Michigan State 77, Oakland 76 - Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

by Pete Rossman on Dec 11, 2010 6:40 PM CST in Michigan State Spartans Basketball

I knew that this was one of the best Oakland teams Greg Kampe has had, but I didn't expect the score to be this close. Every time MSU attempted to pull away the Golden Grizzlies would hit a few shots to get back within range. Michigan State picked a good day to have its most cohesive game on the offensive end though and held on for the one-point victory. Here's the four factors graph:

NCAA Basketball

Shooting is what kept the game close; MSU's eFG% was below average, while Oakland overachieved with an eFG% of 55.1%. The two difference-makers in the game's results were one team's missed free throws and turnovers. In a stunning turn of events, this team was not Michigan State. MSU had a season low eight turnovers and made 75% of their free throws. While this can be attributed to Kalin Lucas and Korie Lucious taking more than half of these shots, I'll take any sign of progress I can take right now, qualifiers be damned. Individual player breakdowns and more after the jump.

Kalin Lucas said he was going to be more aggressive, and it showed. While all of his drives didn't result in lay-ups they often resulted in free throws. 25 points on 6-12 shooting, with a cool 83.3% from the free-throw line (10 of 12) and five assists (five turnovers, however) is what I'd call a nice comeback performance.
Durrell Summers played well. 12 points on 5-12 shooting and five rebounds obviously isn't one of his best games, but if it's one of his lesser efforts MSU is in good shape.
Delvon Roe looked much more aggressive on his drives, even though he only scored seven points. He also had two blocks.
Keith Appling had a couple of rookie mistakes, but is quickly integrating himself in the offense. He had 12 points, 3 assists and 1 turnover in 21 minutes.
We probably witnessed the worst shooting night of Korie Lucious's career as he went 0-8 from the field. I simply think this was an off night -- he was making good decisions with his shot selction, but his aim was just a bit off. He made up for this deficit in other ways with five rebounds, four steals, and two assists.
Garrick Sherman didn't get many touches inside the paint in this game, but he looked much improved in his rebounding. He had seven rebounds to go with his four points.
Draymond Green had yet another Draymond line: 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and one steal.
Austin Thornton was mostly invisible except in the last minute where he had a critical turnover. Derrick Nix only played nine minutes but made them count with five rebounds and one point. Adreian Payne played four minutes and Mike Kebler one. That's all folks.

As for Oakland, Keith Benson was as good as expected. One can see why he's projected as an NBA pick -- he has a wide array of post moves to go with good athleticism. I don't think anyone expected someone who's been 3 of 21 from three so far this season to go four of five, but that's exactly what Larry Wright did. Although Oakland shot 47.4% from three, I wasn't concerned with MSU's perimeter defense as much as their interior defense. For the second straight game guards were able to penetrate with ease, and a few too many times players were wide open underneath the basket. While the defense did looked improved, there's still much to be concerned about.

Up next, the team faces its most difficult opponent yet: final exams HA HA HA AMIRITE? In all seriousness, finals week will give the players a badly needed opportunity to rest up before Saturday's game against Prairie View A&M. Here's to hoping the team can finish the nonconference season on a hot streak.

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Comments

I'm personally filing this one in the "a win is a win" file.

Wonder how we’ll be feeling about this win after Oakland goes to Crisler.

Also, off-topic, but if we’re still feeling sorry for ourselves after the Syracuse game, at least we aren’t poor Colgate. 79-21 Orange (46-8 at halftime) with 9 1/2 minutes left in the game.

Hey! I'm tryin' to eat lunch here!

by McGarnagle on Dec 11, 2010 7:33 PM CST reply actions

it would be nice

if we could, just once, run some inferior team right off the court. Not only a “it wasn’t really close” sort of win, but a “up by 30 at halftime” sort of win

"It's a trap!"

by AdmiralAkbar on Dec 12, 2010 10:00 AM CST up reply actions

We never really have.

Not even the Cleaves teams blew out teams by 30 regularly. We don’t have the offensive firepower or style of play like Duke or Kansas. A 20 point win is a blowout for us.

by rook34 on Dec 12, 2010 10:16 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Also

Oakland isnt Colgate. Oakland is a legitamite team and upset threat in the NCAA tourney

by Loneytunes on Dec 12, 2010 1:06 PM CST up reply actions

Bowling Green

74-39 I’m pretty sure that qualifies as running an inferior team off the court. I know that was all the way back on Dec. 4

by Caruss on Dec 13, 2010 9:40 AM CST up reply actions

michigan

They’ve beaten up the “big, bad wolverines” a number of times over the years. Probably never get any better than the day Mateen broke the assist record. Senior day last year was pretty enjoyable too.

by Conor Boyle on Dec 13, 2010 11:03 AM CST up reply actions

Lucious was Ofer

When has that ever happened?

by MSU1978 on Dec 12, 2010 8:47 AM CST reply actions

Seems like the Spartans played well

I didn’t see the game so all I can go off of is the stat sheet. Offensively, it seemed like the Spartans – minus Lucious’s o-fer – were pretty good. Am I right?

Also, was the defense bad or was Oakland just hitting some tough shots?

by BCSpartan on Dec 12, 2010 11:48 AM CST reply actions

A little bit of both

Oakland had some wide open looks underneath the basket, but Benson’s a player. He was making all sorts of defended shots in the paint.

The Only Colors - SBNation's Michigan State University Community

by Pete Rossman on Dec 12, 2010 12:01 PM CST up reply actions

Lucious' Shot Selection

I had a different take on his shot selection. I seem to recall a couple of very deep three point attempts with plently of time on the clock, and one playground shot late in the second half. He can be a spark, but he needs to temper his game at times.

by donaldo on Dec 12, 2010 11:55 AM CST reply actions

OK

I recalled he had a couple of wide open threes, and had a couple of nice drives to the basket that he missed or had blocked. I won’t disagree with you, because that sounds like the Lucious we all know and love.

The Only Colors - SBNation's Michigan State University Community

by Pete Rossman on Dec 12, 2010 12:02 PM CST up reply actions

Lucious

The “playground” style from Korie is unlikely to stop. He’s a jr so if it hasn’t stopped by now……..

I know it’s frustrating when he loses the ball but it’s plain to see Izzo has allowed him to continue this way and its plain to see turnovers are a constant problem with this program. Korie’s attitude helped in a major way when Lucas went down. It’s like “gifts” that other people have, they can hurt you too. Gotta roll with ’em.

by Conor Boyle on Dec 12, 2010 12:54 PM CST reply actions