Izzo tries to rev up Dawson, with no luck

Madison, Wis. — For nearly the entire Big Ten season Branden Dawson has been the most consistent player for Michigan State.

He has drawn the praise of coach Tom Izzo time and again for showing the sort of energy and drive that had been seen only in spurts over the 6-foot-6 forward's first three seasons.

However, after Thursday's loss to Minnesota, Izzo was again perplexed by Dawson's effort. It was enough to lead him to start freshman Marvin Clark in his place against Wisconsin on Sunday, and it did not go well.

Michigan State lost, 68-61, and Dawson was hardly a factor. He scored just four points, turned the ball over three times and had just two rebounds — and he entered the game averaging nearly 10 rebounds a game, leading the Big Ten in that category.

"I really don't know," Dawson said when asked why he was benched. "I'd say tonight was just hard, it was kind of tough for me to get into the flow of the game. It was really hard. But like I said, I just have to come out with the same intensity I had when I was playing well."

There was, as Izzo first mentioned in the postgame presser, a little more on Dawson's mind and it was likely weighing on him Sunday. His 4-year-old son, My'Shawn, was admitted to the hospital on Friday night with pneumonia.

Dawson said his son was out of the hospital by Sunday and that he was doing well, but he did admit to losing some sleep with an early morning trip to the hospital before the team left for Madison on Saturday.

And as much as Izzo was willing to cut Dawson some slack, he wasn't apologizing for keeping him out of the starting lineup, even though it helped Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes get off to a quick start by scoring in the low post.

"I'm gonna coach my team from now on not for the media, not for recruiting, not for anything," Izzo said. "I'm gonna coach it for what's right and what's wrong. And we're not gonna play at 25-30 percent. I thought he did so, that was my decision and I'll take full responsibility for that.

"He's got some things to think about. He's gonna have to figure out what he's doing and where he's going. He's a hell of a player, he really is. And when his motor's good, he's very good. He just sometimes makes some poor choices and some poor decisions."

Clark for Dawson wasn't the only move Izzo made as Travis Trice was back in the starting lineup for the first time since the Illinois game on Feb. 7. He took Bryn Forbes' spot and it was a solid move for both as Forbes scored a season-high 21 points on 8-for-9 shooting and Trice scored 16.

It was the third straight game Trice has scored in double figures.

"Whatever coach feels is best for the team we're gonna do it," Trice said. "He's proven himself more than anybody and he felt like we needed a change we'll go with that."

Praise for Kaminsky

There was no doubting which player Izzo believes is the best in the country — Frank Kaminsky. The Wisconsin senior scored a season-high 31 points on Sunday and shot 11-for-17 from the field.

That performance had Izzo comparing him to former Purdue standout Glenn Robinson, the national player of the year in 1994 after averaging more than 30 points and 11 rebounds.

"That kid made some plays," Izzo said. "He made some shots with his right hand, with his left hand and he made passes. He played pretty good defense. I've never been more impressed with a player in our league since Big Dog back in the day. I thought the kid was sensational.

"Kaminsky was good a year ago but he's phenomenal right now. And I just think he does it in so many different ways, and he's become a better passer. He's a guy that just has the knack to draw the defense. He's a hard cover.

"I think the kid from Ohio State (D'Angelo Russell) is sensational, too. But if you talk about consistently solid and great in many different areas, there ain't nobody like him."

Slam dunks

Michigan State, which leads the Big Ten in rebounding margin, was outrebounded, 35-24. It was the first time it has lost the rebounding battle since Maryland had 52 rebounds to just 36 for the Spartans in the opening game of the conference season on Dec. 30.

… The Spartans were just 4-for-9 from the free-throw line, good for just 44.4 percent.

mcharboneau@detroitnews.com

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