Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Open NCAA Tournament Vs. Middle Tennessee
3/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| #2/2 Michigan State (29-5, 13-5) vs. Middle Tennessee (24-9, 13-5) | |
| Date | Friday, March 18, 2016 |
| Time | 2:45 p.m. ET |
| Location | St. Louis, Mo. | Scottrade Center |
| Television | CBS (Brian Anderson, Steve Smith, Dana Jacobson) |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Will Tieman, Gus Ganakas, Matt Steigenga) | Sirius 81/XM 201 |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Middle Tennessee |
| Statistics | Michigan State | Middle Tennessee |
| Social Media | @MSU_Basketball  | Facebook  | Instagram |
The Opening Tip
Michigan State opens its 19th-straight NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region. The Spartans will open against the No. 15 seed Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. The MSU/MT winner will then face the winner of Dayton/Syracuse for the right to advance to the Sweet 16.
The Starting Five
1. MSU's NCAA Streak
Michigan State is making its 19th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015. It is the longest current streak among Big Ten schools and third-longest current streak in the nation. Only Kansas (27) and Duke (21) have longer current streaks. In fact, it is the fourth-longest streak of all-time, and the longest in Big Ten history. North Carolina is tied with Kansas for the longest streak of all-time with 27-consecutive NCAA Tournaments between 1975-2001.
2. MSU In The NCAA Tournament
Michigan State is making its 30th appearance in the NCAA Tournament with a record of 63-28 (.692) in its previous 29 tournaments. MSU has made nine trips to the Final Four (1957, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015) and captured the NCAA Championship in 1979 and 2000.
3. Izzo's NCAA Streak
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo is making his 19th-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. It's the second-longest active streak in the nation, trailing only Mike Krzyzewski, who is making his 21st straight trip this season. The 19-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), Krzyzewski and Roy Williams (Kansas/North Carolina, 20-1990-2009) have longer streaks.
4. MSU In Opening Games
In its 29 NCAA Tournaments, Michigan State has a record of 23-6 in its first game of the tournament. Since the field expanded in 1985, the Spartans are 19-6 in the round of 64. Tom Izzo is 14-4 in the round of 64.
5. Spartans In St. Louis
Michigan State is making its fourth trip to St. Louis for the NCAA Tournament, posting a 4-1 record in the previous three trips. In 1999, No. 1 MSU defeated No. 13 Oklahoma and No. 3 Kentucky to advance to the first of seven Final Fours under Tom Izzo. In 2005, the Spartans were defeated by North Carolina in the National Semifinals. Most recently, No. 5 MSU defeated No. 9 Northern Iowa and No. 6 Tennessee in the 2010 regionals to advance to the Final Four. All five previous games were played in The Dome at America's Center (formerly Edward Jones Dome).
MSU vs. Middle Tennessee Notes
Series History
The Spartans and Blue Raiders will be meeting on the hardwood for just the second time, first meeting on Dec. 19, 1977, with MSU winning, 72-51, in East Lansing. In that contest, Greg Kelser led MSU with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Spartan freshman Earvin Johnson tallied 12 points and five assists. Michigan State is 2-1 in the NCAA Tournament against current members of Conference USA, including 1-0 under Tom Izzo, beating Old Dominion in the first round in 2005. The Spartans are 2-1 in the NCAA Tournament against teams from the state of Tennessee, going 1-1 against Memphis and 1-0 versus Tennessee.
Coach Davis
Kermit Davis (Mississippi State, 1982) is 275-174 in his 14th season at the helm of the Middle Tennessee program. Davis will be making his fourth trip to the dance and second as the head coach of the Blue Raiders. Davis took the Idaho Vandals to the tournament in back-to-back seasons in 1989 and 1990. Overall, Davis is in 18th season as a Division I head coach with a 346-224 overall record. Including three years of head coaching experience at two junior colleges, he is 412-249 in 21 seasons. At Middle Tennessee, Davis is the only coach to reach 200 wins.
Common Opponents
Michigan State and Middle Tennessee have one opponent in common in Florida Atlantic. The Spartans beat FAU, 82-55, on Nov. 13 in MSU's season-opener. MT and FAU are fellow C-USA foes with Middle Tennessee winning, 85-73, at home on Feb. 4 and winning at FAU, 76-59, on March 3.
Two Top 3-Point Shooters In Nation
Friday's game features the top two 3-point shooters in the NCAA, as MT sophomore guard Giddy Potts leads the nation with 50.3 percent (73-of-145), while MSU senior guard Bryn Forbes is second with 48.4 percent (108-of-223). Forbes entered the Big Ten Tournament pacing the nation at .505, but hit just 4-of-17 in Indianapolis.
Middle Tennessee vs. Field of 68
The Blue Raiders are 1-2 against teams in this year's NCAA Tournament field of 68 with all three games coming in non-conference action. MT beat UNC Asheville, 63-61, on Nov. 27 in the GCI Great Alaska Shootout, while losing to VCU, 62-56, at home on Dec. 2 and losing to South Dakota State, 65-61, on Dec. 27 in a neutral court matchup in Sioux Falls, S.D.
