Column: In first season, Anastos raises Spartans’ bar

By Dillon Davis | Originally Published: 02/21/12 8:31pm |Modified: 02/21/12 8:33pm |

There could have been a number of things to come off of the tip of Tom Anastos’ tongue when asked about his greatest weakness. But being the polished delegate he is, he was ready for the question but paused before answering.

It wasn’t the dreadful interview answer from a college kid en route to his first job. It wasn’t that he works too hard or cares too much or that he has too much enthusiasm.

When asked of his greatest shortcoming, Anastos said it was an inability to enjoy the moment. Whether it came as the longtime commissioner of the CCHA or the head coach of the No. 13 MSU hockey team, Anastos said it’s hard to relax with a mind that’s always racing toward the next goal.

Even after beating Michigan 3-2 in front of the largest regular season crowd of the year at Munn Ice Arena earlier in the month, Anastos was almost coy about the win and ready to talk about the next night.

Satisfied but never content, Anastos’ nature hasn’t permitted him time to slow down and appreciate what’s in front of him.
“Rather than enjoy it, it’s kind of like, ‘OK, we just accomplished that, what’s the next accomplishment?’” Anastos said.

In this case, the next accomplishment is fulfilling a preseason goal of locking up a top-four spot in the CCHA and securing home-ice advantage in the CCHA Tournament. The top five teams in the conference receive a bye in the first round of the tournament, and MSU has set itself up to get there.

Sitting in fourth place in the conference with just two games to play, the Spartans have assured themselves a finish of no worse than sixth, with the possibility to finish as high as second.

When Anastos was hired in March 2011, few thought the team would be in the position to accomplish such a lofty goal in his first season. The team won just 15 games a year ago, went into the CCHA Tournament as the No. 10 seed and was promptly swept by Alaska on the road.

But a senior-laden roster, the nation’s second-best penalty kill unit and leadership from the upperclassmen have been the straw stirring the drink for this year’s team.

Not only is the bar immediately higher this year than last, but the team demonstrates a certain confidence that the CCHA Tournament won’t be its last stop. Coming from a team without a single player with a playoff win on his respective résumé, it appears the team shares their coach’s lack of complacency.

At this time of the year, being complacent might be the worst trait Anastos and his team can have. In fact, after having to “manufacture” enthusiasm against Alaska this past weekend, now would be the time to rise to the occasion against a slumping Notre Dame team.

The Spartans are in the driver’s seat to accomplish something special in the CCHA Tournament and beyond. And if Anastos stays true to form, he’s already thought it out that far.

Dillon Davis is the hockey reporter at The State News. He can be reached at davisdi4@msu.edu.