The Weekly Spartan Nation Big Ten Basketball Report

A Crimson View of MSU Tom Crean was already a known quantity to Spartan Nation before Tuesday night’s reminder of a 15-point cruiser over the newly crowned

A Crimson View of MSU

Tom Crean was already a known quantity to Spartan Nation before Tuesday night’s reminder of a 15-point cruiser over the newly crowned Big Ten Champions. Crean’s first win over Tom Izzo was clear and convincing. The fourth year Head Hoosier looks like he’s finally turned the corner in Bloomington this year, but acknowledges that the Spartans remain the top target for the entire Big Ten.

“They really seem to be clicking on all cylinders,” Crean told Spartan Nation before Tuesday’s IU win, “(they’re) certainly a worthy champion.” Crean cited this Spartan team as a “tremendously capable passing team,” that really developed during the year.

Aside from executing the current foundations of Spartan Basketball (Defense, Rebounding, etc.), Crean says this team’s most important evolution has been up front. “One of the great separators for them right now nationally is how well their big men pass the ball.” While Crean praised the development of Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne, he pointed out that when your best player is a great facilitator (Draymond Green), you’ve got a chance to become a special team.

The Mt. Pleasant native not only Coached under Tom Izzo from 1995-1999, he also spent time as a Graduate Assistant (Jud had another name for them) under the venerable Jud Heathcote. “I was a part of a great staff (including assistants Izzo and Jim Boylen)…(but) Jud was the leader in every stretch of the imagination.” 

Like everyone who coached under Heathcote, Crean came to appreciate the now legendary stories and humor of the iconic old Coach. But years later, what’s stuck with him most was the consistency of Heathcote’s coaching concentration. “He was as fundamentally driven as a coach as you could possibly imagine, demanding that they (players) execute, be detailed, (and) play at a very high level every day…That’s what I remember so much.”

Appling’s Acclimation to the Clutch

Early in his first year as the Spartans starting Point Guard, Keith Appling struggled at the close of some Big Ten games. It’s natural, however. Rare is the underclassman that comes in guns blazing and instantly connects during the critical moments of a game. Last Wednesday night in Minneapolis, he reversed that early trend, possibly for good. 

Appling made six free throws over the final 32 seconds to complete the Spartans most surprising comeback of the year. While not Reggie Miller versus the New York Knicks dramatic, it was an impressive finish in a late season conference road game.

“As we know, he didn’t have a great beginning,” Tom Izzo joked, referring to Appling’s struggles earlier that night. “Some guys will let that crush them for the rest of the game (ex. fouling at the end of shot clock on a 3-pt. attempt). To his credit, he not only bounced back…he hit all those free throws.”

Spartan Nation was fortunate to have Appling’s predecessor (Kalin Lucas) build great late-game confidence early in his career. As you fondly remember, Lucas clinched a Sweet 16 victory over Kansas with the call (Gus Johnson, of course) and shot of the entire 2009 Tournament (“…count it and the foullllll!!!”). Lucas would go on to become one of the best closers in MSU history. Now Appling too has a late game confidence platform to build from.

“Instead of letting them “total” him for the game (earlier mistakes), (he) bounced right back,” Izzo continued. “Some of that’s his toughness, both mental and physical, and I think it will help him down the stretch.” Safe to say it’s a lot easier to want and get the ball at the end of the game when you’ve had a positive experience to reflect on.

 “(His finish) speaks volumes on the maturity and the growth that he’s had this year,” Izzo concluded. It should come in handy as the calendar has changed once again to March…Spartan Basketball’s favorite time of year. 

The Spot up 3:Â Three Quick Basketball Points to Dribble Around in Your Head

1.     Who can Illinois get to replace Bruce Webber that will be a clear upgrade? If that job is really as good as the Orange Crush thinks, they would only replace Webber with a clear upgrade. Any lateral or lesser replacement would be a big statement from their Athletics Department that a giant step back in Men’s Basketball might be acceptable.

2.     Despite the loss at Indiana, this February may go down as Tom Izzo’s best “short month” of his now longish career.

3.     Kentucky is so far and above the rest of the country talent wise, I’m not sure the worst Coaching by John Calipari can cost them the Tournament this year. Only Kentucky should be able to beat Kentucky, but remember that they did just that a couple years back.

Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JPSpartan and inside the Phalanx Forum