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| | Friday, November 5 | |||||||||||||||
COACH AND PROGRAM
MATEEN CLEAVES (6-2, 195 lbs., SR, PG, #12, 11.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 7.2 apg, 3.7 tpg, 1.8 spg, 31.2 minutes, .406 FG, .292 3PT, .787 FT, Northern HS/Flint, Mich.) He's not "Mateen Angel" by any means. And opponents have a devil of a time with a player who can get his teammates involved or grab a game by the throat and win it himself, as he often has the past two seasons.But the start of Cleaves' senior season is off to a shaky start. A stress fracture in his right foot will sideline him until January. This isn't the first time the Flint, Mich., native has been sidelined with injuries. Cleaves' MSU career got off to a sluggish start after a rollover accident on a wild official visit to Michigan. A back injury put him in a brace for months, kept him from working out all summer and made his freshman year an exercise in frustration. But he earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors from the coaches and the media in 1997-98, averaging 16.1 ppg and 7.2 apg. He was a first-team All-America, according to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and had the greatest impact of any Spartan sophomore except Earvin Johnson. Just when it seemed Cleaves would work on his deficiencies in the off-season and be even better as a junior, he suffered an ankle injury while playing for the USA at the World Basketball Championships in Greece. After that rehabilitation, he slipped down some stairs outside his apartment and injured his shooting shoulder, further slowing his progress. Once Cleaves was healthy, he again became a consensus All-America as his team's No. 2 scorer and set a Big Ten record with 274 assists in 38 games, five more feeds than Magic had in 32 contests 20 years earlier. And it was Johnson who snapped Cleaves out of a mid-season funk with a simple order "Have fun!" before a win over Michigan in January. MSU didn't lose again for 11 weeks, as Cleaves established himself as one of the NCAA's best clutch performers. His penetration and pass in the final seconds beat Illinois. And his last-chance baskets lifted the Spartans past Minnesota, Penn State and Northwestern. No one in college basketball was a better player at Winning Time. Cleaves needs just nine assists to pass Scott Skiles for the top spot on his school's career list and is also within range to erase Bruce Douglas' Big Ten record of 765 at Illinois. His latest injury might keep him from joining Ohio State great Jerry Lucas as the league's only three-time MVPs, but Cleaves should return in time to make plenty of noise in Big Ten play. For all the great decisions he has made, Cleaves' best move was probably the choice to stay in school and complete his degree. Erratic shooting had him slated to go in the middle of the NBA draft's first round. But he has worked on that deficiency and scored 60 points in a Flint Summer League game this summer. He also got in a few more scrapes off the court and was charged with swiping a 40-ounce bottle of beer from a convenience store with Antonio Smith. If Cleaves plays half as well as he can, he can buy a 7-Eleven next year and leave with a more priceless NCAA championship ring. ANDRE HUTSON (6-8, 230 lbs., JR, C, #34, 8.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.6 apg, 1.4 tpg, 0.7 spg, 25.0 minutes, .617 FG, .781 FT, Trotwood-Madison HS/Trotwood, Oh.) MSU's silent assassin is far from the biggest post player in the country. But he is one of the biggest contributors to a championship team's success. Hutson has started 60 games for the back-to-back Big Ten titlists. And his role could expand as a primary option with excellent accuracy from the field and foul line. He hit 13 straight shots over a three-game stretch and rose to the challenge against both Kentucky and Duke. In five NCAA Tournament games, he averaged 12.6 ppg and shot .710 from the field. As Hutson continues to mature physically, the mobile left-hander has a chance to become one of the best inside players the Spartans have ever had. Look for Izzo and Cleaves to call more plays for him, especially if the team's outside shooting remains questionable. Hutson fits the image of an Izzo recruit almost perfectly. He is still a bit undersized. He talks with his game, not with his mouth. And he plays harder than his opponent the majority of the time. There is only one thing wrong with Hutson; he's not from Flint. MORRIS PETERSON (6-6, 215 lbs., SR, SF, #42, 13.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.6 tpg, 0.9 spg, 23.9 minutes, .554 FG, .373 3PT, .814 FT, Northwestern HS/Flint, Mich.) No one has come any further since 1995 than a low-profile recruit who was left home from the Maui Invitational as a freshman for failing to honor his academic responsibilities. Peterson tested Izzo's authority at first. But he gradually matured into a solid citizen and one of the nation's best stories. When most players worry about minutes and shots, Peterson kept his trap shut and his ears open. That helped him become the nation's best sixth man last season and the first non-starter in any major conference to be a first-team all-leaguer. After redshirting, then starting 18 times in 1996-97, Peterson made himself a player as a sophomore the following season. With