Spartans Make Rare Bay Area Appearance
12/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2001
OAKLAND, Calif. - Michigan last appeared in the Bay Area 53 years ago, and No. 13 Michigan State hasn't been around in 15 years. And neither Big Ten school has played in the same regular-season event since 1961.
What brings them together to play at The Arena in Oakland on Saturday?
Pete Newell and the event named for him - the Pete Newell Challenge, in its fifth year.
Michigan State (9-3) and No. 16 Stanford (6-2) meet in the main event, while Michigan (4-4) plays San Francisco (3-7) in the other game.
"Pete is such a class person and a quality guy," Stanford coach Mike Montgomery said. "He still has great ideas about how it has to be done."
Newell, 86, a member of basketball's Hall of Fame, began his coaching career at San Francisco, then went on to Michigan State before winning an NCAA title with California in 1959. He was the first coach ever to win an NIT title (1949 with the Dons), an NCAA title and an Olympic gold medal (1960).
He still runs the Pete Newell Big Man Camp in Hawaii, and Michigan senior Chris Young was there last August.
"Anybody would be honored to play in a Pete Newell event," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said. "I have to thank Pete for what he did for the younger guys in our profession. He's been a pioneer in the field."
Newell left San Francisco after winning the 1949 NIT title for Michigan State, where he posted a 45-42 record in four seasons and oversaw the Spartans' first year in the Big Ten, 1950-51. The next season, Michigan State beat its first nationally ranked team and entered the rankings for the first time.
"I'm proud to be part of bringing this kind of event to the Bay Area," Newell said. "This area has always been good to me and I'm proud of all the coaches who have been a part of this."
Izzo comes to Oakland with four straight Big Ten titles, three straight Final Four appearances and a national championship. He's still looking for his first win away from home this season, though the Spartans are riding a season-high five-game winning streak.
"We're a little young and a little short in numbers," Izzo said. "This game will help us come Big Ten time."
Stanford is the Spartans' sixth ranked opponent this season. Michigan State has won two of the previous five, including a 74-60 victory over then-No. 6 Arizona.
The Spartans, already thin with the graduation of five seniors and two others who declared for the NBA draft, will be without junior forward Adam Ballinger, out with a sprained right ankle.
Michigan State starts two freshmen and two sophomores after losing four starters from last year.
"This is the first time it's happened to me," Izzo said. "We're just trying to keep our heads above water. Adam is one of our better shooters and rebounders and one of our most experienced players. That's a valuable part missing."
Stanford, 3-2 in its last five games, is in a similar situation. The Cardinal also lost four starters, including one who declared for the NBA, and started a freshman and sophomore through the first six games of the season. Julius Barnes, a 6-foot-1 junior, took over for 6-8 freshman Josh Childress the past two games.
"We're going to have our hands full with this game," Montgomery said. "We need to play harder, tougher, and we need people to step up. This is a great matchup."
Former Michigan State and Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson will be honored at halftime of the Michigan State-Stanford game for his contributions to the game of the basketball.
By RICK EYMER
Associated Press Writer