Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Cagers Tangle with Fighting Illini Jan. 16
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
January 15, 1999
MICHIGAN STATE (13-4 Overall; 2-1 Big Ten) vs.
ILLINOIS (8-8 Overall; 0-4 Big Ten)
Saturday, Jan. 16 - at Illinois - 8:05 p.m.
The Michigan State men's basketball team hopes to build upon a two-game winning streak this Saturday (Jan. 16) when it battles the University of Illinois in a road test. Assembly Hall (16,450) on the Illinois campus will serve as the site of the 86th meeting between the Spartans and Fighting Illini and tipoff is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. (EST).
Following its meeting against Illinois, the Green and White will face Iowa at home next Thursday (Jan. 21) starting at 7:35 p.m. (EST).
MSU PROBABLE STARTERS
F - #44 JASON KLEIN (Sr., 6-7, 10.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg) F - #34 ANDRE HUTSON (So., 6-8, 9.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg) F - #13 ANTONIO SMITH (Sr., 6-8, 7.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg) G - #14 CHARLIE BELL (So., 6-3, 7.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg) G - #12 MATEEN CLEAVES (Jr., 6-2, 11.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 6.6 apg)ILLINOIS PROBABLE STARTERS
F - #00 VICTOR CHUKWEDEBE (Jr., 6-7, 4.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg) F - #32 CLEOTIS BROWN (Jr., 6-4, 10.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) C - # 4 FESS HAWKINS (So., 6-10, 6.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg) G - #13 CORY BRADFORD (Fr., 6-2, 14.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg) G - #40 SERGIO McCLAIN (So., 6-3, 9.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Coverage
The MSU-Illinois game will be televised locally by WLAJ-TV (Ch. 53). Other stations in Michigan slated to air the game include WDWB-TV (Ch. 20) in Detroit, WXMI-TV (Ch. 17) in Grand Rapids and WFUM (Ch. 28) in Flint. Handling the play-by-play will be Tim Staudt while Doug Altenberger provides analysis.
All MSU basketball games can be heard on WJIM Radio (1240 AM/97.5 FM). Describing the play-by-play will be Mark Champion while former MSU coach Gus Ganakas serves as analyst.
The Coaches
Michigan State is directed by head coach Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan '77), who is in his fourth season at the helm of the program. Izzo checks into the Illinois game with a school and career mark of 68-40. Last season, he was named the national coach of the year by both the Associated Press and the United States Basketball Writers Association. In games at the Breslin Center, Izzo has a 43-12 mark, 25-28 in road/neutral contests. He is 3-3 vs. Illinois.
Illinois is guided by third-year head coach Lon Kruger (Kansas State '75) who shows a school record of 53-28. While at Illinois, he has led the program to a pair of NCAA Tournaments. In 17 seasons as a head coach, Kruger has a career slate of 290-213. He stands 3-2 all-time vs. MSU, 3-1 while at Illinois.
THE RECORDS
Michigan State, ranked No. 10 by USA Today/ESPN and No. 14 by the Associated Press, brings a 13-4 record into the Illinois contest, 2-1 in the Big Ten. MSU won its second straight league encounter this past Wednesday, topping No. 19 Minnesota, 71-55, at the Breslin Center. In that game, the Spartans went into halftime with a 30-23 halftime lead, thanks in part to a 16-2 run over a 7:30 span that gave them a 28-14 lead with 3:03 left in the first half. In the second half, the Golden Gophers drew to within five, 39-34, with 14:58 left, but an 11-3 spurt, keyed by three-point field goals by sophomore Lorenzo Guess, and juniors A.J. Granger and Morris Peterson, helped push the game out of reach. Senior Jason Klein broke out of a shooting slump and tallied a season-high 21 points to lead the scoring attack for MSU while Mateen Cleaves (14 pts.) and Morris Peterson (11 pts.) rounded out the double-figure point producers. The Spartans were aided in the win by hitting a season-high eight three-point field goals along with a 37-24 advantage on the glass.