a broken bone in his right wrist, the left-hander played with "The Club" on his right hand and became a defensive stopper and selfless, all-around contributor. Last year, Peterson became the Spartans' top alley-oop threat since Gregory Kelser caught Earvin Johnson's lobs in 1979. But he also scored on slashes to the basket, pull-up jumpers and open three-pointers to lead a balanced offense. He had 30 games with double-figure scoring and was a key to MSU's dominance on the offensive boards. And he shot .653 from the field in three games as the MVP of the Pearl Harbor Classic. By the time he was done scoring 39 points in two matchups with Duke, Peterson was every bit as good a pro prospect as Cleaves. His one-on-one skills and open-court game make him a cinch NBA lottery pick. But no one talked about his decision to stay in school and help MSU take the final step this year in Indianapolis.With Cleaves sidelined, its' more likely for Izzo to turn him loose this season. That could give the Spartans a second All-America and take the pressure of Cleaves once he returns. Peterson could also give MSU the first national championship of the 21st century. CHARLIE BELL (6-3, 195 lbs., JR, SG, #14, 7.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.1 tpg, 0.7 spg, 22.7 minutes, .477 FG, .356 3PT, .754 FT, Southwestern Academy/Flint, Mich.) If Hutson is quiet, Bell is Marcel Marceau. He runs the floor, plays great defense and does whatever the coaches ask. Now, it's time they ask him to score. Bell was one of the most prolific point-producers in Michigan high school history, and he didn't have as much help in the prep ranks as Cleaves, a crosstown rival. He was the scourge of the vaunted Saginaw Valley Conference. Yet, at MSU, he has taken a back seat when he should be about ready to help steer. When everyone else goes to post-game parties, Bell is just as likely to pull his stocking cap down over his head and head off to study. A little more ego might go a long way toward making him the player he can be. It could also make the Spartans a stronger team, although there isn't a whole lot of room for improvement. It's easy to watch Bell and question his commitment to the game, though he often works as hard as anyone on the court. If his off-season work isn't always what Izzo would like, there's a trade off there, too. Bell is a true student-athlete, not an athlete who plays games in the classroom so he can stay in a game he can't do without. A.J. GRANGER (6-9, 230 lbs., SR, PF, #43, 6.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.6 apg, 1.2 tpg, 0.6 spg, 20.7 minutes, .532 FG, .500 3PT, .714 FT, Liberty-Benton HS/Findlay, Oh.) Early last season, the argument in the media was whether Granger should be shooting the ball from the perimeter. Today the question is, "Why is MSU's tallest player its most dangerous outside shooter?" It all turned around for Granger in December 1998 in Hawaii. His father, Joe, fractured two vertebrae in his neck while bodysurfing off Oahu. Hours later, the Spartans won the Pearl Harbor Classic crown and A.J. had a career-high 16 points. MSU is 8-0 when Granger has scored in double-figures. And his efforts were never more critical than in the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional Final win over Kentucky. Granger was perfect with three three-pointers and kept the Spartans close enough in the first half that a comeback was still possible. A lot of players look smoother than Granger, who actually runs very well for his size. But if Izzo's team is to reach its potential, it will probably need production from Granger at both ends of the floor. He won't ever be the rebounder Smith was; then again, he won't have as many of his own misses to rebound.KEY RESERVES DAVID THOMAS (6-7, 205 lbs., JR, G, #11, 3.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.9 tpg, 0.5 spg, 14.8 minutes, .469 FG, .533 FT in 1997-98, Notre Dame HS/Brantford, Ont.) Thomas could be MSU's most versatile player and perhaps its most athletic performer after a redshirt year. Izzo will need that versatility, because Thomas will play point guard while Cleaves is on the mend.Thomas showed flashes of that in two injury-marred seasons and made great strides in his switch from small forward to point guard. Expect him get to minutes at other perimeter spots when Cleaves returns. Thomas' long long arms and rebounding ability could be factors at four positions. Thomas has added weight and strength, but has not sacrificed quickness. He would start in many other programs, as he did for the Spartans until being injured two years ago. MIKE CHAPPELL (6-9, 205 lbs., JR, G, #20, 7.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.6 apg, 0.8 tpg, 0.5 spg, 14.4 minutes, .464 FG, .434 3PT, .609 FT in 1997-98, Duke & Lathrup HS/Southfield, Mich.) Chappell nearly signed with the Spartans in the fall of 1995, but could not resist the chance to play for the Blue Devils. He started 21 of his first 22 games as a Duke sophomore, scoring in double figures 13 times and leading the team with .434 three-point accuracy. When Mike Krzyzewski made a change in his lineup, Chappell decided to make a switch, too, and has not regretted the move. He made that clear at the Final Four, and he has a better chance to get back there this season than Duke does. Chappell struggled with his shooting on a summer tour with the Big Ten All-Stars. But he poses matchup problems for everyone as the tallest guard the Spartans have ever had -- yes, one inch taller than Magic was in college. If he plays with the toughness Izzo demands, Chappell might be tough to keep out of the lineup. ADAM BALLINGER (6-9, 245 lbs., FR redshirt, C, #55, 25.