NCAA Tournament 2000

Michigan State Spartans
RECORD: 32-7 COACH: Tom Izzo | SEASON RESULTS | SEASON STATS

OUTLOOK

First round: Defeated Valparaiso, 65-38

Second round: Defeated Utah, 73-61

Sweet 16: Defeated Syracuse, 75-58

Elite Eight: Defeated Iowa State, 75-64

Final Four: Defeated Wisconsin, 53-41

Championship: Defeated Florida, 89-76

Michigan State has an opportunity to win the NCAA championship. Defensively, the Spartans are as solid as any team in the country, short of Cincinnati or maybe Stanford. Rebounding is probably what the Spartans do second only to their defense. Tom Izzo employs a football mentality. He believes in tough, physical play, and it bears out in their ability to rebound and defend.

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In Charlie Bell and Mateen Cleaves, the Spartans have guards with great experience who can defend and get it going offensively. Containing Cleaves is the difficulty for most teams. Morris Peterson is an outstanding player and the co-Big Ten Player of the Year, but what makes the Spartans go is Cleaves' ability to push the ball up the floor. In transition, either Bell will knock down a shot on the right or Peterson on the left, and then they just crash the boards.

The Spartans' weakness is outside shooting. A.J. Granger is not as consistent as they need him to be. Bell and Peterson can shoot too, but Mike Chappell needs to hit some shots. They also need better offensive play inside from Andre Hutson. Off the bench the Spartans use Jason Richardson and Al Anagonye, but they are both inexperienced, which could pose a problem.

The Spartans have as good a shot as any team at winning the NCAA championship because their guards can defend at the point of attack and everybody rebounds. -- Quinn Buckner, ESPN

ROSTER

No Name Position Height Weight Class Rebounds Assists Points

- Jason Richardson G - - - 4.3 0.7 5.1
- Mat Ishbia G - - - 0.2 0.2 0.5
5 Adam Ballinger F 6-9 245 SO 1.8 0.3 2.0
10 Brandon Smith G 5-10 165 JR 0.2 0.8 0.4
11 David Thomas G 6-7 205 JR 2.5 1.6 2.6
12 Mateen Cleaves G 6-2 195 SR 1.7 7.2 11.9
14 Charlie Bell G 6-3 195 JR 4.7 3.1 11.8
20 Mike Chappell F 6-9 205 JR 2.3 0.6 5.9
22 Steve Cherry F 6-6 190 JR 0.2 0.3 0.7
25 Al Anagonye F 6-8 235 FR 3.1 0.3 3.0
34 Andre Hutson F 6-8 230 JR 6.3 1.5 10.3
42 Morris Peterson F 6-6 215 SR 6.1 1.2 16.6
43 A.J. Granger F 6-9 230 JR 5.1 1.2 9.5

PROBABLE STARTERS

F -- Morris Peterson (6-7, Sr., 16.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.3 apg)
F -- Andre Hutson (6-8, Jr., 9.9, 6.2, 1.4)
C -- A.J. Granger (6-9, Jr., 8.8, 5.4, 1.1)
G -- Mateen Cleaves (6-2, Sr., 11.5, 1.6, 7.7)
G -- Charlie Bell (6-3, Jr., 12.4, 4.6, 3.1)

TOP RESERVES

F -- Mike Chappell (6-9, Jr., 6.4, 2.3, 0.7)
F -- Al Anagonye (6-8, Fr., 3.3, 3.4, 0.3)
F -- Adam Ballinger (6-9, So., 2.0, 1.8, 0.3)
G -- Jason Richardson (6-6, Fr., 5.5, 4.3, 0.7)
G -- David Thomas (6-7, Jr., 3.0, 2.8, 1.8)

NOTABLE
Seed, Region and Bid: 1, Midwest, Automatic
Total NCAA Tournament Bids: 14
NCAA Tournament Record: 21-12 (.636)
Final Four Appearances: 3 (1999, 1979, 1957)
NCAA Tournament Championships: 1 (1979)
Best NCAA Tournament Finish: National champions (1979)
Final ESPN/USA Today ranking: 2
Final Asscoiated Press ranking: 2
Final Ratings Percentage Index: 13
Final Sagarin Computer Ranking: 4