Illinois hosts MSU aiming to snap a four-game losing streak that has dropped its overall record to 8-4, 0-4 in the Big Ten. In their most recent outing, the Fighting Illini came out on the short end of a 63-54 decision to Purdue on Wednesday at West Lafayette.
THE SERIES
In a series that started in 1951, Illinois posts an all-time record of 45-40 against Michigan State. In games played at Champaign, the Fighting Illini are 29-13 against the Spartans and have captured the last two affairs at Assembly Hall. Last season, the squads split a pair of meetings with MSU winning at home (68-64) and Illinois capturing an 84-63 decision on its home court.
SPARTAN BENCH SOLID AFTER 17 GAMES
Through 17 games, MSU reserves have compiled an impressive 454-216 (26.7 vs. 12.7) scoring advantage against opposing benches. In the Minnesota game, Spartan reserves finished with a 26-11 scoring bulge and chalked up an 11-3 edge on the boards. In the last six games, Spartan subs have racked up a 148-50 scoring advantage vs. their opposition. MSU reserves have outpointed opposing team reserves in 15 contests with two games ending in ties (Michigan, (1/9) & Pepperdine).
MSU AND THE BRESLIN CENTER
The win over Minnesota (Jan. 13) boosted MSU's all-time record in Breslin Center games to 117-27 (.812) since the facility opened in 1989 (55-7 vs. non-conference opponents, 62-20 in Big Ten contests). MSU has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in 78 contests at the BSEC while allowing foes to reach that mark on just 21 occasions.
SMITH AMONG MSU TOP 5 CAREER REBOUNDERS
Senior forward Antonio Smith's game-high 11 rebounds in the Minnesota game increases his career total to 830. Smith, who holds down the No. 4 spot on the school's all-time rebounding list, has 40 career outings of 10 or more boards (seven this season) including seven of 15-plus caroms.
MORE ABOUT LAST GAME
MSU finished the Minnesota game with an 18-1 advantage in offensive rebounds ... MSU's eight treys vs. Minnesota marked the highest total by a Spartan team since last season's regular-season finale vs. Purdue (8) ... All eight of MSU's wins at home have been greater than 12 points ... Minnesota 20 turnovers marked the eight time this season MSU had forced 20 or more opponent miscues ... MSU's 18 offensive rebounds vs. Minnesota marked the sixth straight outing that they had grabbed 10 or more caroms on the offensive end and the 15th this season.
MATEEN CLEAVES UPDATE
Mateen Cleaves enters the Illinois game in 28th place on the school's all-time scoring list with 978 points. In addition, his 6.6 assists per game average leads the squad and the Big Ten. Career-wise, he has 475, good for fifth place on the school's all-time chart, 17 shy of moving past Earvin Johnson (1977-79) into fourth place.
SPARTAN TIDBITS
MSU has won 32 of its last 34 games when holding the opposition to 60 or fewer points (8-1 in '98-99, 13-1 in '97-98) ... Under Izzo, the Green and White post a 43-5 mark in such contests ... Since the 1996-97 season, the Spartans are 21-2 when scoring 80-plus points (6-0 in '98-99, 9-1 in '97-98) ... MSU was 17-1 when leading at halftime last season and shows a 58-9 won-lost slate in those games during Izzo's tenure as head coach (12-2 in '98-99) ... MSU has 10 or more steals in six games this year (6-0) ... The Spartans are 8-1 this year when turning the ball over 15 or fewer times.
MORE TO MUSE OVER
Through games played Jan. 13, MSU led the Big Ten and was tied for No. 16 in the nation in field goal shooting (.494) ... Through Jan. 13, the Green and White was No. 4 in the Big Ten and 20th nationally in scoring defense (60.1ppg) ... The Spartans held down the No. 4 spot in the Big Ten (through Jan. 13) in free throw shooting (.733) ... MSU is averaging 75.1 points per game vs. last year's 17-game average of 73.2 ... Last season's MSU team was shooting 45.2 percent from the floor after 17 outings ... MSU has held opponents to less than 10 field goals in 13 halves this season.