NCAA Tournament History
The Blue Raiders are making their second NCAA appearance in the last four years and eighth in program history, also advancing in 1989, 1987, 1985, 1982, 1977 and 1975. MT was an 11 seed in 2013 when it went to Dayton to take on sixth-seeded Saint Mary's, losing 67-54. Middle Tennessee is 2-7 all-time in the tournament with its last win coming against No. 4 seed Florida State in 1989. The other Blue Raider win came in 1982 when MT defeated No. 6 seed Kentucky, 50-44, before falling to No. 3 seed Louisville, 81-56.
MSU NCAA Tournament Notes
MSU In The Midwest
This year marks the 10th time the Spartans have been placed in the Midwest Region, including the seventh time under Tom Izzo. In 1999, 2000, 2009 and 2010, the Spartans advanced to the Final Four from the Midwest.
MSU As A No. 2 Seed
This is the third time Michigan State has been the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. On both previous occasions, the Spartans advanced to the national title game, winning the championship in 1979 and falling to North Carolina in 2009.
Spartan Opponents In NCAA Tournament
Eight Michigan State opponents are in the field of 68 for the 2016 NCAA Tournament, including Big Ten foes Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Purdue and Wisconsin, and non-conference opponents Kansas and Providence. The Spartans are a combined 8-4 against the eight teams.
Big Ten Conference In The NCAA Tournament
The Big Ten Conference has seven of its 14 schools in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Joining the Spartans are No. 5 Maryland, No. 5 Indiana, No. 5 Purdue, No. 7 Iowa, No. 7 Wisconsin and No. 11 Michigan.
Exclusive Company
Michigan State ranks seventh among all schools in NCAA Tournament winning percentage for teams with at least 20 tournament games. MSU's .692 winning percentage (63-28) trails only Duke (.755, 105-34), UCLA (.723, 99-38), Florida (.722, 39-15), North Carolina (.718, 112-44), Kentucky (.714, 120-48) and Kansas (.693, 97-43). MSU's 63 tournament wins rank eighth in NCAA history and second among Big Ten schools, behind Indiana (64).
At His Best When It Counts
Tom Izzo ranks fifth among active coaches for the best NCAA Tournament winning percentage at .730 (46-17). Duke's Mike Krzyzewski ranks first at .772 (88-26), followed by Louisville's Rick Pitino (.746, 53-18), Kentucky's John Calipari (.745, 38-13) and North Carolina's Roy Williams (.739, 65-23). Of those five, Izzo and Krzyzewski are the only coaches to appear in the last 19 NCAA Tournaments. In NCAA Tournament wins, Izzo (46) is tied with Lute Olson (Iowa/Arizona) for eighth all-time (fifth among active coaches), trailing just Krzyzewski (88), North Carolina's Dean Smith (65), Williams (65), Syracuse's Jim Boeheim (53), Pitino (53), UConn's Jim Calhoun (49) and UCLA's John Wooden (47).
MSU In The Round Of 32
Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, Michigan State has advanced to the round of 32 19 times. MSU has a 15-4 record in round of 32 games since 1985, including 13-1 under Tom Izzo.
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 21-4 in the second game of an NCAA Tournament weekend. All four losses have all come to No. 1 seeds or eventual National Champions.
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), Duke (5), Indiana (5), North Carolina (5), Connecticut (4), Kansas (3) and Louisville (3) have won more titles.
Big Ten Tournament Notes
* Michigan State won its fifth Big Ten Tournament Championship, becoming the first Big Ten school to officially win five titles. The Spartans also won the title in 1999, 2000, 2012 and 2014.
* Michigan State improved to 5-1 in Big Ten Tournament Championship Games.
* Denzel Valentine was named Most Outstanding Player after averaging 17.3 points, 9.0 assists and 8.7 rebounds in three games, posting two double-doubles. Valentine led MSU in scoring, rebounding and assists in all three games, and was the only Spartan to average double figures.
* The championship game victory over Purdue marked Tom Izzo's 100th win in March, improving to 100-42 all-time.
* MSU held opponents to 59.0 points, .380 FG% and .250 3FG%.
* The Spartans out-rebounded three opponents by a +9.4 margin, including Purdue by +10 after the Boilermakers entered the contest ranked second in the nation in rebounding margin.
* Ten Spartans appeared in all three contests, as the Spartans averaged 19.0 points off the bench in three games, including 21 in the championship game vs. Purdue.
* Michigan State shot .868 from the foul line, connecting on 33-of-38 attempts.
* Michigan State allowed just one Maryland field goal in the final 10 minutes of the semifinal contest and just one Purdue field goal in the final seven minutes of the championship game.
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.
