Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State Travels To Northwestern
1/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| #12/11 Michigan State (17-4, 4-4) vs. Northwestern (15-6, 3-5) | |
| Date | Thursday, January 28 , 2016 |
| Time | 9 p.m. ET |
| Location | Evanston, Ill. | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Television | ESPN (Rece Davis, Jim Calhoun) |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Will Tieman, Gus Ganakas, Matt Steigenga) | Sirius 84/XM 84 |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Northwestern |
| Statistics | Michigan State | Northwestern |
| Live Stats | |
| Social Media | @MSU_Basketball  | Facebook  | Instagram |
The Opening Tip
Michigan State travels to Northwestern for the only regular-season meeting between the Spartans and Wildcats. MSU and NU are two of the best teams at sharing the ball as both rank in the Top Five nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Starting Five
1. He's Back!
After missing four games following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Dec. 21, Denzel Valentine returned to action at Penn State on Jan. 10. MSU is 14-3 with Valentine in the lineup this season, averaging 20.5 assists and a +12.6 rebounding margin. Without Valentine, the Spartans were 3-1, averaging 17.5 assists and a +9.8 rebounding margin. Coach Izzo has stressed that it takes time for even the best players to return to form after missing weeks. In five games since returning from injury, Valentine is averaging 18.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists, including 22.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists in the last three contests. Before injury, he averaged 18.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
2. The Turnover Story
Michigan State is a perfect 8-0 this season when committing the same number or fewer turnovers than its opponent. Over the last three games, MSU is averaging just 9 turnovers per contest. The Spartans have had single-digit turnovers in nine games. Michigan State is averaging 11.6 turnovers in its 17 wins and 12.8 in its four losses.
3. Valentine In A Class Of His Own
Denzel Valentine is the only player in MSU or Big Ten history to total 1,300 career points, 700 career rebounds and 500 career assists. In 130 career games, he's totaled 1,362 points, 757 rebounds and 511 assists. Only five Spartans have ever amassed 1,000 career points and 500 career assists, as Valentine joins Mateen Cleaves, Kalin Lucas, Drew Neitzel and Scott Skiles. Since 2000 only four players are part of the 1,300-700-500 club, as Valentine is joined by BYU's Kyle Collinsworth (2010-Active), Louisville's Terrence Williams (2005-09) and DeAndre Kane (Marshall 2010-13, Iowa State 2013-14). (Source - Sports-Reference.com)
4. Izzo Third In Wins At Big Ten School
With 512 career wins, Tom Izzo is tied with Gene Keady for second-most victories at a Big Ten school, trailing only Bob Knight (661 wins). Izzo is also third all-time with 237 Big Ten wins, trailing just Knight (353 wins) and Keady (265 wins).
5. Finding Success Away From Home
Michigan State owns a Big Ten-best 41-26 (.621) mark in conference road games over the last seven-plus seasons (since the start of 2008-09 Big Ten play). Wisconsin is 37-29 and Ohio State is 36-31 on the road in that same stretch.
MSU vs. Northwestern Notes
Series History
Michigan State leads the all-time series with Northwestern, 87-38, including a 34-30 advantage in games played in Evanston. The Spartans have won 22 of the last 24, 29 of the last 32, and 49 of the last 53 contests. Tom Izzo is 32-4 in his career against Northwestern.
Coach Collins
Chris Collins (Duke, '96) is 44-42 in his third season as a collegiate head coach. Prior to his arrival in Evanston, Collins was an assistant coach at Duke from 2000-2013, including serving as associate head coach since the 2008-09 season. Collins also spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Seton Hall, and one season with the WNBA's Detroit Shock.
The Last Meeting
Michigan State defeated Northwestern, 68-44, on Feb. 10, 2015, in Evanston. Leading 10-6, MSU hit the first of what would be six straight 3-pointers for the Spartans. Northwestern scored four straight to pull within three points at 13-10. Bryn Forbes hit a 3-pointer for MSU, but Tre Demps answered with a three of his own, making the score 16-13 with 10:47 left in the first half. Marvin Clark Jr. knocked down a 3-pointer, followed by back-to-back threes from Forbes and a three from Denzel Valentine. Branden Dawson scored on a jumper and Clark Jr. and Travis Trice followed with threes. When Tum Tum Nairn Jr. hit a baseline jumper, MSU's run stood at 22-0 giving the Spartans held a 38-13 lead. Demps stopped the run with a free throw, as MSU led 38-14 at the break. In the second half, MSU pushed the lead out to 35 points at 58-23 with 11:27 left in the contest. Trice led MSU with 16 points, while Valentine added 14 points and eight assists. Tre Demps led Northwestern with a game-high 20 points.