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg, .637 FG, Bluffton HS/Bluffton, Ind.) In the continuing quest for a true low-post center and not just another pumped-up power forward, Ballinger offers a different look that could prove very handy. Before fracturing a fibula and even during his rehabilitation, some thought Ballinger might have made a difference for the Spartans against teams with big centers. He showed major improvement in his off-season workouts and could be the team's No. 1 surprise. ALOYSIUS ANAGONYE (6-8, 235 lbs., FR, F, #25, 16.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 4.1 bpg, DePorres HS/Detroit, Mich.) "Big Al" plays even bigger than he is, with long arms and excellent timing. He has been compared to a young Antonio Smith, but with better offensive skills at this stage. He could get quality minutes in a deep frontcourt rotation, or simply watch and learn until he makes the adjustment to stronger, quicker competition. Izzo wanted to sign Anagonye when he could have chased players with higher profiles. We might see why before the Big Ten season.OTHER RETURNEES BRANDON SMITH (5-10, 165 lbs., JR, G, #10, 0.2 ppg, 0.2 rpg, 0.4 apg, 21 appearances, Pittsford Sutherland HS/Rochester, N.Y.) He appeared in 26 games at Coastal Carolina in 1996-97 and averaged 13.7 minutes before transferring. As an MSU reserve last season, his greatest contribution was driving Cleaves crazy with his aggressive play in practice. STEVE CHERRY (6-6, 190 lbs., JR, F, #22, 0.5 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 17 appearances, Coldwater HS/Coldwater, Mich.) The fans' favorite reserve would enter the game to chants of "Cher-ry!" and prove life at the end of the bench wasn't necessarily the pits. He is a decent outside shooter now with two championship rings. LORENZO GUESS (6-3, 190 lbs., JR, G, #5, 0.8 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 13 appearances, Memorial HS/Wayne, Mich.) He is the only member of MSU's football team to wear a Big Ten championship ring. Guess, a free safety, brings a football demeanor to the basketball court, which Izzo loves. He also had the perfect personality to put out every day in practice and put the team ahead of himself. MATT ISHBIA (5-10, 155 lbs., FR redshirt, G, #15, 23.0 ppg, 7.1 apg, Seaholm HS/Birmingham, Mich.) He made the team as a walk-on a year ago, was redshirted and contributed in practice. That earned him an invitation to return and try to be the Steve Cherry of this season.OTHER NEWCOMERS JASON RICHARDSON (6-6, 210 lbs., FR, F, #23, 25.3 ppg, 12.8 rpg, .550 FG, Arthur Hill HS/Saginaw, Mich.) Michigan's "Mr. Basketball" was the MVP of the adidas Big Time AAU Tournament in Las Vegas and also Magic's Roundball Classic before and after a sensational senior year of high school ball. In individual workouts on campus and in pickup games with experienced players, Richardson looked better than anyone imagined he would. His eligibility was in question due to the content of a ninth-grade English class, but he was cleared to play Nov. 5 after a third appeal. Richardson, an honor roll student as a senior, had an acceptable standardized test score, but was misinformed about a core course before his transfer from Saginaw Nouvel High to Arthur Hill HS. A spectacular dunker and open-court player, Richardson will help soften the blow of Cleaves' absence."I think, as they say, justice has prevailed," Izzo said. ADAM WOLFE (6-8, 225 lbs., FR, F, #3, 23.0 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.5 bpg, South HS/Westerville, Oh.) Wolfe wasn't as heralded as Richardson or Anagonye, but might have the greatest immediate impact if Richardson's appeal is denied. Kentucky saw him as another Scott Padgett. But the four-year starter impressed more people in an Indiana-Ohio all-star series, when he won the three-point shooting contest and showed excellent range. Wolfe's role this season is perhaps the least defined on the team. He could redshirt, get mop-up minutes, crack the playing group or, if attrition becomes a problem, be a key contributor when it matters in March. JASON ANDREAS (6-9, 235 lbs., FR, C, #44, 14.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, .630 FG, Garaway HS/Sugar Creek, Oh.) Andreas was only honorable mention All-Ohio and is likely to redshirt. But Izzo likes his attitude and long-range potential. He certainly has the right bloodlines. Jason's dad, Dan Andreas, lettered at Ohio State from 1968-70. And his uncle, Bill Andreas, was a three-year starter at OSU from 1973-75. STARTERS NOT RETURNING ANTONIO SMITH (6-8, PF, 6.