EAST LANSING — This win will and should feel good for Michigan State. That’s tonight.
How the Spartans feel Thursday is up to Keith Appling’s shoulder, Gary Harris’ back, Travis Trice’s head and a couple of nicks MSU picked up in this 11-point win.
Appling appeared to dislocate his right shoulder in the final two minutes. He returned to the bench, jogging and all smiles with 40 seconds left. But he didn’t use the arm while high-fiving the student section on the way out off the floor. He finished with 14 points, three assists and only one turnover in 36 minutes.
Harris’ didn’t close to 100 percent, either, coming off back spasms suffered last Thursday, but scored 15 points and dished four assists.
Trice missed the game with a concussion. Adreian Payne missed time, Branden Dawson appeared to roll and ankle.
MSU only turned the ball over five times on a tough night and a night it showed its toughness. That’s how you stay in a the Big Ten race when things aren’t going your way.
As for the future … that’s Thursday’s problem.
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Lack of energy could have been players conserving due to increased minutes 8-2 and we are in good shape for the wars ahead, all we have to do is hold serve and win at Purdue and Neb not easy but theres your co title and a 2 seed in Auburn Hills at 14-4 , every game will be a war.
Can we win in West Lafayette with Nix and the scout team?
yes
The quote of the post game presser in my mind was Coach Izzo’s statement near the end of it:
“Look, this team is not gonna be a great team until Branden Dawson plays with the energy that he is capable of, until we get a little more healthy and uh, you know, we realize that we gotta communicate and check better. And if that happens, this team has a chance to be better than I thought and if it doesn’t happen this team will be worse than you think… and that’s about as bluntly as I can say it.”
I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but if the Spartans make a deep run in the big dance, I will be in total awe of this team’s guts, because they are, as Ronnie Woods and the Stones sang, “Pretty Beat Up.”
Graham,
Given the current trend would you agree there is a good chance on Nix and the Scout Team will be out on medical leave by halftime at Purdue? I predict MSU will have three players and two chairs (in full uniform) on the court for the B1G Tournament.
I know you have not covered MSU long. So, have you seen any team you have covered this banged up?
I went into the field with the Red Cross today and filed this MASH report earlier.
http://0358bd0.netsolhost.com/wordpress1/2013/02/07/no-pain-no-gain/
I heard the Freeport Pretzels were twisted up in knots in 2005 , and the Gannett coverage team was the fife and drum corp when some idiot let the car battery go dead at the hotel in kaiserslautern.
Seriously MSU was banged up in March of 2010 without Lucas and Allen on one leg and Delvon barely ambulatory.
Oh right I forgot… And I actually attended that tourney game in Spokane. Where is my head!
You’ve gotta be impressed with the way this team has battled through injuries though. Izzo has questioned the leadership of this team at times, and it may not have a vocal leader like Green, but playing with the toughness this team has defintiely shows a type of leadership.
Here’s a DayDay quote (after giving a hard foul in the OKC game)
“Last time I checked this wasn’t a pretty boy game.”
This team is made up of guys who would play ball on the blacktop courts and only call fouls on the opposition, if there is blood. The pansy Dwight Howard could NOT play for this team.
Appling and Harris ready for Saturday, Trice still not cleared. I bet Kearney is feeling like a fool now, he would definitely be seeing more PT due to injuries.
Have to disagree with you there Chief you don’t have expert knowledge of the game like I do
Images for freeport pretzels
– Report images
“Gannett its all within reach.”