Morgan focused on leaving MSU on top

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He has arrived — and just in time.

Coming out of high school in Canton, Ohio, as a two-time state champion, Raymar Morgan was the go-to guy.

When he came to MSU in the summer of 2006, Morgan found himself in a different role. He just was one spoke in a wheel, asked to do his part and try not to do too much.

As his career progressed, Morgan began to lose focus and become passive, letting older players handle problems and carry the load.

“I used to be really focused, just knowing what I had to do each game in high school, and now I just feel like time is just repeating itself,” he said. “I have to take the same leadership roles and the same attitude now.”

Now a senior with his MSU career winding down, Morgan finally has found his role on the 2010 Spartans, and each player can look to the co-captain to finally take the charge.

“I think everybody just has to look themselves in the mirror at one point in time and just have to accept if they like the man that they’re looking at,” Morgan said. “I’ve done that, and I’ve finally accepted who I see in the mirror, and I’m just playing that way.”

Morgan’s final true road game went as well as it could have, as did his Senior Day.

His final Big Ten Tournament didn’t.

Now, with his final NCAA Tournament, Morgan wants to make sure there are no regrets.

“It’s just realizing time’s running out, and I just want to finish with a bang,” Morgan said. “It’s been a long four years — a great four years here. I just want to finish out with a great season.”

Roe’s woes

Sophomore forward Delvon Roe still does not know how his injured knee is going to hold up should the Spartans win Friday and play two games in three days.

The Spartans planned to test Roe’s knee in the Big Ten Tournament, but were unable to after losing the opening game.

Roe has been riding a bike during halftime to keep his knee from tightening up, but bikes are not allowed at the NCAA Tournament. As of Monday, Roe was unsure what the plan would be regarding keeping him fresh.

“It gets annoying and frustrating at times, but now we’re at the point where it’s one-and-done time,” Roe said. “You have to take all that and put it to the side and go out there and just play basketball.”

Better teammate

After being reinstated from a one-game suspension, junior guard Chris Allen said he is ready to put distractions behind him and focus on being a “better teammate” in the future.

“We just have to grow up as young men and as basketball players, and I think that as the year has been going on. Like coach said, we take two steps forward and take 10 steps back,” Allen said. “We have to get it to where we’re moving forward, forward, forward, forward instead of going back.”

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