Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Back On The Road At Penn State
1/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| #5/5 Michigan State (15-1, 2-1) vs. Penn State (10-6, 1-2) | |
| Date | Sunday, January 10 , 2016 |
| Time | 12 p.m. ET |
| Location | University Park, Pa. | Bryce Jordan Center |
| Television | BTN (Wayne Randazzo, Bob Wenzel) |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Will Tieman, Gus Ganakas, Matt Steigenga) | Sirius 84/XM 84 |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Penn State |
| Statistics | Michigan State | Penn State |
| Live Stats | |
| Social Media | @MSU_Basketball  | Facebook  | Instagram |
The Opening Tip
Michigan State heads back out on the road for the third time in the first four Big Ten games. Both the Spartans and Nittany Lions are coming off mid-week victories as MSU defeated Illinois, and PSU used a late rally to beat Minnesota.
The Starting Five
1. Great Start
Despite losing for the first time this season at Iowa after setting a school record by winning the first 13 games of the season, Michigan State's 15-1 start is uncommonly good. Only the 1930-31, 1977-78, 2000-01, and 2013-14 teams also opened with 15 wins in their first 16 games.
2. Finding Success Away From Home
Michigan State owns a Big Ten-best 40-25 (.615) mark in conference road games over the last seven-plus seasons (since the start of 2008-09 Big Ten play). Wisconsin and Ohio State are both 36-28 on the road in that same stretch.
3. Dominating NCAA Stats
It's not surprising given their 15-1 record, but the Spartans are dominating the NCAA statistics (through games of Jan. 7), ranking in the Top 10 nationally in 11 categories, including leading the nation in rebound margin (+13.9), assists per game (21.3), total assists (341) and total rebounds (699). Michigan State also ranks in the Top 10 in field-goal percentage defense (2nd, .356), won-lost percentage (3rd, .938), defensive rebounds per game (4th, 31.13), total rebounds per game (5th, 43.69), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (5th, .266), scoring margin (8th, +18.7) and assist-to-turnover ratio (9th, 1.71).
4. Costello Steps Up
Senior Matt Costello is having his best season as a Spartan, averaging 8.9 points and 7.4 rebounds. More importantly, he has raised his game in the last three contests with fellow senior Denzel Valentine on the bench, averaging 13.3 points and a team-best 11.8 rebounds. He's scored a career high-tying 17 points against both Iowa and Minnesota, while grabbing a career-best 15 rebounds at Minnesota. He's posted a double-double in two of the four games Valentine has missed, grabbing double-figure rebounds in three contests.
5. 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 15 nationally in scoring defense (11th, 60.9), field-goal percentage defense (2nd, .356) and 3-point field-goal percentage defense (5th, .266). Just five teams have shot better than 40 percent from the field and just four have bettered 35 percent behind the 3-point arc. The final step of a defensive possession is securing a defensive rebound, an area which MSU excels, grabbing a conference-best 76.6 percent of opponents' missed shots.
MSU vs. Penn State Notes
Series History
Michigan State leads the all-time series with Penn State, 34-7, including a 13-4 advantage in University Park. The Spartans have won 18 of the last 22 games in the series. Tom Izzo is 27-6 in his career against Penn State.
Coach Chambers
Patrick Chambers (Philadelphia University, '94) is 108-109 in his seventh season as a collegiate head coach, including 66-81 in his fifth season at Penn State. Before his arrival in University Park, Chambers spent two seasons at Boston University, making the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
The Last Meeting
Michigan State defeated Penn State, 66-60, on Jan. 21, 2015, in East Lansing. With the score tied at 51, Denzel Valentine scored on a mid-range jujmper. On Penn State's next possession, the Nittany Lions were called for an offensive foul, and PSU coach Pat Chambers received a technical foul. Valentine made 1-of-2 free throws and Bryn Forbes hit a 3-pointer to push MSU's lead out to 57-51. Branden Dawson (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Gavin Schilling (11 points, 10 rebounds) each posted a double-double and were two of five Spartans in double-figures. Penn State's D.J. Newbill led all scorers with 27 points. For the game, MSU grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, leading to a 14-5 edge in second-chance points.
The Last Meeting In University Park
Michigan State defeated Penn State, 79-63, on Dec. 31, 2013, in University Park. In the Big Ten opener, the Nittany Lions held a 45-33 lead with 1:12 left in the first half. A 7-2 closing run by MSU narrowed its deficit to a manageable seven points at the break (47-40). The Spartans opened the second half in the same way they closed the first, scoring the first 10 points. Moments later, a Tim Frazier 3-pointer tied the game at 52. Over the next seven minutes, MSU went on a dominating 20-3 run during which the Spartans scored on nine of 12 possessions, while limiting Penn State to one field goal in six attempts and one free throw while forcing three turnovers. Branden Dawson led MSU with 20 points, adding nine rebounds. Brandon Taylor led Penn State with 18 points, while D.J. Newbill was the only other Nittany Lion in double-figures with 17 points. MSU held a dominating 45-26 edge on the glass, led by Adreian Payne's 10 rebounds. MSU grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and held a 14-6 edge in second-chance points.
