Men's Basketball To Host Mississippi Valley State
12/28/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
#8/6 MICHIGAN STATE BASKETBALL (8-3)
vs. Mississippi Valley State (1-8)Dec. 28, 1999 - 7:30 p.m. EST - East Lansing, Mich.
Note Of The Night
The Breslin Advantage - MSU has won 18 consecutive games in the Breslin Center, a record at the 10-year old facility. Under Coach Izzo, the Spartans have amassed a 53-12 home record. Since the facility opened in 1989, MSU has posted a record of 128-27 (.826) (59-7 vs. non-conference opponents and 68-20 vs. conference foes). The current 18-game winning streak is the longest in East Lansing since MSU?s 23-game streak in the mid 1960?s (Dec. 20, 1965 - Jan. 20, 1968). The streak is also the ninth-longest current streak in Division I.
Three More Notes No Media Person Should Be Without
1. Delta Devil Tidbits - Mississippi Valley State comes to East Lansing with a 1-8 record. This is the first ever meeting between the two schools. In fact, this game also marks the first time that the Spartans have ever faced a team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
2. Return To Michigan ? The Delta Devils have been on the road for eight of their first 10 games. Their early-season schedule has included road contests against then-No. 1 ranked Cincinnati, Iowa State and Detroit. MVSU traveled to Detroit on Nov. 30, falling to the Titans, 72-50.
3. Fans In San Fran - In the midst of preparation for the season finale against the Atlanta Falcons on Jan. 3, a couple of members of the San Francisco 49ers will have an interest in tonight?s game. As most people are now aware, 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci and Spartan head coach Tom Izzo were roommates at Northern Michigan University and childhood friends. Cheering for the Delta Devils will be 49ers receiver Jerry Rice. One of the greatest receivers in NFL history, Rice set 18 NCAA Division II records during his four-year career at Mississippi Valley State (1981-84).
MSU - MVSU Stat ComparisonsCategory MSU MVSUScoring Offense 73.3 62.8Scoring Defense 59.1 81.2Scoring Margin +14.2 -18.4Field Goal Pct. .463 .332Field Goal Pct. Defense .404 .4893Pt. FG Pct. .399 .276Free Throw Pct. .692 .630Rebound Margin +13.0 -7.1Turnovers per game 16.4 15.4
Coach Izzo - In his fifth year, Tom Izzo is 96-44 (.686) as the coach of the Michigan State basketball program. Izzo has collected national coach of the year honors in each of the past two seasons while guiding the Spartans to a two-year mark of 55-13, 28-4 in the Big Ten over the 97-98 and 98-99 seasons. In 1999, Izzo was named national coach of the year by Basketball Times, while earning similar honors from Associated Press, Basketball News and the USBWA in ?98.
Much Too Young To Feel This Old - Although just in his fifth year, Tom Izzo is currently tied for the third-longest coaching tenure in the Big Ten, trailing only Indiana?s Bob Knight (entering his 29th season) and Purdue?s Gene Keady (20th). Penn State?s Jerry Dunn and Wisconsin?s Dick Bennett are also in their fifth year.
Getting Defensive - While the offense attracts a lot of attention, the secret to MSU?s success lies on the defensive end of the floor. Through 11 games, Spartan opponents are averaging 59.1 ppg with a field-goal percentage of 40.4 (35.1% from three-point range).
It?s All About Boardwork - Through 11 games, MSU has outrebounded its opponents by a 404-267 count. In the Spartans? eight victories, the count is 335-201, while only 103-94 in the three losses. In the most recent NCAA statistics (Dec. 13), MSU?s rebounding margin of 12.9 ranked second in the nation, trailing only Kansas, who the Spartans out rebounded, 47-35. In Tom Izzo?s tenure, MSU has outrebounded 114 of 140 opponents, posting an 86-28 record in those games.
Block Party - Junior forward Andre Hutson currently ranks tied for eighth on MSU?s career blocked shots list with 51 rejections. In 1998-99, Hutson shared the team lead of 22 blocks with Morris Peterson. If Hutson continues on his current pace, he will threaten Matt Steigenga?s record of 97 rejections.
Across The Board Success - For the fifth consecutive week all three MSU revenue sports (football, hockey and men?s basketball) are ranked in the top 10. Spartan football is currently ranked ninth and hockey is number five. Additionally, the Spartan wrestlers are ranked eighth.
A.J.?s Guarantee - He?s not arrogant, but forward A.J. Granger has his own way of ensuring a Spartan victory: scoring in double figures. He has reached the 10-point mark on 12 occasions, with the Spartans winning every game but one. The mark was a perfect 11-0 until the Kentucky game, where Granger scored 10 points, but the Spartans fell 60-58.
Mo Pete On The Charts - Morris Peterson?s currently stands in 22nd place on the MSU career scoring charts with 1,112 points. With 35 points, he could pass Pete Gent (1,146) to move into 21st position. Peterson topped the 1,000 point mark with 14 against Texas (11/27). (See page 4 of the MSU Basketball Notes for a complete list.)
