Michigan State Hosts Youngstown State On Tuesday
12/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| Michigan State (5-4) vs. Youngstown State (5-4) | |
| Date | Tuesday, December 6, 2016 |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| Location | East Lansing, Mich. | Breslin Center |
| Television | ESPNU (Eamon McAnaney and Tim McCormick) |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Will Tieman, Matt Steigenga) |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Youngstown State |
| Statistics | Michigan State | Youngstown State |
| Social Media | @MSU_Basketball  | Facebook  | Instagram |
The Opening Tip
Michigan State is back at home as the Spartans host Youngstown State for the second time in school history. It's the second game of five straight home games to close out the non-conference season, as Michigan State played six of its first eight contests away from East Lansing.
The Starting Five
1. MSU's Freshman Class
Michigan State's freshman class of Miles Bridges, Joshua Langford, Nick Ward and Cassius Winston was widely regarded as one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. Bridges and Langford were McDonald's All-Americans, Winston joined Bridges as Jordan Brand All-Americans and all four players were ranked in the Top 40 in the nation. They are expected to have an immediate impact on the Spartans in 2016-17. In fact, they have the potential to go down as the most productive freshman class under Tom Izzo. The 2001-02 Spartan freshmen of Alan Anderson, Chris Hill, Kelvin Torbert and Aaron Alexander combined to average 77.4 minutes and 26.5 points, both of which rank first in the Izzo era. The 2002-03 freshmen (Maurice Ager, Paul Davis, Erazem Lorbek) averaged a combined 20.9 points, while the 2012-13 freshmen (Matt Costello, Gary Harris, Denzel Valentine and Trevor Bohnhoff) averaged 19.7 points. Through nine games, the freshman quartet is averaging a combined 39.7 points, 18.4 rebounds and 83.7 minutes.
2. Spartan Defense
Michigan State has held opponents under 40 percent shooting from the field in each of the last five seasons, including finishing second in the nation in field-goal percentage defense in 2012 (.379) and 2016 (.382). The strong defensive effort has carried over to 2016-17, as six of nine opponents have been held under 40 percent, as MSU boasts a field-goal percentage defense of .391. Every opponent has been held under 47 percent shooting, with Baylor's .469 mark being the highest by a Spartan opponent this season.
3. Spartans Share The Ball
Unselfishness is a trademark of all Tom Izzo teams. That has been especially true over the last three seasons as MSU has established a school record for assists in each of the last three years. Last season, MSU tallied a school record 719 assists, good for the 22nd-best total in NCAA history. MSU's nation's-best assist average of 20.5 was the 23rd-best average in NCAA history. The Spartans recorded an assist on a nation's-best 71.3 percent of its field goals. The Spartans are averaging 18.4 assists in 2016-17, recording an assist on 71.2 percent of their field goals, which is the second best mark in the nation.
4. Harris Key To Spartan Attack
Eron Harris is proving to be a great barometer for the Spartans' chances of victory. MSU is 5-1 when he scores in double figures and 0-3 when he scores fewer than 10. He's averaging 17.8 points in wins and 6.5 in the four losses. The redshirt senior is scoring 15.1 ppg over the last seven contests and is shooting .419 from 3-point range, with a team-high 18 3-pointers.
5. Breslin Advantage
Michigan State is 368-56 (.868) at home all-time since Breslin Center opened in 1989, including 190-43 (.815) in Big Ten play. Under Tom Izzo, the Spartans are 294-41 (.878) at Breslin, including a 149-30 (.832) conference record.
MSU vs. Youngstown State Notes
Coach Slocum
Jerry Slocum (Kings College, N.Y., '75) is 715-539 (.571) in 42 seasons as a head coach, including 134-215 (.384) in his 12th season at Youngstown State. Prior to his time at the helm of the Penguins, Slocum spent nine seasons as the head coach at Gannon (1996-2005), nine seasons at Geneva (1987-96) and 12 seasons an Nyack (1975-87). Slocum became the 38th head coach in NCAA history to reach 700 wins last season with a win over North Dakota.
