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Coach’s Clipboard: Michigan State Playing Faster

By Randy Sherman

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Coach’s Clipboard, Vol. 2: A look at how and why Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans are accelerating their offense in hopes of better results.

The Michigan State Spartans(13-6, 4-2 Big Ten) have long been know as college basketball’s battering ram. During Tom Izzo’s tenure in East Lansing their identity has been rebounding with ferocity and scoring points in the paint.

Izzo certainly continues to emphasize these elements, but the 2014-2015 Spartans are playing differently. The losses of Gary Harris and Adreian Payne have affected the team and nobody as of yet has been able to fill their void consistently.

Lacking a true offensive threat who can get a bucket in the halfcourt whenever they need it, this year’s Spartans have been reliant on the three-pointer more than ever before. And that has not always been a good thing

The Spartans have been at their best when they run. And Izzo is allowing the Spartans to do just that.

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Michigan State is 165th in the nation in Adjusted Tempo which measures the number of possessions per 40 minutes. While they are not in the upper echelon of running teams, this year’s tempo ranking is higher than years past (209th in 2014, 255th in 2013, 218th in 2012).

The running game suits the athletic gifts of Branden Dawson and Denzel Valentine. And without the luxury of a true and dependable low post scoring option, a transition attack is Izzo’s best strategy.

Let’s take a look at the Spartans’ fast break and how they are generating offense earlier in the possession.

Step one of any effective transition attack is a quick outlet pass. After a Maryland made field goal, Matt Costello gets the ball out of the net and makes a quick in-bounds to Travis Trice.

The most important part of scoring in transition is for the other three players not involved in the outlet to sprint to the other end in lanes. A big man that can run hard in the middle lane and adopts a relentless running mentality makes a transition attack outstanding.

Here we see Michigan State forward Javon Bess outrun the Maryland post defenders to the front of the rim for an easy bucket. The first post down the floor is option one for the Spartans fast break. A quick outlet combined with an effective rim run helps the Spartans answer the Maryland bucket in seven seconds.

Clearly, getting the ball in the paint off the break is Izzo’s priority and option number one in the transition offense.

In another example of early offense created by a structured transition attack, the Spartans run off a missed field goal and get the ball ahead to the wing. By running hard, Costello is able to establish early and solid post position and Valentine assists him on the block.

If the defense recovers and defends the rim run or the first post, the Spartans get into the secondary phase of their transition attack. Like most teams who run a structured break, the Spartans use a trailing big man. Some designs allow for the trailer to step into a three at the top of the key or they use him to reverse the ball.

Michigan State’s trailing big man sets a downscreen for the weakside wing. The objective is to get a scoring guard coming off a screen early in the possession before the defense is set.

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Below, the Spartans organize their transition offense again after a Maryland made field goal. Costello is the inbounder and therefore the trailer. He in-bounds to Trice who pushes ahead but Maryland has recovered.

Costello trails and sets an effective downscreen for Valentine who is able to get into the paint and score. The structured break yields a basket in eight seconds.

The Spartans leaned heavily on this trailing downscreen action in their recent 66-60 home win over Penn State. Lourawls Nairn, Jr. pushes tempo in both clips.

The trailing downscreen action is able to generate offense early in the shot clock in both possessions and the structured break puts pressure on Penn State’s transition defense immediately. And Izzo is happy with points in the paint whenever they come.

Michigan State is seeking a breakthrough win. They have no victories over a ranked team and they lost at home to Texas Southern. But Izzo’s squads have historically peaked in March when it matters most.

This year’s version seems to lack the ability to play in the classic Izzo style. The faster tempo suits their personnel better than a halfcourt game.

Can Izzo and the Spartans evolve and become a factor in the Big Ten and beyond?

Next: Indiana Hoosiers: Tom Crean Making Case For Coach Of Year

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