Controlling the Tempo: Kalin Lucas Is Ready to Command the Spartans

Kalin Lucas certainly has a lot to live up to at Michigan State, then again, who wouldn't? Magic and Mateen played there. In order for "Too Easy" to cement his name in the Michigan State record books, he needs to do one thing: win an NCAA Championship.

There's no question that Kalin Lucas is one of the all-time greats in Spartan Hoops lore. The Junior out of Sterling Heights, Mich., has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's got what it takes to join the likes of Magic Johnson and Mateen Cleaves when it comes to the list of "Elite Spartans."

Mateen Cleaves came to East Lansing with one thing on his mind: He knew that he had the talent and coaching behind him to make a run in the NCAA tournament, and he did so in 2000, beating the Florida Gators in the National Championship.

Cleaves was the quintessential floor general, leading the Spartans to two consecutive Final Fours (99-00), winning it all in 2000.

Where does Kalin Lucas fit in this conversation? Sure, both Magic and Mateen have titles to their credit, Kalin still has two more years to cut the nets down, and he WILL.

The style of play differs amongst the three, but the results are mirror images of themselves: taking CONTROL. That's what point guards do, they set the tempo of the game, distribute the ball where needed, and take charge when asked to.

Kalin does all of these, and he does them well. Is he better than Magic or Mateen? That question still has two more seasons to be answered.

Without hesitation, I'll say that Kalin and the Spartans endured a Herculean road to the Final Four last March/April. Michigan State was able to knock off two No. 1 seeds in UConn and Louisville, the Kansas Jayhawks (led by Sherron Collins), a 10th-seeded USC Trojans squad...not to mention they had to duel with North Carolina.

I can't think of any team in recent memory that had such a hill to climb, but Kalin Lucas was there to lead the charge.

Rather than dwelling on the loss, I chose to see the positives (weird, huh?). I imagined the "what-could-be's" of the upcoming season, wondering how far Kalin could take the Spartans.

Michigan State's pre Big-Ten schedule is one of the more challenging as well, they'll have to face the Texas Longhorns and rematch the North Carolina Tar Heels next week, a game that I'm sure that Kalin has had marked on his calendar since the spring.

The Spartans have proven they will be a formidable opponent come March Madness, already "tournament" tested by Gonzaga and Florida.

To compare Kalin Lucas and Mateen Cleaves is similar in the comparison of any all-time greats. Joe Montana or Tom Brady, Michael or Bill, Barry or Sweetness, it's all a matter of opinion, I suppose.

I've been a Spartan fan all my life, and I'd take Kalin (title or no title) over my hometown hero Mateen Cleaves for a multitude of reasons.

I've seen the Eric Snows and Shawn Resperts, the Marcus Taylors and Mateen Cleaves, even Shannon Brown and Drew Neitzel.

I remember Steve Smith, and every other Spartan of notoriety in the last two decades. Lucas is the purest point guard/guard in regards to this list.

Mateen was a football player that could hoop, his style showed it. When Cleaves drove to the rack, it was as if he was a running back cutting through a barrage of linebackers.

When I see Kalin, I conjure up a completely different image. I see more of a graceful, refined approach, either way, they both made it happen.

Here's a look at some career numbers:

Mateen averaged 12.5 points per game, while dishing out 6.6 assists. He finished his storied career in East Lansing shooting just over 40 percent from the field and 31 percent from beyond the arc.

Kalin, who still has two more years to seal his legacy, has comparable numbers. He also has a Final Four/National Final to his credit.

"Too Easy's" numbers: 12.8 points per game, but factor in he only played 17 games as a freshmen, Mateen played in 26. Lucas dishes out 4.6 assists per game, and shoots 41 percent from the field.

Remember, these means are brought down a bit because of his freshman campaign. Kalin pops threes at a success rate of about 38 percent, significantly higher than Cleaves' 31 percent.

This stat is important for one reason: it shows that Kalin is not a one-dimensional player; he can drive and shoot.

Mateen notoriously had problems at the charity stripe, sinking only 74 percent of his freebies, compare that to Kalin's FT percent of 80.

I'm sure that this article will draw a debate, and that's okay, it's what I intended to do. 

If Kalin Lucas can lead the Spartans to glory in 2010, there should be NO debate on who the better of the two is.

I've left Magic out of the latter part of the article for one reason, he's Magic, enough said.

Kalin will need to win back-to-back titles in order to surpass Earvin (Spartan-wise, of course). 

Kalin brings a certain swagger and winning attitude to the Spartans. Mateen had arguably more talent surrounding him, he was part of the class of '96, the Flintstones.... MSU's version of the Fab Five.

They were SUPPOSED to win a championship. Kalin came to Izzo and East Lansing to do the same thing.