Series History
This will be just the second meeting between the two schools, with Michigan State winning the first matchup back on November 9, 2006 by a score of 86-61. Drew Neitzel led the way for the Spartans, scoring 17 points, while Maurice Joseph added 16 points off the bench. Goran Suton collected a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds and Michigan State outrebounded the Penguins, 39-18, while holding YSU to 36.5 percent shooting from the field.
About Youngstown State
Youngstown State enters Tuesday's contest with a 5-4 overall record and winners of five out of the last six games. Junior guard Cameron Morse is the fifth leading scorer in the nation at 23.7 points per game to lead a YSU team that puts up 82.0 points per game. Point guard Francisco Santiago dishes out 5.7 assists per game and is second on the team in scoring with 14.2 ppg. In 2015-16, Youngstown State scored the second most points in school history and finished 11-21, including seventh in the Horizon League with a 6-12 mark.
Spartan Basketball Notes
Nairn's Homecoming Provides A Spark
Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn Jr. had a very productive homecoming during MSU's play in the Battle 4 Atlantis. A native of Nassau, Nairn had arguably his best three-game stretch as a Spartan, matching or setting a career high in each game. He tied a career high in points with 13 points vs. St. John's, and set new career highs in rebounding (6) vs. Baylor and assists (12) vs. Wichita State. He also hit 4-of-6 3-pointers, after entering the tournament with seven threes in his first 71 career games. The junior point guard leads the Big Ten with a 3.1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while ranking tied for third in the conference in assists (4.8).
Ward's Emergence
The least heralded member of Michigan State's freshman class, Nick Ward is proving to be an impact player. He ranks third on the team in scoring (12.0 ppg) and second in rebounding (6.0). Although he's lost 30-plus pounds since arriving on MSU's campus in June, conditioning limits his playing time to 16.8 minutes per contest. His per 40-minute averages of 28.6 points and 14.3 rebounds lead the Spartans among members of the core scoring group. He's scored seven or more points in every game this season and has posted double-figure points in the last three games, averaging 16.0 over the last three contests.
The Nation's Toughest November
Tuesday's game at Duke marked the final game in what was arguably the toughest opening month in college basketball history, certainly Spartan history. With games against No. 2 Kentucky, No. 10 Arizona and No. 20 Baylor (rankings at date of game), No. 5 Duke was the fourth ranked opponent MSU played in November alone. The Spartans had never faced three Top 10 opponents in November until this season, and had never played four Top 20 non-conference opponents in a single month during the regular season. Not only did the Spartans play a diabolical slate of opponents, they faced a brutal travel schedule to open the season. Beginning with a flight to Hawaii on November 8 and ending with the return flight from Duke on Nov. 29, the Spartans traveled more than 13,600 miles in 22 days, including additional trips to New York City and the Bahamas.
Hall of Famer Tom Izzo
Now in his 22nd season at Michigan State, Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo has built the Spartans into one of the elite programs in the nation. MSU is the only school in the country to win 27 or more games in each of the last five seasons. The Spartans' 19 straight NCAA Tournaments are a Big Ten record, the third-longest active streak in the nation and the fourth-longest active streak of all time. He's been able to accomplish this while playing more ranked teams than anyone else since 1998. Michigan State has appeared in a nation's best seven Final Fours in the last 18 seasons. Izzo's seven Final Four trips are tied for fifth most in NCAA history. Izzo was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame on Sept. 9.
From Beyond the Arc
The 2015-16 Spartans led the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (.434) and made a school record 321 3-pointers. This year's Spartan squad must replace Bryn Forbes (112) and Denzel Valentine (104) who combined for 216 3-pointers last season. MSU is shooting .377 from behind the arc this year, as Eron Harris (.419, 18-43), Miles Bridges (.385, 15-39) and Matt McQuaid (.385, 15-39) lead the team in made 3-pointers. Last season, Harris shot .439 (43-98) from behind the arc, while McQuaid hit .409 (27-66) of his attempts.