THE TURNOVER FACTOR
Entering the Illinois contest, opponents have turned the ball over more in 10 games this season with the Spartans standing 9-1 in those games. Since the 1996-97 season, MSU has a 27-4 record when turning the ball over fewer times including a 9-2 effort last year. The only blemishes on that record have come against Florida State ('97 NIT), Purdue (3/1/98), North Carolina (3/19/98) and Duke (12/2/98).
MSU STRONG ON THE BOARDS
MSU has outboarded 16 foes this year (Tulsa is the only opponent to have outrebounded MSU, 29-27) and shows a healthy 37.1-25.6 per-game edge in rebounding with the +11.5 per-game margin tops in the Big Ten. This year the Spartans have outrebounded 12 opponents by 10 or more boards. Since Tom Izzo has been head coach, MSU has outrebounded 86 of 108 opponents and owns a 60-26 record when enjoying an edge in that department.
MSU PLAYER FACTS
# 3 -- Thomas Kelley (Sr., G, Grand Rapids, MI/Union HS)
'98-99 Double-Figure Scoring Games: 4 Career DF Scoring Games: 20Has come off the bench in all 17 MSU games, scoring in 15, and enters the Illinois outing averaging 6.3 points and 16.5 minutes per contest ... Picked up seven points and four assists in 16 minutes vs. Minnesota (1/13) ... Has scored in double figures in four games including a 10-point effort vs. UNC Asheville (12/30) in 22 minutes ... Six points in 21 minutes vs. Wisconsin (1/6), his sixth outing of 20 or more minutes this year ... Shooting 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from the floor in his last three games ... Tied his career best by hitting 10-of-15 field goal attempts in totaling a season-high 21 points (team high) at East Tennessee (12/10) ... Hit four-of-eight from the floor and scored 10 points in 20 minutes vs. Central Florida (11/27) ... Tied for the team lead with Mateen Cleaves in assists with six in 21 minutes vs. Western Michigan (11/28) ... Tallied eight points in season opener vs. Northeast Louisiana (11/13).
# 12 Mateen Cleaves (Jr., G, Flint, MI/Northern HS)
'98-99 Double-Figure Scoring Games: 9 Career DF Scoring Games: 51 '98-99 Double-Figure Assists Games: 1 Career DF Assists Game: 8No. 2 on the squad and No. 19 in the Big Ten (through 1/13) in scoring (11.6 ppg) ... Paces the team and the Big Ten in assists (6.6 apg) ... Came up with 14 points (second high on team) and five steals vs. Minnesota (1/13) ... Tied for No. 11 nationally in assists (through 1/14) ... In the Michigan (1/9) contest, he hit seven-of-10 from the floor and finished with a season-high 25 points, his second game of 20-plus points this year ... Also came up with four steals against the Wolverines ... Tallied a game-high seven assists and three steals vs. Louisville (1/2) in 35 minutes ... Averaging 7.0 assists and 4.5 steals in last two outings ... No. 2 in the Big Ten in steals (2.4 spg) in games played through Jan. 13 ... Dished out a game-high eight assists and recorded a season-high six steals against UNC Asheville (12/30) ... Named to the All-Tournament Team at the Pearl Harbor Classic after averaging 16 points and shooting 55.6 percent (15-of-27) from the floor ... Totaled a team-high 17 points vs. Alabama (12/23) in the championship game of the Pearl Harbor Classic ... Has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in eight contests this year ... Seven points and nine assists (tying his second-highest mark of the year) against East Tennessee State (12/10) ... Doled out a game-high seven assists in 31 minutes vs. Connecticut (12/5) ... Team-high 33 minutes vs. Duke (12/2) where he dished out six assists ... 12 points vs. Western Michigan (11/28) in the championship game of the Coca Cola Spartan Classic ... Shot a career-best 77.7 percent from the floor (7-of-9) and finished with a game-high 17 points at Temple (11/20) ... Totaled 21 points vs. Oakland (11/17), connecting on nine-of-13 field goal attempts including three-of-five from beyond the arc ... Doled out 11 assists in a season-opening win over Northeast Louisiana (11/13) ... Leads the squad in minutes (31.1 mpg) ... Has led or tied for the team lead in assists in 46 of the Spartans' last 48 contests ... Has played in 76 career games, 70 as a starter.
