After three years at Michigan State, Goran Suton says he’s still in the midst of “a process.” The 6-foot-10, 245-pound center considers himself something of a non-emotional guy, which may be fine if you’re watching HBO but not so much when you’re playing basketball for the fiery Tom Izzo.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I just need a little more energy,” said Izzo, the Spartans’ coach. “I’m going to keep searching for it until I get it or he’s gone.”
Izzo’s quest may have come to an end Saturday night at the Pepsi Center. With leading scorer Drew Neitzel struggling, and the fourth-seeded Pitt Panthers threatening to bully the Spartans all the way from East Colfax to East Lansing, Suton stood his ground, helping Michigan State to a hard-fought 65-54 victory.
“He did some good things tonight, I mean, real good things” Izzo said of Suton’s 14-point, nine-rebound effort. “I was proud of him because that was the most physical inside team we’ve played.”
Ahead 30-28 at halftime, Michigan State missed its first five shots of the second half, and turned the ball over twice. It was Suton who finally got the fifth-seeded Spartans on the board by converting an offensive rebound for a basket. The junior then fed Raymar Morgan for a dunk and added another layup on the team’s next possession.
“He’s got great offensive skills,” Izzo said. “He’s got post moves, he can shoot a 15-, 16-foot shot. He’s a great passer. We just got to keep him playing at a consistent level.”
Suton moved to Michigan from Bosnia-Herzegovina before his freshman year of high school, falling in love, he said, with a Michigan State program that had just won a national championship.
Watching from afar, though, Suton couldn’t get a real feel for the man who was directing the team. And when he did, he admitted that making Izzo happy has been something of a trial.
“I mean, I knew about Michigan State, but I didn’t know what he was like mentally,” Suton said. “I hear what he’s saying to me, but it’s hard. It’s like he’s telling me to change myself; it’s not easy changing, going from not very emotional to real emotional.
“I’m improving, but it’s still a mind-set I have to get into. Sometimes I find myself still thinking too much. I just gotta let myself go and just play.”
Later this week, Suton takes the court in the South Regional in Houston versus Mississippi State or top-seeded Memphis. While that undoubtedly presents a sizable challenge, it could be that Suton is already well on his way to winning over his toughest foe.
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