About The Wildcats
Sophomore guard Bryant McIntosh joins Denzel Valentine and Yogi Ferrell as the only players in the conference to rank in the Top 10 in scoring and assists, leading the conference in assists (7.0 apg) and ranking ninth in scoring (15.1 ppg) ... Northwestern ranks fifth in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.63) ... Tre Demps leads the conference in minutes played (37.0 mpg), while McIntosh ranks tied for third (35.4 mpg) ... Alex Olah, Northwestern's third-leading scorer missed six games with a foot injury. He totaled five points in his first two games back, but scored 19 vs. Indiana in his last outing.
Spartan Basketball Notes
Denzel Valentine -- America's Most Versatile Player
Denzel Valentine made an early statement with his triple-double vs. Kansas in the Champions Classic. Tallying a career-high 29 points, a career-high 12 assists and 12 rebounds, he became just the fourth player in MSU history to record a triple-double. Nine days later, he recorded a second triple-double against Boston College (29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists), and followed the next day with a career-high 32 points vs. Boise State.
He ranks third in the Big Ten in assists (6.6 apg), third in scoring (18.4 ppg) and fifth in rebounding (7.9 rpg). He is the only player to rank in the Top 10 in the Big Ten in all three categories. Valentine ranks second in defensive rebounds (6.9 drpg), second in 3-point field goals made (3.1 pg) and seventh in FT percentage (.818). Last season, he was the only Big Ten player to rank in the Top 15 in scoring, rebounding and assists.
Valentine's numbers are arguably the best in recent college basketball history. Since 1995-96, no player has averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists for a season.
For his career, Valentine has totaled 11 double-doubles, including the two triple-doubles.
Incoming Spartans Named McDonald's All-Americans
Incoming Spartan recruits Miles Bridges and Joshua Langford have been selected to play in the 2016 McDonald's All-American game on March 30, 2016, at the United Center in Chicago. Bridges will play for the East, while Langford will suit up for the West. They become the 13th and 14th McDonald's All-Americans to play for Tom Izzo. It marks the third time that two Spartans have been selected, joining Marcus Taylor and Zach Randolph in 2000 and Shannon Brown and Brandon Cotton in 2003. Current freshman Deyonta Davis was a 2015 All-American.
Davis' Immediate Impact
Freshman Deyonta Davis is proving to be an impact player in his first season. The 2015 Michigan Mr. Basketball Award winner ranks fourth in the Big Ten in blocks (1.9 bpg), second in field-goal percentage (.636) and has scored in double-figures in nine games. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Nov. 30 after averaging 12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in four games. With 39 blocks, Davis already has established the single-season record for a Spartan freshman, surpassing the previous mark of 29 blocks held by Delvon Roe (2008-09). Over the last nine games, Davis has made 32-of-48 field goals (.667). He's started the last three games, averaging 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 21.0 minutes.
Costello Steps Up
Senior Matt Costello is having his best season as a Spartan, averaging 9.8 points and a team-best 8.1 rebounds. More importantly, he has raised his game in the last nine contests, four of which came with fellow senior Denzel Valentine on the bench, averaging 13.0 points and 11.0 rebounds. He's scored a career-best 18 points at Wisconsin, as well as scoring 17 points at both Iowa and Minnesota, while grabbing a career-best 15 rebounds at Minnesota. He's posted a double-double in four of the last nine games.
Basketball-Football Balance
Michigan State is one of seven schools to be ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 in both football and men's basketball as the Spartans are currently ranked No. 12 in basketball and No. 6 in football. Oklahoma, North Carolina, Iowa, Baylor, Oregon and Notre Dame are the other schools with both programs ranked. (Football AP Top 25-Jan. 12; Basketball AP Top 25-Jan. 25).
Defensive Effort
Although Coach Izzo would like to see improvement, statistically Michigan State has proven to be a strong defensive team in 2015-16. The Spartans rank in the Top 25 nationally in scoring defense (20th, 63.3), field-goal percentage defense (8th, .374) and 3-point field-goal percentage defense (6th, .284). Just nine teams have shot better than 40 percent from the field and just six have bettered 35 percent behind the 3-point arc. During MSU's three-game losing streak, opponents shot .459 from the field and .400 from 3-point range, averaging 75.0 points per game, but the Spartans held Maryland to 65 points on .386 FG% and .296 3FG%. The Terrapins entered the game shooting .509 from the field and .379 from 3-point range.
