Interesting Notes on MSU
First of all, thanks for posting Blizzard.
Not getting into a big debate about coaching and academic responsibilities (because most people are pretty clear on my viewpoint), but I found this note from MSU to be "noteworthy"":
MICHIGAN STATE
GETTING INSIDE
The turmoil just keeps piling up for Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans -- key injuries, disappointing losses, a player benched for poor performance and now, a player left home for academic issues.
Less than two weeks ago, this team was cruising to a Big Ten championship and a chance at an NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed. Now it's in a battle for that title, and there seem to be new, ominous personnel updates every day.
First it was Kalin Lucas with a severe right ankle sprain in a Feb. 2 loss at Wisconsin, causing him to miss a Feb. 6 loss at Illinois. Then it was Durrell Summers, benched for the second half of MSU's third straight loss, Feb. 9 at home vs. Purdue.
Summers could have been a big help in the Spartans' comeback attempt in that half, and that game could end up costing Izzo a title, but he said the message about a "pattern" of focus issues for Summers had to be sent.
Finally, backup point guard Korie Lucious was left home for the Spartans' Saturday trip to Penn State because of academic failures. This is not an eligibility issue, so Izzo left his team in peril again to send another message.
"To be very blunt about it, he didn't meet some academic restrictions that I have," Izzo said of Lucious after the Spartans came back to beat the last-place Nittany Lions, 65-54. "And it was kind of the second time or more. There's no eligibility issues; in fact, he's a good student. But there is an understanding-of-what-you've-got-to-do issue. And so right now we just decided not to take him on this trip, and I see no reason why he won't be back the next game."
Lucas' 24 points and 13 big minutes from walk-on Mike Kebler helped the Spartans brush off the loss of Lucious and beat Penn State. If the Spartans can get past a tricky Tuesday game at Indiana, they'll be set up for a title run with three of their last four at home -- assuming there are no more Izzo punishments coming.
I suspect that MSU will be in NCAA tourney and have a good run. However, you can tell that is NOT at the top of Izzo's priorities as a coach.