In Good Hands - With Mateen Cleaves expected to miss the first few weeks of the regular season, a majority of the point guard responsibilities have fallen on the shoulders of juniors Charlie Bell and David Thomas. This includes limiting turnovers. Over the past three seasons MSU has a 38-5 record when turning the ball over fewer times than its opponent.
Big Ten Favorites - The Big Ten Conference preseason picks were announced on Sunday, Oct. 31 at the Big Ten Basketball Media Day in Chicago. Michigan State will enter the upcoming season with a target on its back, having been selected by both the conference coaches and media as the favorite to win the school?s third-consecutive Big Ten Title. The Spartans received seven of 11 first-place votes from the coaches and 79 of 93 from the media. Ohio State and Illinois are second and third, respectively in both polls.
Drive For Three, Part One - If the Spartans live up to the preseason expectations, they will capture their third-consecutive conference crown for the first time in school history. Only six schools in Big Ten history have won three consecutive regular season championships (Chicago 1907-10, Wisconsin 1912-14, Purdue 1934-36 & 1994-96, Ohio State 1960-64, Michigan 1964-66, Indiana 1973-76).
Role Reversal - The Big Ten Preseason Players of the Year were also announced at Big Ten Basketball Media Day. Two-time Big Ten Player of the Year Mateen Cleaves was selected by the media as their preseason choice for Player of the Year. Ohio State point guard Scoonie Penn was awarded similar accolades from the conference coaches. Ironically, Cleaves was awarded Player of the Year honors by the coaches last year, while Penn was the media?s selection.
Drive For Three, Part Two - Should Mateen Cleaves garner his third-consecutive player of the year honors, he will become only the second player in Big Ten history to earn player of the year honors three years in a row. Since the Big Ten Chicago Tribune Most Valuable Player Award was first given out in 1946, only Ohio State?s Jerry Lucas (1960-62) has taken home the hardware three straight years. In fact, Cleaves is only the seventh player to win the award twice.
Mo Pete, Mo Accolades - In 1998-99 Morris Peterson earned first-team All-Big Ten honors despite starting only four games all season. Although no official records are kept, he is believed to be the first player in a major conference to accomplish such a feat. As he now enters his senior campaign, the expectations are higher for the Spartan co-captain as he has been named Preseason All-Big Ten by both the conference?s coaches and media.
No Slivers Here - Last year, eight Spartans averaged over fifteen minutes per game with only Mateen Cleaves seeing more than 30 minutes of action. Through 11 games this season, nine players are averaging 12.1 minutes or more.
Battle Of The Benches - Much of Michigan State?s success can be attributed to its outstanding bench production. Through 11 games, Spartan reserves are outscoring their counterparts by a 241-139 margin.
To Be The Best, You Have To Play The Best ? Take a brief look at the top 25 and you might think you?re looking at the MSU schedule. Nine of Michigan State?s 1999-2000 opponents are ranked in the ESPN/USA Today poll, including Connecticut (2), Arizona (4), Kansas (10), Indiana (12), North Carolina (14), Texas (15), Ohio State (18) and Illinois (20).
Share The Wealth - Last season, five Spartans averaged at least 7.8 points per game, led by Morris Peterson?s 13.6 average. In fact, seven different players led the team in scoring at least once during the season. The trend appears to be continuing this year as four different Spartans (Morris Peterson, Charlie Bell, Jason Richardson and Andre Hutson) have led the team through the first 11 games.
Spartans On TV ? Michigan State will appear on television 25 times during the regular season. At least 16 of the 25 games will be nationally televised, with nine on ESPN, four on CBS and three on ESPN2.
Wizards Of Westwood - Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson are among the Top-50 candidates for the John Wooden Award. On Dec. 30, 1999, the list will be trimmed to Mid-Season Top 30 candidates.
AP All-Americans - Mateen Cleaves was named to the Associated Press preseason All-America team. Cleaves, a repeat preseason All-America selection, is the only returning member from last year?s postseason All-America team. He is joined on the preseason squad by Auburn?s Chris Porter, DePaul?s Quentin Richardson, Ohio State?s Scoonie Penn and Maryland?s Terence Morris.
Seventeen players were listed on the All-America ballots. Among those receiving votes was senior forward Morris Peterson. Michigan State was one of only three teams to have two players recognized (Ohio State and Cincinnati).
Future Spartans - Michigan State announced the signing of two members of the class of 2004 on November 10. Marcus Taylor (G, 6-3, 190, Lansing, Mich./Waverly) is ranked as the number three player overall and number one point guard by Bob Gibbons. Zach Randolph (F, 6-9, 260, Marion, Ind./Marion) is the fifth-ranked senior in the nation according to Gibbons.
Izzo On The Radio - The Tom Izzo Show can be heard Monday nights from 7-8 p.m. The show is broadcast from Trippers (354 Frandor) in Lansing and is broadcast by the Spartan Radio Network. Locally, the Tom Izzo Show can be heard on flagship WJIM (AM 1240).