By the most significant measures - points, rebounds and postseason wins - Raymar Morgan is one of the best players in Michigan State history.
He's never been quite good enough in Tom Izzo's eyes.
The talented 6-foot-8 forward has been up and down the past two years, leaving Izzo to think long and hard before summarizing the career of his senior captain.
``Incredibly successful, and yet, leaves you wanting a little bit more,'' Izzo said carefully Thursday after looking skyward to choose his words. ``He's like that piece of apple pie your grandmother makes. You crave a little bit more all the time.''
The coach takes some of the blame for this, since he asks Morgan to do a little bit of everything. And lately, he has.
Morgan has been red hot and played a key role in helping the Spartans fight their way into the national semifinals Saturday night against Butler. In his past eight games, he is averaging 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field. The Spartans are 7-1 during that stretch.
He started the run with a 16-point, 11-rebound effort in a 53-44 win at then-No. 3 Purdue on Feb. 28.
``I just found a rhythm and I wanted to stay aggressive,'' Morgan said. ``I found my whole mentality. I think it's worked ever since the Purdue game.''
He's since had numerous big games.
He had 22 points and 10 rebounds against Michigan in the regular-season finale, then 23 points in a Big Ten tournament loss to Minnesota. He had 17 points and nine rebounds in the second round of the NCAA tournament against Maryland, and 13 points and 10 rebounds in the regional finals against Tennessee.
His teammates like what they're seeing.
``He's really stepped up,'' Draymond Green said. ``He knows this is his last go-round, so he has to step up. He's been playing great, and we just need him to keep playing the way he's been playing.''
Before that Purdue game, Morgan was averaging just 6.4 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting only 36 percent from the field. Michigan State went 3-4 during that stretch, and he slumped while point guard Kalin Lucas fought through an ankle injury.
Morgan knew he could do more.
``I think everybody just needed me to,'' he said. ``I just felt that it was time, and why not now? This is the best time for me to showcase my ability, and I'm just trying to take advantage of that.''
Morgan guarded the versatile Greivis Vasquez of Maryland in the second round of the NCAA tournament, then defended the post against Northern Iowa.
``The guy's been asked to do so many things, it's almost unfair,'' Izzo said. ``You get a guy that's multidimensional - that's what I look for. He's so multidimensional.''
Morgan has a 12-3 record in the NCAA tournament while averaging 10 points and five rebounds in those contests. He gives the credit to Izzo.
``That just the legacy coach has built here, and the footprint we're going to be leaving here is going to be amazing,'' he said. ``Coach has done a great job to build the program to where he wants it, and it's one of the top programs in the nation.''
Morgan ranks 10th in school history in points and rebounds, joining Greg Kelser and Paul Davis as the only Spartans in the top 10 in both categories. He's sixth in free throws made and fifth in free throws attempted.
Izzo blames himself for those numbers not being even more impressive.
``He's being asked to get 10, 12 rebounds one day and to make 3-point shots the next,'' he said. ``He's probably, thanks to me, it looks like he's not as successful a player because I've always wanted more from him. But as far as a team guy, a versatile guy, a guy I think can play at the next level in a variety of ways, he's having a hell of a career.''
