Sparty Has the Blues

The most surprising story of the college basketball season so far is out of East Lansing, Michigan, home of the disappointing Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans were picked number two in nearly every preseason poll and why not? They were a Final Four team last season and had everybody back for the most part, which many thought put them neck-in-neck with Duke for the best team in the country. However, a different Spartan team must have taken the floor this year as they are 14-10 and currently unranked. Michigan State has been the model of consistency under coach Tom Izzo but this year something is not right. Two key players have left the program and the ones that remain have played inconsistent basketball. Now, a team that bracketologists can always pencil in to their bracket is fighting for a spot in the Big Dance.

I sat in my seat at Lucas Oil Stadium this past April for the Final Four and I fully expected Michigan State to beat Butler. They had the advantage at almost every position, or so it seemed, and they were physically superior to their opponent. Yet, Butler came away with a two point win and many were left to ponder how Michigan State lost. In 2009, determined to win the championship in nearby Detroit, MSU lost to North Carolina. 2010 appeared to be their year but again they fell. Well, now distinguished stars Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers are seniors so surely 2011 would be the Spartans championship season, or so we all thought. If this group of players never wins a championship it could go down in history as one of the greatest teams to not win the big one. Lucas and Summers have been to three Sweet 16's and two Final Fours but may not even make the tournament this year.

Why is Michigan State struggling? Nobody really knows to be honest. I don't have an answer but I do know this: they miss Chris Allen and Korie Lucious more than people expected. Yes, Lucas, Summers and forward Draymond Green have the potential to be stars but Michigan State is a good TEAM and they lost two key pieces to the puzzle. Allen was forced/decided that he would transfer before the year because he failed to meet team commitments and butted heads reguarly with Tom Izzo. Allen was part of the recruiting class with Lucas and Summers and in his junior season he averaged 8.2 points while shooting 40% from 3-point land. He was a vital part of the team with his knockdown shooting but will now play for Iowa State next year. Lucious, on the other hand, will always be remembered for his game-winning three at the buzzer against Maryland in last year's tournament but he too is no longer with the program for failure to abide by team rules. He had several infractions and in the middle of the season left the team. Lucious was the definition of a great backup, averaging 6.5 points and 4 assists while also being a deep ball threat. Losing those two has cut into the Spartans scoring and their ability to spread out a defense.

Because those two are gone it has put more pressure on Summers to shoot the ball but now opposing defenses can key in on him more. While he averages more points and shoots a better 3-point percentage this season, his field-goal and free throw percentages have dropped significantly from his junior year. Green, a player who can go inside or out, has been forced more onto the perimeter in order to stretch the defense. He has been the Spartans most valuable player this year, recording a triple-double last game against Penn State and putting up the best stats. He averages 13.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and shoots 39% from deep. Those two do not get their shots off though without Lucas, the engine that makes this team go. He's the teams leading scorer at 16 points per game and also shoots a great percentage from behind the line at 40%. He dishes out almost four assists a game and now we are left wondering how Michigan State has lost 10 games?? Look at those stats listed and it's hard to imagine that team is fighting for a tournament berth.

At closer look we can find two big reasons to the Spartans demise. Lucas, Green and Summers average 42.7 points combined while the rest of the team only averages 28.3. Seven of those points come from Delvon Roe and the Spartans 71 points per game are woeful. That's good for 121st in the nation. Remember, without Allen and Lucious that's 15 points missing plus 4 assists from Lucious. A Tom Izzo team also prides itself on rebounding but the Spartans are 84th in the nation with only 37 per game. If there are two problems with this team those are it. A Big Ten team can't win without rebounding because that's what the league prides itself on.

There is still time to turn it around somewhat and this coming Tuesday Michigan State could make a huge statement if they beat current #1 Ohio State on the road. There are still four ranked teams left on their schedule plus the Big Ten Tournament and if the Spartans play the way they are capable of then they should be dancing in March. However, other players will need to step up and everyone will need to hit the glass harder or we could see something unusual, a Sparty-less NCAA Tournament. The last time that happened was in 1997. I was six years old at the time and I'm 19 now. That puts it in perspective pretty well.