Spartans’ beach bash successful despite record

Michigan State returns to mainland with two losses, but more faith in supporting cast

? After a grueling road trip, it gets slightly easier now for Michigan State — slightly being the operative word.

After completing a grueling, four-game trip in Hawaii against the University of Hawaii and in the Maui Invitational, the Spartans will get something of a break over the next two weeks, with teams like Indiana-Purdue-Ft. Wayne and Arkansas-Little Rock on the schedule. Sounds good, except that Georgia Tech and Boston College are also interspersed during that stretch.

Still, MSU coach Tom Izzo said that the experience his players gained in Hawaii has increased his confidence in their ability to handle top-caliber competition. The Spartans went 2-1 in the tournament, taking third place out of eight teams, and return to East Lansing, Mich., with a 2-2 record.

“I’m going to evaluate this weekend because if we lost that game (against Arizona), we’d be 1-3 and the roof would be falling in back home,” Izzo said. “But I thought we gained so much here. I learned that they have much bigger toughness than I have. They’re all still standing, and I think that tells a little bit about their character.”

And unlike their Hawaii experience, the Spartans will get at least a full day’s rest after each game. That was a luxury they didn’t have in the Maui Invitational, where their schedule went something like this:

Play Chaminade at 9:30 a.m. on Monday after several players had to recover from debilitating muscle cramps during a demoralizing Saturday loss to Hawaii.

Michigan State's Goran Suton, right, and Gonzaga's Josh Heytvelt battle for a rebound in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational Tuesday in Lahaina, Hawaii. Gonzaga handed Michigan State its lone loss of the tournament, 109-106 in three overtimes.

Return to arena before 2 p.m. the next day for a three-overtime battle against Gonzaga.

Head back to the arena on Wednesday for an 11:30 a.m. tip-off for another overtime game, this time against Arizona.

Even the NCAA Tournament, college basketball’s biggest stage, allows at least one full day of rest.

“It has a different influence on you,” freshman center Goran Suton said. “Especially losing the day before and having to get back up, practice and go through the Arizona stuff and just play again, it’s amazing.”

Suton and some of the other younger players made significant contributions during the tournament. Izzo has repeatedly said that the Spartans’ potential for success this year depends on the bench players’ capability to carry some of the load when proven starters Paul Davis, Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager can’t do it all.

Suton and Marquise Gray, a freshman power forward, showed improvement from the preseason in both offensive and defensive play, and freshman guard Travis Walton earned a lot of playing time against Gonzaga and Arizona.

“Our bigs are really stepping up, but our guards–we’ve got some work to do yet,” Izzo said. “We’re still turning the ball over a little too much. Travis, he’s had some moments, though. He’s played more minutes in three or four games than I thought he’d play in his first semester.”

As for the stars, their performances spoke for themselves. Brown, who had to receive intravenous fluids for severe muscle cramping against Hawaii, played his normal allotment of minutes in the three Maui games. He made some clutch shots, as did Ager, who delivered some deadly shooting performances.

Davis was solid and contributed most from the foul line, as he sank shots to keep MSU in contention or delivered wins.

“I loved the fact that they showed the grit,” Izzo said. “We went to different guys at different times. Whether it be Paul and Mo with the free throws or Shannon with the big shot and the step-back, I think each one of them did some different things. They can play better, but please don’t underestimate what they’ve gone through in the last five days.”

Izzo blamed himself for the latter part of that statement, saying he shouldn’t have scheduled the Hawaii game before the tournament. In the next two weeks, MSU will need to get more from starting point guard Drew Neitzel, who struggled with his shooting, and starting power forward Drew Naymick, who had trouble generating points or rebounds before getting into foul trouble. Izzo said Naymick was still gaining strength after being hampered by injuries .

Izzo said he was also unsure as to the status of senior forward Matt Trannon, who has just completed football season. Izzo said he, Trannon and football coach John L. Smith would meet over the next week to discuss his potential return.

As for the rest of the team, they probably didn’t think at the beginning of the trip that they’d be so happy to return to 20-degree temperatures and snow.

“I thought Hawaii would be nicer than it is,” Davis joked. “I’m dead tired after coming here.”