Spartans Ranked 10th In ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll
11/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 1, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's basketball team is ranked No. 10 in the nation according to the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll released on Thursday evening (Oct. 31). Arizona grabbed the top spot in the poll, collecting 27 first-place votes. The Spartans are the highest-ranked team not to appear in the final poll last season.
Five of Michigan State's opponents are ranked in the preseason poll, led by No. 3 Oklahoma, who captured one first-place vote. No. 17 Kentucky is MSU's other ranked non-conference opponent. MSU will play both Oklahoma and Kentucky on the road, travelling to Lexington, Ky. on Dec. 14 for a CBS telecast. On Jan. 4, the Spartans will battle the Sooners in Oklahoma City. No. 21 Indiana, No. 24 Minnesota and No. 25 Illinois join Michigan State in representing the Big Ten in the Top 25. Virginia, Wisconsin, Syracuse and Ohio State, in addition to possible Great Alaska Shootout opponents, Wyoming, Villanova and Oklahoma State are all among the top nine teams who received votes, but not enough to make the poll.
Michigan State finished the 2001-02 season with a 19-12 record. The Spartans finished one game out of first place in the Big Ten with a 10-6 conference record and advanced to a fifth-straight NCAA Tournament.
The ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll is made up of 31 members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