Valentine leads the Big Ten in assists (7.5 apg) and scoring (19.4 ppg), while ranking seventh in rebounding (7.6 rpg). He is the only player to rank in the Top 10 in the Big Ten in all three categories. Valentine also ranks first in defensive rebounds (6.8 drpg), first in 3-point field goals made (3.4 pg), fourth in FT percentage (.853), fifth in 3-point field-goal percentage (.484), and third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9). Nationally, Valentine ranks fourth in assists, eighth in 3-point field goals made and 13th in 3FG%.
Valentine's numbers are arguably the best in recent college basketball history. Since assists became an official NCAA stat in 1983-84, no player has averaged 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for a season.
For his career, Valentine has totaled 18 double-doubles, including the two triple-doubles.
Valentine's Historic Season
Denzel Valentine is having a historically great season. According to ESPN Research, Valentine is on pace to become the first player to average 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists since the NCAA first started keeping assists as an official stat in 1983-84. Even at the NBA level where games are 48 minutes instead of 40, there have been just 10 players in league history to post those numbers in a season (Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, John Havlicek, Grant Hill, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Fat Lever, Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook).
29 Wins And Counting
Michigan State's 29 wins have matched the fourth-best single-season total in school history. The 2012 and 2014 teams also won 29 games. The 1999 Spartans hold the school record with 33 victories while the 2000 (32 wins) and 2009 (31 wins) squads also topped 30 wins. MSU has won 141 games over the last five seasons, ranking eighth in the country. In fact, MSU is the only team in the nation to win 27 or more games in each of the last five seasons.
National Player Of The Year
Denzel Valentine has been named National Player of the Year by USA TODAY Sports, Sports Illustrated and NBCSports.com, becoming just the fourth Spartan to earn a National Player of the Year honor, joining Scott Skiles (1986-Basketball Times), Shawn Respert (1995-Sporting News & NABC) and Draymond Green (2012-NABC). Valentine has also been named First-Team All-America by USA TODAY Sports, the Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and the USBWA. He becomes the seventh player to earn any type of All-America honors under head coach Tom Izzo, joining Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, Charlie Bell, Jason Richardson, Drew Neitzel and Green, and the 23rd honoree in program history. In addition, Valentine was named U.S. Basketball Writers Association District V Player of the Year, and was joined on the all-district team by fellow Spartan senior Bryn Forbes.
Izzo Named Hall Of Fame Finalist
On Feb. 12, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced 14 finalists from the North American and Women's committees, including MSU head coach Tom Izzo. Other first-time finalists include 27-year NBA referee Darell Garretson, 11-time NBA All-Star Allen Iverson, the first African American coach in a professional league John McLendon, three-time NBA Finals MVP Shaquille O'Neal, four-time WNBA Champion Sheryl Swoopes and 10-time AAU National Champions Wayland Baptist University. Previous finalists included again this year for consideration are the only coach in NCAA history to win 100 games at four different schools Charles "Lefty" Driesell, the all-time winningest high school coach Leta Andrews, the all-time winningest boys high school coach Robert Hughes, three-time NBA All-Star Kevin Johnson, three-time Consensus National College Coach of the Year Muffet McGraw, four-time Division III national champion coach Bo Ryan and four-time National Coach of the Year Eddie Sutton. The Class of 2016 will be announced on Monday, April 4 at a press conference in Houston, prior to the NCAA Men's Championship Game.
Winning The Close Ones
Michigan State defeated Maryland by three points in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals and Purdue by four points in the championship game, marking two of the Spartans' three-slimmest victory margins this season. In conference play, MSU's smallest margin of victory was eight points at Minnesota. The Spartans are 3-3 in games decided by five points or less, with all three losses coming by a single point.
All-Big Ten Spartans
Denzel Valentine was named Big Ten Player of the Year when the All-Big Ten teams were announced on March 7. He is the eighth Spartan to earn Player of the Year honors and the first since Draymond Green in 2012. A unanimous first-team selection, Valentine was joined on the all-conference teams by Bryn Forbes (second team) and Matt Costello (second team-media; third team-coaches). Colby Wollenman was the MSU recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Defensive Effort
Michigan State has proven to be a strong defensive team in 2015-16. The Spartans rank in the Top 30 nationally in scoring defense (17th, 63.4), field-goal percentage defense (2nd, .377), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (11th, .302) and blocked shots (27th, 5.1 bpg). Just 14 teams have shot better than 40 percent from the field and just 13 have bettered 35 percent behind the 3-point arc.
MSU In March
Michigan State is 93-35 (.727) in March since the 1998-99 season. For his career, Tom Izzo is 100-42 (.704) in March. Over the last seven-plus years (2009-present), MSU is 47-15 (.758) in what Coach Izzo calls his favorite month of the year.
