State of the Union: MSU Basketball

After starting the year ranked #2, the Michigan State Spartans have been on an absolute free fall.  It has been a frustrating season to say the least, especially with how high expectations were coming in.  I was as high on the Spartans as I have been since 2000 when they featured the Flintstones.  They were bringing back Kalin Lucas (a projected lottery pick) at point guard, Draymond Green and Delvon Roe in the middle, Durrell Summers (who absolutely carried the team through the tourny last year), and Korie Lucious (who got big time minutes when Lucas went down last year).

There is certainly a lot blame to go around but there are a few main things that I think really went wrong...

1) Kalin Lucas Not 100% - Kalin ruptured his achilles tendon late last year and didn't look right to start this season.  His quickness and elevation just weren't there.  He struggled to get to the basket and even when he did he struggled to finish over the bigger players.  Sparty's offense is built around Lucas getting penetration and finishing/distributing to other guys.  He makes this team go and if he doesn't have it the Spartans are in trouble.

Kalin has looked better of late.  I can only hope that he is getting his groove back and will lead the charge into the Big 10 Tournament.

2) The Dissapearance of Durrell Summers - When Lucas went down last year Durrell Summers stepped up and took over the scoring.  He put that team on his back and carried them all the way to a Final Four.  For some reason Durrell has been almost non-existant this season.  He seems unwilling to take big shots and he just hasn't found his swagger all year.  Part of me thinks its the return of Lucas that has caused this.  Summers got a taste of the lead role last year and he flourished, but now he has to defer to Lucas and I think it has ruined his confidence.

3) Korie Lucious Shenanigans - Lucious has been in trouble numerous times since arriving in East Lansing but it looks like he finally took it to far.  Tom Izzo suspended the junior guard for the remainder of the season and it looks like Lucious might be gone for good.  There have been rumors that he may be following Chris Allen to Iowa State.  Lucious gained valuable experience last season when he stepped in for the injured Kalin Lucas.  He gave MSU solid production at the 2 guard and also depth at the point position.  Lucious' absense has forced freshman Keith Appling to take on big time minutes.

Currently, the Spartans are not just on the bubble but are probably on the outside looking in.  They are going to need a few quality wins down the stretch and in the Big 10 tournament to get into the field. 

I haven't given up on the season just yet though.  Lucas has shown improvement over the last few weeks and him and Green are talented enough to carry this team deep.  Appling and fellow freshman Adreien Payne have showed a lot of potential and will have a lot of minutes under their belt come March.

The one thing I know is that Tom Izzo will have this team ready to play come Big 10 Tournament time.  I think they have enough to make a final push.