ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NFL.com | NBA.com | NASCAR | NHL.com | WNBA.com | ABCSports | EXPN | FANTASY | INSIDER
ALSO SEE
Injury can't stop Cleaves, Spartans against Gators

Frozen moment: Cleaves' courage

Vitale: Cleaves comes through


Gators left staring at Spartans' speed


INDIANAPOLIS -- Florida got beat at its own game, unable to match Michigan State's up-tempo approach with its staple of pressing and running.

But what frustrated the Gators more than anything is that they didn't feel their effort was at the same high level Monday as it was for most of the season.

Mike Miller, Morris Peterson
Mike Miller and the Gators had trouble stopping Morris Peterson.

"Early on I was surprised (at how Michigan State attacked the press)," Florida senior Kenyan Weaks said after the Spartans' 89-76 national title victory Monday at the RCA Dome. "I think there were times we gave up and (the Spartans) took advantage of that."

The Gators got beat in transition consistently, mainly by Michigan State point guard Mateen Cleaves looking for the break up the sideline after every rebound. Even when the Gators scored, they couldn't deploy their press in time because the Spartans were pushing the basketball before they could get set.

"Coach had a great game plan and we didn't execute it," said Florida sophomore Mike Miller, who only took five shots. "We knew they were going to go middle to the sideline and we didn't cover it. They kept going and throwing the ball across us. Anytime you let them go two passes and break the press (that's not good). Coach had us in the right spots, but we weren't."

The Gators also gave up too many full-court passes for layups. Cleaves had the run of the court, too.

"We talked about not letting Mateen Cleaves streak to the lane and we didn't do that," Florida sophomore Udonis Haslem said. "We made mistakes that we normally don't make."

The Gators cut the Spartans' lead down to six points when Cleaves went out with an ankle injury. When he returned, the lead was eight and the Gators could never get closer.

"We didn't sustain the energy," said Florida sophomore Teddy Dupay, who got tangled up with Cleaves on a breakaway when Cleaves got hurt. "It's so disappointing that we got this far and didn't give our best effort. We wish our transition defense would have been better. They've got good players, but we didn't expect them to get that many easy baskets."

The easy question for the Gators after the game was to assume that the Spartans' seniors beat their underclassmen. While it's true that Cleaves, Morris Peterson and A.J. Granger all had a critical part in the win, they were still playing in their first national title game, just like the Gators.

"But they were better," Miller said. "When you make it to the Final Four, you better be ready to play two straight games."

So, now what? If Miller stays, the Gators have the nucleus to make a run at the national title in '01 (Weaks is the only senior). Freshman point guard Brett Nelson said he expects the team to stick together, learn from its carelessness in the title game and be back for another run.

"These kids had the time of their life and the ride of their life," Donovan said. "They had the chance to beat Duke, Oklahoma State and Carolina and play for the national championship."

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
Search for on
ESPN.com: Help | Advertiser Info | Contact Us | Tools | Site Map | Jobs at ESPN.com
Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site.