# 13 Antonio Smith (Sr., F, Flint, MI/Northern HS)
'98-99 Double-Figure Scoring Games: 4 Career DF Scoring Games: 25 '98-99 Double-Figure Rebound. Games: 7 Career DF Rebound Games: 40No. 1 on the team and No. 4 in the Big Ten (through 1/13) in rebounding (7.8 rpg) ... Totaled a game-high 11 rebounds against Minnesota (1/13), the eighth time this season he had paced the team in boards ... Averaging 8.0 points and rebounds in his last three contests ... Hit five-of-seven from the floor and finished with 10 points (first double-figure scoring game since UCONN, 12/5) and posted a game-high eight rebounds vs. Michigan (1/9) ... No. 3 on the team in field goal shooting (.577), hitting 56-of-97 from the floor ... Shooting 62.5 percent (10-of-16) from the floor in his last three contests ... Has double-figure rebounds in seven games this year including a season-high 14 boards against Illinois at Chicago (12/13) and a game-high 10 boards vs. Alabama (12/23) in the Pearl Harbor Classic ... Recorded a game-high 11 caroms vs. East Tennessee State (12/10) ... Has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in 12 games ... First double-double of the season came at UCONN (12/5) with 10 points and 12 boards ... Strong effort in the Coca Cola Spartan Classic, grabbing a game-high 10 boards against Central Florida (also tied his career high with four steals) and a game-best 11 caroms vs. Western Michigan (11/28) ... No. 2 on the team in steals with 27 ... Owns nine games of two or more thefts ... Hit a career-best 10-of-12 from the floor en route to a personal-best of 20 points against Oakland (11/17) ... No. 2 on the club in minutes (28.9 mpg) ... Paced the team in scoring with 16 points in the season opener against Northeast Louisiana (11/13) ... Has played in 108 career contests, 95 as a starter ... Has started the last 74 MSU contests.
# 14 Charlie Bell (So., G, Flint/Southwestern Academy HS)
'98-99 Double-Figure Scoring Games: 4 Career DF Scoring Games: 15Has started 15 of 17 games ... Came off the bench in the Michigan game (1/9) and totaled four points and five rebounds in 18 minutes ... Hoping to increase his offensive totals that have seen him average 4.0 points while shooting 33.3 percent (5-of-15) in his last four contests ... Came off the bench vs. Louisville (snapping a streak of 43 straight starts) and picked up eight points (most since a 14-point outing vs. Pepperdine, 12/21) along with a career-high tying nine rebounds (team high) ... Averaging 7.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game ... Team's top board man in three games this year ... Picked up 14 points against Pepperdine (12/21) in the opening round of the Pearl Harbor Classic ... Five-of-seven from the floor and totaled 11 points at East Tennessee (12/10) ... Has grabbed five or more rebounds in eight contests ... Shooting 50.7 percent (32-of-63) from the floor in road/neutral games ... Eight points and eight rebounds in 30 minutes against Duke (12/2) ... Six-of-10 from the floor and finished with 14 points in 20 minutes against Central Florida (11/27) ... Team's top rebounder in the Oakland (11/17) and Temple (11/20) games with eight in each contest ... Scored 22 of his career-high 26 points in the first half against Oakland University (11/17) ... Against Oakland, he, shot 10-of-15 from the floor and led the team in rebounds in with eight ... Has played in 47 games during his career, 45 as a starter.