RECORD VS. RANKED TEAMS (7-6)
Nov. 27 -- Lost to No. 20 Texas, 81-74
Dec. 1 -- Beat No. 2 North Carolina, 86-76
Dec. 7 -- Beat No. 4 Kansas, 66-54
Dec. 11 -- Lost to No. 2 Arizona, 79-68
Dec. 23 -- Lost to Kentucky, 60-58
Jan. 11 -- Beat No. 10 Indiana, 77-71
Jan. 20 -- Lost to No. 15 Ohio St, 78-67
Jan. 30 -- Beat Illinois, 91-66
Feb. 5 -- Beat No. 7 Connecticut, 85-66
Feb. 8 -- Lost to Purdue, 70-67
Feb. 15 -- Beat No. 7 Ohio St, 83-72
Feb. 26 -- Lost to No. 14 Indiana, 81-79
Mar. 12 -- Beat Illinois, 76-61
(Opponents ranking reflects ranking on game day)

NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Overall Record: 21-12 (.636)
Final Four Appearances: 3 (1957, 1979, 1999)
NCAA Tournament Championships: 1 (1979)

1999--First seed in Midwest Region
Defeated Mount St. Mary's in first round, 76-53
Defeated Mississippi in second round, 74-66
Defeated Oklahoma in regional semifinal, 54-46
Defeated Kentucky in regional final, 73-66

1998--Fourth seed in East Region
Defeated Eastern Michigan in first round, 83-71
Defeated Princeton in second round, 63-56
Lost to North Carolina in regional semifinal, 73-58

1995--Third seed in Southeast Region
Lost to Weber State in first round, 79-72

1994--Seventh seed in Southeast Region
Defeated Seton Hall in first round, 84-73
Lost to Duke in second round, 85-74

1992--Fifth seed in Midwest Region
Defeated Southwest Missouri State in first round, 61-54
Lost to Cincinnati in second round, 77-65

1991--Fifth seed in West Region
Defeated Wisconsin-Green Bay in first round, 60-58
Lost to Utah in second round, 85-84 (2 OT)

1990--First seed in Southeast Region
Defeated Murray State in first round, 75-71 (OT)
Defeated UC Santa Barbara in second round, 62-58
Lost to Georgia Tech in regional semifinal, 81-80 (OT)

1986--Fifth seed in Midwest Region
Defeated Washington in first round, 72-70
Defeated Georgetown in second round, 80-68
Lost to Kansas in regional semifinal, 96-86 (OT)

1985--Tenth seed in Midwest Region
Lost to UAB in first round, 70-68

1979--Second seed in Mideast Region
Defeated Lamar in second round, 95-64
Defeated Louisiana State in regional semifinal, 87-71
Defeated Notre Dame in regional final, 80-68
Defeated Pennsylvania in National Semifinal, 101-67
Defeated Indiana State in National Championship, 75-64

1978--Mideast Region
Defeated Providence in first round, 77-63
Defeated Western Kentucky in regional semifinal, 90-69
Lost to Kentucky in regional final, 52-49

1959--Mideast Region
Defeated Marquette in regional semifinal, 74-69
Lost to Louisville in regional final, 88-81

1957--Mideast Region
Defeated Notre Dame in regional semifinal, 85-83
Defeated Kentucky in regional final, 80-68
Lost to North Carolina in National Semifinal, 74-70 (3 OT)
Lost to San Francisco for National Third Place, 67-60

Record by Region:
In East: 2-1 (.667)
In South/Southeast: 3-3 (.500)
In Midwest: 5-3 (.625)
In West: 1-1 (.500)
In Mideast: 10-4 (.714)

Record by Seed:
As 1st seed: 4-1 (.800)
As 2nd seed: 5-0 (1.000)
As 3rd seed: 0-1 (.000)
As 4th seed: 2-1 (.667)
As 5th seed: 4-3 (.571)
As 7th seed: 1-1 (.500)
As 10th seed: 0-1 (.000)


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