Couch: MSU will miss Eron Harris, more than realized
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Eron Harris told me recently the biggest misconception about him is that people think he’s selfish.
“That’s the furthest thing away from the truth,” the Michigan State senior guard said.
I don’t think we know Harris very well. We know his game. We see its flaws and strengths and the one-on-one elements that can be confused with selfishness.
What I saw in MSU’s locker room Saturday evening at Purdue, though, wasn’t the product of a selfish existence. A selfish or detached teammate wouldn’t impact a room like this.
“Nobody compliments me the way he does … the things he says to my face,” junior Tum Tum Nairn said, staring down, his eyes full of emotion. “I just wish I could take the injury for him.”
“He’s always trying to teach us, encourage us, always make sure we’re OK,” freshman Joshua Langford said. “We have so many late-night calls where he’s talking about the game and outside the game, about life. He’s really a mentor to me.”
“He’s showed (the freshmen) the ropes,” said freshman Miles Bridges, brought to tears looking at Harris and his mangled leg on the court. “He showed us how to get around campus, drove us when we needed a ride. Little things, helped us keep our head. I just hate to see it happen to him.”
What happened was a right knee injury perhaps more scary and gruesome than severe as Harris landed after a layup attempt during the second half of Saturday’s 80-63 loss at Purdue. That’s the hope at least — a hyperextension without extensive damage. Harris and the Spartans will know more soon.
“They’re not sure yet what’s going on internally with the knee,” Harris’ brother, Eric, said in the bowels of Purdue’s Mackey Arena. “(Eron) said when they rolled him over onto the plank (before being wheeled away on a stretcher), it kind of popped back into place. (Sunday) they’re going to run an MRI.”
MSU will miss Harris on the court. Not always. But often. Not his offense — he’s scored in double figures only three times in Big Ten play — but his potential for offense. MSU doesn’t have enough consistent scoring. It can’t afford to lose possible scorers. And, believe it or not, MSU needs his defense. He’s been good on that end of the court for a while now, the end of the court less noticeable, more selfless.
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“The saddest part for me,” MSU coach Tom Izzo began, “No. 1, he’s a senior, No. 2, I’ve been saying this for the last three weeks, I think he’s one that’s spent the most time in the gym, he’s been coming in the most, he’s been watching the most film. He’s tried to be a better leader. I’ve been hard on Eron, I’ve been good with Eron, I couldn’t ask for anything more than he’s given me this last month. So that saddens me the most, if it’s an extended injury.”
Harris has struggled to understand who he is as a player, his limitations, how he best fits. There aren’t many players of his skill set who don’t struggle with this. I’ve covered junior college players headed to Division II programs to be role players who thought they were NBA bound. Delusion is a joy of youth. Ask me when I stopped thinking I’d one day play quarterback for the Denver Broncos. I was way too old.
Lately, though, Harris had begun to better grasp his place in basketball and this MSU team.
“Everything is better late than never,” he said recently. “I learned that I’m versatile. I learned that I’m needed. I’ve learned how to be a better vocal leader and a better example for people.
“You know when you’re approaching the end of something you can really feel it? I can really feel it right now.”
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.