#30 Doug Davis (So., G, Columbus, OH/Westland HS)
'98-99 Double-Figure Scoring Games: 0 Career DF Scoring Games: 1Has come off the bench in all MSU 17 games ... Averaging 6.3 minutes and 1.6 points per game ... Has played just 14 minutes in his last four outings ... Played 18 minutes (second longest effort of the season and career) and picked up five points and a season-high four boards vs. UNC Asheville (12/30) ... Two points and two assists against Alabama (12/23) in the championship game of the Pearl Harbor Classic ... Hit a pair of treys and finished with seven points, along with a career-high four assists, in 19 minutes (tying career long) against Illinois at Chicago (12/10) ... Tallied a season-high eight points in 13 minutes at E. Tennessee (12/10) ... Scored three points at Oakland (11/17) ... Has played in 43 career games, one as a starter.
# 34 Andre Hutson (So., F, Trotwood, OH/Trotwood-Madison HS)
'98-99 Double-Figure Scoring Games: 6 Career DF Scoring Games: 18 '98-99 Double-Figure Rebound Games: 1 Career DF Rebound Games: 2Ranks No. 4 on the team in scoring (9.2 ppg) and is third in rebounding (4.9 rpg) ... Stands No. 1 on the club in field goal shooting with a 63.6 percent (49-of-77) effort ...Totaled nine points and three boards in 29 minutes vs. Michigan (1/9) ... No. 2 on the team and No. 4 in the Big Ten (through 1/13) in free throw shooting (.831) ... Averaging 6.3 points while shooting 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from the field in his last four outings ... Nine points along with a game-high eight rebounds against Wisconsin (1/6) in 31 minutes (tying season high) ... Seven points vs. Louisville (1/2) (all from the foul line in eight atts.), along with eight rebounds (second high on the team) in 20 minutes ... Led or shared for the team's lead in rebounding in four contests ... Hit four-of-five from the field and finished with 11 points (second on the team) against UNC Asheville (12/30) ... Saw a streak of shooting at least 55 percent from the floor end at seven games when he went two-of-five from the field vs. Illinois at Chicago (12/13) ... Has shot 50 percent or better from the field in 12 contests ... Hit 13 straight field goal attempts spanning three games (Duke through East Tennessee State) ... Four-of-four from the field and finished with nine points vs. East Tennessee State (12/10) ... Went six-of-six from the field and registered 12 points at Connecticut ... First double-double of the year and second of his career was a 10-point, game-high 10-rebound effort vs. Duke (12/2) ... Coca Cola Spartan Classic All-Tournament Team pick after scoring 33 points, shooting 80 percent (12-of-15) from the floor, and grabbing 10 rebounds ... Nailed six-of-eight from the floor and six-of-seven from the line en route to a season-high 18 points vs. Central Florida (11/27) ... Tallied 15 points vs. Western Michigan (11/28) ... Missed the Oakland contest (11/17) with a sprained left wrist ... Totaled 12 points and notched nine rebounds in the season opener against Northeast Louisiana (11/13) ... Has played in 46 career contests, 38 as a starter.
