Michigan State Basketball: Nick Ward looks to have taken that next step

Though he received plenty of criticism last season, junior Nick Ward hung in there and has since taken that next step for Michigan State basketball.

Everyone was quick to jump on Nick Ward when things went wrong in 2017-18. The then-sophomore big man was in the middle of a tough season, which we would find out later was because of his mother being sick, but he kept trucking along.

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As the final buzzer sounded on the Spartans’ season, it seemed like he would be headed off to the NBA draft because he had shown that interest in the past and his relationship with Tom Izzo seemed to be deteriorating before our eyes because of his lack of big minutes — something he felt he deserved.

Ward averaged a career-low 12.4 points in 18.9 minutes per game but he felt it may be time to take the next step and head off to the NBA — or at least get some feedback from scouts on his game.

So in the spring, he declared for the draft along with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges, leaving a huge void on the Spartans’ roster for 2018-19.

Ward got his feedback and decided it was in his best interest to return for his junior season and improve his overall game, taking that next step as a top-tier big man.

Fast forward about six months.

The relationship with Izzo has since been mended and there’s a strengthened trust between the two. Moreover, Ward looks like the best big man in the Big Ten this season, averaging 16.7 points and 6.2 rebounds and his fouls are at an all-time low.

Oh, and he’s playing almost three minutes more per game than he did last season, beating his previous career-high in minutes by 1.8.

His conditioning has improved and he’s playing like he was expected to last year. Over the past four games, he’s scored 20 points or more three times. He had 11 games of 20-plus points in his career entering this season and he’s already recorded five such contests in 11 games.

On Sunday night, he looked like one of the most complete bigs in the country, scoring a career-high 28 points with nine rebounds on 12-of-13 makes. He dominated Green Bay, but that was just the latest in a stretch of huge games, making him seem like he’s finally turned the corner.

In fact, over the past four games, he’s averaging 21.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while shooting an incredible 81 percent from the floor.

Undersized for a power forward with no mid-range game? That used to be a concern, but his strength and post moves down low make him lethal and an attractive second-round (projected) NBA prospect.

Ward has taken that next step, ladies and gentlemen, and it’s a beautiful sight.