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.9 tpg, 1.5 spg, 29.1 minutes, .535 FG, .462 FT) The first recruit of the Izzo era will go down as one of the most important signees of the past two decades. He started a parade of players from Flint and became MSU's first three-time captain. Smith never developed offensively and actually regressed in that area until his senior year. His free-throw shooting was so bad he had to be pulled from games in the closing minutes. But he was No. 2 on the team in minutes and arguably its best defender. Smith knew opponents' plays as well as any non-coach could. He disrupted cutters and made seamless switches on pick-and-roll plays. And he checked small forwards, power forwards and centers with the same enthusiasm. With 1,016 career rebounds, Smith rose to third on the Spartans' career list behind Gregory Kelser and Johnny Green. He wasn't the best leaper in the league by any means, but he was great at establishing position and using his strength and timing to grab loose balls. And once he got his python-like grip on the ball, it was his until he threw a crisp outlet to Cleaves. Smith was so good at inbounding the ball, he could shred most presses and trigger layups. And if anyone forgot to hustle, they had to answer to Izzo's favorite enforcer. Smith walked softly but carried a couple of powerful forearms. He wasn't drafted by an NBA team, but signed as a free agent with the Toronto Raptors. If he can't make a pro team somewhere as an 11th or 12th man, defense and rebounding must have been banned. JASON KLEIN (6-7, SF, 9.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.8 tpg, 0.6 spg, 23.1 minutes, .413 FG, .338 3PT, .766 FT) Those who expected an offensive explosion in Klein's senior season are still waiting. He lost his confidence but never surrendered his starting job, as Izzo showed incredible patience with a player who is now headed to Europe. Klein started 36 times in 1998-99 and had open shots on designed plays at the beginning of almost every game, even when teams should have known what was coming. But he seldom shot the way he did in practice and missed a lot of opportunities to give MSU a 3-0 lead. He led the Spartans in scoring five times, including a 21-point effort against Minnesota and a 22-point game against Purdue. But he looked nervous from the time his feet hit the floor against Kentucky in the NCAA Midwest Final and wasn't much more comfortable against Duke in the Final Four, his 78th and final MSU start. He can always say he was a starter on two Big Ten championship teams and their "go-to" shooter both seasons. It's just too bad the player who outplayed Shane Battier in high school couldn't find that consistency in college. If he had, the Spartans might have beaten the Blue Devils two nights before Connecticut did.OTHERS NOT RETURNING THOMAS KELLEY (6-2, G, 5.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.2 tpg, 0.8 spg, 15.0 minutes, .360 FG, .286 3PT, .833 FT) He would have been a starter in 1997-98 and perhaps the team's leading scorer if he hadn't broken a bone in his right foot. Once he did, the last player left from the Heathcote years could never fully regain his scoring touch or defensive quickness. Kelley led his team in scoring at East Tennessee State and against Illinois. And when it came to a last-shot possession at the end of a half, his one-on-one moves were still effective. But he was never a great point guard and did not get a full opportunity to develop at shooting guard. DOUG DAVIS (6-3, G, 1.9 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.6 tpg, 0.2 spg, 7.4 minutes, .391 FG, .371 3PT, .476 FT) He always said he was a point guard. But Cleaves' backup and roommate might have made a better shooting guard, despite a terrible free-throw percentage. We'll never know, since Davis decided to transfer to Miami (Oh.) and sit out this season. Let's hope he locks himself in the weight room and packs some muscle on a 165-pound frame. If Davis does that, he could be one of the best guards in the Mid-American Conference in 2000-2001. And, if Cleaves isn't able to come back at full strength and the backup point guards falter, the Spartans might miss him more than anyone knows. QUESTIONS Point guard? With Cleaves out until January, that means the Spartans will be without their leader for games at North Carolina, at Arizona, at Kentucky and vs. Kansas in the Great Eight. Thomas was being groomed for the spot in case Cleaves left early for the NBA, but he's untested at the point in game action. Outside shooting? Unless Cleaves improves dramatically, someone else will have to deliver from the perimeter. Whether that person will be Bell, Chappell or Peterson remains to be seen. But it better be someone. Many a great team has gone home early in March due to a lack of shooters. Chemistry? The whole was greater than the sum of the parts in 1998-99. It will have to be that way again, with everyone buying into Izzo's sweat-equity system.ANSWERS Leadership! Izzo is as good as any college coach in the country. And Cleaves is the best floor general this side of the NBA, a clone of Izzo when it comes to competition and a respected senior. Depth! When the Spartans practice, the bodies fly faster than in a lot of their games. That's the difference between Izzo's program and Heathcote's teams, which had more than their share of stars but often a splintered bench. Just look how the team's not panicking despite Cleaves' injury. Confidence! MSU's success the past two seasons has everyone believing they'll win somehow, some way. If not, the Spartans would never have rallied from 10 points down in the final minutes at Minnesota.
| AUDIO/VIDEO   Dick Vitale previews Michigan State.RealVideo: | 28.8
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