#42 Morris Peterson (Jr., F, Flint, MI/Northwestern HS)
'98-99 Double-Figure Scoring Games: 13 Career DF Scoring Games: 29Ranks No. 1 on the club and No. 10 in the Big Ten (through Jan. 13) in scoring with a 14.8 points per game average ... Has scored in double figures in his last nine games ... Shooting 59.4 percent (22-of-37) from the floor in his last four contests ... No. 2 on the team and tied for 17th in the Big Ten (through 1/13) in rebounding (5.2 rpg) ... Hit five-of-nine from the floor and totaled 11 points vs. Minnesota (1/13) ... Five-of-seven from the floor and six-of-seven from the line in totaling 16 points (second high on team) vs. Michigan (1/9) ... Shooting 88.2 percent from the foul line (15-of-17) in his last four performances ... Named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week (1/4) after recording 33 points and 11 rebounds in wins over UNC Asheville and Louisville ... Paced the team in scoring with 13 points at Wisconsin (1/6) ... Picked up a game-high 23 points (fourth 20-point plus effort of the season), hitting eight-of-12 from the floor, vs. Louisville (1/2) ... Leads the squad and is No. 2 in the Big Ten (through 1/13) in free throw shooting (.842) ... Named MVP of the Pearl Harbor Classic after picking up 51 points (17.0 ppg) and shooting 65.3 percent (17-of-26) from the floor ... Hit four-of-five from the floor and finished with 12 points vs. Alabama in the title game of the Pearl Harbor Classic ... No. 2 on the team and in the Big Ten (through Jan. 13) in field goal percentage (.590) ... Has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in 13 games ... Scored a team-high 18 points against Illinois-Chicago (12/13) and tied his career high in boards with nine ... Has led the squad in scoring in eight games this season ... Notched a team-high 14 points at Connecticut (12/5) where he converted seven-of-eight from the floor ... Earned a spot on the Great Eight All-Tournament Team after registering a career-high 24 points against Duke (12/2) ... Hit a career-best 10 field goals vs. the Blue Devils and tied his high in three-point field goals with four ... Has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in 12 outings ... Named MVP of the Coca Cola Spartan Classic ... Tossed in a then career-best 21 points (8-of-12 from the floor) and picked off six rebounds in the title game against Western Michigan (11/28) ... Averaging 24.0 minutes per outing ... Team's No. 2 scorer vs. Temple (11/20) with 12 points ... Shooting an impressive 62.1 percent (51-of-82) from the floor in road/neutral games ... Notched 12 points and five boards vs. Northeast Louisiana (11/13) ... Has played in 77 career contests, 21 as a starter.
#43 A.J. Granger (Jr., F, Findlay, OH/Liberty-Benton HS)
'98-99 Double-Figure Scoring Games: 2 Career DF Scoring Games: 2 '98-99-Figure Rebound Games: 1 Career DF Rebound Games: 1Has played and scored in all 17 MSU games ... Has started four games in '98-99 ... Picked up five points and five boards in 16 minutes vs. Minnesota (1/13) ... Averaging 5.0 rebounds in his last five games ... Hit a trey and grabbed five boards against Michigan (1/9) ... 24 minutes against Louisville (1/2) in a starting capacity and picked up five points and four rebounds ... Averaging 18.4 minutes and 4.6 points in his last five games ... 23 minutes vs. UNC Asheville (12/30) and finished with seven points and six rebounds (tying for team high) ... Has five or more rebounds to his credit in nine contests ... Recorded a career-best 16-point evening against Alabama (12/23) in the championship of the Pearl Harbor Classic ... Sank a career-high five field goals in the game against the Crimson Tide ... Averaging 5.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per contest ... Recorded a then career-high 10 points and five boards in 24 minutes against Illinois at Chicago (12/13) ... Turned in a 17-minute stint against Western Michigan (11/28) where he hit all three of his field goal attempts en route to eight points while posting seven boards ... Registered nine points against Central Florida (11/27) ... Started the Oakland (11/17) and Temple (11/20) contests and saw 26 minutes of action vs. Temple, grabbing five rebounds ... No. 3 on the club in offensive rebounds with 39 ... Played a career-long 32 minutes in a starting role at Oakland (11/17) and tossed in eight points while grabbing six boards ... In the season opener against Northeast Louisiana (11/13), he snatched a career-best 10 rebounds while tallying nine points ... Has played in 69 games in his career, 10 as a starter.
