Michigan State's Tom Izzo visits former star Keith Appling in jail
The last time Michigan State played in Detroit, Tom Izzo used the 2009 Final Four to make an impression that would send Keith Appling from Pershing High to East Lansing.
Izzo used Saturday’s return to the Motor City as a chance to visit his former point guard in Wayne County Jail.
“It was good to see him,” said Izzo, who made the visit at 7 a.m. before the Spartans played Oakland on Saturday afternoon. “I think he has a whole different perspective.”
The 25-year-old Appling, who played at MSU from 2010-14, is currently serving a year in Wayne County Jail for carrying a concealed weapon and attempted resisting and obstructing a police officer. He was arrested three times on gun charges in a four-month period in 2016, though two of them were dismissed as part of his plea agreement.
All of those incidents came after Appling made his NBA debut on two 10-day contracts with the Orlando Magic in January 2016. The 6-foot-1 guard was a D-League All-Star that year as well.
“I know I’ve made some mistakes,” Appling said during his sentencing hearing on Aug. 3. “But I definitely learned from them, and I’m just ready to get my life back on track.”
Appling will be required to spend five years on probation once he is out of jail. Though Appling does not have a chance for early release as part of his plea deal, Izzo said Appling — a sociology major at MSU — is attempting to enroll in a work study program.
“I’m really glad I went. And I’m going to have the ability to go back a few times now that I went and I met the right people,” Izzo said. “I couldn’t get in and I had tried to get in one other time. … The sheriff who let me in, the guy was good. He said he has compassion and prick in him, and that’s two good things to have. He told (Appling) right in front of me, ‘Two times is a problem, three times is this (jail).’
“I think he’ll turn it around, I really do.”
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Critical changes
Izzo said Nick Ward “saved us early,” with the sophomore forward getting 11 of his 15 points and nine of his season-high 15 rebounds in the first half of No. 2 MSU's 86-73 win over Oakland.
But two things changed for the Spartans in the second period. Oakland started throwing more zone at MSU — coach Greg Kampe alternated between a 2-3, a 1-3-1 and a 3-2 to keep the Spartans off-balance — and the Grizzlies’ Kendrick Nunn got hot from outside.
That’s when Izzo made two personnel moves that paid off.
To counter the zone, he brought in Kenny Goins for Ward. The junior forward operated out of the high post, with Jaren Jackson Jr. running the baseline. Goins got six of his career-high seven assists after halftime, and he grabbed five of his season-high eight rebounds in the second period.
Izzo also brought in point guard Tum Tum Nairn to guard Nunn, who had 31 points after making three free throws with 9:35 to play. MSU’s senior captain held the Illinois transfer without a field goal the rest of the game, with Nunn’s only point coming on a free throw after a Miles Bridges deadball foul.
“If I look for stars and heroes, Kenny Goins did an unbelievable job. And Tum, he was just amazing,” Izzo said. “Nick Ward saved us early. I think Kenny and Tum saved us late.”
Back again
Saturday was MSU's first game in Detroit since losing to North Carolina in the 2009 national championship game. It also was the Spartans' first game at Little Caesars Arena, which will host first- and second-round NCAA Tournament games in March.
“It reminded me of the Palace in 2000," Izzo said. "This is so cool for Detroit. I mean, it's so neat to have a place like this and the places around here. It's just starting to feel like a city that's coming back to life.
"And if we can be a little part of it today, if we can be a big part of it in March, no one would be more excited about it than me. I love coming down here."
Izzo also said he spent time Friday night with Lions coach Jim Caldwell, which he said "made my day because I got my football fix in."
"He kept telling me to blitz those guys (Oakland), and I didn't listen to him," Izzo joked. "So next time, I might do that."
Special writer Vito Chirco contributed to this report.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!