MSU's Branden Dawson Breaks Hand In Film Session, Out At Least Four Weeks
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
EAST LANSING (CBS DETROIT) - Michigan State's chances of repeating last season's throttling of rival Michigan in Breslin Center just got much slimmer.
Both undefeated in Big Ten play, the third-ranked Spartans and 21st-ranked Wolverines will meet Saturday in East Lansing, but versatile Spartans junior Branden Dawson will not be available.
The team announced Thursday that Dawson, frustrated while watching film, pounded the table and broke his hand. He is having surgery and is out for four to five weeks.
"This morning I was meeting with a couple teammates and the coaches and they showed me a few clips on how I've been playing and what I can do to play even better," Dawson said. "I kind of got frustrated with myself because I know I can definitely give more to this team and provide more for this team.
"We were also watching some TV clippings from videos from the Indiana game of Dan Dakich saying that the key to our winning the national championship is going to come up to me and my intensity. I kind of got frustrated with how I've been playing and how I know I can play. I kind of got frustrated and I slammed my hand against the table out of frustration."
Dawson has been averaging 10.2 points and 8.7 rebounds for the Spartans.
Being out four to five weeks, Dawson could miss as many as four games against opponents currently ranked in the Top 25 - at home versus Michigan and on the road against No. 10 Iowa, No. 9 Wisconsin and Michigan.
