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Michigan State Basketball: 5 biggest overreactions before 2018 NCAA Tournament

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 3: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Breslin Center on December 3, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 3: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Breslin Center on December 3, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 3: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Breslin Center on December 3, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 3: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Breslin Center on December 3, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3. Nick Ward is mentally checked out

This is one that I just don’t get. People are saying that Nick Ward looks disinterested in the team and just doesn’t seem like he wants to be there. Whether or not this is true, it’s not something that a casual fan would know about the inner-workings and team dynamic.

Ward has found himself on the wrong end of a number of Tom Izzo lectures and lessons in the middle of games and sometimes he will come off as frustrated or ‘fed up’ but that’s not the case.

Will Ward sometimes talk back in a huddle if he believes he’s being punished unfairly? Probably, but this is something that happens with every college basketball team in America. There are times when Miles Bridges spouts off at Izzo out of frustration. The same could be said for Jaren Jackson Jr., too. It happens.

No, the sophomore big man hasn’t checked out and I’d be shocked if he were playing anywhere but East Lansing next season. He has even stated in interviews leading up to the NCAA Tournament that he needs to trust Izzo because he knows what he’s doing as a coach.

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