It's All About Boardwork
Michigan State owns an impressive +12.0 rebounding margin, ranking second in the Big Ten and second in the nation, as the Spartans have out-rebounded 19 of 21 opponents this season, including Louisville by +10, after the Cardinals entered the game with a +21.4 margin. In the Tom Izzo era, MSU has out-rebounded 551 of 715 opponents (.771), posting a 436-115 (.791) mark in those games. The Spartans have led the nation in rebounding in four of the last 16 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 12 of the last 18 years and in 13 of 20 seasons under Tom Izzo.
Making The Most Of An Opportunity
Junior Eron Harris has started eight games this season, scoring in double figures in seven of the eight. In his eight starts, he's averaging 14.9 points, shooting .494 from the field, .524 from 3-point range, and .842 from the foul line.
Spartans Share The Ball
Unselfishness is a trademark of all Tom Izzo teams. Michigan State is averaging 20.0 assists, ranking second in the nation, recording an assist on 419 of 590 field goals (71.0 percent). Last season, MSU established a school single-season record with 646 assists, leading the Big Ten and ranking fifth in the nation with 16.6 per contest. In 2013-14, MSU tallied 637 assists, a total that was a school record at the time, until last year's squad surpassed it. The Spartans led the Big Ten and ranked sixth in the nation in 2013-14 with 16.8 per contest. Last year, MSU recorded an assist on 63.7 percent of its baskets.
Rotating Starting Lineup
Michigan State started the same five through the first 12 games of the season. When Denzel Valentine was injured on Dec. 20 it forced Tom Izzo to make a change in the lineup. Beginning with the Dec. 22 game vs. Oakland, the Spartans have used six different lineups in the last nine games. Counting the Dec. 19 contest (the last of MSU's first 12), MSU has used seven different lineups in the last 10 games.
Forbes For Three
Senior Bryn Forbes is proving to be one of top shooters in the country. For his career, he's made 270-of-638 attempts from behind the arc, good for a .423 shooting percentage. He's made a 3-pointer in 110 of 124 career games, including in 18 of 21 contests this season. He's opened 2015-16 by making 58-of-126 (.460), ranking 18th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage. Forbes has made three or more 3-pointers in 12 games and ranks third in the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made (2.8).
Spartan Comebacks
Michigan State has shown the ability to overcome adversity during the 2015-16 season, as the Spartans have overcome double-figure deficits in three victories. MSU trailed Oakland by a season-high 15 points in the first half, and also trailed Kansas and Louisville by 13 points in the first half.
All-Time Block Leaders
Matt Costello ranks fourth in MSU history with 129 blocks. Drew Naymick ranks third with 134 blocks. Branden Dawson is the MSU career leader with 142 blocks. Costello blocked 43 shots as a sophomore and 48 as a junior.
Improved Foul Shooting
Michigan State ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 82nd in the nation in free-throw percentage, shooting .720 from the foul line. While that percentage isn't overly impressive, it's certainly an improvement over last season when MSU ranked 330th in the nation, shooting 63.2 percent from the charity stripe. Unfortunately, MSU shot a season low 57.1 percent (12-21) in a one-point loss to Nebraska.
Tum Tum Out Of Action
Michigan State point guard Tum Tum Nairn Jr. missed the last three games due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot and will miss at least a couple of weeks. With 81 assists and just 17 turnovers on the season, he ranks sixth in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.8). In the last 15 games, he has posted a 5.6 assist-to-turnover ratio (73 assists, 13 turnovers). He committed just six turnovers in seven games in the month of December. Nairn Jr. owns the second-best +/- per 40 minutes on the team at +20.48.
Dominating NCAA Stats
It's not surprising given their 17-4 record, but the Spartans are dominating the NCAA statistics (through games of Jan. 26), ranking in the Top 10 nationally in 10 categories, including total assists (1st, 419), total rebounds (2nd, 893), assists per game (2nd, 20.0), rebound margin (2nd, +12.0), assist-to-turnover ratio (4th, 1.68), defensive rebounds per game (5th, 29.9), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (6th, .284), total rebounds per game (6th, 42.52), field-goal percentage defense (8th, .374) and scoring margin (10th, +15.0).
