Know Your Foe is a weekly feature on a noteworthy upcoming opponent of a D.C. area team.
Since dropping a 68-66 double-overtime thriller to Maryland two weeks ago, Michigan State has quietly positioned itself to re-enter the national conversation. It handed Indiana an embarrassing 20-point loss in early January and followed up with a convincing 75-61 win at Iowa.
Then on Sunday against Northwestern, the Spartans once again played as if they felt the weight of a target on their backs, and were forced to overtime before fighting off the lowly Wildcats, 84-77. “Every time I think we’re taking a step forward, to me, we take a step back, and the performance today was not one that I’m very proud of,” Coach Tom Izzo said afterward, according to the Associated Press.
Now the Spartans (12-5, 3-1) have the entire week to prepare for an anticipated rematch with the Terrapins on Saturday in College Park. The Spartans have an opportunity not only to continue their climb back to the top of the Big Ten standings but to add traction for another of their signature late-season runs.
Advertisement
A win over No. 14 Maryland would certainly be the latest signal that Michigan State has regained its footing after what has been, at times, a puzzling first 17 games. It was no surprise that the Spartans dropped heavyweight nonconference games to Duke, Kansas and Notre Dame. But those losses were compounded by a sluggish five-point win over Navy in the season opener and a stunning overtime loss to Texas Southern, which was just 1-8 at the time, at home in December. Michigan State fell out of the Associated Press top 25 for the first time in nearly two years.
Then came the draining loss to Maryland in their Big Ten conference opener, which rendered Izzo quiet and perplexed during his postgame news conference. He had wondered aloud how his team could shoot so poorly at home (32.3 percent) be dominated on the boards (52-36) and allow Maryland to shoot 32 free throws after it failed to reach the foul line in the first half.
But knew his team wasn’t yet at full strength, and its improving health figures to be a centerpiece in the final two months of the season. Junior forward Branden Dawson (11.3 points, 9.5 rebounds per game) has been effective while recovering from a fractured wrist suffered in December, and Izzo is working star freshman guard Javon Bess back from a foot injury suffered in October. The team has also reportedly dealt with a rash of illness in recent weeks, but pushing through a four-month season with lingering health issues is nothing new for the program. It went through a similar ordeal a year ago, alternating wins and losses in conference play after starting the regular season 18-1.
Advertisement
The Spartans recovered to win the Big Ten tournament. Izzo’s reputation in March precedes him — he has taken the Spartans to the Final Four six times — which is why there is little panic in East Lansing this winter. Michigan State has a dynamic guard in Travis Trice (14.3 points, 6.1 assists per game), the type of player who can certainly make a difference down the stretch. Behind Trice, Dawson and Denzel Valentine (14.2 ppg), it has a balanced scoring lineup. The Spartans lead the Big Ten in three-point percentage (41.3) and rank second in the country with 18.3 assists per game.
And the team has greatly improved on two Izzo hallmarks, defense and rebounding, in recent weeks. Dawson is the league’s most productive rebounder, and the team as a whole leads the Big Ten in rebounding margin (plus-7.8 per game). The Spartans also held Indiana, which is averaging a league-best 81.6 points per game, to 50.
That pleased Izzo, who after the game told the Detroit Free Press: “I thought it was the best defensive job we’ve done in years and years as far as what the game plan was [and] what we did.”
More College Hoops
Maryland vs. Rutgers: Previewing Wednesday’s game
Atlantic 11: Readers rank the Washington region’s best teams
Best of the Bracket: Despite recent scares, Kentucky is still favorite
Quick Take: As favorites fall, Cavaliers stand tall
Terps will honor Gary Williams on Friday
Hoyas making ball security a priority
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZLumw9JoqqmnoqnAcMPPaGlpaWVkfXJ7kG1mpKafrHq6u9SrZJ%2BnlWLBsLmMorGzp12Wu6V5zKKaoaGXlrtuv9Oaq55lmJqupXnTqGSmmaKuuaK6w2amp2WknbJuvsSbpq6mlGKup8DEq2SemaKhxm6%2F066km6SVqHw%3D