Michigan State Vs. Michigan
Michigan State's struggles on the court have been evident this season. Now, the Spartans' off-court issues have begun to affect the team as well.
Suspended junior guard Korie Lucious won't be in the lineup Thursday night when No. 25 Michigan State shoots for its 12th straight home victory against rival Michigan.
Coach Tom Izzo announced late Tuesday that Lucious, who averaged 6.5 points and 4.1 assists in 18 games, would be suspended for the remainder of the season. Izzo didn't specify the reason for the dismissal, but Lucious pleaded guilty in September to misdemeanor reckless driving and was suspended for one exhibition game plus the team's season opener. He also was suspended one game last season for skipping class.
"Unfortunately, Korie Lucious displayed conduct detrimental to the program," Izzo said in a statement. "My focus is on this team for the remainder of the season."
The rest of the Spartans (12-7, 4-3 Big Ten) look to end a two-game skid, which includes Saturday's 86-76 loss at then-No. 14 Purdue. The defeat marked the most points Michigan State has given up in a conference game since a 99-96 overtime loss to the Boilermakers on March 1, 1998.
Draymond Green had 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Spartans, but Kalin Lucas scored only nine points on 3-of-16 shooting. Freshman guard Keith Appling, who likely will see an increase from his 19.3 minutes per game with Lucious out, scored nine on 3-of-3 shooting in his seventh straight start.
"We're not a program who should be growing, but I hate to say we are," Izzo said. "We're playing better. Not good enough to beat a real good team."
If Michigan hopes to win in East Lansing for the first time 14 years, it likely will need to improve at both ends of the floor.
The Wolverines (11-9, 1-6) are scoring a league-low 61.7 points per game in conference play and have lost six straight after falling 69-64 on Saturday against then-No. 15 Minnesota.
On the defensive end, Michigan is giving up 72.3 points per game in conference play and ranks last in the Big Ten allowing opponents to shoot 52.8 percent.
"There's a maturation that you go through to understanding how to play defense," coach John Beilein said. "We are not there yet. We get better every day, but so does the competition."
Freshman guard Tim Hardaway Jr. tied his season high with 20 points in the loss to the Golden Gophers. Leading scorer Darius Morris, who averages 15.5 points, was held to 11 and tied a season low by attempting only six shots.
The Wolverines held a players-only meeting following Beilein's postgame talk in hopes of correcting the issues hampering the struggling team.
"We just talked stuff out," Hardaway said. "We want to make sure we don't keep making the same mistakes down the stretch."
Michigan State has won four straight in the series, including both meetings last season. Lucas hit a jumper with 3.5 seconds left last Jan. 26 for a 57-56 victory, and the Spartans easily handled the Wolverines in a 64-48 in a home victory March 7.
Michigan's last victory at the Breslin Center came Jan. 25, 1997.
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