Billy Donovan’s Press Too Much for Tom Izzo's Spartan Backcourt

Legends Classic Atlantic City, N.J. MSU 74- FL 77 As I pulled into Atlantic City this evening, I immediately noticed that the Spartan Nation was represented

Legends Classic

Atlantic City, N.J.

MSU 74- FL 77

As I pulled into Atlantic City this evening, I immediately noticed that the Spartan Nation was represented well on the east coast. MSU alumni from New York donned their Spartan garb holding down the southwest corner of the Boardwalk Arena.

Delvon Roe made MSU’s first field goal after three MSU misses. Michigan State looked out of sync early. Florida looked to set up the trademark Billy Donovan press only to see Izzo counter with a smaller quicker line-up. It was roughly two minutes later with athleticism on display that Michigan State’s fast break found its fuel.

Draymond Green continued to dazzle the Spartan faithful with his basketball IQ. When MSU needed a stabilizer early in the game, Green delivered.  He just continues to deliver in so many ways. He is the Big Ten’s best garbage man around the goal. It is all of the little things that Green gives you that are so hard to account for on a stat sheet.

When Green was on the court, MSU looked liked the Spartans we know and love. When Green was on the bench, the Spartans just didn’t look like themselves. He carried his Spartans in the first half accounting for eleven points and a lot of hustle at the intermission.

Give Florida credit, they came out in the first half and looked like the hungrier team. They sent MSU’s backcourt into complete disorganization with their press. They go hard after the basketball and just seemed to want to win more than MSU tonight. Florida’s junior forwards gave Michigan State first half fits. Tyus and Macklin are both athletic players; they don’t seem to shy away from contact either.

At the 13:39 mark of the second half, Spartan fans could be heard throughout the arena exchanging cheers of Go Green… Go White!! Michigan State started to assert itself running its break to perfection. Minutes later MSU’s turnover bug reared its ugly head and the seven-point lead that was built evaporated.

Coached Izzo spoke about the turnovers after the game. “Florida deserved to win it.  We out-rebounded them by eighteen, shot the ball fifty some percent to their forty and lost the game.” Simply stated, had MSU taken care of the basketball, they’d be playing in the championship game tomorrow instead of the consolation.

Coach Izzo was asked specifically about Raymar Morgan and whether or not the foot and ankle problem were still a factor. Izzo was quick to take up for his star forward (who had zero points). Again Izzo referenced the time that both Morgan and Luscious have spent on the sidelines and that they are not back into game condition or where they were before they got hurt.

I’d like to say that this loss surprised me, but it really didn’t. The Spartans have faced some very good teams and this Florida team will be a factor in March. Gonzaga went to Maui and won their tournament again proving that MSU’s schedule can be brutal. This game will be full of coaching opportunities. With MSU’s guards being so good and so active, the press should not have been nearly the factor that it proved to be. I fully expect MSU to destroy UMass tomorrow and then get ready for a beastly game in Chapel Hill next week. They are going to have to play a lot better than they did tonight to sneak one out of the “Dean Dome.”

Last season when the Spartan Nation was in true meltdown mode, SpartanNation.com maintained that Izzo is judged in March, not November. That is always true. Coach Izzo sets up a schedule looking for tough teams to prepare his teams for March. He found one tonight in Florida.

I can assure you that Coach Donovan won’t want to go dancing with Izzo in March, but this was a good win for his program. Tonight the Gators were better. I doubt that will be true in March.