Thirteenth-ranked MI State will continue trying to live up to its coach’s lofty standards when it hosts Eastern MI in a non-bracketed game of the Wooden Legacy tournament Monday night.
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“When the game was in the balance [in the first half], we had some opportunities to score”, said EMU coach Rob Murphy.
Denzel Valentine approached another triple-double and five players reached double figures for No. 3 MI State as the Spartans cruised to an 89-65 victory over Eastern MI on Monday in East Lansing, Mich. The senior point guard collected 12 points, nine rebounds and seven assists before he was removed with 5:47 remaining. Ty Toney would lead the Eagles in scoring with 11 points. Willie Mangum would add 10 points for the Eagles, but shot 14 percent from the field.
We kind of saw it coming with Purdue.
I wrote a column on Saturday about how wide-open this season is and why it is that way, and that’s very much the case in the Big Ten and the ACC. As a result, while it is still early, I’m willing to say that both of these teams will be in the mix for their respective regular season titles. Valentine had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists against Kansas last week. Davis played 18 minutes tonight and tallied 16 points, five rebounds and five blocks.
Tom Izzo hasn’t been shy about discussing a culture change for the MI State program in order to bring it to a championship level, something that might seem a bit odd considering he’s appeared in seven Final Fours in 20 seasons as its coach. But he also said the search for a “consistent level of play” will be made easier when he can pare down his rotation – and junior center Gavin Schilling (turf toe) won’t be back for at least another week. His suspension will end then. Lee averaged a team-high 16.7 points last season and has not played this season because he was suspended indefinitely earlier this month for an unspecified violation of team rules.
“The competition ratchets up, and we are going to have to get down to a playing group really quick”, said Izzo. Maryland, MI State and Iowa State round out the top four.
The second half tested the Eagles as they would do a good job of getting to the foul line more but again could not convert as they would go 13-23 from the line in the second half.
“I appreciate the emotion but have some emotion towards our fans, toward our players, but do not have emotion to another player and another team”, said Izzo.
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The Spartans next game is against Boston College (3-0) on Thursday. Izzo said afterward he wouldn’t have minded to see a technical called. “He watches every game”.