Offensive Rebounding
Michigan State ranks second in the Big Ten with 12.6 offensive rebounds per game, while ranking second in offensive rebound percentage, grabbing 37.3 percent of its missed shots. The Spartans are averaging 12.3 second-chance points per contest, outscoring opponents by a +3.7 margin.
Big Ten Success
Michigan State has won 13 regular-season Big Ten Championships since joining the league prior to the 1950-51 season. The Spartans' first-ever league game was at Northwestern, where MSU claimed a 67-62 victory on Jan. 6, 1951. All-time, MSU is 595-471 (.558) in league play, including 237-111 (.681) under Tom Izzo, who ranks third in league history with 237 conference wins. Izzo has guided MSU to seven of its 13 league crowns. Since Izzo's first season (1995-96), MSU has a Big Ten-best record of 237-111, 13 games better than second-place Wisconsin (224-124).
Spartan Depth
Nine Spartans average 15 minutes per game, while 11 average more than eight minutes, and 13 average 6.7 minutes or more. MSU has needed its depth as Gavin Schilling (turf toe), Marvin Clark Jr. (foot), Denzel Valentine (knee) and Tum Tum Nairn Jr. (plantar fasciitis) have each missed time due to injury. The Spartans have had their full allotment of scholarship players available for just three games this season.
The 500 Win Club
Tom Izzo recorded his 500th-career win in MSU's 99-68 victory over Boston College in the Wooden Legacy. Izzo became the 91st coach in history to record 500 career wins, with at least 10 seasons in Division I, and just the eighth coach to accomplish the feat in his first 21 seasons. Izzo also became the 18th coach to win 500 career games in his first collegiate head coaching stop, and was the eighth-fastest coach to reach 500 wins among those who did it all at one school, accomplishing the feat in 699 career games. (Note: Two days later, Bob McKillop recorded career win No. 500 in 27 seasons - all at Davidson.)
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 202 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 (184), Texas (178), Duke (174) and Kentucky (171).
Double-Double Threats
Three different Spartans have recorded a double-double this season. Denzel Valentine has two triple-doubles (vs. Kansas and Boston College), and three double-doubles (vs. Binghamton, UMES and Maryland), while Matt Costello (vs. UAPB, Oakland, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Maryland) has five double-doubles and Deyonta Davis (vs. Florida Atlantic) has one.
Valentine Lends A Helping Hand
Denzel Valentine ranks third in the Big Ten and 12th in the nation, averaging 6.6 assists per contest. With 511 assists for his career, he ranks eighth in MSU history, ahead of Earvin Johnson (491), and 44 behind Travis Walton (555). In games in which he has played, Valentine has either made or assisted on 46.0 percent of MSU's field goals, including 47.8 percent in games which he has started. He also boasts a career-best 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.
From Beyond the Arc
Michigan State currently ranks fourth in the Big Ten, shooting .392 from behind the arc, led by Bryn Forbes at .460, as nine different Spartans have made a 3-pointer. MSU ranks eighth in the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made (162, 7.7 pg). The Spartans made 294 3-pointers last year, which ranked second in school history, behind only the 2013-14 squad (307 3-pointers).
An Impressive Debut
Deyonta Davis became just the third Spartan freshman to post a double-double in his debut, totaling 13 points and 11 rebounds, joining Derrick Nix and Matt Steigenga. Davis also blocked five shots, the most ever in a Spartan freshman debut. The 11 rebounds are the second-most ever in an MSU freshman debut.
Triple-Double Trouble
Denzel Valentine recorded a triple-double against Kansas in the Champions Classic (29 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists), joining Earvin Johnson (eight), Draymond Green (three) and Charlie Bell (one) as the only Spartans to accomplish the feat. He recorded a second against Boston College (29 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists), becoming one of three Spartans with multiple triple-doubles. Including his triple-doubles, Valentine has 11 career double-doubles.
Valentine On Awards Lists
Denzel Valentine was one of 10 Big Ten players on the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50. On Jan. 13, he was one of four Big Ten players named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25. Aerial Powers from the Michigan State women's basketball team made the women's preseason list, making MSU one of just 13 schools, including just two in the Big Ten (Maryland), to have a male and female honoree. He is also on the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List and the Naismith Award Watch List 50. He is a candidate for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. In the preseason, he was a unanimous selection to the Big Ten's all-conference team, and was tabbed a preseason All-American by CBSSports.com (third team) and Sports Illustrated (second team), while ESPN.com ranked him the No. 3 player in college basketball. He was named a midseason All-American by NBC Sports, Jeff Goodman from ESPN.com, and the Sporting News
Coaching Stability
Michigan State has had just two basketball coaches in the last 40 seasons and three in the last 47. Tom Izzo is in his 21st season, having taking over from his mentor Jud Heathcote, who spent 19 years as head coach (1976-95). Before Heathcote, Gus Ganakas spent seven seasons as head coach. Ganakas is currently in his 30th-straight season providing commentary on Spartan radio broadcasts.
