In case Avi didn't give you enough on Michigan State, I decided to take a look at the four main players for the Spartans along with some other interesting tidbits about Tom Izzo's tenure in East Lansing.
Senior forward Draymond Green was 2nd in scoring last year and led the team in rebounding and assists, leads the team in all three categories this year.
Green lost 25 pounds in the off-season and with Delvon Roe hanging up the cleats due to constant knee injures, he has been the consistent threat down low for the Spartans.
Former McDonald's All-American guard Keith Appling slides over to point guard with Kalin Lucas graduating and Korie Lucious having transferred to Iowa State. This past summer Appling played with USA Basketball on the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championships. Appling is averaging 11.2 points per game and has started all 13 games at point guard this season.
Two-time All-Horizon League guard Brandon Wood transferred from Valparaiso as he plays his fifth year at MSU. In the two previous seasons Wood has scored 30 points vs. North Carolina, 24 against Michigan State, and 21 and 20 versus Purdue. Wood is averaging 10.3 points per game and has started all 13 games in the backcourt this season.
Freshman Brandon Dawson hails from Gary, Ind. and averaged 28.7 points and 18.6 rebounds as a high school senior in earning McDonald's All-American honors. Dawson had 22 points and 11 rebounds in the 2010 State Finals as his Gary Wallace team lost to Cody Zeller's Washington Hatches 65-62 in overtime. Zeller had 20 points and 26 rebounds. Dawson has started all 13 games this season and is averaging 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds a game.
Here are some more random notes on the success that Sparty has had under Izzo (1995-Present):
14 straight NCAA Tournament appearances which is the 3rd longest active streak in the nation
6 Final Fours in the last 13 years, most in the nation
7 Elite Eights in the last 13 years, tied for most in the nation
9 Sweet 16's in the last 14 years, 2nd most in the nation
Tom Crean is one of five former Izzo assistants now coaching in Division 1: Brian Gregory (Georgia Tech), Stan Heath (South Florida), Mark Montgomery (Northern Illinois) and Doug Wojcik (Tulsa)