Bridges Makes An Immediate Impact
Although it's early in the season, Miles Bridges is on pace to have one of the most productive freshman seasons in Michigan State history. Bridges' scoring average of 16.6 points per game trails only Magic Johnson's 17.0 ppg in 1977-78 as the best ever for a Spartan freshman. Only Greg Kelser (9.6 rpg, 1975-76) posted a better rebounding average than Bridges' current 8.8 average.
It's All About Boardwork
Being forced to play with a smaller front court due to injury, rebounding will be a major point of emphasis for Michigan State. Through nine games, MSU has a +3.7 rebound margin, out-rebounding the opponent in four contests. In the Tom Izzo era, MSU has out-rebounded 568 of 738 opponents (.770), posting a 450-118 (.792) mark in those games. The Spartans have led the nation in rebounding in five of the last 17 seasons (2000, 2001, 2009, 2010, 2016), ranking in the Top 10 10 times and the Top 25 on 13 occasions. MSU has led the Big Ten in rebounding margin in conference games in 13 of the last 19 years and in 14 of 21 seasons under Izzo.
Too Many Turnovers
One of the downsides to playing a lot of new players and multiple combinations is an increased number of turnovers. After averaging fewer than 12 turnovers in each of the last three seasons, this year's Spartan squad is averaging 15.6 per contest. MSU is 5-1 when committing 15 or fewer turnovers and 0-3 when committing more. Michigan State's starting point guard Tum Tum Nairn Jr., however, is averaging just 1.6 per game and is first in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.1).
Bridges' Preseason Honors
Freshman Miles Bridges is already gathering some national attention. The Flint, Michigan, native was tabbed preseason First Team All-America by The Sporting News, while also landing a spot on the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award, Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award Preseason Watch Lists.
Spartans In The NBA
Michigan State had a Big Ten-best eight players on NBA opening day rosters, including Denzel Valentine (Bulls), Gary Harris (Nuggets), Deyonta Davis (Grizzlies), Bryn Forbes (Spurs), Draymond Green (Warriors), Adreian Payne (Timberwolves), Zach Randolph (Grizzlies) and Alan Anderson (Clippers).
Spartan Depth
Nine Spartans average more than 10 minutes per game, while 10 players have played in all nine games. The depth has helped MSU's reserves outscore the opponent's bench in seven of nine contests, as MSU gets 30.9 points per game off the bench. In a win over Oral Roberts, MSU posted a 56-0 edge in bench scoring.
Playing The Best
Since the 1997-98 season, the year of Michigan State's first of 19 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans have played 209 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 (194), Texas (186), Duke (182), Kentucky (176), Illinois (175) and Michigan (173).
Harris Tops Spartan Returners
Senior Eron Harris is Michigan State's leading returning scorer at 9.3 points per game. He is the only returning Spartan to have started a game last February or March. In the four games Denzel Valentine missed due to injury last season, Harris averaged 17.8 points. He has been named to the Jerry West Award Watch List, presented to the top shooting guard in the nation. As a sophomore at West Virginia in 2013-14, Harris averaged 17.2 points.
Strength of Schedule
In total, the 2016-17 schedule features 15 teams that appeared in the 2016 postseason, including 11 opponents that played in the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
2017 Recruiting Class
Michigan State signed a pair of forwards on the first day of the early signing period on Nov. 9. Jaren Jackson Jr. is a 5-star 6-11, 220-pound forward from Indianapolis. Playing as a senior at La Lumiere, the No. 1 high school team in America, Jackson Jr. has been named to the All-USA Preseason Boys Basketball Team as selected by USA TODAY Sports. He is the son of Jaren Jackson Sr., a former star at Georgetown and 1999 NBA Champion with the San Antonio Spurs. Despite his 6-11 frame, he shot .442 from 3-point range as a junior. He was a member of the 2016 USA Basketball U17 team that won a gold medal in Spain. Xavier Tillman is a 4-star 6-8, 270-pound forward from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a three-time MLIVE Grand Rapids Press Dream Team honoree. He averaged 16 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists as a junior, shooting 62% from the field while playing for Grand Rapids Christian, earning 2016 Associated Press Class A All-State honors.
