Spartans Ranked 12th In ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll
11/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 1, 2001
The Michigan State men's basketball team is ranked No. 12 in the nation according to the first ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll released on Thursday evening. Duke grabbed the top spot in the poll, collecting 30 of the 31 first-place votes.
Six of Michigan State's opponents are ranked in the preseason poll, led by No. 2 Illinois, who captured the final first-place tally. Three of MSU's non-conference foes are ranked in the top 15, including No. 5 Florida, No. 11 Virginia and No. 15 Stanford. The Spartans will play all three of those teams on the road, beginning with a Nov. 28 date against the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Richmond, Va. In addition to Illinois and Michigan State, No. 8 Iowa and No. 21 Indiana represent the Big Ten in the top 25. Arizona and Purdue were among the Spartan opponents to receive votes, but not enough to make the poll.
MSU opened the 2000-01 season with a No. 5 ranking and did not drop from the top five all season, finishing the season ranked third. The Spartans finished the 2000-01 season with a 28-5 record, winning a fourth-straight Big Ten Championship and making a third-straight trip to the Final Four. This year's team will open the season with a Friday, Nov. 2 exhibition contest vs. the Magic Johnson All-Stars. The regular season gets under way with a Nov. 12 meeting vs. Detroit in the Preseason NIT at the Breslin Center.
The ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll is made up of 31 members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
