Michigan State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosts Wisconsin
1/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 13, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Michigan State (13-1)vs. Wisconsin (10-3)January 13, 20014:30 p.m. ESTBreslin CenterEast Lansing, Mich.
Media Coverage
Radio: Spartan Sports Network - George Blaha (Play by Play), Gus Ganakas (Color), Will Tieman (Broadcast Host). Flagship - WJIM (1240 AM/97.5 FM) - 35 affiliates.
TV: ESPN Plus Regional - Wayne Larrivee (Play by Play), Greg Kelser (Color)
MSU-Wisconsin Game Notes
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Note Of The Game
In Case You Missed The Trip To Indy Last March - Wisconsin becomes the fourth and final member of the 2000 Final Four to play in the Breslin Center this season. MSU defeated North Carolina, 77-64, on Nov. 29, and defeated Florida, 99-83, on Dec. 6. This is the first time in history that a defending NCAA Champion has played the other three Final Four participants at home the following year.
And The Rest Of The Starting Five
1. Bell In Exclusive Company - Charlie Bell is one of just two players in Division I basketball to average 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Bell currently averages 17.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists. Monmouth's Rahsaan Johnson (18.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 5.8 apg) is the other player.
2. The 700 Club - With two more rebounds, Andre Hutson will reach 700 for his career. Currently standing at 698 career boards, Hutson needs 16 rebounds to pass Lee Lafayette (713 rebounds) for 10th place on the MSU career list.
3. Mr. Double-Double (Almost) - Andre Hutson has posted two double-doubles this season with 11 points, 12 rebounds against Illinois-Chicago and 20 points, 13 rebounds vs. Penn State. In four other games, Hutson was just a single point or rebound shy of a double double, including contests against Eastern Washington (11 pts., 9 reb.), North Carolina (14 pts., 9 reb.), Seton Hall (9 pts., 13 reb.) and Northwestern (19 pts., 9 reb.) For his career he has 12 double-doubles.
4. A Class Act - With a win against Northwestern, the senior class of Charlie Bell, Mike Chappell, Andre Hutson, Brandon Smith and David Thomas recorded its 100th win over the last four years. In the last three-plus seasons, MSU has a record of 100-21. Last year's Spartan seniors had a four-year mark of 104-32, the fourth-most number of wins by a Big Ten senior class. Indiana owns the most wins over a four-year period with a record of 108 from 1972-73 to 1975-76 and from 1990-91 to 1993-94. Indiana also posted 105 wins from 1989-90 to 1992-93, 102 from 1973-74 to 1976-77 and 100 from 1974-75 to 1977-78. (Note: David Thomas is a fifth-year senior, while Brandon Smith and Mike Chappell transferred into MSU.)
Coach Izzo - In his sixth year, Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan, '77) is 133-49 (.731), 61-26 (.701) in the Big Ten, as the coach of the Michigan State basketball program. He is the third winningest coach in MSU history, trailing only Jud Heathcote (340) and Benjamin VanAlstyne (232) in total wins. Izzo's 120 wins in his first five years tied for him seventh most by a coach in his first five seasons of coaching. 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. With MSU's 77-71 overtime win over Indiana on Jan. 11, 2000, Izzo became just the fourth Spartan coach to reach the 100-win mark.
Izzo Vs. Wisconsin - Tom Izzo is 10-3 against Wisconsin, including 4-1 in East Lansing.
Much Too Young To Feel This Old - Although just in his sixth year, Tom Izzo is currently tied for the second-longest coaching tenure in the Big Ten, trailing only Purdue's Gene Keady (21st year). Penn State's Jerry Dunn is also in his sixth year.
Izzo vs. Ranked Opponents - In his five-plus seasons of coaching, Tom Izzo has posted a 34-25 record against foes ranked in the AP Top 25. This includes wins in 22 of MSU's last 26 games against ranked opponents.
Wisconsin Notes
Briefly On Wisconsin - Wisconsin comes to East Lansing with a 10-3 record, 1-2 in the Big Ten, having most recently lost at Purdue, 73-67. The Badgers are led by senior Roy Boone, who is averaging 13.9 points per game. Senior Mike Kelley leads UW in assists (54) and steals (27).
Coach Soderberg - Brad Soderberg (UW-Stevens Point, '85) is in his first season as head coach at Wisconsin. He took over after Dick Bennett resigned on Nov. 30. Under his direction, the Badgers have posted an 8-2 record.
MSU Vs. Wisconsin - Michigan State leads the all-time series with Wisconsin by a 61-47 mark. In East Lansing, the Spartans own a 37-12 advantage. The Spartans have won six straight games against the Badgers and 10 of the last 11. Last year, MSU and UW met a remarkable four times, including once in the Big Ten Tournament and once in the NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin's last win was a 66-51 victory on Jan. 6, 1999, after which Michigan State won 15 straight-conference games to win the Big Ten title. The Badgers have not won in East Lansing since Feb. 24, 1996.
Senior Experience - In a era where it seems that many teams are lacking senior leadership, Wisconsin and Michigan State are the exception. Each team features five seniors on its roster. UW's Roy Boone, Mike Kelley, Andy Kowske, Maurice Linton and Mark Vershaw have played in 478 career games at Wisconsin. MSU's Charlie Bell, Mike Chappell, Andre Hutson, Brandon Smith and David Thomas have played 446 games for the Spartans. All five Badger seniors rank among the top six in scoring on the team, averaging a combined 45.2 points per game. MSU's five seniors average 41.9 ppg.
Looking Ahead - Ohio State
Buckeye Bits - After facing Wisconsin, Michigan State will have a week off to prepare for Ohio State when the Buckeyes journey to East Lansing on Sunday, Jan. 21. Ohio State heads into the weekend with a 10-5 record, 1-2 in the Big Ten, having most recently lost at home to Penn State, 78-75. Center Ken Johnson leads the Buckeyes, averaging nearly a double-double in Big Ten action at 17.7 points and 9.0 rebounds.
