By Paul M. Banks
When Kalin Lucas went down, Michigan St. lost their best player and floor general. His replacement Korie Lucious, a 5-10 sophomore point guard from Milwaukee, did an admirable job in his place.
He didn’t have the flashiest game statistically, with 9 points on 3-9 shooting, but he played every minute but one, contributed 6 boards and only committed 2 turnovers.
“Watching ESPN this last week I’ve been hearing a lot of analysts saying I can’t run the team,” Lucious said. “They don’t think we can win because Kalin went down, but I just tried to show everybody that I’m a good point guard and can run the team to a win,” he continued.
Most importantly, Lucious hit the game’s most pivotal shot, a stunning turnaround jumper with the shot clock expiring on the game’s most crucial possession.
“I just think it’s from years of staying in the gym, just working out a lot with my dad and my friends and whoever else was in the gym with me, my teammates, just having the confidence in me to take that shot, Lucious said about the play.
“I mean just staying in the gym throughout all my years and just trying to perfect shots that may seem difficult or something like that,” he said. But I don’t know, I just try to take it with confidence and try to get an open shot. I saw the shot clock was going down and thank God it went in,” Korie stated.
“This guy did a heck of a job, Korie did. It’s not easy to run the point. It’s not easy to run the point at Michigan State,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said. “And, yes, down the stretch had enough confidence to go to them in a couple of those keys, including one of the incredible shots,” the King Leonidas of the MSU Spartans continued.
It’s true, running the point at Michigan St. requires living up to the legacy of Magic Johnson, Scott Skiles, Steve Smith, Drew Neitzel and now, Kalin Lucas. Big shoes to fill indeed.
“I didn’t mess with Korie much, because I knew he was cocky enough and I knew he was tough enough, so I felt like everyone else putting pressure on him, I said just go play your game within our system,” Izzo said.
Here’s more from Lucious in his own words (see video below)