MSU Fans Struggling to Deal With Lucas Injury

MSU Fans Struggling to Deal With Lucas Injury

Topic Author: Tim Staudt

Posted: 4:36 PM Feb 4, 2010

Replies Posted: 6 comments

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It's the problem with basketball-- and Tom Izzo will admit it-- it's so subjective to officiate, perhaps more than any other sport. Someone's opinion defines in many ways a correct play and a foul and therefore who wins and loses many games. I always say fans who can't deal with officiating can't follow basketball. Officiating is what it is and it is the pulse of the game.

So I'm not shocked with all the comments I'm hearing from MSU fans accusing the Wisconsin Badgers of a dirty play on the Kalin Lucas injury in Madison Tuesday night. A foot deliberately set underneath Lucas so he had no where to land. He landed on the deliberately placed food, somewhat of an undercut if you will, and the ploy worked because Lucas had to leave the game and the Badgers went on to win. I don't get mad about such thoughts I chuckle. And it's more than just a couple of fans who think it was a dirty play and furthermore are incensed that officials did not call a foul.

Most fans don't understand basketball officiating any way. And most have accusations against any call against the team they root for at any level of the sport. It happens every year that I get deluged with complaints against basketball officiating. Never mind the fact that the MSU players and coaches never once complained about it other than Lucas got a bad break when his foot landed awkwardly. And I'm sure I haven't heard the end of the controversy, if that's what it is, either.

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by mark Location: lansing on Feb 7, 2010 at 12:01 PM

spartan fans are the worst sports when it come to losing......in sports a win is a win and an excuse is an excuse!..deal with it and hail to the badgers!

by Jim Location: Pennsylvania on Feb 5, 2010 at 10:12 PM

I've played my share of city league and IM basketball, maybe not "30 years" but a lot. I've rolled my ankle a few times along the way and it hurts like hell. There was no way the WI player undercut anybody. He stepped out to defend and block out, Lucas beat him with the shot and came down on his foot. The WI player was already cutting back to the board. Izzo is 5-12 against Ryan, in the first game this year he was screaming "flop" at halftime though there only one offensive foul called on MSU in the first half. MSU fans are always calling WI "boring," "floppers" and now this. How about they lose this one with or without Lucas at the end in any case and call it a split for the season? (until the tourney anyhow.

by Chris Location: Lansing on Feb 5, 2010 at 11:34 AM

wow, all i have to say is that "doug from Novi" knows nothing about basketball at all. a dirty play? really? did you even watch the game? if you really think he put his foot there on purpose, i must have been watching the wrong game. i would like to know what "competitive" level you played at for 30 years.

by dave Location: minnesota on Feb 4, 2010 at 10:42 PM

not a dirty play - sound fundamental defense.

by Doug Location: novi, michigan on Feb 4, 2010 at 08:33 PM

I played basketball at a competetive level for more than 30 years. Without question the most punches I've ever seen thrown were due to clowns stepping underneath a jump shooter well away from the basket. The Wisconsin player made no attempt to go up and block the shot...instead, simply stepped underneath Kalin when he was coming down after the shot. A dirty play without question. I'm a little surprised there wasn't any retaliation against him the next time he shot a jump shot. Of course Izzo isn't going to say anything because that's his character. But, I promise you, he would be very unhappy if one of his players did a similar thing to an opponent. Really a low class move by the Badgers....

by Jan Location: Grand Rapids MI on Feb 4, 2010 at 05:50 PM

I would not call it dirty, but it was clearly an undercut,which is a foul. Where was Lucus supposed to land? It is over and I'm sure that Badger player feels terrible, but it isn't exactly a matter for chuckling. Only someone who doesn't understand the game of foul would not recognize it as a foul, but officials can't see everything. It would make no sense to make a fuss about it now.