Backspins at center court? Rad
At MSU practice Monday night, Kalin Lucas did not participate. He was getting some treatment on his right ankle.
* Durrell Summers had no follow-up comments for his Sunday comments, and he said he hasn't talked about them with Izzo or heard about them from anyone. He didn't want to talk about much, but he said he wants to be remembered as a winner at MSU. Considering he's part of the sixth-winningest class (102 in four years) at MSU, with banners for two Big Ten titles and two Final Fours, that's a safe bet -- despite how he's playing, what he's saying and the way people are reacting at this moment.
“He’s had his ups and downs, but at the end of the day he’s given this program a lot," Draymond Green said of Summers. "He basically helped, with the help of a few other guys, he carried this program to a Final Four without his point guard. At the end of the day, he did what he could do for this program.”
* Green also said this is basically Retribution Week at Breslin.
“Wednesday is definitely payback," he said. "Definitely payback. One of the most embarrassing moments of my life. Then you’re talking about Michigan. It’s Michigan-Michigan State. We’re always trying to get back at them, even when we beat them we’re trying to get back at them. So it’s a big week for us.”
It's really big considering the stakes. ESPN's Joe Lunardi has MSU safely in the field of 68 at this moment, which leads me to believe the Spartans would remain on the good side of the bubble (well, his bubble, but his bubble is usually awfully close to the real bubble) with a split this week.
I agree with the idea that MSU's computer numbers, in tandem with a 9-9 record in one of the best leagues in college basketball this season, could be enough. The problem is, there's a Big Ten Tournament. At 9-9, I don't believe MSU can afford to lose its first game in Indy.
The good news for MSU is, a 9-9 finish almost definitely will put the Spartans in the No. 6 or No. 7 position, playing Iowa or Indiana on the first day (Thursday, March 10). At that point, it would be more about avoiding a bad loss than getting a win. But the Spartans should be able to avoid that loss. Get to 18, one way or the other, and get in. Don't get to 18, don't complain because you don't deserve to get in.
“Win, keep playing," Green said. "Lose and go home.”
Actually, that's not entirely true. At this point, MSU can lose and keep playing -- in the NIT.
“Lose and go home," Green said when posed with that scenario. "I’m all right on the NIT. Lose and go home. NIT. Not invited to the tournament? I’m all right.”
So does that mean you would turn down an NIT bid?
“I mean, that’s not my decision," he said, "but I’m all right on that.”
* Finally, brace yourself for a possible change in the Senior Day routine. The block "S" at center court has been replaced by the Spartan head. Seniors have been kissing the "S" since Shawn Respert, but Lucas is thinking about a departure.
“I’ve got to change the tradition, I’ve got to do something different," he said. "It’s a Spartan head now, it’s not an ‘S.’ … We might kiss (the floor at midcourt), we might change it up. You’ll just have to wait and see.”
The official Hey Joe! stance: Breakdancing is the only thing that will suffice. If you aren't kissing, you'd better be popping and locking.
FYI, schedule change this week, the live chat will be from 9-10 a.m. Thursday instead of 10-11. Make a note of it.
