Spartans' will has led the way
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
INDIANAPOLIS -- Playing passively doesn't describe Michigan State.
That's why the Spartans' poor first-half play against Utah, Syracuse and Iowa State in three of the Spartans' four NCAA Tournament games was so hard to understand.
|  | | Morris Peterson and the Spartans have been tough when it counts all season long. |
But, looked at another way, it makes perfect sense that the Spartans dominated their competition in the second half of each game.
The reason is simple. Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, Charlie Bell and friends wouldn't allow this team to wilt. The Spartans may have been pushed, but their concentration, focus and relentless pressure are enough to overcome those first 20 minutes.
Down 14 points to Syracuse, the Spartans simply flicked a switch and went
on a 17-0 run to outlast the Orangemen. Down 61-55 to Iowa State with 4:51
left in the game, the Cyclones went the next 4:07 without scoring as
Michigan State went on a 12-0 run. Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy had a
meltdown and the Spartans cruised into the Final Four.
The common thread? They decided to play aggressive.
"The main thing is our will to win," Cleaves said. "A lot of teams
give up when they're down. No matter what, even if we don't have a good game
in the first half, we still leave it all on the floor in the second half.
When we first came out, we weren't aggressive. In the second half, our guys
get out of tight situations by just playing. They don't think about it, they
just play and go hard."
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo isn't about to give all the credit to
the Spartans. He would rather shift the credit to the first half of his
opponents. Izzo takes a simplistic view that Utah, Syracuse and Iowa State
played better in the first half. Michigan State in the second.
He could have a point, given the fact the Spartans played the toughest
schedule in the NCAA Tournament of the Final Four teams. But ...
"Everybody talks about us waiting until the second half, but 90
percent of the year, we had a great first half," Izzo said. "Sometimes,
people never give credit to the opponents. But down the stretch, maybe we
execute a little better. Maybe it's a good point guard that does it for
you."
With Cleaves as the playmaker, Izzo has a point.
Cleaves took it upon himself to get in the face of every teammate at
halftime of the Syracuse game in the Sweet 16. He wasn't pleased with the
play of the Spartans and let them know before Izzo had a chance.
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We have the intangibles. We're a tough team with
great senior leadership with guys who have the will to win. That's the
strongest intangible for us.
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Michigan State coach Tom Izzo
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Cleaves did a little bit of everything in the comeback wins, taking
over the scoring, becoming the playmaker, and setting the defensive tone.
"Sometimes I'm the point guard, passing the ball and setting
everyone up, or sometimes I see the opening and score," Cleaves said.
"Against Syracuse, I tried to get it inside into the middle of the zone to
give us more options."
The Spartans' versatility in each game has pushed them to a win.
Cleaves took over against Syracuse. Peterson and Charlie Bell have done
their part in all three comebacks.
"You can't pinpoint one or two players," Cleaves said. "You've got
me, Morris, Charlie, A.J. Granger, Andre Hutson and then sometimes Mike
Chappell and Jason Richardson."
Granger's 3-pointer against Iowa State helped secure the win.
"We have the intangibles," Izzo said. "We're a tough team with
great senior leadership with guys who have the will to win. That's the
strongest intangible for us."
That's why the Spartans have never been counted out in this
tournament. Coming back against Wisconsin won't be easy, if the Spartans
have to Saturday.
But the intangible to win, the toughness and the senior
leadership make the Spartans the favorite to win the national title.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com
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