Spartans have ‘renewed energy’ heading to Indiana for finale
Coach Tom Izzo felt a lightness amongst the team as Michigan State gears up for its regular-season finale at Indiana on Sunday.
There was no longer a dreaded losing streak weighing heavily on the team and he could sense that the Spartans were rejuvenated and eager to keep the good vibes going, with postseason play starting next week.
“We’re just putting our foot on the pedal. I think our foot has been off the pedal a little bit,” Izzo said Friday after practice. “They understand we had a good film session yesterday, a walkthrough, a little bit of practice again today, get some film in. Yeah, I did feel like there was some renewed energy today, and hopefully, that’ll continue.”
There was no escaping the pressure Michigan State shouldered heading into Wednesday night’s game against Northwestern.
The Spartans entered this week having lost three straight games, including two at home, and fell back to .500 in Big Ten play. Their struggles this late in the season, as well as the health of star guard Tyson Walker, have been concerns. Emotions were also high because it would be the last time the seniors would be playing at Breslin Center in front of the rowdy Izzone.
But Michigan State managed to put those feelings to the side and pull out a hardfought and much-needed 5349 win.
It was far from a perfect game. Defensively, the Spartans were strong, but they never got going on offense. It’s continuing to be a troubling trend for Michigan State, whose two best shooters, Walker and Akins, have both been in somewhat of a slump over the last month.
Over the last eight games, Walker has averaged 15.6 points, while shooting 28.7% from the field, 29.4% from 3 and 79.2% from the free-throw line. During that same span, Akins has averaged 9.5 points, while posting shooting splits of 36.8%/36.8%/85.7%.
After the last game, Izzo said Walker might’ve been a little more injured than he previously thought, as the
fifth-year senior has been playing through a groin injury. As for Akins, Izzo believes it’s only a matter of time before the shots start falling.
“I’m not worried about it because he does the one thing better than anybody I’ve had since maybe Denzel (Valentine) or (Bryn) Forbes — guys like that — where I mean come in here tonight, come in here tomorrow morning, Jaden Akins will be here shooting,” Izzo said. “So, I’ve got no complaints. He’s one kid I say I wish he
gets what he deserves because he’s working his tail off. I think he will, I think he’ll bounce back, he’s had this happen to him a couple of times … I just can’t worry about Jaden because I know he’ll work his way out of it.”
Meanwhile, Malik Hall has been a critical part of keeping the Spartans afloat over that same stretch. Ever since he put up a blank box score at Northwestern on Jan. 7, Hall has played arguably the best stretch of basketball in his career.
In the past 15 games, during which Michigan State went 9-6, Hall has paced the Spartans with 15.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He’s also shooting 57.2% from the field and has gone 12-for-23 (52.2%) from behind the arc.
He’s had four double-doubles during that stretch, including Wednesday, when had 15 points and a career-best 17 rebounds.
At the beginning of the season, Izzo wasn’t sure if Hall could fill the void left by departing senior Joey Hauser. Hall has improved as a shooter and is a strong defender and rebounder. Now, though, Izzo needs him to bring that effort to each game.
“Joey went every time. The only problem Malik has is he doesn’t go every time, especially on the offensive boards,” Izzo said. “Will (Wednesday’s game) light a light under his keister? Maybe because he saw what success he can have.
“But he’s been our steadiest player — it’s no big secret. He’s very important. So, hopefully, he’ll keep it up, the other three guys (Walker, Akins and A.J. Hoggard) raise it up.”