#44 Jason Klein (Sr., F, Grosse Ile, MI/Grosse Ile HS)
'98-99 Double-Figure Scoring Games: 11 Career DF Scoring Games: 29No. 3 on the team in scoring (10.8 ppg) ... Has scored in double figures in four of his last five contests (12.4 ppg) ... Hit seven-of-12 from the floor, including a season-high four treys, and notched a season-high 21 points (team high) against Minnesota (1/13) ... 12 points and snared six rebounds (second high on team) against Michigan (1/9) ... Went five-of-nine from the floor and finished with 13 points vs. Louisville (1/2) ... Has scored in double figures in 11 games this year ... Shooting 44.1 percent (19-of-43) from the floor in his last four games ... Five-of-eight from the floor and totaled a team-high 12 points in the win over UNC Asheville (12/30) ... Has started all 16 of the games he has played in ... Missed the Illinois at Chicago (12/13) game with a sprained left foot ... Named to the Coca Cola Classic All-Tournament Team after picking up 33 points in the two games and shooting 60 percent (15-of-25) from the floor ... Hit eight-of-14 from the floor and finished with a season-high 19 points against Central Florida (11/27) ... Seven-of-11 from the field and posted 14 points against Western Michigan (11/28) ... Picked up 10 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes at Temple (11/20) ... Has two or more treys in six contests ... No. 1 on the club in treys with 19 ... Totaled 12 points in 24 minutes in the season opener against Northeast Louisiana ... Has played in 103 games as a Spartan, 58 as a starter.
# 55 Adam Ballinger (Fr., F, Bluffton, IN/Bluffton HS) Fractured his right fibula on Thursday (12/3) ... Had played in four of the team's six games ... Longest playing stint was a nine-minute outing vs. Central Florida (11/27) ... Played eight minutes in the season opener vs. Northeast Louisiana (11/13) and registered three rebounds.
TRENDS AND TIDES
MSU's average margin of victory in its 13 triumphs is 22.4 points ... MSU has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in four of its eight home games this year while allowing two opponents to reach that mark ... MSU is 20-9 in January games during Izzo's tenure as head coach ... In the last six contests, the Spartans have totaled 99 offensive rebounds (16.5 rpg) compared to their opposition's total of 45 (7.5 rpg) ... MSU has attempted more free throws than its opposition in 10 contests this year and owns a 9-1 record in those contests ... In the last three games, MSU has been outshot from the field by the opposition (48.4% vs. 42.2%), but the Spartans show a decided 35.3-23.7 per-game edge in rebounding.
TOM IZZO CALL-IN SHOW
Learfield Sports will produce and distribute Tom Izzo's weekly radio show on Monday evenings from 7-8 p.m. The Spartan radio network, featuring 30 affiliates throughout the state, will broadcast the show live from Trippers Sports Lounge (354 Frandor) in Lansing. Coach Izzo joins host Terry Braverman for an in-depth look into the MSU basketball program. The Tom Izzo Show can be heard locally on flagship station WJIM (AM 1240).
SPARTANS BY THE NUMBERS
1
MSU's ranking in the Big Ten in scoring margin (+15.0), field goal percentage (.490) and rebound
margin (+11.5).
4
Points needed by Jason Klein to reach the 700 career plateau.
5-1
MSU's record this year when Mateen Cleaves, Jason Klein and Morris Peterson score in double figures in the same contest.
8
MSU's rating in the Sagarin ratings through games played Jan. 14. The Spartans were the top-ranked
Big Ten squad with Iowa (10th), Wisconsin (12th), Ohio State (14th) and Purdue (18th) rounding out the top 15.
10
Where Mateen Cleaves ranks all-time at MSU in steals (131).
15.9
The number of offensive rebounds that MSU is averaging through 17 games.
22
Points needed by Mateen Cleaves to reach the 1,000-career-point plateau.
46
The team-leading number of offensive rebounds that Morris Peterson and Antonio Smith have registered.
101
Number of Big Ten victories that MSU has in the 1990s.
