Derrick Nix Takes "Hero" Role and Leads Michigan State Basketball to a 67-56 Win Over the Texas Longhorns

Breslin Center East Lansing, MI Michigan State had a bad week. They missed out on super recruit Jabari Parker and Texas came to town after a 85-67 dismantling

Breslin Center

East Lansing, MI

Michigan State had a bad week. They missed out on super recruit Jabari Parker and Texas came to town after a 85-67 dismantling of North Carolina. I said before the season that this was a bell weather game for MSU. They have played all season down to their level of competition and this one would tell us their mindset. The Spartans mindset was a sloppy, but they were successful 67-56 win for the Spartans.

Texas is similar to MSU in that they are a turnover machine and loaded with talent, where MSU is far superior in coaching between Izzo and Barnes. No one in the nation does less with more than Longhorn head coach Rick Barnes and that showed again today. As both teams struggled with turnovers, Izzo bemoaned each one and Barnes almost looked resigned to it. For the game the Spartans had 16 and Texas 18 turnovers each.

Spartan senior captain and C Derrick Nix saw me about one hour before the game. He told me then, “I am bringing it tonight. You watch.” He did. Nix had a career high in points scoring 25 and adding 11 boards. It was not only a double double, but it was also his best game of his career. When his team needed him most, Nix responded.

Izzo said of Nix’s performance that, “Nix was the hero. He won the game for us.”

Texas head coach Rick Barnes spoke about what the young man from Detroit did against his team. He said, “I am sure he (Nix) would like to see us every night. He knew where he wanted the ball and he got it there. We didn’t fight hard enough. I told our post players, you need to do what he does.”

For the Spartans they improved their record to 11-2, but Spartan Nation knows that the only record that matters is in March. The Spartans are a better team than Texas who has a lot on their roster and they much better coached, but it still didn’t equal and easy taking care of business win.

As Nix called to come out for a rest Izzo ignored him. Nix toughed his way through with 32 big minutes. His game took a step today. He was without a doubt the MVP of the game and the Spartans would not have won today without him. Izzo said of those 32 minutes, “I don’t plan on playing him that many minutes.”

The MSU preseason is officially done. The Spartans open Big Ten play January 31, nine days from today at the Barn in Minneapolis. If they continue to play the way they have this preseason they will battle for 6th or 7th place. If they pick their game up like they did today in the second half, they have the talent to be in the three. What Michigan State team will show up? We shall see.