College Hoops Countdown | #2 Michigan State

Leading up to the 2009 NIT Season Tip Off on November 16th, Pickin’ Splinters will be counting down the top 25 of the college hardwood nation.

’08 – ’09 Results: 31 -7 (15 -3 Big Ten) Lost to UNC in the National Title game, 89 -72.

Coach: Tom Izzo 336 – 137 (14 years at MSU)

Key Returners:

Kalin Lucas – 14.7ppg, 2.1rpg

Chris Allen – 8.4ppg, 2.2rpg

Durrell Summers – 8.6ppg, 3.4rpg

Raymar Morgan – 10.2ppg, 5.3rpg

Delvon Roe – 5.6ppg, 5.2rpg

Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/17 vs. Gonzaga, 11/27 vs. Florida, 12/1 at North Carolina, 12/22 at Texas

Stat of Identity: 9.3 rebound margin #1 in the nation

By Paul Gotham

Not much has changed in Lansing, and not much needs to change for the Spartans to be successful.

Few lineup changes will take place, and there is no need for the style of play to change for the Michigan State Spartans.

Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers, Raymar Morgan, Delvon Roe, and more were all on hand as the Spartans went down in flames against the North Carolina Tar Heels. They are none much worse for the wear.

Rebound, play defense, and take care of the ball are all staples of the Spartan diet. Last year was as good of an example as there is of this. A Michigan State lineup that lacked star-studded glitter led the nation in rebound margin and had two players with a 2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio. Four starters return from that team; opponents beware.

Lucas is a junior who played with senior savvy a season ago. This year should be only better. He will be joined in the back court by Allen and Summers.  Both hit over 30% from the behind the three-point arc.

Morgan and Roe will benefit from more repetitions of the famous Spartan rebounding exercise called the ‘war drill.’ The two forwards combined for over 10 per boards per game last year.