Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.Jared Sullinger. Jared Sullinger. Jared Sullinger.
That name dominated Big Ten basketball conversations entering this season.
Clear the stage, we were told, so Ohio State's sophomore center — who spurned the NBA last June — could lead the Buckeyes to the conference title while claiming national player of the year honors.
But it's time to call rewrite. With two weeks left in the regular season, it looks like Sullinger won't even win player of the year in the conference.
Oh, Sullinger has been plenty good. The 6-foot-9, 265-pounder is third in the league in scoring (17.5) and second in rebounding (9.2).
Michigan State's Draymond Green has been better, though, and the senior forward has the Spartans (22-5, 11-3) in control of the title chase, which Nebraska will see firsthand Saturday night in East Lansing, Mich.
The 6-7, 230-pounder — known to his teammates as "Day-Day" — has the following rankings in conference games: eighth in scoring (15.4), first in rebounding (11.1), third in 3-point shooting (45.7 percent), sixth in assists (3.9), ninth in steals (1.3).
The last player in a power conference to average 15 points, 10 rebounds and three assists was Tim Duncan at Wake Forest in 1997.
Green leads the Big Ten with 15 double-doubles in 27 games. In a comeback win Sunday at Purdue, he produced 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists — the fifth time he has posted a 20-10-5 game, which leads the nation. The next most is two.
Green had two 20-10-5 games last week alone, earning him Big Ten player of the week for the second straight week and the fourth time overall. Sullinger has been picked twice.
Boilermakers coach Matt Painter on Monday was still oohing and aahing over Green.
"It's Draymond Green's team," he said. "He's a great guy, he's a great leader and he wants the ball in clutch situations.
"He doesn't necessarily have to take the shot because he can make the decisions. A lot of times guys who can make shots can't make the decisions. He can."
But even stars need a kick in the butt every so often, which is what happened at halftime at Purdue.
Green's man, Robbie Hummel, had 18 points in the first half. So MSU coach Tom Izzo pulled Green into a small room adjacent to the locker room and told him that his play was "inexcusable."
To Green's credit, he agreed.
"I can't go in the tank on my guys," he told reporters after the game. "I had to step up to the challenge. Coach has been there for me all this time. And when he challenges me, I have no choice. I can't let him down."
Izzo said Monday what Green accomplishes while facing regular double-teaming makes him ultra-valuable. The coach compared several of his plays to the second assist credited on hockey goals.
"When he's double-teamed, it's not the kickout (pass)," Izzo said. "It's the kickout to the next one. He may not get the credit for the assist, but he did the work to lead to it.
"That's why he's so valuable in areas people don't even see. And his leadership has been spectacular."
Michigan State holds a one-game lead at the top of the Big Ten with four games to play. The Spartans already have a win at preseason favorite Ohio State. And they host OSU on March 4, the final day of the regular season.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com
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