Spartans Playing Well
In late January, Michigan State snapped a three-game losing streak with a 74-65 win over No. 7 Maryland. Beginning that night, the Spartans have won 13 of their last 14 games, including nine straight, with the only loss being a one-point overtime loss (81-82) at No. 18 Purdue. Over the 14 games, MSU is shooting .485 from the field, .477 from 3-point range and .759 from the foul line, with a scoring margin of +17.9. Not surprisingly, MSU is playing well because Denzel Valentine has taken his game to another level, averaging 20.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 8.9 assists in the last 14 contests. Bryn Forbes is averaging 16.4 points, including shooting .514 (54-105) from behind the arc during the stretch.
MSU's Mr. Everything
In six games this season, Denzel Valentine has led the Spartans in points, rebounds and assists. This includes all three games during MSU's run to the Big Ten Tournament Championship. Valentine leads the nation with 20 games with at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. His four games with at least 25 points, 10 assists and five rebounds are the most in the nation dating back at least five seasons.
3-Point Attack On Record Pace
Michigan State has made a school-record 310 3-pointers this season, averaging 9.2 per contest. The 2013-14 Spartans previously held the record with 307 made 3-pointers, an average of 8.1 per contest.
Dominating NCAA Stats
It's not surprising given their 29-5 record, but the Spartans are dominating the NCAA statistics (through games of March 13), ranking in the Top 10 nationally in 11 categories, including total assists (1st, 699), assists per game (1st, 20.6), rebound margin (1st, +11.7), 3-point field-goal percentage (1st, .434), defensive rebounds per game (1st, 29.56), scoring margin (2nd, +16.4), field-goal percentage defense (2nd, .377), assist-to-turnover ratio (2nd, 1.74), won-lost percentage (3rd, .853) and total rebounds per game (6th, 41.88).
Senior Leadership
Michigan State is the only Big Ten team to be led in scoring by three seniors as Denzel Valentine, Bryn Forbes and Matt Costello average a combined 44.2 points. Valentine and Costello are looking to make history by becoming the winningest senior class in Michigan State history, currently owning 112 victories over the last four years, matching the 2002 and 2015 classes as the second-winningest classes. Michigan State needs three more wins to match the 2001 senior class for first with 115 wins.
Forbes For Three
Senior Bryn Forbes ranks second in the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage, shooting .484 (108-of-223). For his career, he's made 320-of-735 attempts from behind the arc, good for a .435 shooting percentage. He's made a 3-pointer in 122 of 137 career games, including in 30 of 34 contests this season. Forbes has made three or more 3-pointers in 20 games and ranks second in the Big Ten and 17th nationally in 3-point field goals made (3.2). At Rutgers, Forbes established a Big Ten single-game record with 11 made 3-pointers. His 108 made 3-pointers this year rank as the third-best single-season total in MSU history, six behind Drew Neitzel (114, 2006-07) and 11 behind Shawn Respert (119, 1994-95).
Dominating Margins
Michigan State ranks second in the nation in scoring margin at +16.4. Of MSU's 29 wins, only eight have been by single digits, including just two of 13 Big Ten victories. The Spartans have won 14 games by 20 or more points, including eight games by 30 points or more. In conference play, MSU won eight games by 19 points or more, including four by more than 30 points.
All-Time Block Leaders
Matt Costello is Michigan State's career leader with 145 blocked shots. He blocked four shots against Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game to break the previous mark of 142 blocks. Costello blocked 43 shots as a sophomore, 48 as a junior and has 41 as a senior.
Forbes' Big Halves
Bryn Forbes scored 18 or more points in a half in five different games, including 23 at Michigan (1st half), 20 at Ohio State (2nd half), 20 at Penn State (1st half), 18 vs. Rutgers (1st half) and 18 at Rutgers (2nd half).
Potent Offense Best Of Izzo Era
Michigan State averages 79.8 points per game, which currently stands as the highest average in Tom Izzo's 21 seasons. The 2004-05 season holds the Izzo-era mark for a full season at 78.5 ppg. It's the highest scoring team at MSU since the 1985-86 Spartans averaged 83.1 points in Scott Skiles' senior season. The Spartans rank second in the Big Ten in scoring offense overall and ranked first in conference games at 79.7 ppg.
Shooting And Defending The Three
Michigan State leads the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage at .434, while ranking 11th in the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage defense at .302. The .132 difference between shooting and defending the three leads the nation, and is the third-largest in the last five years, ranking behind 2011-12 Niagara (.136) and 2012-13 Weber St. (.134).
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.
Spartans Dominate In Big Ten Play
Michigan State's Big Ten stats were very impressive in conference games. Of the 21 official statistical categories, MSU ranked in the top three in 17 of them, including pacing the conference in 12 different categories (scoring offense, scoring margin, field-goal percentage, field-goal percentage defense, 3-point field-goal percentage, rebounding offense, rebounding margin, assists, assist-to-turnover ratio, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds and offensive rebound percentage). Several of the statistical efforts are among the best in recent history. MSU's +13.6 scoring margin is the greatest since Illinois posted a +15.4 margin in 2005. The Spartans are the first team to average 80 points (80.3 ppg) in conference action since Purdue (81.3 ppg) in 1998. MSU's .466 3-point field-goal percentage is the best since Illinois shot .470 in 1992. The Spartans' +10.1 rebound margin is the fifth best in the Big Ten since 1975 and the best since MSU boasted a +11.5 margin in 2009.
