Men's Basketball Travels To Wright State
12/29/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 29, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
#8/6 MICHIGAN STATE BASKETBALL (9-3)
vs. Wright State (3-8)
Dec. 30, 1999 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Dayton, Ohio
Note Of The Night
End Of A Century - Tonight?s contest marks the final game of the 1900?s for Michigan State basketball. Before turning ahead to the next century, consider some of MSU?s accomplishments over the last 100 years: a record of 1,213-899, eight Big Ten titles, 19 All-Americans, five Big Ten Players of the Year, 45 NBA draft picks and one NCAA Championship.
Three More Notes No Media Person Should Be Without
1. Raider Roundup - Tonight?s game marks the second meeting between Michigan State and Wright State. The Spartans lead the series, 1-0, having won, 95-52, on Dec. 17,1997 in East Lansing. Six Spartans, including Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell and Morris Peterson, scored in double figures in the last meeting. Wright State is coached by third-year head coach Ed Schilling, who has posted a 22-44 record at WSU.
2. Michigan State Buckeyes - Four members of the Spartan squad call Ohio their home. Andre Hutson went to Trotwood-Madison High School just outside of Dayton, where he was voted Ohio?s Player of the Year by the state?s coaches as a senior. Senior A.J. Granger calls Findlay, Ohio home and attended Liberty-Benton High School, where he earned all-state honors as a junior and senior. Adam Wolfe (Westerville, Ohio/South HS) and Jason Andreas (Sugar Creek, Ohio/Garaway HS) are freshman on the Spartan squad and will likely redshirt this season.
3. From Way Downtown - Bang! - On the season, the Spartans are shooting 41.6% (77-185) from 3-point range, including 50% (24-48) in the last three games. The 41.6% mark is the best for a Spartan squad since the 1989-90 team shot 43.1% from behind the arc. In fact, only six teams have finished the season above 40%: 1989-90 (43.1%), 1987-88 (42.1%), 1988-89 (41.9%), 1986-87 (41.6%), 1994-95 (40.8%) and 1982-83 (40.0).
MSU - WSU Stat ComparisonsCategory MSU WSUScoring Offense 75.2 60.2Scoring Defense 59.4 68.5Scoring Margin +15.8 -8.3Field Goal Pct. .477 .394Field Goal Pct. Defense .407 .4313Pt. FG Pct. .416 .322Free Throw Pct. .700 .740Rebound Margin +13.3 +3.3Turnovers per game 16.3 18.6Coach Izzo - In his fifth year, Tom Izzo is 97-44 (.688) 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 12 games, Spartan opponents are averaging 59.4 ppg with a field-goal percentage of 40.7 (34.5% from three-point range).
It?s All About Boardwork - Through 12 games, MSU has outrebounded its opponents by a 475-316 count. In the Spartans? nine victories, the count is 372-222, 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 115 of 141 opponents, posting an 87-28 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 sixth 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 1,134 points. With 13 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 12 games this season, nine players are averaging 12.8 minutes or more.
Battle Of The Benches - Much of Michigan State?s success can be attributed to its outstanding bench production. Through 12 games, Spartan reserves are outscoring their counterparts by a 273-164 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 12 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).
Big Ten Career AssistsNo. Player Assists1. Bruce Douglas (ILL) 7652. Gary Grant (MICH) 7313. Bruce Parkinson (PUR) 6904. Scott Skiles (MSU) 6455. Mateen Cleaves (MSU) 637
MSU Career AssistsNo. Player Assists1. Scott Skiles 6452. Mateen Cleaves 6373. Eric Snow 5994. Mark Montgomery 5615. Earvin Johnson 491
MSU Career 3-Pt. Field GoalsNo. Player 3FGs1. Shawn Respert 3312. Kirk Manns 2123. Jason Klein 1524. Steve Smith 1475. Mateen Cleaves 1116. Ray Weathers 997. Kris Weshinskey 978. Morris Peterson 90
MSU Career StealsNo. Player Steals1. Scott Skiles 1752. Mark Montgomery 1683. Mateen Cleaves 159 Sam Vincent 159
MSU Career ScoringNo. Player Points1. Shawn Respert 2,5312. Steve Smith 2,2633. Scott Skiles 2,1454. Greg Kelser 2,0145. Jay Vincent 1,9146. Sam Vincent 1,8517. Terry Furlow 1,7778. Mike Robinson 1,7179. Darryl Johnson 1,38310. Bob Chapman 1,38211. Julius McCoy 1,37712. Matt Steigenga 1,29613. Quinton Brooks 1,27514. Stan Washington 1,24215. Mateen Cleaves 1,226T16. Kirk Manns 1,212T16. Ken Redfield 1,21218. Mike Peplowski 1,18519. Lee Lafayette 1,17620. Lindsay Hairston 1,15521. Pete Gent 1,14622. Morris Peterson 1,134
MSU?S RECORD WHEN:
At home: 5-0On road: 1-2Neutral: 3-1Leading at the half: 9-2Trailing at the half: 0-1Tied at halftime: 0-0
Shoot 50% or above from field: 4-0Shoot less than 50% from field: 5-3Opp. shoots 50% or above: 0-2 Opp. shoots less than 50%: 8-2MSU outshoots opp.: 8-1Opp. outshoots MSU: 1-2Both teams shoot same from floor: 0-0
MSU outrebounds opp.: 8-2Opp. outrebounds MSU: 0-0 Rebounds are equal: 1-1
MSU has more turnovers: 3-1Opp. has more turnovers: 3-1Turnovers are equal: 3-1
Game decided by 1-5 pts: 1-1Game decided by 6-10 pts: 1-1Game decided by 11-15 pts: 1-1Game decided by 16+ pts: 6-0
MSU scores less than 60 pts: 1-1MSU scores 60-69 pts: 1-1MSU scores 70-79 pts: 3-1MSU scores 80+ pts: 4-0
MSU allows less than 60 pts: 7-0MSU allows 60-69 pts: 1-1 MSU allows 70-79 pts: 1-1MSU allows 80+ pts: 0-1
MSU in overtime: 0-0
EVEN MORE STATSLargest halftime lead: 30 vs. MVSU Largest halftime deficit: 5 vs. ArizonaMSU FG% at home: 51.4%MSU FT% at home: 74.8%MSU 3PT% at home: 42.8%MSU FG% on the road/neutral: 45.1%MSU FT% on the road/neutral: 65.9%MSU 3PT% on the road/neutral: 41.1%MSU point avg. at home: 81.8MSU point avg. on road/neutral: -- 70.4
Largest deficit overcome to win: -- 2vs. North Carolina & Eastern MichiganLargest lead surrendered in a loss: --15vs. Texas (38-23) and Kentucky (26-11)