THE SPARTANS ALL-TIME UNDER IZZO
AT HOME: 43-12
ON ROAD/NEUTRAL: 25-28
MOST POINTS SCORED: 96 vs. Oakland (11/17/98)
96 vs. Purdue (3/1/98)
95 vs. Wright St.(12/17/97)
FEWEST PTS SCORED: 43 vs. Wisconsin (1/4/97)
MOST PTS ALLOWED: 99 by Purdue (3/1/98) -- ot
92 by N. Carolina (11/21/95)
FEWEST PTS ALLOW: 33 by Illinois-Chicago (12/13/98)
39 by UNC Asheville (12/30/98)
40 by Wisconsin (1/8/98)
BEST FG PERCENT: 63.9% vs. E. Tenn. St. (12/10/98)
59.7% vs. Oakland (11/17 98)
WORST FG PERCENT: 26.3% vs. Wisconsin (1/4/97)
WHEN LEADING AT HALF: 58-9
WHEN TRAILING AT HALF: 8-29
WHEN TIED AT HALF: 2-2
LARGEST HALF. LEAD: 28 pts. vs Kans. St.(12/21/96)
26 pts. vs. Wright St.(12/17/97)
LARGEST HALF. DEFICIT: 26 pts. at Iowa (2/21/96)
FG SHOOTING AT HOME: 45.9% (1448 of 3154)
FG SHOOTING ON RD/NTRL: 44.1% (1323 of 2995)
3 PT SHOOTING AT HOME: 33.7% (245 of 727)
3 PT SHOOTING ON RD/NTRL: 33.1% (258 of 778)
FT SHOOTING AT HOME: 67.0% (779 of 1161)
FT SHOOTING ON ROAD/NEUTRAL: 67.9% (666 of 981)
SHOOT 50% OR BETTER FROM FLOOR: 30-4
SHOOT LESS THAN 50% FROM FLOOR: 38-36
OPP. SHOOTS 50% OR BETTER FROM FLOOR: 9-17
OPP. SHOOTS LESS THAN 50% FROM FLOOR: 59-23
MSU OUTREBOUNDS OPPONENT: 60-26
OPPONENT OUTREBOUNDS MSU: 6-14
REBOUNDS ARE EQUAL: 2-0
MSU OUTSHOOTS OPPONENT FROM FIELD: 55-5
OPPONENT OUTSHOOTS MSU FROM FIELD: 12-35
TEAMS SHOOT SAME FROM THE FIELD: 1-0
MSU WHEN IT HAS MORE TURNOVERS: 32-32
MSU WHEN OPP. HAS MORE TURNOVERS: 30-8
MSU WHEN TURNOVERS ARE EQUAL: 6-0
MSU POINT AVG. AT BRESLIN: 71.2 (3920 pts/55 gms)
MSU POINT AVG. ON THE ROAD: 67.3 (3570 pts/53 gms)
OPP POINT AVG. AT BRESLIN: 60.8 (3345 pts/55 gms)
OPP FG PCT AT BRESLIN: 40.6% (1192 of 2933)
IN OVERTIME GAMES: 1-3
MSU IN GAMES DECIDED BY 1-5 PTS: 14-13
MSU IN GAMES DECIDED BY 6-10 PTS: 9-7
MSU IN GAMES DECIDED BY 11-15 PTS: 20-11
MSU IN GAMES DECIDED BY 16-PLUS PTS: 24-9
WHEN SCORING 80-PLUS POINTS: 21-2
WHEN SCORING 75-79 POINTS: 10-0
WHEN SCORING 70-74 POINTS: 8-5
WHEN SCORING LESS THAN 70 PTS: 29-33
WHEN ALLOWING 60 OR FEWER PTS: 43-5
WHEN ALLOWING 61-64 PTS: 7-3
WHEN ALLOWING 65-70 PTS: 13-9
WHEN ALLOWING 71-75 PTS: 3-7
WHEN ALLOWING 76-80 PTS: 2-8
WHEN ALLOWING 80-PLUS PTS: 0-8