Nittany Lion Notes
Brandon Taylor leads the Nittany Lions in both scoring (16.3 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 rpg), ranking seventh in the Big Ten in scoring. Taylor is averaging 20.0 ppg over the last four games ... Jordan Dickerson ranks tied for fifth in the Big Ten in blocked shots (2.0 bpg), and ranks third in Penn State history with 114 career rejections ... Penn State is averaging 34.8 points in the paint in the last eight contests ... Shep Garner ranks sixth in the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made (2.4), and fifth in minutes per game (34.9 mpg).
MSU Basketball Notes
Denzel Valentine â€" 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 currently leads the Big Ten in assists (7.1 apg), while ranking second in scoring (18.5 ppg) and third in rebounding (8.3 rpg). He is one of just two players to rank in the Top 10 in the Big Ten in all three categories. Valentine also leads the Big Ten in defensive rebounds (7.5 drpg), and ranks second in 3-point field goals made (3.0 pg). 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 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for a season.
For his career, Valentine has totaled 11 double-doubles, including the two triple-doubles.
Basketball-Football Balance
Michigan State is one of four schools to be ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 in both football and men's basketball as the Spartans are currently ranked No. 5 in basketball and No. 3 in football. Oklahoma (No. 2 BB, No. 4 FB) is the only other school with both programs ranked in the Top 5. North Carolina and Iowa are the other schools with both programs ranked. (Football AP Top 25-Dec. 6; Basketball AP Top 25-Jan. 4). MSU is the only school in the nation to have won four straight bowl games and appear in four Sweet 16s in the last four seasons.
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 (2.3 bpg), second in field-goal percentage (.674) and has scored in double-figures in eight 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 36 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 four games, Davis has made 17-of-19 field goals (.895).
Making The Most Of An Opportunity
Junior Eron Harris has started the last four games for Michigan State in place of an injured Denzel Valentine. In games against Oakland, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois, Harris is averaging 17.8 points, shooting .500 from the field and averaging 7.0 foul shots per game. In addition, Harris is averaging 4.5 rebounds in the last four contests. Valentine's high school teammate Bryn Forbes has also elevated his play in Denzel's absence, averaging a team-best 18.0 points, including hitting 14-of-27 3-pointers (.519).
Spartans Share The Ball
Unselfishness is a trademark of all Tom Izzo teams. Michigan State is averaging a nation's best 21.3 assists, recording an assist on 341 of 458 field goals (74.5 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.
Tum Tum Takes Care of the Ball
Michigan State point guard Tum Tum Nairn Jr. isn't known for his scoring, but he's earned the right to be the Spartans' starting point guard with his leadership, defense and ability to take care of the ball. With 73 assists and just 15 turnovers on the season, he ranks sixth in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.9). In the last 13 games, he has posted a 5.9 assist-to-turnover ratio (65 assists, 11 turnovers). He committed just six turnovers in seven games in the month of December.
It's All About Boardwork
Michigan State owns a remarkable +13.9 rebounding margin, leading the Big Ten and the nation, as the Spartans have out-rebounded 15 of 16 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 547 of 710 opponents (.770), posting a 434-113 (.793) 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.
Spartan Comebacks
Michigan State has shown the ability to overcome adversity during its 15-1 start to 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.
Izzo Third In Wins At Big Ten School
With 510 career wins, Tom Izzo is two wins shy of tying Gene Keady (512 wins) for second-most victories at a Big Ten school, trailing only Bob Knight (661 wins). Izzo is also third all-time with 234 Big Ten wins, trailing just Knight (353 wins) and Keady (265 wins).
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 593-468 (.559) in league play, including 235-108 (.685) under Tom Izzo, who ranks third in league history with 235 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 235-108, 14 games better than second-place Wisconsin (221-122).
Forbes For Three
Senior Bryn Forbes is proving to be one of top shooters in the country. For his career, he's made 257-of-607 attempts from behind the arc, good for a .423 shooting percentage. He's made a 3-pointer in 106 of 119 career games, including in 14 of 16 contests this season. He's opened 2015-16 by making 45-of-95 (.474), ranking 11th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage. Forbes has made three or more 3-pointers in 10 games and ranks tied for third in the Big Ten for 3-point field goals made (2.8).
