Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State's 106-82 win over Florida Gulf Coast
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch gives his initial thoughts on the Spartans' performance against Florida Gulf Coast
Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State's 106-82 win over Florida Gulf Coast Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch gives his initial thoughts on the Spartans' performance against Florida Gulf Coast Check out this story on lansingstatejournal.com: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/columnists/graham-couch/2018/11/11/michigan-state-basketball-thumps-florida-gulf-coast-3-quick-takes/1956185002/
Graham Couch, Lansing State Journal Published 8:29 p.m. ET Nov. 11, 2018 | Updated 12:15 a.m. ET Nov. 12, 2018
Michigan State's Joshua Langford dishes off under the basket against Florida Gulf Coast's Brady Ernst, rear, during the first half Sunday night in East Lansing.(Photo: Al Goldis / AP)
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch gives his initial thoughts on Michigan State's 106-82 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday night at Breslin Center.
1. When Nick Ward is this motivated, with the matchup edge, you're in trouble
EAST LANSING – Nick Ward is one of those guys you either have the matchup advantage against or you don't, and if you don't, you've got no chance. And you're probably in foul trouble.
Florida Gulf Coast, like many of the opponents ahead on Michigan State's basketball schedule, had no chance on Sunday night. Kansas last Tuesday, on the other hand, was the exact opposite.
But when Ward plays this hard and looks this dialed in and the matchup is in his favor, things like Sunday happen: 25 points, 10 rebounds, fours assists, two blocks in 23 minutes. He drew seven fouls in the first half alone (11 overall) and two flagrant fouls in the second half, one caused an opposing big man to be ejected for an overaggressive box out that left Ward tumbling over him.
It's been just two games, but you should see the difference in Ward. There is a focus to him that's as relentless as his effort. Tom Izzo sees it. It's partly why he jumped to Ward's defense after he thought Florida Gulf Coast big man Ricky Doyle, a Michigan transfer, caught Ward with an elbow during the second half Sunday. Izzo took several steps onto the court, pointing and barking at Doyle, picking up a technical foul.
Ward dominated this game physically and psychologically and I don't think he even said a word.
"I'm excited because he did not get frustrated," Izzo said. "That's a game last year that would have been chippy the other way."
The most important play of Ward's night, however: His wrap-around pass deep in the post to Xavier Tillman for a layup. Ward wouldn't have seen the possibility of that play a year ago.
"They had him down for four assists. That's a career, not a career-high," Izzo said. "When you look at the change from the Kansas game when he never through it out, significant, signifiant improvement."
2. Joshua Langford is changing the way you think of him
Joshua Langford split two defenders on the drive, came to a stop and scored on a reverse scoop layup. I can't describe the sound the crowd at Breslin Center made. But I can tell you what the sound meant: "Hmm, we haven't seen that before."
We hadn't. Not from Langford in an MSU uniform.
Langford is in the process of changing how you and I think about him. This can only be done with plays on the court we'd been expecting for two years, with determined and aggressive moves that are new to his repertoire at this level. His baseline drive and score early in the second half, for example. His offensive rebound and strong put-back while being fouled late in the first half. His step-back, fadeaway miss when he was stuck in the high post and the freshman-heavy lineup around him seemed lost at how to help.
Langford, who finished with 18 points (for the second straight game) and 10 rebounds, has never been much of anything as a player at MSU around the rim or on the drive. That's changing. Sure, this came against Florida Gulf Coast. But the Spartans have played Florida Gulf Coast and many teams like the low-major Eagles before and Langford has never shown an aptitude for finishing on the drive.
"His energy was off the charts," Izzo said. "When you rebound like that, your energy is off the charts."
Langford's greatest value to MSU against stiffer competition is as a shot-maker — from outside and mid-range mostly. But the Spartans need him to be a leading man. For that to happen, it helps if there's some level of completeness to his game.
3. Freshman thoughts, the Florida Gulf Coast edition
It's becoming clear that there won't be any headliners this year among this MSU freshman class. What's still not close to clear is what their roles will be. Four of the five — all but Thomas Kithier — played meaningful minutes Sunday, though Gabe Brown checked in very late in the first half and then not again until the 5:48 mark of the second. Kithier came in with the walk-ons for the final minute-plus. I guess, at this stage, all minutes are meaningful.
Foster Loyer saw several stints, beginning early. You can see that Izzo would like him to become Cassius Winston's true backup. Loyer scored two points on a pair of free throws, missed his only field goal attempt and hacked the heck out of a couple different players trying to drive by him, picking up three fouls in his 10 minutes.
"We're trying to get a good look to see if he's going to be ready to go, because we're about to embark on a (tough stretch)," Izzo said.
Aaron Henry played the most and mostly blended in, though his stat line said otherwise. He scored nine points and tallied three rebounds and three assists in 15 minutes. Marcus Bingham Jr. played some early and hit both his 3-point attempts, one coming in garbage time. His shot, with that length, is going to come in handy at some point, somehow this season.
The beat goes on for these guys, whose roles will evolve throughout the next couple months, continuing Wednesday night at home against Louisiana-Monroe.
Couch: Loss to Kansas shows Michigan State's season is largely in Joshua Langford's hands
Couch: The NBA changed Nick Ward. We're about to find out just how much.
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.
Couch: Rocket Watts' electricity can still change MSU's season
Jalen Terry: MSU's recruitment of another PG led to decommitment
Couch: 3 quick takes on MSU's 67-55 thumping of Wisconsin
Cleaves always believed Winston would break his assists record
Couch: It's time for Dantonio to explain his vision for MSU football
How to watch MSU basketball vs. Indiana
Green & White
Graham Couch
© 2020 www.lansingstatejournal.com. All rights reserved.
Facebook Sign-In FAQ
Marketing Information Request
Submit Questions/Feedback
Vacation Stop/Start
Cars.com Lansing