Draymond Green spent the season doing the heavy lifting for Michigan State. He’s the Spartans’ leading scorer, rebounder and tops in steals, is just behind point guard Keith Appling in assists and center Adreian Payne in blocks.
He logged an assists in Michigan State’s win against LIU-Brooklyn and was just as good in Sunday’s bruising battle against St. Louis, scoring 16 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and notching a key assist (his sixth) that set up Appling. And a win.
“I don’t need to be a hero trying to make some scoop layup,” Green said of his decision to pass up a shot. “If I see a guy open, I’m going to hit him. He was wide open in the corner, and I knew once he caught the ball, it was going in. I didn’t try to get the rebound. I ran down the court. I already knew it was going in.”
The guy does everything.
There’s a reason he snagged a couple of national player of the year awards when others like Thomas Robinson and Anthony Davis seemed to be locks for everything. He’s also one of four finalists for Naismith Award.
As the Spartans (29-7) prepare to face Louisville (28-9) this Thursday in the Sweet 16, he’ll be the focal point of the Cardinals’ defense. But how does one prepare for the player who can do it all?
This is why Rick Pitino makes the big bucks. He figures that out, he’ll have earned his dough.
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