MI State has been awful at free throws for the past year-plus and shot just 17-of-28 (60.7%) from the line in the opening win over Florida Atlantic, but you can bet Tom Izzo doesn’t want a repeat of last year’s horrid pace and had these guys working all weekend on their charity stripe shots.
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Couple of great programs in this one, many people are talking about the Champions Classic being a potential preview to the Final Four.
The other two schools are North Carolina and Oklahoma.
MI State won the only meeting between the teams in the Champions Classic, beating Kansas, 67-64, in Atlanta in 2012, while the Jayhawks won the last meeting, beating the Spartans in the championship of the Orlando Classic last season, 61-56. Unlike the two teams that play before them in Chicago Tuesday night, these two teams have solid veteran foundations and leaders.
“They got depth in there, they got five or six guys, they have got experience in there with four of the five guys and the one who is not, (Carlton) Bragg, is a heck of a player, so that is going to be a big challenge for us”, Izzo said. “We are going to see where we are at, we going to see what we can do”.
Schilling continues to battle a case of turf toe, which he suffered last week during an exhibition game against Ferris State. With the absence of both Branden Dawson and Travis Trice, there is reason to believe MI State will take a step back offensively, at least in the early going. He’s a good player, but trust me, they’ve got enough good players in there without him. “It’s the advantage of taking that trip”.
– There was no change in the status of Cheick Diallo on Monday, Kansas University coach Bill Self told the Journal-World after the team’s arrival in Chicago. Don Jackson, attorney for Diallo’s legal guardian, explained Diallo needs a waiver from the NCAA to be able to travel to games. But does Izzo want to see him cleared, for his sake? Who ever knows? For Bill’s sake, I hope he’s eligible.
Nov 13, 2015; East Lansing, MI, U.S.; Michigan State Spartans forward Javon Bess (2) shoots a free throw against the Florida Atlantic Owls during the second half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center.
Izzo said sophomore guard Tum Tum Nairn is suffering from plantar fasciitis.
“He’s just tougher than nails”, Izzo said. I think the main key is that Matt Costello and Deyonta Davis replicate their successes from last Friday, but the ultimate difference is the triple double threat of Denzel Valentine.
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Wayne Selden scored 15 points and fellow junior Frank Mason hit all three of his 3-point attempts against Northern Colorado. Brannen Green scored 18 off the bench while Perry Ellis chipped in 16 points.