Valentine Returns To Form
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. Coach Izzo stressed that it takes time for even the best players to return to form after missing weeks and that proved to be true with Valentine. In 18 games since returning from injury, Valentine is averaging 20.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.0 assists, including 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 8.4 assists in the last 16 contests. Before injury, he averaged 18.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
It's All About Boardwork
Michigan State owns an impressive +11.7 rebounding margin, ranking first in the nation, as the Spartans have out-rebounded 31 of 34 opponents this season. In the Tom Izzo era, MSU has out-rebounded 563 of 728 opponents (.773), posting a 448-115 (.796) 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 13 of the last 19 years and in 14 of 21 seasons under Izzo.
From Beyond the Arc
Michigan State currently ranks first in the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage, shooting .434 from behind the arc. In conference games, the Spartans shot a Big Ten-best .466 (the highest percentage since Illinois shot .470 in 1992). Over the last 16 contests, MSU is shooting .482 (174-361). Individually, the Spartans are led by Bryn Forbes at .484, ranking second in the nation, while Denzel Valentine ranks 13th in the nation at .447. Valentine leads the Big Ten and ranks eighth in made 3-pointers, averaging 3.4 per contest. Ten different Spartans have made a 3-pointer. MSU ranks third in the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made (310, 9.1 pg) overall, and second in conference games (177, 9.8 pg). Defensively, MSU also ranks 11th in the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage defense (.302).
Oh So Close!
Three of Michigan State's five defeats have come by one point, including one overtime loss. MSU has not lost three games by one point since the 1981-82 season. The 1962-63 and 1919-20 Spartans also lost three games by a single point. Michigan State has never lost four one-point games in a single season.
NBA All-Star
Draymond Green played in his first NBA All-Star game on Feb. 14 as a reserve for the West squad. The 2012 NABC National Player of the Year becomes the seventh Spartan to make an All-Star Team, joining Johnny Green, Ralph Simpson (ABA), Magic Johnson, Kevin Willis, Steve Smith and Zach Randolph. Through March 13, Green is averaging 13.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists, leading the NBA with 11 triple-doubles.
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 third in the Big Ten in blocks (1.9 bpg), second in field-goal percentage (.597) and has scored in double figures in 11 games. He's started 15 of the last 16 games, averaging 6.8 points and 6.1 rebounds in 20.4 minutes. Davis is a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, including capturing the honor on Feb. 1, after averaging 11.0 rebounds, 4.0 blocks and 7.0 points in a pair of wins. His first honor came on Nov. 30 after averaging 12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in four games.
Costello Steps Up
Senior Matt Costello is having his best season as a Spartan, averaging 10.4 points and a team-best 8.2 rebounds. More importantly, he has raised his game in the last 22 contests, beginning with the four games in which Denzel Valentine was out of action with an injury, averaging 12.0 points and 9.4 rebounds. He scored a career-best 22 points vs. Indiana, as well as scoring 18 points at Wisconsin and 17 points at both Iowa and Minnesota, while grabbing a career-best 15 rebounds at Minnesota and at Rutgers. He's posted a double-double in nine of the last 22 games. He averaged a double-double in conference games at 12.5 points, ranking third on the team, and a Big Ten-best 10.1 rebounds, as his eight double-doubles in conference play led the Big Ten. Costello is just the second Spartan under Tom Izzo to average a double-double in conference play, as Draymond Green averaged 16.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in 2011-12.
Spartans Share The Ball
Unselfishness is a trademark of all Tom Izzo teams. Michigan State is averaging a nation's-best 20.6 assists, recording an assist on 699-of-979 field goals, good for a nation's-best 71.4 percent. The 699 assists have already established a Michigan State single-season record and rank tied for 25th in MSU history. In 14 games, MSU has recorded more assists than the opponent has totaled field goals. At 20.6 assists per game, MSU averages nearly two more assists than any other team in the nation, while ranking tied for 22nd all-time since the assist became an official stat in 1983-84.
Rejection By Davis
In less than a year, Deyonta Davis is proving to be one of the best shot blockers in MSU history. With 63 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). The 63 blocks rank as the second-best single-season total in MSU history. He needs nine more blocks to tie Ken Johnson (72, 1984-85) for the school's single-season mark. His six blocks at Northwestern established a Michigan State freshman single-game record.
Valentine's Double-Doubles
Denzel Valentine leads the Big Ten with 11 double-doubles this season including two triple-doubles, four points and rebounds double-doubles and five points and assists double-doubles. He has 18 double-doubles for his career.
