Keith Appling Is Showing Signs Of Kalin Lucas

After seeing Keith Appling make this beautiful move around Jeff Withey and Kevin Young, switching hands and kissing the ball of the glass to seal the Spartans win over the Kansas Jayhawks, many MSU fans thought: Hey, this reminds me of Kalin Lucas.

It reminded me of Kalin Lucas, too, this clutch offensive skill. I knew Appling wasn’t at the level of Lucas, offensively, so I decided to see the career difference between the two:

Stat Keith Appling Kalin Lucas
PPG

9.1

14.2
FG %

42.9

42.5
3 PT %

33.2

37.7
APG

2.7

4.0
Floor%

48.9

52.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we can see, the offensive production isn’t as lopsided as I thought. Although throughout his career, Lucas averaged 5 more points than Appling, the field goal percentage is almost dead even.

The two biggest stats that make Kalin Lucas seem so much better on the offensive ball are points per game and three-point percentage. When Kalin Lucas took a three, it was exciting. When Appling took a three, Spartan fans cringed.

Have things changed?

Although through his first two seasons Keith Appling has been less than lovable offensively, two games through his junior campaign he looks like a different player. So far, he’s averaging 18 points per game and 62.5% (5-8) from beyond the arc. Granted, this is a small sample size, but this would’ve never happened last year. There were times where he would not hit threes for 3 or 4 straight games. If the Kansas and UCONN game are signs of things to come, Appling’s offensive production this year will be a ton better than years prior.

It’ll be exciting to see.

  • spartanski

    When Lucas shoots it’s exciting when Keith shoots you cringe?

    4%!!!!!!!!!

    No way you can say 4% requires that big of a difference. You have lost it.

    • http://banksoftheredcedar.com/ Jameson Draper

      1.) They take into account this years 3PT%, and Keith is playing well.

      2.) I don’t know about you, but I cringed every time Appling took a three last year. He didn’t shoot with confidence. Izzo said over the offseason that Appling’s confidence and his shot has improved greatly, and it’s already showing.

      That’s what I mean.

      • kungfu48

        That’s what happens when you take 500 shots a day in the off season. It’s really showing this year in confidence and accuracy.

    • iancartwright

      His freshman year was a different story, but if you could watch Keith shoot the three his sophomore year and NOT cringe, well, then you must not be a fan of Michigan State basketball.

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