Super flub to super sub: Allen on target

EAST LANSING - He calls up Jason Richardson, hears stories of Morris Peterson, watches film of Maurice Ager and Drew Neitzel.

Chris Allen is using the Michigan State basketball program as his personal library, with former Spartans acting as reference material in Allen's self-improvement project.

Whether it's their help, coach Tom Izzo's public pleas for Allen to shoot, an inevitable spike in Allen's confidence or a combination of all three, one thing is clear: Allen has made the transition from struggling to surging.

He is averaging 18.3 points in the past three games, making 13 of 24 shots (54.2 percent) from 3-point range. In the previous four games, he averaged 5.3 points and made just two 3-pointers on 11 attempts.

"If there's been a most improved player in the last three weeks, it's him," Izzo said of Allen. "He's making shots all over the place, but that's not what excites me."

Allen's entire game appears to be coming together as No. 19 MSU (6-2) prepares to host The Citadel (5-5) tonight, before heading to Houston to play No. 5 Texas on Saturday. He will come off the bench tonight - and perhaps for the rest of the season as MSU's sixth man.

That's a role Izzo likes to have cemented, but in some years a definite sixth man does not materialize. Izzo is hoping Allen can be an "instant offense" sub in the mold of Peterson, who was a Big Ten first team selection as MSU's sixth man in 1998-99.

Allen has heard all the stories from a decade ago, when Peterson eventually learned to play defense and earned himself playing time.

It actually wasn't until Peterson's third season, as a redshirt sophomore in 1997-98, that everything clicked.

"Chris is probably way ahead of where Morris was at the same point," Izzo said.

But the defensive struggles of Allen and fellow sophomore Durrell Summers have been a frequent topic around Breslin Center since practice began in October. Maybe the most frequent topic.

Allen and Summers appeared to improve over the course of last season, but focus and intensity were lacking in the first few games this fall.

Izzo has been harping on it less lately in Allen's case. He even said Monday that Allen's defense "has improved dramatically from the beginning of the year."

"Coach hasn't said it in a while, so I guess I'm getting better," Allen said. "That's my main goal right now is to get people to stop saying that."

As December arrived, Allen was at a low point. He was removed from the starting lineup after an 80-62 loss to Maryland on Nov. 27 in the Old Spice Classic that saw him shoot 2 of 10 and defend poorly.

He came off the bench and took just nine shots in the tournament's next two games, prompting Izzo to declare publicly that Allen had the green light to shoot at all times.

Allen knew his shooting would be needed this season, especially with Neitzel gone. But hearing it like that seemed to have an effect.

In MSU's next game, a 98-63 blowout loss to No. 1 North Carolina, Allen responded with 16 points, 13 in the first half when the game was still in question. He has been taking and making shots in two games since.

Allen calls Richardson occasionally for advice, and he watches film of past gunners Neitzel and Ager, to watch their form in coming off screens and shooting.

Like many players, Allen spent his high school days dominating the ball and shooting off the dribble. He said he wants to turn himself into a combination of Ager and Neitzel.

"That's a great shooter, right there," he said.

The shots are falling right now, which seems to be helping Allen's running, passing and defending.

"It's just a whole new focus from him," senior guard Travis Walton said of Allen.

And it's early, with many ups and downs possible in the coming months.

For now, Izzo has nothing but good things to say about Allen - and they sound a lot like things he said in the past when things turned around for Peterson, Richardson, Ager and Neitzel.

"He gets it," Izzo said. "He's the most improved Spartan by far right now."

Contact Joe Rexrode at 377-1070.