Table 1, Dawson 0

Branden Dawson got angry at a film session this morning, slammed a table, and broke his hand. He'll be out 4-5 weeks.

 

I will not cast any judgment on Branden Dawson's impulsive expression of anger and frustration. Who among us have not felt the same way at some point in our lives, particularly when we were young? When I was 22, I foolishly punched a wall in a fit of anger and broke a finger, so I'm in no position to judge Dawson.

 

Having said that, how many more injuries can this MSU basketball team sustain before the seams start to tear out?

 

The timing of this couldn't be much worse, coming just before a first-place showdown with Michigan. If Adreian Payne can't go, I don't know if MSU can pull out this game against the Wolverines. It'll have to come down to pure grit and determination, and maybe some help from a frenzied Breslin crowd. But here's the thing, Michigan already proved they can win in a crazy road environment (Wisconsin), so a rabid Green & White crowd might not be enough. The Spartans need to reach down deep and come out with an intense 40-minute effort and some players need to have the games of their careers in order for the Spartans to pull this one out.

A showdown on Saturday

The Spartans survived Indiana on Tuesday night. After fumbling and bumbling throughout the first 33 minutes and change, MSU flipped the switch and took control, winning 71-66. The Spartans are 7-0 in conference play, but it feels like a tenuous 7-0. Without Adreian Payne in the lineup, it feels like this is the most fragile 18-1 team in the nation. But, for crying out loud, the team is 18-1! It's amazing what this team has been able to do without one of its best players out of the lineup for four games and with several other players fighting off nagging injuries.

I continue to hear "MSU doesn't have a deep team," and I have to respond with, "That may have been true early in the year, but I don't think it is anymore." Payne's injury, as well as the physical setbacks of Appling, Trice, and Costello--am I forgetting anyone--has forced Izzo to play give significant minutes to Kaminski, Schilling, Gauna, Ellis, and even Byrd. These guys have responded well and carried MSU through this four-game stretch without Adreian Payne. While it may be a stretch to call the MSU basketball team "deep," it's safe to say they are considerable "deeper" than they were at the beginning of the season.

Now to that school down the road. Yesterday night, Michigan defeated #10 Iowa 75-67 and remain perfect in the Big Ten at 6-0.

I didn't believe in Michigan for most of this season, but after their last two impressive wins over ranked opponents, it's safe to say this team is for real and provides a dangerous challenge on Saturday. They've learned to play without McGary and young players like Caris LeVert have made big contributions. Then there's Nik Stauskas, who has improved his game tremendously from last year. Stauskas has become one of the most dangerous players in the Big Ten. I don't know that I or anyone else saw that coming.

From what I've heard, It sounds like MSU will probably have Adreian Payne back on Saturday, and I think this is critical. I suppose the Spartans could still beat Michigan without Payne, but it gets dicey. With Stauskas a dangerous shooter, I'm concerned MSU would spend so much time defending the perimeter while leaving guys like Robinson, Morgan, and Horford open in the paint. Having Adreian Payne in there, even if it's only for 20 minutes or so, should allow the Spartans to keep a body-and-a-half on Stauskas while keeping Michigan's big men in check. (And I can't believe I'm pretending to be a basketball expert here. Scary! Feel free to call me out on any drivel I'm writing here).

In any case, it should be quite a tussle on Saturday night. A game that looked like a slam dunk for the Spartans earlier in the season doesn't look quite that easy anymore.

Spartans 2, Land of Lincoln 0

The Payneless Spartans keep rolling along.

This week, they beat Northwestern in a practically unwatchable game in Evanston. In a contest that featured enough bricks to construct a new building on Northwestern's campus, the Spartans prevailed 54-40. Last night, in a game that wasn't nearly as hard on the eyes, the Spartans pounded the reeling Illinois Fighting Illini, 78-62. In true testament to how well MSU played, yours truly hurled nary one F-bomb throughout the entire game. Maybe only one or two "shits" was uttered in total.

As Graham Couch correctly pointed out in today's Lansing State Journal--as if you need an amateur blogger like me to affirm the insight and wisdom of a professional sportswriter--having Payne out of the lineup may actually be, in a strange way, a blessing in disguise for Michigan State. It has forced other players (namely Matt Costello, Branden Dawson, Alex Gauna, and Gavin Schilling) to both get more playing time and step up their play to make up for Payne's absence. In the long run, it may have the same impact as the 1999-2000 season, when Mateen Cleaves missed the entire non-conference schedule. In the NCAA championship game against Florida, when Cleaves was temporarily knocked out of the game after the infamous Teddy Dupay incident, the Spartans didn't panic and didn't miss a beat. Their poise was a direct result of to not having Cleaves for so long earlier in the season.

Eventually, MSU will get Payne back in the rotation, but the time he has been out may have helped make this team stronger.

In other Big Ten hoops news, Michigan dominated Wisconsin at the Kohl Center. The Wolverines thoroughly outplayed the Badgers throughout most of the game and were able to withstand a furious comeback attempt late in the game. Suddenly, Michigan looks like a player in the Big Ten championship race even without Mitch McGary. Michigan's match-up against Iowa has taken on new meaning, as has the impending showdown with MSU next weekend.

To my loyal one or two readers, look out for my Spartan football wrap up. I'm sure you're dying to read it. I hope to finally post it soon--at least before the 2014 football season begins.

Until then, stay Green my friends.