Men's Basketball To Face Kansas In Great Eight
12/6/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 6, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
#4/5 MICHIGAN STATE BASKETBALL (6-1)
GREAT EIGHT vs. #5/4 Kansas (6-0)Dec. 7, 1999 - 7:00 p.m. EST - Chicago, Ill.
Note Of The Night
Searching For Greatness - This year marks Michigan State?s third trip to the Great Eight, having split the previous two contests. MSU first played Arkansas in 1995 at the Palace at Auburn Hills, Mich., defeating the Razorbacks, 75-72. Last season, the Spartans ventured to Chicago, where they squared off against Duke, losing 73-67.
Three More Notes No Media Person Should Be Without
1. Rockin? The Jayhawks - Kansas leads the all-time series with MSU by a 3-2 count. This is the first meeting between the two school?s since the 1986 NCAA Tournament when the Jayhawks won 96-86 in an overtime game marred by controversy. A time keeping error allowed extended the game long enough to allow Kansas to tie the game with 10 seconds remaining, sending it into overtime where KU outscored the Spartans 16-6. (For a complete list of KU-MSU scores, see page 127 of the MSU media guide.)
2. Not Just A Hockey School - For the second consecutive week, and only the second time in Spartan history all three 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.
3. Something?s Got To Give (OR It?s All About Boardwork) - Although both Michigan State and Kansas feature talented basketball players, they each attribute their success to dominating the rebounding wars. Through seven games, MSU has outrebounded its opponents by a 291-190 count, while Kansas owns a 276-178 advantage through six contests. In Tom Izzo?s tenure, MSU has outrebounded 110 of 136 opponents, posting an 84-26 record in those games.
Probable StartersMichigan State (6-1) Ppg. Rpg. Apg. F - #42 Morris Peterson (Sr., 6-7, 215) 18.9 5.0 1.3 F - #43 A.J. Granger (Sr., 6-9, 230) 6.3 4.1 2.0F - #34 Andre Hutson (Jr., 6-8, 240) 12.6 7.6 1.6G - #12 Charlie Bell (Jr., 6-3, 195) 11.4 4.9 3.7G - #11 David Thomas (Jr., 6-7, 205) 2.7 2.9 4.1
Kansas (6-0) Ppg. Rpg. Apg.F - #4 Nick Collison (Fr., 6-9, 240) 8.7 6.7 2.0 F - #21 Nick Bradford (Sr., 6-7, 205) 9.5 4.8 4.5C - #44 Eric Chenowith (Jr., 7-1, 260) 10.2 5.8 2.2G - #20 Kenny Gregory (Jr., 6-5, 205) 18.0 6.5 2.0G - #13 Jeff Boschee (So., 6-1, 185) 10.8 1.2 3.3
Coach Izzo - In his fifth year, Tom Izzo is 94-42 (.691) 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 To 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 seven games, Spartan opponents are averaging 58.0 ppg with a field-goal percentage of 38.9 (32.8% from three-point range).
Long Road Ahead - The Spartans are in the midst of a stretch where they will play nine games in the 20 days between Nov. 22 and Dec. 11. Additionally, six of the remaining 11 days will be used traveling. And when the Spartans finally get a break, it?s finals week. Round trip distances to game locations include: 4,000 to Puerto Rico, 1,000 to North Carolina, 350 to Chicago and 3,200 to Arizona.
Block Party - Junior forward Andre Hutson currently ranks 10th on MSU?s career blocked shots list with 48 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.
Mo Pete On The Charts - Morris Peterson?s currently stands in 24th place on the MSU career scoring charts with 1,063 points. With 16 points against Eastern Michigan, Peterson passed Marcus Sanders (1,054), Earvin Johnson (1,059) and Johnny Green (1,062). 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.)
Turkey Tourneys - While Michigan State claimed a second-place finish at the Puerto Rico Shootout over Thanksgiving, three of its non-conference opponents were grabbing championships across the country. Kansas won the Great Alaska Shootout, Arizona won the Preseason NIT and North Carolina grabbed the title at the Maui Invitational.
Where?s Mo? - Senior co-captain and All-American Mateen Cleaves underwent surgery on October 25 to repair a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. Cleaves is expected to miss 8-10 weeks. A 10-week recovery period would have Cleaves back with the Spartans on Jan. 3, in time for the Jan. 5, Big Ten opener against Penn State.
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 junior David Thomas. This includes limiting turnovers. Over the past three seasons MSU has a 36-5 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.
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 10 occasions, with the Spartans winning every game. In the most recent example, Granger scored 11 points in MSU?s 86-76 victory over North Carolina.
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 seven games this season, nine players are averaging 14 minutes or more.
The Breslin Advantage - MSU has won 17 consecutive games in the Breslin Center. Under Coach Izzo, the Spartans have amassed a 52-12 home record. Since the facility opened in 1989, MSU has posted a record of 127-27 (.825) (58-7 vs. non-conference opponents and 68-20 vs. conference foes). The current 17-game winning streak is the longest since MSU?s 23-game streak in the mid 1960?s (Dec. 20, 1965 - Jan. 20, 1968).
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 (Mateen Cleaves, A.J. Granger, Andre Hutson, Thomas Kelley, Jason Klein, Morris Peterson and Antonio Smith) led the team in scoring at least once during the season. So far this season, Morris Peterson has been the leading scorer in five games with Andre Hutson taking top honors against Texas and Jason Richardson leading the way against Howard.
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. 10 of Michigan State?s 1999-2000 opponents are ranked in the ESPN/USA Today poll, including Arizona (2), Kansas (4), Connecticut (6), North Carolina (7), Texas (12), Indiana (14), Ohio State (16), Kentucky (22), Purdue (23) and Illinois (24).
Battle Of The Benches - Much of Michigan State?s success can be attributed to its outstanding bench production. Through seven games, Spartan reserves are outscoring their counterparts by a 165-69 margin.
AP All-Americans - Mateen Cleaves was recently 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).
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.
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./Everett) 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).