SPOKANE, Wash — There’s no question Michigan State coach Tom Izzo will never consider this his favorite team. His frustration barometer, quantified by the number of times he has had his hands folded on top of his head multiplied by those piercing stares, reached explosive proportions this season, with brief suspensions and starters benched.
At least, Izzo seems to finally feel good enough to breathe.
“I think that we haven’t been maybe as consistent as we (coaches) would like or the team would like,” Izzo said Saturday in advance of today’s NCAA Tournament second- round game against Maryland at Spokane Arena.
“But I really think in the last six, eight games, we have played much better. . . . I’m feeling good about my team right now. I think they grew up a little bit (in surviving against New Mexico State). I think we took some steps.”
It’s been a struggle. Michigan State had three starters back from last year’s national championship runner-up. That’s one way to look at it. But the Spartans also lost two key components, perhaps their most irreplaceable parts.
There’s no one on the roster who can patrol the post the way 6-foot-10 center Goran Suton did. And guard Travis Walton became the team’s defensive stopper on the perimeter and inspirational leader.
The fifth-seeded Spartans (25-8) began the season ranked No. 2 in both preseason polls (behind Kansas) but began to show vulnerability with losses to Florida and North Carolina during nonconference play. In early February, the bottom seemed to fall out. Consecutive road losses to Wisconsin and Illinois were followed by a dismantling by Purdue at MSU’s Breslin Center. Two weeks later, Ohio State won in East Lansing.
It was tough to take. Under Izzo, MSU has made 13 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament, with five Final Fours, including the 2000 national title. This team didn’t show that pedigree. Izzo slapped suspensions on guards Chris Allen (conduct detrimental) and Korie Lucious (missing a class) and kept star point guard Kalin Lucas and guard Durrell Summers on the bench for short spells.
“There have been times this year where we haven’t looked as good,” sophomore forward Draymond Green conceded.
Although this is the smallest team Izzo has coached (no starter taller than 6-8), it rebounded well enough to lead the Big Ten Conference, as usual. But nobody remembers so many prolonged lapses in focus and concentration.
In what may be an off year, Michigan State still finished No. 12 in the final regular-season coaches poll. That says something about the stature of the program. But it hasn’t looked like an Izzo team.
“Consistency is what anybody wants,” Izzo said Saturday. “It’s what I want from my players. It’s really the key.”
Izzo said his team is getting there, although he’s concerned about how injuries to Lucas (tweaked ankle against New Mexico State) and Allen (sprained arch) might affect ball movement against Maryland’s pressure. But, hey, Purdue coach Matt Painter pointed out Saturday that it’s March. Don’t ever count out an Izzo team.
“The thing about Tom,” Painter said, “is that he’s always had questions going into the NCAA Tournament, and he always seems to find the answer at the right time.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