Offensive Rebounding
Michigan State ranks second in the Big Ten with 12.7 offensive rebounds per game, while also ranking second in offensive rebound percentage, grabbing 38.3 percent of its missed shots. The Spartans are averaging 12.4 second-chance points per contest, outscoring opponents by a +3.6 margin.
All-Time Block Leaders
Matt Costello ranks fourth in MSU history with 123 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 93rd in the nation in free-throw percentage, shooting .719 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.
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 200 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 (176), Duke (173) and Kentucky (171).
Spartan Depth
Nine Spartans average double-figure minutes, while 11 average more than nine minutes, and 13 average more than seven minutes. MSU has needed its depth as Gavin Schilling missed the first 11 contests with a turf toe injury before returning against Northeastern. Marvin Clark Jr. has played just 126 minutes in 13 games after a foot injury kept him out of action for two months. Both Schilling and Clark were slated to be potential starters this season. MSU's practice on Dec. 17 was the first of the season where every player was cleared for full participation, however Denzel Valentine is out with an injury suffered in practice on Dec. 20.
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 two double-doubles (vs. Binghamton and UMES), while Matt Costello (vs. UAPB, Oakland and Minnesota) has three double-doubles and Deyonta Davis (vs. Florida Atlantic) has one.
Valentine Lends A Helping Hand
Denzel Valentine leads the Big Ten and ranks eighth in the nation, averaging 7.1 assists per contest. With 483 assists for his career, he ranks ninth in MSU history, eight behind Earvin Johnson (491). In games in which he has played, Valentine has either made or assisted on 45.9 percent of MSU's field goals, as he boasts a career-best 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.
From Beyond the Arc
Michigan State figures to have one of its best 3-point shooting teams in school history. The Spartans made 294 3-pointers last year, which ranked second in school history, behind only the 2013-14 squad (307 3-pointers). While the Spartans will miss Travis Trice and his 90 3-pointers, they add junior transfer Eron Harris (89 3-pointers in 2013-14), and freshman Matt McQuaid who was rated as one of the best shooters in his class. Michigan State currently ranks fourth in the Big Ten, shooting .390 from behind the arc, led by Bryn Forbes at .474, as nine different Spartans have made a 3-pointer.
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 is one of 10 Big Ten players on the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50. The list will be trimmed to a Midseason 25 in January. 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 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 and Jeff Goodman from ESPN.com.
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 125 career games, needing to play in 21 more to hold sole position of the top spot in Spartan history. Valentine ranks ninth in MSU career assists (483), needing 93 rebounds to become the only Spartan to rank in the school's career Top 10 in both categories. He ranks seventh in MSU history with 197 made 3-pointers and sixth with 506 3-point attempts. He needs five eight more made 3-pointers to tie Travis Trice and Maurice Ager for fifth all-time at MSU, and six more attempts to tie Trice for fifth-most 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. 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.
Spartans In The NBA
Michigan State is tied for the Big Ten lead with six players on NBA opening-day rosters. Branden Dawson (Los Angeles Clippers) is in his rookie season after being selected in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft. They join former Spartans Alan Anderson (Washington), Draymond Green (Golden State), Gary Harris (Denver), Adreian Payne (Minnesota) and Zach Randolph (Memphis).
1,000-Point Scorers
Denzel Valentine ranks 28th in MSU history with 1,272 career points. He needs four points to pass Quinton Brooks (1,275 points) and 25 points to pass Matt Steigenga (1,296 points). Bryn Forbes has 1,458 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 1,028 career points after totaling 873 in two seasons at West Virginia.
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).
MSU In The Polls
Michigan State is currently ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25 and No. 5 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Three other Big Ten schools are ranked including Maryland (No. 3 Associated Press/No. 3 USA Today), Iowa (No. 19/23) and Purdue (No. 20/18). In addition to the conference opponents, MSU defeated Kansas (No. 1/2) in the Champions Classic, defeated Providence (No. 8/9) in the Wooden Legacy, and defeated Louisville (No. 16/16) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
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.
Strength of Schedule
Eight of MSU's 13 non-conference contests featured 2015 postseason participants. Including Big Ten opponents, 18 of MSU's 31 regular-season games will be played against teams that completed in postseason play in 2015.
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 â€" focused on improving the visitor experience â€" 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 510-200 (.718), and 235-108 (.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 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 .685 winning percentage in Big Ten games ranks fourth 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), and Ohio State's Thad Matta (.692) and ahead of former Purdue coach Ward Lambert (.685). In all games, Matta ranks first at .758, followed by Ryan (.737), Knight (.734), Izzo (.718), Wisconsin's Walter Meanwell (.712), and Lambert (.709). With 235 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.