Valentine In The Record Books
Denzel Valentine has played in 130 career games, needing to play in 16 more to hold sole position of the top spot in Spartan history. Valentine ranks eighth in MSU career assists (511), needing 57 rebounds to become the only Spartan to rank in the school's career Top 10 in both categories. He ranks fourth in MSU history with 213 made 3-pointers and fourth with 544 3-point attempts.
MSU At No. 1
Michigan State held the No. 1 position in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls for a school-record four weeks earlier this season (Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28). It marked just the fourth time in school history, including the third time under Tom Izzo, for a total of 11 weeks. After opening the season at No. 13 in the preseason poll, MSU's rise to No. 1 was the largest by week five since 1987-88 when Arizona opened at No. 17 and rose to No. 1 in week five. The Spartans were No. 1 for two weeks during the National Championship season of 1978-79, holding the top spot on Jan. 3 and Jan. 9. In 2000-01, MSU reached the top spot on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. Most recently, MSU held the No. 1 spot for three weeks in 2013-14 (Nov. 18-Dec. 2), posting a 4-1 record. The Spartans have an all-time record of 14-5 at No. 1.
Valentine's Big Week(s)
Following a week in which he averaged 18.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 11.5 assists in wins over No. 4 Kansas and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, including posting a triple-double vs. Kansas, Denzel Valentine was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Nov. 23. It marked the first weekly honor of his career. Valentine was also named National Player of the Week by ESPN.com, CBS Sports and NBC Sports. He followed by averaging 22.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists in four games, earning Big Ten Player of the Week and NBC Sports National Player of the Week honors for the second-straight week on Nov. 30.
Wooden Legacy Recap
Michigan State captured the 2015 Wooden Legacy championship with three double-digit victories. Denzel Valentine was named Most Outstanding Player after averaging 26.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists, while also setting an event mark with 15 3-pointers in three games (.536). He recorded his second-career triple-double vs. Boston College, and scored a career-high 32 points vs. Boise State. Deyonta Davis averaged 11.3 points, shooting .850 from the field. Tum Tum Nairn Jr. averaged 7.7 points, including a career-high 13 points vs. Boston College, and totaled 18 assists and just two turnovers in two games. MSU recorded an assist on 69 of 88 baskets (78.4 percent) and held a +11.0 rebounding margin. The Spartans shot 52.1 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from 3-point range.
1,000-Point Scorers
Denzel Valentine ranks 24th in MSU history with 1,362 career points. He needs 16 points to pass Julius McCoy (1,377 points), 21 points to pass Robert Chapman (1,382 points), 22 to pass Darryl Johnson (1,383 points) and 32 to pass Andre Hutson (1,393 points) to move into the career Top 20. Bryn Forbes has 1,520 career points, 905 of which came in his first two seasons at Cleveland State. Eron Harris surpassed 1,000 career points with his 21-point effort at Iowa. He's totaled 1,083 career points after totaling 873 in two seasons at West Virginia.
MSU In The Polls
Michigan State is currently ranked No. 12 in the AP Top 25 and No. 11 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Four other Big Ten schools are ranked including Iowa (No. 3 Associated Press/No. 4 USA Today), Maryland (No. 8/7), Indiana (No. 19/17) and Purdue (No. 21/No. 21). In addition to the conference opponents, MSU defeated Kansas (No. 4/3) in the Champions Classic, defeated Providence (No. 10/10) in the Wooden Legacy, and defeated Louisville (No. 16/14) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
Prep Teammates
Michigan State's roster features three pairs of high school teammates. Seniors Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes teamed to appear in three-straight Michigan Class B title games from 2010-2012, capturing the state championship in 2011 and 2012. Sophomores 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 in 2013-14, while Nairn finished his high school career. Juniors 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.
Big Ten Schedule
With a 14-team conference 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 Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers and Wisconsin. The Spartans will host Illinois, Indiana, Maryland and Nebraska, while traveling to Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern and Purdue. Seven of Michigan State's 13 Big Ten opponents appeared in the 2014 postseason, including six in the NCAA Tournament (Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin) and one in the NIT (Illinois).
