VSIAP: Nick Ward Says He Didn't Trip Wagner On Purpose

Submitted by FauxMo on

I don't recall anything posted on this (sorry if wrong), but Ward claims he didn't trip Wagner intentionally. His exact quote sort of disclaiming responsibility:

"I really don't think I did it on purpose."

When piled on top of Izzo's classy and gracious comment on the matter - "Wagner can be a pain in the butt, too, so let's not kid each other about what goes on here" - this is just pure gold... <3 U Sparty... 

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mgowild

February 9th, 2017 at 12:15 PM ^

I give him the benefit of the doubt. It wasn't a malicious play, certainly not one that you can clearly determine intent, unlike any of Grayson Allen's trips. Ward was walking, Wagner cut in front of him, Ward kept going. If this play happened with the roles reversed, we'd all be proclaiming Wagner's innocence.

Joined: 08/10/2016

MGoPoints: 1631

Charlestown Chiefs

February 9th, 2017 at 12:20 PM ^

I wouldn't be proclaiming his (Wagner's) innocence.  The correct call of a technical foul was made.  He clearly could have stopped or tried to grab onto him if he was concerned about him falling.  Hockey players do it all the time.  He was walking and thus at a much slower speed.  Not buying it.

Joined: 12/04/2011

MGoPoints: 3068

chomz14

February 9th, 2017 at 12:19 PM ^

Even if he did purposely trip him. Can you really expect a kid to say "hell yah, I tripped that son of a bitch" ? I wouldn't expect my own kid to admit it, let alone a kid that was being outplayed by a skinny 3* star German pain in the ass.

Joined: 09/03/2009

MGoPoints: 3676

bronxblue

February 9th, 2017 at 12:23 PM ^

It honestly seemed accidental when I saw it, but regardless Izzo being an asshole about it makes me happy they have to deal with the fallout for a bit.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171802

kehnonymous

February 9th, 2017 at 12:34 PM ^

I mean, if you watched the game and Sparty's collective inability to rotate onto open shooters Tuesday night, you could believe that Ward's footwork maybe was just that bad.

Joined: 11/25/2011

MGoPoints: 33021

Scout96

February 9th, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^

Lucky there is video:

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/18642969/michigan-state-nick-ward-gets-technical-foul-apparent-trip-rival

When someone walks or runs naturally, the toe stays planted or you push off the toe, and the heel lifts up/rises higher than the toe.

In the video reply, you can clearly see that Nick lifts up the front of his foot higher than the heel at the moment that he crosses Wagner's stride.  That folks is not natural, so anyone says its accidental, how could it be if one one time while he is walking does his toe side become higher than the heel side.  It was definately a trip.  

Maybe it was an attempt to anger Wagner into a reaction that would have gotten him Wagner a technical foul, and it backfired.  This is of course just speculation and not a fact.

 

Joined: 12/02/2012

MGoPoints: 1924

wahooverine

February 9th, 2017 at 1:38 PM ^

Exactly.  I don't see how it's not intentional.  When someone's walking path intersects yours perpendicularly in front of you, unless you're blind you are aware of them and instinctually make adjustments to avoid a collision, either by swinging your path out (to the right in this case) to avoid them, or you shuffle your steps or shorten a stride to create a hestitation allowing them to pass.  You don't extend your stride and allow your foot-fall to intersect theirs... unless your want to trip them or run into them (or you dont see them).  If his head were turned completely away your could make the argument that he didnt see Wagner, but that's not the case here.  He slightly lengthens his right stride and, as your pointed out, lifted up his toe to maximize the chance of a trip. GUILTY. 

Whatever, it's a rivalry and honestly Wagner is kind of an animal both in his style of play and his attitude on the court. He actively tries to get under peoples skin. Love the kid but he's one of those guys that if he were on another team, you'd hate him.  (i.e. Stauskas, Aaron Craft, Grayson Allen, UVA SG Kyle Guy, Joakin Noah, Tyler Hansborough, any tatted up white dude on Syracuse of the last 10 years, etc.)

Joined: 11/14/2011

MGoPoints: 6799

NRK

February 9th, 2017 at 2:37 PM ^

You can see the extension, albeit slight, of his step with his right foot. It's about to come down and does this odd little pause to hang there. It's just not natural unless you're trying to step over something or intentionally step further.

If it truly is an accident, I'd also think his reaction would be different rather than basically walking to the bench.

Man up Nick Ward.

Joined: 02/20/2009

MGoPoints: 6411

This is Michigan

February 9th, 2017 at 1:40 PM ^

I'm not siding on the side of unintentional but the positioning of the toe above the heel upon heel strike is absolutely part of the natural gait cycle. Need proof, watch Zak Irvin's toe in the same video. Dorsiflexion is not only natural but it's necessary for maximizing energy transfer (think spring) and to avoid tripping. Stroke survivors suffer from drop foot which is caused by muscle weakness (lack of neural drive or atrophy). A common compensatory action is to cicumduct the hip.

Joined: 08/02/2010

MGoPoints: 3560

bacon

February 9th, 2017 at 12:48 PM ^

"I really don't think I did it on purpose."

Such a sparty thing to say.  The game is over.  Man up and admit you did it and move on. Or at least keep your mouth shut.

Joined: 01/04/2009

MGoPoints: 18646

Real and Spectacular

February 9th, 2017 at 1:01 PM ^

It was 100 pct a deliberate trip and that's not me being a homer about it. As mentioned, instead of placing his right foot down naturally he raises the toe and catches Mo's foot. Meaning he held it there by tightening up his leg, enough to trip him. If he was walking naturally and their feet touched, Mo would not have fallen down. The RCMB is fooling themselves on this one if they think it was accidental. I mean his "denial" pretty much tells the story anyway.

Joined: 09/15/2016

MGoPoints: 5431

4yearsofhoke

February 9th, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^

It's pretty obvious Ward hates Wagner so that's the reason people think it's intentional. I don't really know/care.

Also I love seeing RCMB poster justify Ward by saying "we'll see who's the better player in the NBA." Just LOL a 6'10/11 C/PF with a ton of upside. Or a 6'8 C with limited mobility. Adrien Payne 2.0.

Also Mo Wagner is LESS than 5 months older than Ward. It's like RCMB thinks Wagner is 24...

Joined: 12/19/2015

MGoPoints: 2256

ItsGreatToBe

February 9th, 2017 at 2:10 PM ^

"Pride comes before the 3-9 season, or trying to convince the selection committee that Middle Tennessee was just a fluke, and pay no attention to the squeakers against FGCU or Oral Roberts, nor getting run out of Ann Arbor because counting backward from 30 is so damn hard."

-Mork D'Giornio, Head Volleyball Coach

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 2727