The Turnover Story
Michigan State is 12-1 this season when committing the same number or fewer turnovers than its opponent, with the lone loss coming in overtime vs. Purdue. The Spartans have had single-digit turnovers in 12 games. Michigan State is averaging 11.8 turnovers in its 29 wins and 12.0 in its five losses. MSU's current 11.8 turnovers per game average is the third lowest of the Tom Izzo era, behind only the 2014-15 (11.3) and 2013-14 (11.6) squads.
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 143 career games, he's totaled 1,632 points, 850 rebounds and 627 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). Valentine and Collinsworth are the only two members of the 1,500-800-600 club. (Source - Sports-Reference.com)
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. 2 in basketball and No. 6 in football. Oklahoma, North Carolina, Iowa, Baylor, Oregon and Utah are the other schools with both programs ranked. (Football AP Top 25-Jan. 12; Basketball AP Top 25-March 14).
Individual Statistical Champions
In conference games, Denzel Valentine led the Big Ten with 20.5 points and 7.8 assists per game, while Matt Costello paced the conference with 10.1 rebounds per conference game. No combination of players from the same team has led the Big Ten in all three categories during conference play since at least 1975. In addition, Valentine led the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made (3.8) and Costello paced the conference in offensive rebounding (3.9). Valentine is just the fourth player to pace the conference in both scoring and assists in Big Ten games since 1975, joining Iowa's Andre Woolridge (1997), Michigan State's Marcus Taylor (2002) and Michigan's Trey Burke (2013).
Making The Most Of An Opportunity
Junior Eron Harris has started 21 games this season, scoring in double figures in 11 of the 21. In his 21 starts, he's averaging 10.8 points, shooting .447 from the field, .484 from 3-point range, and .830 from the foul line.
Halftime Leads
Michigan State is a perfect 26-0 when leading at the half. The Spartans have also shown the ability to bounce back when trailing at the half, overcoming halftime deficits vs. Kansas (35-41), Louisville (29-32) and Oakland (37-50).
Improved Foul Shooting
Michigan State ranks fifth in the Big Ten and 56th in the nation in free-throw percentage, shooting .730 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 Spartans shot .868 (33-38) in the Big Ten Tournament. Unfortunately, MSU shot a season-low 57.1 percent (12-21) in a one-point loss to Nebraska.
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 four victories. MSU trailed Oakland by 15 points in the first half and 13 at the half, and also trailed Kansas and Louisville by 13 points in the first half, while rallying from a 10-point first-half deficit against Indiana. Against Purdue, MSU rallied from an 18-point second-half deficit to lead by four points, before eventually falling to the Boilermakers in overtime.
Home-Grown Talent
Michigan State's projected starting lineup includes four Spartans who went to high school in Michigan. This includes both the 2012 (Matt Costello) and 2015 (Deyonta Davis) Michigan Mr. Basketball winners.
Izzo Second In Wins At A Big Ten School
With 524 career wins, Tom Izzo has passed 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 246 Big Ten wins, trailing just Knight (353 wins) and Keady (265 wins).
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 used five different lineups in the next seven games. Starting with the Jan. 20 contest vs. Nebraska, MSU has used the same lineup of Valentine, Bryn Forbes, Eron Harris, Matt Costello and Deyonta Davis in 14 of the last 15 contests.
Tum Tum In A Limited Role
Michigan State point guard Tum Tum Nairn Jr. is averaging 9.1 minutes in the last nine games after missing the prior seven games due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot. With 91 assists and just 25 turnovers on the season, he ranks eighth in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.64). In his last 24 games, he has posted a 4.0 assist-to-turnover ratio (83 assists, 21 turnovers). He committed just six turnovers in seven games in the month of December.
Offensive Rebounding
MSU leads the Big Ten with 12.3 offensive rebounds per game, while ranking second in offensive rebound percentage, grabbing 37.2 percent of its missed shots. The Spartans are averaging 12.3 second-chance points per contest, outscoring opponents by a +3.9 margin.
20-Win Seasons
With a win over Michigan on Feb. 6, MSU recorded its 16th 20-win season in the last 19 years, all under head coach Tom Izzo. Of the 24 20-win seasons in Spartan history, Izzo has been involved in 21 of them, 16 as a head coach and five as an assistant.
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 604-472 (.561) in league play, including 246-112 (.687) under Tom Izzo, who ranks third in league history with 246 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 246-112, 14 games better than second-place Wisconsin (232-126).
Spartan Depth
Ten Spartans average 10 minutes per game, while 12 average seven 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, and Kenny Goins suffered a sprained MCL against Indiana that has kept him out of action since then. The Spartans have had their full allotment of scholarship players available for just four games this season, and have lost a player to injury in or following three of those four.
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.)