Spartans In The NBA
Michigan State leads the Big Ten with seven players on NBA rosters this season. Branden Dawson (Los Angeles Clippers) is in his rookie season after being selected in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft, while Keith Appling made his NBA debut with the Orlando Magic. They join former Spartans Alan Anderson (Washington), Draymond Green (Golden State), Gary Harris (Denver), Adreian Payne (Minnesota) and Zach Randolph (Memphis).
Valentine Wins Bronze with USA
Denzel Valentine was a member of the USA Basketball Pan American Games Team that captured a Bronze Medal in Canada July 21-25. He ranked sixth on the team in scoring, averaging 7.4 points, while shooting .500 from the field and .385 from 3-point range. In medal play, he averaged 11 points and 3.5 rebounds in two games.
Spartans Summer Trip: Italy
In late August, Michigan State traveled to Italy for the first summer foreign trip of the Tom Izzo era. After a decisive 98-54 victory over a club team in Florence, the Spartans took part in a four-team round-robin event featuring national teams from Russia, Italy, and Georgia. Although the Spartans dropped all three games, the games got progressively closer as MSU trailed Italy by just five points midway through the fourth quarter, and falling to Georgia by a single point. Denzel Valentine averaged a team-best 17.3 points against the three national teams, while Gavin Schilling was the team's leading rebounder (7.0 rpg) and second-leading scorer (13.3 ppg). Bryn Forbes also averaged double figures at 13.0 ppg.
Nation's Best Seven Final Fours in 17 Years
Michigan State advanced to the 2015 Final Four, marking the seventh trip to the Final Four in 20 seasons under Tom Izzo. The seven trips in the last 17 seasons rank as the most in the nation. In addition, MSU has appeared in 18 straight NCAA Tournaments, marking the nation's third-longest active streak, and matching the longest streak in Big Ten history.
Breslin Upgrades on the Horizon
A major facilities upgrade -- focused on improving the visitor experience -- and the construction of a Michigan State University Basketball Hall of History are on tap for the Breslin Student Events Center. The MSU Board of Trustees gave the university the go-ahead to proceed with the $50 million project. $30 million will be provided by the university and $20 million from MSU Athletics. The work is scheduled to begin in January 2016, with substantial completion expected by August of 2017 and final completion by June 2018.
2016 Recruiting Class
Michigan State and head coach Tom Izzo will be bringing in one of the nation's top recruiting classes in 2016, as it currently sits at No. 3 according to ESPN.com. During November's early signing period, the Spartans received signed letters of intent from five-star recruits Miles Bridges (G/F, 6-7, Flint, Mich.) and Joshua Langford (G, 6-5, Huntsville, Ala.), along with four stars Cassius Winston (G, 6-0, Detroit, Mich.) and Nick Ward (F, 6-9, Gahanna, Ohio). All four players have been rated in the top 50 of their class across the country by ESPN.com, Rivals.com, Scout.com and 24/7 Sports, with Bridges and Langford touted as high as No. 8 and No. 17, respectively. Bridges has averaged a double-double throughout his high school career, including 15.7 points and 10.6 rebounds at Huntington Prep last season. He'll carry on the tradition of Flint natives at MSU under Tom Izzo, including Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, Charlie Bell and Antonio Smith. Langford is a four-time Alabama Class 3A Player of the Year, having first won the award as an eighth grader, while also capturing two state championships. Winston has led his squad to the state semifinals in each of the last two seasons, and averaged 22.3 points and 7.1 assists as a junior. Ward attends Gahanna Lincoln High School, where he was teammates with current Spartan Javon Bess, and averaged 18 points, eight rebounds and two blocks as a prep junior.
The Book On Tom Izzo
Coach Izzo
In his 21st year, Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan, '77) is 512-203 (.716), and 237-111 (.681) 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 20 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 .681 winning percentage in Big Ten games ranks fifth all-time among league coaches with at least 10 years of service, behind former Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan (.717), former Indiana coach Bob Knight (.700), former Purdue coach Ward Lambert (.685), and Ohio State's Thad Matta (.685). In all games, Matta ranks first at .754, followed by Ryan (.737), Knight (.734), Izzo (.716), Wisconsin's Walter Meanwell (.712), and Lambert (.709). With 237 conference victories, Izzo ranks third all-time.
Izzo Among Best Ever
Through his first 20 seasons, Tom Izzo won 495 games, ranking fifth in college basketball history for most wins by a college coach in his first 20 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 was 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.
