MSU men's basketball: Morgan's numbers reflect consistency

EAST LANSING - Guess who Tom Izzo was talking about when said this:

"I think that kid has the ability and the skills to go from good to great. Not everybody has that. He does and that's the good and the bad of it because sometimes it drives me nuts."

Raymar Morgan would be a good guess. The correct answer is Goran Suton. And over each player's four years at Michigan State, Izzo made similar comments about each - many, many times.

Suton ended his senior season a year ago with his best basketball, playing a major role in the Spartans' run to the NCAA title game. When Izzo speaks of him now, it is purely to lament his absence.

Now the Spartans are looking for Morgan to finish with a Suton-like flourish. He can help No. 11 MSU (23-7 overall, 13-4 Big Ten) gain a share of its second straight league title on his senior day, today at Breslin Center against rival Michigan (14-15, 7-10).

"Sometimes it comes later rather than sooner," Izzo said. "But if it comes in March, that's all I care about."

So far, it looks like it's coming. Morgan's production dipped in February, but he wrapped up the month a week ago with 16 points and 11 rebounds in a win at Purdue that made today's championship game possible.

"I think that was definitely a confidence booster for me," Morgan said. "It's money time so I've got to bring my 'A' game for the rest of the year."

Then he had 16 and eight Thursday against Penn State, making four clutch free throws down the stretch in a 67-65 escape.

"If he plays like that every day, we'll never lose another game," MSU sophomore Draymond Green said of Morgan. "That may be putting some pressure on Raymar, but I know he can handle it with his abilities."

By any measure, Morgan is wrapping up a successful career at MSU. The 6-foot-8 native of Canton, Ohio has started and averaged double figures in scoring from day one.

His final point Thursday gave him 1,500 for his career. He joins Greg Kelser, Jay Vincent, Steve Smith and Paul Davis as the only Spartans to score 1,500 points and collect 700 rebounds at MSU.

Morgan has been a very good defender for four years. He has come up big in some big games, including his 18-point effort against Connecticut in last year's Final Four.

This season, MSU doesn't win against Gonzaga, at Minnesota or at U-M without 53 points and 19 rebounds combined from Morgan in those three games.

He has produced despite an assortment of ailments, the most serious of which was a bout with mononucleosis that essentially shelved him for five weeks last season.

Yet he has been a frustrated and frustrating player at times as well. He has let officiating or his own struggles get him down at times. He has been too quiet or unemotional or passive for Izzo at others.

"It's just, maybe I haven't found the right button," Izzo said. "Maybe there are no buttons. It's not like he's been a failure, I just think there's a higher ceiling for him to go to."

Morgan said he approaches every game the same way, but Izzo and other MSU players say they have an idea of how Morgan will play on a particular day based on his pregame demeanor.

"When he's hyped, talking, stuff like that, we already know he's gonna have a good game," Kalin Lucas said. "When he just is chilling and to himself, we'll be like 'I don't really know,' but when he's talking or just being him or having fun, we already know he's gonna come out there and have a good game."

Lucas said the key may be to get Morgan involved in the offense early in a game. He has definitely been involved late in the last two games to get to this point.

"Whatever it takes to get that win, man, that's all I care about," Morgan said.

More of the same from Morgan could mean more wins in March, today and beyond.

Whatever is done and said for the rest of this season, be assured - Izzo will openly miss Morgan next season.