Appling

[Sbee]

I just feel awful for him, he sat and cried for a long time in his locker yesterday. I think he was the reason we lost, not ripping him but he wasn't able to give this team what they needed. He had the heart of a lion but the Appling of november was nowhere to be found, it was part physical, part mental, but that guy who had a chance to go for 20 every night was needed yesterday, but that guy disappeared in january once the wrist started to lock up. He did what he could trying to take on a travis walton type role but this team needed a little more.

on a day when Uconn did a great job of taking our strength away, we needed someone to be able to drive, dish, pull up, hit jumpers, etc. their post defense put a big spotlight on Applings limitations. I think he had a great career at MSU but in the end it will be defined by what could have been if he hadn't gotten hurt.

 

[gotime909]

I just feel awful for him, he sat and cried for a long time in his locker yesterday. I think he was the reason we lost, not ripping him but he wasn't able to give this team what they needed. He had the heart of a lion but the Appling of november was nowhere to be found, it was part physical, part mental, but that guy who had a chance to go for 20 every night was needed yesterday, but that guy disappeared in january once the wrist started to lock up. He did what he could trying to take on a travis walton type role but this team needed a little more.

on a day when Uconn did a great job of taking our strength away, we needed someone to be able to drive, dish, pull up, hit jumpers, etc. their post defense put a big spotlight on Applings limitations. I think he had a great career at MSU but in the end it will be defined by what could have been if he hadn't gotten hurt.

I personally think Izzo didn't do Appling any favors by showing his loyalty to Appling. It was obvious that this team was better with Trice at the point after the injury. I know a lot of people are gonna blame Appling, but this surely falls on Izzo.

 

[Sbee]

I personally think Izzo didn't do Appling any favors by showing his loyalty to Appling. It was obvious that this team was better with Trice at the point after the injury. I know a lot of people are gonna blame Appling, but this surely falls on Izzo.

a lot does, i've said he's loyal to a fault. I think Appling could still do a lot of good things defensively, he did a good job on Napier, he had 6 field goals, at least two were on valentine and one step back on dawson after a switch. Appling was still a capable defender but maybe Izzo should have gone with Trice.

Just for the hell of it, i looked up Appling's stat line against UK this year

22 points, 8 boards, 8 assists, 4 steals 3 TO, 8-14 from the floor, 2-4 from 3. It's a shame we didn't see that player late in the year, it's bad for him because he was playing at a BTPOY level and NBA prospects looked good for him.

His career will be defined by what could have been

 

[MSUMatt28]

It's unfortunate that he and Payne had to carry that burden of keeping the Final Four streak Izzo had going for all of his recruiting classes. I know Travis Walton had the same thing back in 2009 before they played Louisville, but I and probably most other people weren't all that aware of that back then and it didn't seem to be as big of a deal.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

"I was going with my guy,? Izzo said. ?I?ve got to get my guys ready to play down the road, too. ? Keith is going to have to play and play his way through it. No, Keith is not 100 percent or even 80 percent, but he?s better than he was.''

I thought his wrist was not a problem? Now it's not even 80 percent? Trice did struggle with the pressure, maybe Valentine should have brought the ball up.