#2 Spartans Have Unimpressive 13 Point Win to Move to 3-0

Breslin Center East Lansing, MI  It wasn’t as exciting and it wasn’t in doubt as the Gonzaga game, but the Spartans took care of business tonight here

Breslin Center

East Lansing, MI

 

It wasn’t as exciting and it wasn’t in doubt as the Gonzaga game, but the Spartans took care of business tonight here in East Lansing. You knew when the Spartans took the court to start the game that it wasn’t going to be a contest.

 

Multiple Toledo players stood literally in awe watching the Spartans warm up, and it certainly didn’t help Izzo’s mood after the crowd was packed and loud against Gonzaga. Empty seats were evident from top to bottom.

 

The Spartans won 75-62, but the game wasn’t that close. The Spartans played uninspired defense and that isn’t the way to make their future Hall of Fame Coach, Tom Izzo, happy. “He said he was embarrassed by the way we played,” was how Draymond Green expressed his coach’s post game feelings in the locker room.

 

One major flaw would be that the three bigs (Herzog, Nix and Sherman) only played a combined 21 minutes. Between the three they had four points (all by Herzog) and nine rebounds. Izzo said after the game he wanted to hold out Sherman entirely because of a deep thigh bruise. He played one minute.

 

“Very disappointed in how we played,” was Izzo’s take on the game. “Were shooting the ball miserably.” The Spartans shot 45% from the floor. “We are not where we need to be to have this program thought of in elite status. Great teams don’t have these let downs.”

 

“It was not a good performance,” was how a visibly upset Izzo spoke about his team. Missing Raymar Morgan hurts and in typical yooper straight talk, Izzo put it on the line by saying, “Were not that good without him.”

 

Izzo colleague on the other team, Coach Gene Cross, had a different take on the team. “They’re tough, they’re good, and they are number No. 2 in the country.”

 

All five starters scored in double digits with Draymond Green leading the way with 15. Lucas had six assists and two steals to go along with 12 points. That won’t console an angry Izzo. He made it clear that his Spartans aren’t where he wants them and he isn’t happy about it.

 

The Spartans now move on to face Valparaiso in the second round of the Legends Classic. That game is a Noon start on Sunday on the Big Ten Network.