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 nine double-doubles (vs. Binghamton, UMES, Maryland, Purdue, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Maryland and Purdue), while Matt Costello (vs. UAPB, Oakland, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maryland, Rutgers, Indiana, Penn State, Rutgers and Ohio State) has 10 double-doubles and Deyonta Davis (vs. Florida Atlantic) has one.
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 205 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 (190), Texas (186), Duke (179) and Kentucky (173).
Valentine Lends A Helping Hand
Denzel Valentine leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth in the nation, averaging 7.6 assists per contest. With 627 assists for his career, he ranks third in MSU history. He needs 19 assists to pass Scott Skiles (645) for second place. His 229 assists this year rank as the third-best single-season in MSU history, ranking 40 behind Earvin Johnson (269, 1978-79)in second place. In games in which he has played, Valentine has either made or assisted on 49.6 percent of MSU's field goals, including 50.7 percent in games which he has started. Since returning to action, the percentage increases to 52.0 percent. He also boasts a career-best 2.9 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Team Awards
Denzel Valentine was named Team MVP as voted on by both the media and his teammates at the annual Awards Banquet on March 7. He also received the Antonio Smith Glue and Guts Award for a second-straight season. Matt Costello and Bryn Forbes shared the Most Improved Player Award, while Costello also collected the Jumping Johnny Green Chairman of the Boards Award. Tum Tum Nairn Jr. received the Stephen G. Scofes Inspirational Player Award, while Eron Harris received the John E. Benington Best Defensive Player Award. Colby Wollenman collected the Unsung Player and Scholar-Athlete Awards, while Matt Van Dyk was the recipient of the Tim Bograkos Walk-On Award.
Remarkable Regular Season
Michigan State established a school record by winning its first 13 games to open the regular-season, surpassing the previous mark of 12-0 in 2000-01. The Spartans wrapped up the regular-season with 26 wins, tying the school regular-season mark, also held by the 1989-90 and 1998-99 teams.
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 18 career double-doubles.
Valentine On Awards Lists
Denzel Valentine is a finalist for several major awards. He is one of 15 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, one of 11 finalists for the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy, and one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Award. In addition he is one of five finalists for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award, and one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award, honoring student-athletes with notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition
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 143 career games, needing to play in three more to hold sole position of the top spot in Spartan history. He currently is tied with Travis Walton for third place, needing to play in two more games to tie Draymond Green and Durrell Summers for first. Valentine ranks third in MSU career assists (627) and ninth in career rebounds (850), standing as the only Spartan to rank in the school's career Top 10 in both categories. He ranks fourth in MSU history with 262 made 3-pointers and fourth with 642 3-point attempts.
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).
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. 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 Weekly Honors
Denzel Valentine is a four-time Big Ten Player of the Week selection this season, including capturing the award twice in February (Feb. 8 & 15). Most recently, he averaged 28.5 points, 11.5 assists, 6.5 rebounds in a pair of games vs. Purdue and Indiana. The effort also earned him the national Naismith Trophy Player of the Week honor on Feb. 16. Earlier this season Valentine earned back-to-back Big Ten weekly honors on Nov. 23 and Nov. 30. 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, Valentine was also named National Player of the Week by ESPN.com, CBS Sports and NBC Sports on Nov. 23. He followed by averaging 22.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists in four games, capturing NBC Sports National Player of the Week honors on Nov. 30. Valentine is not the only Spartan to earn a weekly honor as Bryn Forbes was honored on Dec. 28 and March 7.
1,000-Point Scorers
Denzel Valentine ranks 11th in MSU history with 1,632 career points. He needs 86 points to pass Mike Robinson (1,717 points) and move into the MSU career Top 10. Bryn Forbes has 1,725 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 1,190 career points after totaling 873 in two seasons at West Virginia.
MSU In The Polls
Michigan State is currently ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25 and No. 2 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Four other Big Ten schools are ranked including Purdue (No. 12 Associated Press/No. 10 USA Today), Indiana (No. 14/12), Maryland (No. 18/17) and Iowa (No. 25/24). In addition to the conference opponents, MSU defeated Kansas (No. 1/1) in the Champions Classic and Louisville (No. 16/--) 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.
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 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 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 2017 and final completion by June 2018.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
MSU vs. Syracuse Notes
Series History
Syracuse leads the all-time series with Michigan State, 10-7, having won the last four meetings and five of the last six. However, MSU's lone win in that span was the only meeting between the two teams in the NCAA Tournament, as the Spartans claimed a 75-58 come-from-behind victory in the 2000 Regional Semifinal on March 23, 2000, on the Spartans' march to the NCAA title. MSU is 1-2 vs. Syracuse on a neutral court. The Spartans are 9-13 in the NCAA Tournament against current members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, including 7-9 under Tom Izzo. MSU is 2-0 in the NCAA Tournament against teams from the state of New York, going 1-0 against both Syracuse and LIU Brooklyn.
