Sports: Izzo Tries to Live Up to "Top Program in the Nation" & Lofty Goals Set for Women's Hoops

            A decade after winning his first Big Ten championship, Izzo not only has an elite program—he might have the nation’s top program.

            On May 7, Andy Katz, the senior basketball writer for ESPN.com, came flat out and named Michigan State as “college basketball’s top program over the last 10 years.”

            “If you disagree,” he wrote, “you had better bring a lot of ammunition, because the Spartans have plenty on their side.  Yes, we know.  It’s not what mainstream America is used to hearing, but it’s the truth.”

            Katz marshalls a long list of facts, including MSU’s nation-leading four Final Four appearances, 10 straight NCAA appearances, 10 players drafted (third-best in nation), 82.9 percent graduation rate, 145 straight home sellouts, and six assistants who got head coaching jobs.  MSU did not win championships (four conference, two conference tournament) with soft scheduling. Katz notes, for example, that MSU has faced 34 of the 36 other teams to have made Final Fours since 1998.  The last four seasons, MSU managed to keep its NCAA streak intact despite brutal conference scheduling.

            This kind of publicity delights Tom Izzo, who does not seem to mind the resulting pressure. 

            “I’m ready for the pressure,” he says with a chuckle.  “Last year was a no-pressure year.  But I like pressure because it means you’re back on top or at least in the hunt.”

            He believes MSU is not yet a Top 10 team, as experts are saying, but that MSU can become one if three things happen.

            “Our chemistry was incredible last year,” he says of last year’s 23-win season.  “We have a new group, including some big-time recruits.  Will the chemistry stay the same?”

            Second, Izzo believes “our bigs have to get better.”  He’s referring to senior center Drew Naymick, juniors Marquise Gray, Ibok Idong, and Goran Suton, and 7-foot newcomer Tom Herzog.  “If they remain the same, we’ll be a good team but we won’t be able to take the next step,” Izzo says.

            The third factor, says Izzo, is whether the team will stay hungry enough and be able to handle the pressure. 

            The signs look good so far chemistry.  Three of MSU’s four incoming recruits—shooting guard Chris Allen, point guard Kalin Lucas and swingman Durrell Summers, all ranked in scout.com’s Top 30—committed early and have since been in regular touch with their future teammates.  Preferred walk-on Austin Thornton, a 6-5 shooting guard, is also familiar with the team.

            “(Junior guard) Travis Walton has done an unbelievable job with them, spending time with them,” lauds Izzo, who believes Walton and senior guard Drew Neitzel form the leadership core of the team. 

            “Drew and Travis have developed a great bond,” he notes.  “Travis is turning into the Mateen Cleaves of this team.  His personality is best-suited to be a leader. He’s dragging others to improve besides working on his own game. Drew has so many other responsibilities.”

            In the summer, Neitzel played for the U.S. Pan American team, while sophomore forward Raymar Morgan was a key player for the U.S. U19 World Championship team that played in Novi Sad, Serbia.

            With four newcomers and only one loss—Maurice Joseph, who transferred to Vermont—Izzo is looking to run this season at every opportunity.

            “This program was built on running the ball, rebounding and defense,” he says.  “Running is what we do, when our personnel allows us to.  This year we’re going to run the minute the bus stops until we get back.”  Izzo also envisions upping his “pressure defense” to speed up the game.  “We’ll do more full-court pressuring, not pressing,” he says.  “There’s a difference.  I want to pick up the tempo.”

            Taking a break from some arduous recruiting trips, Izzo looked relaxed in his office and yet driven to reach the next milestone.  “I feel better than ever,” he says.  “It’s a grind when you’re constantly replacing players and you’re not sure of who comes and goes.  Getting (assistant coach) Mike (Garland) back helps.

            “We have a team that’s good enough to get back to the Final Four.  You have to have luck and other factors, but we have the talent.  Now we have to turn that talent into wins.”

            After the MSU hockey team won the national championship, Izzo showed up at the airport at 2:30 a.m. to greet the team.  “It’s always fun to be around champions,” he explains.  “I wanted to watch their faces and hear their stories and feel their aura.”

            After a decade-plus of success, it is undisputed that Izzo has elevated the MSU program to elite status.  Now his quest is to win another NCAA title and solidify MSU as the number one program in the nation.  Many stars seem to be aligning.  Izzo sees Mark Dantonio as someone who “can get it done” and help all of MSU athletics.  He has three trusted assistants—Garland, Mark Montgomery and Dwayne Stephens—who have MSU roots.  He looks forward to next year’s recruits, three “very, very good commitments” (see box).  He believes with the current expansion of the locker rooms, MSU will boast as good a facility as any in the nation.  He foresees an era of athletic stability. 

            Predicts Izzo, “If this happens, this place will take not a step forward but a leap forward.”

2008 VERBALS

            Three players from the Class of 2008 have given MSU verbal commitments—6-6 forward Draymond Green from Saginaw, 5-11 guard Korie Lucious from Milwaukee, WI, and 6-8 forward Delvon Roe from Lakewood, OH.  Jim Comparoni, editor of Spartan Magazine and host of Spartanmag.com offers these thumbnail observations:

• “Draymond Green might be the best player in Michigan. He has mismatch power forward potential. His ball handling ability and width make him difficult to guard as a face-up threat.”
• “Korie Lucious can put together a highlight video as good as any guard in the nation. He’s very quick, makes dazzling plays and can get hot from range. Izzo will make his game even more efficient.” 
• “Delvon Roe is a complete package—great kid, excellent student, slick scoring ability from inside 16 feet. He’s a mismatch power forward. If he adds 3-point accuracy, the sky is the limit. “

LOFTY GOALS SET FOR WOMEN’S HOOPS

            First-year coach Susie Merchant has set her sights on winning a national championship.

            When asked what her goals were for the program, Susie Merchant did not flinch.

            “Our goal is to keep the excitement, tradition and history of this team and to win the national championship,” she says without hesitation.

            This year’s team will revolve around 6-9 sophomore center Allyssa DeHaan, who played for the USA’s U19 World Championship Team in Bratislava, Slovakia, this summer.

            “There’s no question, she is very talented and will get better every day,” notes Merchant.  “But even more impressive is the kind of person she is.  Allyssa is one of the highest quality kids you’ll ever meet.  Whatever our expectations of her, her own expectations are probably even higher, and she uses that to improve herself.  She is really special.”

            Complementing DeHaan on the front court is junior forward Aisha Jefferson.  “She is very talented and our staff is really looking forward to working with her,” says Merchant.

            MSU’s most experienced guard, junior Mia Johnson, is recovering from knee surgery.  Merchant says all positions will be open and everyone will have “a fresh start” with the new coaching staff.  Five very talented newcomers will be competing for playing time:  guard Brittney Thomas of Bolingbrook, IL, and forwards Lykendra Johnson of River Forest, IL, Kalisha Keane of Ajax, Ontario, Cetera Washington of Kalamazoo, and Taja Wilson of Pittsburgh, PA.

            As far as offense, Merchant likes an uptempo style with some “quality quick-sets” but also believes in best utilizing the talent at hand.  “The art of coaching is to find out what talent we have and to do our best to put them in their best positions,” she explains.  She likes to mix it up on defense, playing both zone and man. 

            Merchant has also filled her staff, which now includes assistants Rick Albro, Shane Clipfell and Evelyn Thompson, and director of basketball operations Julie Pagel, ’04, former MSU player and fan favorite.

            “The passion and excitement alumni have for MSU is really special,” she notes.  “It’s really exciting for me to be a part of this amazing feeling for the Green and White.”