Okay, maybe he's not the most important Spartan, but Mike Kebler plays an important role for this years Spartans. Yes I may have a strange love affair for him, but nonetheless, his new found importance has had a bigger impact than the average fan may know. But just watch Kebler play, and you will see the impact he has on games.
Kebler's found himself in the starting lineup with Durrell Summers struggling as much as he is. The former walk-on senior used to play just garbage time minutes, but over the past two season, Kebler has seen his role increase to a pretty important role.
Last year, Kebler started as just a garbage time guy. But he made his presence noticed as a lock-down defending, often guarding a team's best player down the stretch. There was a particular game I remember last year against Penn State. I was attending this game at the Breslin, and it was much closer than anyone anticipated. Taylor Battle had been scoring with relative success all game until down the stretch when Izzo brought in his ace up his sleeve, Mike Kebler. Kebler shut down Battle down the stretch and the Spartans held on to win.
Efforts like that are what impress out of players. Sure, guys like Kalin can drop 27 points and have huge days, but honestly, I expect them to play big in big games. But those guys who go from garbage time minutes to playing a key role late in key games are the guys that grab my attention. Because to go from garbage time to important minutes, you have to make an impression. How do you make that impression? Hard work, perseverance, and dedication, that's how.
At the beginning of this season, Kebler's role was back to where it was before the end of last season, mostly garbage time minutes. With guards like Summers, Appling, Lucious, and Lucas, there really wasn't a spot for Kebler to get in the lineup, even for his lock down defense.
But now, Lucious is gone, Durrell is struggling offensively, and let's face it, has always been kind of a defensive liability, and now Kebler finds himself in the starting lineup. Hard work and dedication goes along way kids.
THe thing I love about Kebler is that he's worked his way into the lineup by becoming a lockdown defender, something that's overlooked in today's basketball. The NBA has zero defense and doesn't even pretend to want it. Defense never makes the highlights, unless it's some thunderous and miraculous block. But that hard nosed, in your face, defending is an art that's forgotten in basketball nowadays. It's refreshing to see a guy who's role is to bring that defensive intensity. He's not out there to score, in fact he rarely shoots, sometimes passes off to a fault and turns it over, but he knows his role. He's out there to play defense and make plays with his defense.
The Spartans have turned their play around as of late, and with efforts like Kebler's they'll be fine. I always tell people that offense scores points, but runs start with defense. MSU's defensive attitude has changed recently, and it's when Kebler was inserted into the starting lineup. Good move Izzo.
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I was at the ohio st game, and he logged a solid 20 minutes and i wanna say 8 pts. His defensive presence was noted, but it hurts how he is not a threat at all from three, which teams constantly leave open on him. It's great to see his progress from last year offensively and how well he responded to the leave of korie
ReplyDeleteKebler is a liability on offense, but I think he needs to take some of these open shots, just to keep defenses honest. Who knows, maybe he'll hit a few.
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