Coach Boeheim
Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim (Syracuse, 1966) is making his 32nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament, including capturing the 2003 national title. Boeheim is in the midst of his 40th season at the helm of the Orange. He holds an overall record of 880-340 and is second among active Division I coaches in wins. He is fourth on the all-time Division I win list. He has guided his alma mater to the NCAA title game three times, winning it for the first time in 2003.
Syracuse vs. The Field of 68
The Orange are 4-8 against teams in this year's NCAA Tournament field of 68. Syracuse went 2-1 in non-conference games against the field, with wins over UConn (79-76) and Texas A&M (74-67) in back-to-back games in November. The Orange lost to Wisconsin in non-conference action in overtime (66-58). In ACC action, Syracuse went 2-7 against teams in the current NCAA field. The Orange captured a home win against Notre Dame and a road victory against Duke. SU went 0-7 against North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Miami and Virginia. The No. 1 seeded Tar Heels defeated Syracuse twice, while the Panthers earned three victories, including one in the ACC Tournament.
Common Opponents
Michigan State and Syracuse shared three common opponents this season. Both teams defeated Boston College with MSU stopping the Eagles in Fullerton, California (99-68), while SU beat BC at home during ACC play (62-40) and on the road (75-61). MSU defeated Louisville in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in East Lansing (71-67), while Syracuse lost to the Cardinals on the road (72-58) in their only meeting of the season. The Orange played one Big Ten team this season, losing to Wisconsin in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in Syracuse in overtime (66-58).
Orange Notes
The Orange are making their 38th NCAA Tournament appearance overall and 32nd under Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim ... SU has advanced to five Final Fours (1975, 1987, 1996, 2003, 2013) and three National Championship games (1987, 1996, 2003), capturing the title in 2003 ... The Orange are third in the ACC in field-goal percentage defense (.414) and first in 3-point percentage defense (.304) ... The Orange are also first in the conference in steals with 8.1 steals per game ... Michael Gbinije is fifth in the ACC in scoring, averaging 17.8 ppg and first in steals with 1.97 spg ... Along with Duke's Grayson Allen, SU's Jaron Blossomgame was named ACC Most Improved Player of the Year.
MSU vs. Dayton Notes
Series History
Michigan State owns a 2-0 series lead over Dayton. The Spartans defeated the Flyers in Dayton, 83-74, in the first-ever meeting on Dec. 7, 1991. MSU also won in the Breslin Center over Dayton the next season, 65-60, on Dec. 19, 1992.
Coach Miller
Archie Miller (North Carolina State, 2002) is 115-54 (.680) in his fifth season at the helm of Dayton. Miller has led the Flyers to three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament, a first for the program since 1965-67. In his third season in 2013-14, the Flyers reached the Elite Eight for just the third time in school history with wins over Ohio State, Syracuse and Stanford before falling to top-seeded Florida. Last year, the Flyers beat Boise State in the First Four and Providence in the Round of 64 before losing to Oklahoma in the Round of 32. He is 5-2 in NCAA Tournament games and has won at least 20 games four times in his five seasons. Prior to being named head coach at Dayton, Miller was previously an assistant at Western Kentucky (2003-04), North Carolina State (2005-06), Arizona State (2006-07), Ohio State (2007-09) and Arizona (2009-11).
Dayton vs. The Field of 68
The Flyers are 3-4 against teams in this year's NCAA Tournament field of 68. Dayton went 2-2 against non-conference teams in the field, with wins over Iowa (82-77) and Vanderbilt (72-67) and losses to Xavier (90-61) and Chattanooga (61-59). In Atlantic 10 play, the Flyers were 1-2 against teams that made the NCAA Tournament. Dayton lost twice to Saint Joseph's, once on the road (79-70) and again in the A-10 Tournament semifinals (82-79). The Flyers defeated VCU at home in overtime, 68-67, in the final game of the regular season.
Common Opponents
Michigan State and Dayton have only one common opponent this season, as both teams played Iowa. The Spartans lost twice to the Hawkeyes (83-70 in Iowa City on Dec. 29; 76-59 in East Lansing on Jan. 14), while the Flyers defeated the Hawkeyes at the AdvoCare Invitational on Nov. 26 in Orlando, 82-77.
Flyer Notes
Dayton leads the Atlantic 10 in field-goal percentage defense (.405), which also ranks 38th in the nation. The Flyers also rank second in the A-10 and 39th in the country in scoring defense (65.8 ppg.) … Senior forward Dyshawn Pierre, who was suspended for the first semester, was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Second Team for the second year in a row. He leads the team in rebounding (8.8 rpg.) and ranks second in scoring (12.5 ppg.) in 20 games played … Dayton is 10-0 when scoring more than 80 points and 8-2 in games decided by three points or less.
The Book On Tom Izzo
Coach Izzo
In his 21st year, Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan, '77) is 524-204 (.720), 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 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 .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 .749, followed by Ryan (.737), Knight (.734), Izzo (.720), Wisconsin's Walter Meanwell (.712), and Lambert (.709). With 246 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.
