Michigan State University Athletics
Five Record-Setting Spartans Set To Graduate
5/4/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
May 4, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - When five seniors from Michigan State's basketball team graduate Friday, they will walk out as the most successful class in Big Ten basketball history.
Charlie Bell, Andre Hutson, David Thomas, Mike Chappell and Brandon Smith -- all members of the class of 2001 -- set a Big Ten record with 115 total wins in four years.
In the past four years, the Spartans also have:
- Won four straight Big Ten regular season championships.
- Advanced to three consecutive Final Fours in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
- Won the NCAA championship in 2000.
- Won two Big Ten Tournament championships, in 1999 and 2000.
- Accumulated a 44-game home winning streak, the longest active streak in the nation, going back to the first game of the 1998-99 season.
The five seniors fought hard to win a second consecutive NCAA title this spring, reaching the Final Four before losing to Arizona in the national semifinals.
The seniors didn't finish their careers quite where they wanted. But Hutson said in mid-March that they helped take Michigan State's basketball program another notch.
"We're trying to set a tradition here and our senior class is trying to really set a mark that we're all about winning championships," he said.
Bell and Hutson have been there for every minute of the ride over the four years and have the career statistics to prove it.
This year, Bell was named a third-team All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten honoree. Hutson was named to the All-Big Ten second team.
In addition, Bell led the Big Ten in assists his final season with 5.3 per game and over his career led the Big Ten in games started (133). He finishes his college career as the player with the most wins in Big Ten history.
Hutson ranked second in the Big Ten last season in field-goal percentage (62.1) and was sixth overall in rebounding (7.6 per game). He has started in 126 of 135 games at Michigan State and is one of only five players at Michigan State to record over 1,000 career points and 800 rebounds.
Thomas, a fifth-year senior, hurt his knee his sophomore year and was redshirted in the 1998-99 season. He finished his senior season with 5.4 points per game, a 90 percent free throw average and 4.7 rebounds a game, including a career-high 14 against Fresno State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Chappell joined the team for the 1999-2000 season after playing two years for Duke and sitting out a year after his transfer to Michigan State. During his senior year, he scored 4.7 points per game and shot 76 percent from the free throw line.
Smith, who played a role in helping the Spartans prepare for the teams they mowed down during his career, joined the team during the 1998-99 season after sitting out a season following his transfer from Coastal Carolina.
Spartans coach Tom Izzo, who will join Michigan State hockey coach Ron Mason as commencement speakers at Friday's graduation, praised the five seniors.
"I'm extremely proud that these five young men have all earned their undergraduate degrees. They have proven it is possible to excel both on the court and in the classroom," Izzo said.
"In addition, these men have been very active in the community and are positive role models. Hopefully they have set the standard for student-athletes not only at Michigan State but also around the country."
Because Bell and Hutson are in Tempe, Ariz., through Saturday attending the Nike Desert Classic, they'll miss graduation. They're among 40 college seniors showing off their skills to National Basketball Association teams and foreign basketball officials for a chance to play in the NBA or overseas.
Hutson, 22, of Trotwood, Ohio, has earned a finance degree. Bell, 22, of Flint, has earned a degree in advertising.
Attending graduation ceremonies will be Thomas, 24, an advertising major from Brampton, Ontario, Chappell, 23, an interdisciplinary social science-human resources major from Southfield, and Smith, 23, a microbiology major from Rochester, N.Y.
Photo by Kevin Fowler
