• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Sports Bank

News. Sports. Arts & Entertainment. Politics

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Archives
  • Media
  • The Sports Bank in Book Form
  • Premier League Book

Draymond Green: A New Spartan Leader

January 15, 2010 By paulmbanks 3 Comments

Share

By Jeff Ghiringhelli

There was an obvious air of disappointment in the Michigan State Spartans locker room following their 89-72 loss to North Carolina in last April’s National Championship game. Many players were discouraged at being blown out in front of a very pro-Spartan Ford Field crowd, especially those who grew up mere miles from the stadium.

However, it was a freshman role player who decided to speak up. After getting permission from coach Tom Izzo to address his teammates, Draymond Green displayed his leadership capabilities. He compared his team’s situation to North Carolina’s from 2008. The Tar Heels made it to the Final Four before losing to eventual champion Kansas. The very next year, they stayed hungry, rallied around each other, and were able to win the National Championship. He said there was no reason to expect any different from the Spartans this season.

Green only played 12 minutes in the championship game, scoring seven points and grabbing seven rebounds. This year, his role has been increased, and he has responded by becoming one of the most valuable sixth men in the country. The Dancing Bear, as he is lovingly referred to by his teammates, plays 25 minutes per game this season, averaging 11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.5 steals, and one block per game.

Coach Izzo has rewarded Green for his efforts by naming him a team captain, a very impressive feat for a sophomore that comes off the bench. Any regular viewer of Spartan basketball games knows that the commentators often talk about Green’s basketball IQ being “off the charts.” Those same viewers know that statement is right on the mark. He rarely makes mistakes (1.7 turnovers per game), and is very unselfish when he has the ball. Defensively he will gladly take a charge, and box out anyone on the court. He often wears his emotions on his sleeve, so whenever he makes a big play he gets both his teammates and the Spartan fans fired up.

It is hard to imagine a player as productive as Green still coming off the bench, but he is comfortable in his role. His chance to be in the starting lineup will more than likely come next year, when Raymar Morgan graduates. Green, while two inches shorter than Morgan, will probably take his spot at small forward. Having players like Morgan and Delvon Roe in front of Green is a good problem for MSU to have, and there are not many Spartan fans complaining about how the season has gone thus far.

It seems that ever since Green made his speech after the championship game, he has been out to prove to himself, his teammates, and Izzo that he can back it up. So far so good. And if he continues to play at this high of a level, the Spartans have as good of a chance as anyone to make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Follow paulmbanks

Related Posts via Categories

  • Max Christie: Michigan State Star, NBA Prospect Profile
  • Max Christie Key to Michigan State Ruining Coach K. Swan Song
  • Michigan State B1G Tourney, NCAA Tournament Results Don’t Sync Up
  • Eight ANNOYING People Who Reside In EVERY Single Bracket Pool
  • 2022 Big Ten Tournament Preview, Predictions, Friday Fish Fry!
  • #10 Michigan State Basketball at Northwestern FYIs, Stats, Info
  • Exclusive: Drew Valentine on His Brother, Tom Izzo, Michigan State
  • Northwestern Has No Answer for Stud MSU RB Kenneth Walker III
  • Michigan State Spartans at Northwestern Wildcats Game Preview
  • Michigan St. Coach Mel Tucker Takes “Blue Collar” Buzzwords Bit to Extreme Levels

Filed Under: Michigan State Spartans Tagged With: 2009 michigan state spartans, Big ten basketball, draymond green, Michigan State, michigan state hoops, michigan state offensive rebounds, michigan state rebounds, Michigan State Spartans

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. paulmbanks says

    January 15, 2010 at 12:12 PM

    I really should know this…but I don’t, why do they call him the “Dancing Bear” again? I agree, he’ll start at the 3 next season

  2. jeff ghiringhelli says

    January 16, 2010 at 9:41 PM

    I believe that Clark Kellogg coined the nickname during the Final Four matchup against UConn. Can’t say I’m positive though

  3. Nella Soffa says

    August 14, 2010 at 11:38 PM

    I am against most of what Obama stands for, but on this he is right. When we begin to disregard the basic principles of our constitution, we are handing the terrorists a major victory. We must understand that the vast majority of Muslims are good moral people. The extremists are the ones causing the damage and they are a disgrace to most Muslims. Christians have had their extremists as well…..think of the loonies who protest at soldiers funerals, the KKK, and other Christian Militant groups. It would be ashame to let these fringe groups define the Christian Identity. We should not let that happen to those of other religions either for it will, eventually, come full circle!!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

newsnow_f_ab
online casinos not on Gamstop

Best Paypal Casinos

Recent Posts

  • Mikel Arteta Wants Arsenal to Sign More Players this Summer
  • Man United News and Notes vs Brighton: Wayne Rooney, Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot
  • United News and Notes vs Brighton: Ronaldo, Ten Hag, Fred, McTominay
  • Field of Dreams: Re-Analyzing the Movie Amid the 2nd Real Life MLB Game
  • Todd Boehly, Gaga Slonina, Christian Pulisic: Chelsea FC Getting More Americanized
  • Manchester City Starting XI Prediction at West Ham United (Season Opener)
  • Man City Team News at West Ham: Bernardo Silva, Aymeric Laporte
  • Manchester United Starting XI Prediction vs Brighton (Season Opener)
  • Evaluating Tottenham Hotspur’s Summer Transfer Business Thus Far 
  • United Team News vs Brighton: Ronaldo, Martial, Sancho, Telles, Bailly

From Our Sponsors

OnlineBettingMD

Online Sports Betting

Best football betting sites

 

From Our Sponsors


[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2022 ·Magazine Pro · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress · Log in