Michigan State Completes Exhibition Season Exactly What We Thought They Were: SOLID! 93-57 Win Over Ferris.

Breslin Center East Lansing, MI The Michigan State Spartans are the #13 team in America and they finished off their exhibition season looking like it with a

Breslin Center

East Lansing, MI

The Michigan State Spartans are the #13 team in America and they finished off their exhibition season looking like it with a 93 to 57 thrashing of Ferris State. Bryn Forbes led the way for MSU scoring 16 points and Denzel Valentine added 15. Gavin Schilling was the only other player to reach double digits and he had 12. Valentine also led the Spartans on the boards with seven.

The Spartan defense was outstanding holding the outgunned Ferris Bulldogs to 35% shooting and of course MSU won the rebounding battle against the outmanned Dogs 42-29. MSU had only 10 turnovers while playing 15 players.

Overall head Coach Tom Izzo (who is never happy this time of year) said, “Let’s make every game the game we are playing and not the team we are playing. There were a few bright spots but guarding, guarding, guarding is gonna have to change if we are going to be a real good team.”

After a great first game versus NMU super star freshman Deyonta Davis was held in check not by the opponent, but by a referee’s whistle that made some questionable foul calls on both teams. Davis fouled out but had five points. At one point he had accumulated three fouls in 46 seconds.

That didn’t keep fellow star freshman Matt McQuaid from shining. Since he arrived on campus the people have all bragged about his shooting skills, and they should, but he keeps showing off a flare for pin point passing and superior defenses. On this night the pride of the Lonestar state dropped in nine points, dished out eight assists and muscled for three rebounds and impacted the game defensively many times in ways that don’t show up on the stat line.

I asked Izzo about the young Texan from Duncanville and he raved, “I thought Matt McQuaid played very well. McQuaid has been playing well. He really can shoot the ball and he has to figure when he is open and when he is not. He really understands the game and the angles.”

McQuaid who is humble about his talent finally opened up when I pressed him about his talents saying, “I was just trying to make the right play. I am always looking to make the right pass, but I am looking to make my shot also. The adjustment has been rough at times, but the upper classmen are really helping me out. I am just trying to do whatever it takes to help this team win.”

Denzel Valentine is considered among the best players in all of college basketball and a sure bet for next year’s NBA draft and a captain on this Spartan squad. He loves what the Texan does for this team, “He’s a great piece. He always makes the right play and he is a great shooter. People underestimate his passing abilities, things he can do and how he sees the floor and basketball IQ.”

No doubt McQuaid will continue to get tested as the games begin for real on Friday when Florida Atlantic for a 7 PM tip. No problem, the sharp shooter is ready and as long as people think all he can do is shoot, he is more than happy to pass. He doesn’t care about his stats, he just wants to win.

MSU’s Tom Izzo went to Texas and stole the young man many think was the best all-around player in the state last year and they are glad to have McQuaid here. He is showing the country why many thought the Spartans stole him and his teammates love his, “Unselfish” play and “guts.” Two words synonymous with Spartan basketball. The BIG TEXAN fits in just nicely in the North Country and as regular season play begins, look for his role to expand.