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 Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State and Purdue. The Spartans will host Iowa, Northwestern, Rutgers and Wisconsin, while traveling to Illinois, Indiana, Maryland and Penn State. Seven of Michigan State's 13 Big Ten opponents appeared in the 2016 postseason, including six in the NCAA Tournament (Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Purdue and Wisconsin) and one in the NIT (Ohio State).
Spartans In The Polls
Michigan State is receiving votes in both the Associated Press Top 25 and in the USA Today Coaches Poll this week. Three Big Ten teams are featured in this week's poll, including Indiana (No. 9 AP/ No. 9 USA Today), Wisconsin (17/17) and Purdue (18/19). In addition to the conference opponents, MSU played Baylor (4/6), Duke (5/4), Kentucky (6/7), and Arizona (20/20) in November.
Coaching Stability
Michigan State has had just two basketball coaches in the last 41 seasons and three in the last 48. Tom Izzo is in his 22nd 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 31st-straight season providing commentary on Spartan radio broadcasts.
Backcourt Experience
Michigan State's backcourt is its most experienced unit with seniors Eron Harris and Alvin Ellis III, junior Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn Jr. and sophomore Matt McQuaid all having played significant minutes during their career. Harris, Nairn and Ellis entered the season with a combined 60 career starts at MSU, including 41 last year. It will also receive an influx of talent from 2016 McDonald's All-American Joshua Langford and 2016 Michigan Mr. Basketball winner Cassius Winston, providing MSU with one of the deeper backcourts in the nation.
Nation's Best Seven Final Fours in 18 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 18 seasons rank as the most in the nation. In addition, MSU has appeared in 19 straight NCAA Tournaments, marking the nation's third-longest active streak, and the longest streak in Big Ten history.
Breslin Upgrades on the Horizon
A major facilities upgrade - focused on improving the visitor experience - is on tap for the Breslin Student Events Center. The Breslin Center addition -- in all a $20 million project -- involves construction of a new box office, the Tom Izzo Hall of History and, for the student-athletes and coaches of the men's and women's basketball teams, the addition of the Draymond Green Strength and Conditioning Center, a hydration station, lounges for players and recruits, and an alumni locker room. The work began in January 2016, with substantial completion expected by August of 2017 and final completion by June 2018.
The Book on Tom Izzo
Coach Izzo
In his 22nd year, Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan, '77) is 529-209 (.717), and 246-112 (.687) 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 21 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. Izzo was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 9, 2016, cementing his status as one of the game's all-time greats.
Among The Big Ten's Best
Tom Izzo's .687 winning percentage in Big Ten games ranks third all-time among league coaches with at least 10 years of service, behind former Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan (.717), and former Indiana coach Bob Knight (.700), and ahead of former Purdue coach Ward Lambert (.685). In all games, Ohio State's Thad Matta ranks first at .754, followed by Ryan (.737), Knight (.734), Izzo (.716), Wisconsin's Walter Meanwell (.712), and Lambert (.709). With 246 conference victories, Izzo ranks third all time.
Izzo Among Best Ever
Through his first 21 seasons, Tom Izzo won 524 games, ranking fifth in college basketball history for most wins by a college coach in his first 21 years.
Final Fours
Tom Izzo led MSU to seven Final Four appearances between 1999 and 2015, becoming just the fourth school in college basketball history to do it in any 17-year span, including just the third since the tournament field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Izzo's seven Final Fours are the most by any coach since his first season in 1996 and he ranks fifth all-time, including tied for fifth among active coaches. The seven Final Fours are also the most by any Big Ten coach.
