.4 apg.) and third in rebounding (4.6 rpg.) ... Sophomore guard Anthony Barber leads the team in scoring in the NCAA Tournament with 15.0 points per game ... Sophomore forward BeeJay Anya, the ACC Sixth Man of the Year and a member of the All-Defensive Team, leads the ACC in blocks with 90 and is just six away from setting a new NC State single-season record.
MSU VS. LOUISVILLE NOTES
About Louisville
The Cardinals finished in fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with a 12-6 conference record. Louisville enters the Sweet 16 with a 26-8 overall mark after defeating UC Irvine and Northern Iowa in the Second and Third Rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Junior forward Montrezl Harrell and sophomore guard Terry Rozier were named Second-Team All-ACC. Rozier leads Louisville in scoring (17.2 ppg.) and assists (2.9 apg), while Harrell leads the Cardinals in rebounding (9.2 rpg).
Louisville vs. The Field of 68
Prior to the start of the tournament, the Cardinals posted a 4-7 record against teams in this year's NCAA Tournament. Louisville went 2-1 against non-conference teams in the field, including wins over Ohio State and Indiana. The Cardinals lost to Kentucky in December. In ACC play, the Cardinals split with Virginia and won one of three with North Carolina. Louisville lost the only meeting with Duke, NC State and Notre Dame.
Common Opponents
Michigan State and Louisville both played Minnesota, Ohio State, Indiana, Virginia, Notre Dame and Duke this season. MSU lost its only matchup to Duke in Indianapolis on Nov. 18, while the Cardinals also fell to Duke at home. MSU lost its only game at Notre Dame in overtime, while the Cardinals also fell to Notre Dame at home on March 4. MSU and Louisville both defeated Ohio State and Indiana this year, with the Spartans defeating both teams twice. Louisville defeated Minnesota at a neutral site in the season opener, while the Spartans fell to the Golden Gophers at home. Both the Cardinals and Spartans fell to Duke this season. Louisville split the season series with Virginia, while Michigan State defeated Virginia in the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament.
Series History
Louisville leads the all-time series against Michigan State, 5-3. The two schools have met three times before in the NCAA Tournament (1959, 2009, 2012). In the 1959 Mideast Regional Final in Evanston, Illinois, Louisville won, 88-81, despite the Spartans getting 29 points and 23 rebounds from Johnny Green. In the 2009 Midwest Regional Final in Indianapolis, the second-seeded Spartans defeated the top-seeded Cardinals, 64-52, as Tom Izzo advanced to his fifth Final Four. The Cardinals defeated the top-seeded Spartans in the 2012 Sweet 16, 57-44. Izzo is 2-1 against Louisville in his career.
Coach Pitino
Rick Pitino (UMass, `74) is 721-253 (.740) in his 30th year as a college head coach, including 367-125 (.746) in 14 seasons at Louisville. Pitino became the first coach in NCAA history to guide three different schools to the NCAA Final Four when he took the Cardinals in 2005. Pitino has coached seven Final Four teams (Providence 1987; Kentucky 1993, 1996 and 1997; Louisville 2005, 2012 and 2013), which ranks second among active coaches and tied for fourth all-time, including winning the 1996 NCAA Championship at Kentucky and in 2013 with Louisville. Pitino is 52-17 in 20 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Cardinal Notes
Louisville has the fifth-most NCAA Tournament appearances (41) all-time, and the sixth most number of wins (74) ... Louisville is making its 21st trip to the Sweet 16, including appearing in its fourth straight for the first time in school history ... The Cardinals rank ninth in the NCAA in three-point field-goal defense (.295), and 13th in the NCAA in blocks (5.4 bpg) ... Individually, Montrezl Harrell is 28th nationally in rebounding (9.5) and 24th in field goal percentage (.571) ... Terry Rozier is 23rd in the nation in steals (2.0) and 76th in scoring (17.1).
The Book On Tom Izzo
Coach Izzo
In his 20th year, Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan, '77) is 493-198 (.713), and 233-107 (.685) 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 .685 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 (.717), former Indiana coach Bob Knight (.700) and Ohio State's Thad Matta (.688) and ahead of former Purdue coach Ward Lambert (.685). In all games, Matta ranks first at .761, followed by Ryan (.741), Knight (.734), Izzo (.713), Wisconsin's Walter Meanwell (.712), and Lambert (.709). With 233 conference victories, Izzo ranks third 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.
