SOS

Same Old Spartans. Blessed with athleticism, top-notch recruits and one of the nation’s highest-regarded coaches, MSU, as usual, took on more than they can chew. The Spartans failed to prove themselves, yet again, in the national spotlight against a team that is clearly one, if not two or three, steps ahead of them.

The SOS perception, that in past years garnered national attention of the football program, has now perceived itself to hoops too. Although they are competitive, have the tools and the stage to do it on, looks in the mirror as the SOS.

North Carolina disposed of the Spartan 98-63 on the stage of this year’s Final Four Wednesday at Ford Field . No matter the practice, no matter the improvement, MSU is likely not going to cut the nets in April. Even if they have the chance, North Carolina should be there to out-shoot, out-rebound, and play the pressure defense to send MSU up the road to East Lansing.

The Spartans will be a very good team come the “Madness”. Coach Tom Izzo has a schematic blueprint to ensure it. But at this point, they are a team without an identity – as they have been ever since winning the NCAA title in 2000 or finishing runner-up a year later.

Star point guard Kalin Lucas appears to be in a situation much like Drew Neitzel did in his sophomore year. The ultimate difference being Lucas had to take an offensive role as a freshman and is now playing the undefined role – half playmaker, half scorer – basically hoops purgatory. He doesn’t have the “green light” or the confidence to take over a game this year. He’s trying to play within the system and be the catalyst to help the athletes around him live up to their potential. He’s a victim of the system at this point, but has plenty of time to right the ship as Drew did his Sophomore year.

MSU certainly has its excuses. Goran Suton is not with the team and is having his knee scoped. He’s a double-double talent that has far exceeded most Spartan fans expectations. Freshman star Delvon Roe is coming off two knee surgeries and clearly doesn’t have the explosiveness or athleticism and feel for the game that Izzo had banked on.  

Senior forward Marquise Gray is playing out of place, the center position, and doesn’t have the size or mindset to play with the big boys. He’s as athletic as they come, but much like former football receiver turned hoops forward Matt Trannon, can’t provide it when they need him most.

Chris Allen, who showed flashes of greatness last year as a freshman, came out and hit big shot after big shot in the first half. However, he wasn’t playing in the second half when the Tar Heals took over and he didn’t help his cause with a couple of bad plays at the end of the first 20 minutes. He’s a Chris Hill-esque confidence player, who needs personal and team success to play well.

In this game North Carolina flat out schooled MSU and the education served will pay big dividends in March.

The bottom line… MSU hasn’t won any sort of championship in too many years and the fan base is getting somewhat restless. They have an undying love for Izzo and its 110% appropriate for the coach, man and figure that he is to the university and community. But another year of making a deep run in March or a 20-win season won’t suffice. They need to hang a banner - conference, Big Ten tournament- this year more than ever.