Michigan State-Temple Sweet Sixteen Preview
3/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 25, 2001
GAME: No. 11 Temple (24-12) vs. No. 1 Michigan State (27-4).
REGIONAL: South, Championship.
TIME: Sunday, 2:40 p.m. EST.
SITE: Georgia Dome, Atlanta.
One of John Chaney's toughest seasons as coach of Temple may continue to Minneapolis if he can lead the 11th-seeded Owls past defending NCAA tournament champion Michigan State in the South Region final.
Chaney, who has been at the helm of the Owls for 29 years, has reached the regional final five times, but never advanced to the Final Four.
"It would be a great feeling to be the first team to get him there," Owls small forward David Hawkins said after Friday's 84-72 victory over Penn State on Friday. "Not just for him, but for us."
While this team plays the type of basketball Chaney is known for - valuing each possession offensively and a maddening matchup zone defensively - it has not been a smooth road for Temple.
The Owls have come a long way since a seven-game losing streak in November and December, a time of period where Chaney had to dismiss two players from the team.
Since reaching the NCAA tournament, Temple's formula for success has been simple: get out to a quick lead behind guards Lynn Greer and Quincy Wadley and then use its airtight defense to suck the life out of the opponent. The Owls have averaged 79.3 points and committed only 21 turnovers in their three wins while holding opponents to 63.7 points and 38.7 percent shooting.
"We do a great job of controlling the ball, and making teams play like we want," said Alex Wesby, one of three players to log 40 minutes for the Owls on Friday. "With good defense, we always know we'll be in the game."
Temple is trying to become the first 11-seed to reach the Final Four since LSU accomplished the feat in 1986.
Michigan State has been ruthlessly efficient in reaching its third straight regional final, disposing of Alabama State, Fresno State and Gonzaga by a combined 65 points. The Spartans have won nine consecutive NCAA tournament games by double-digit margins and are on the cusp of their third straight Final Four appearance.
The Spartans have relied on a team effort this season with the departures of stars Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson to the NBA. Charlie Bell scored 21 points and Andre Huston added 19 and 10 rebounds in Friday's 77-62 victory over Gonzaga.
"It's been a long year and we're just happy to be playing another game," Bell said. "A lot of people didn't think we could get this far, but we came into this season thinking we could win another national championship."
Coach Tom Izzo knows his team has its work cut out against Chaney and Temple. The Spartans are 4-6 all-time against the Owls and have lost four straight games to them, including two under Izzo in 1997 and 1998.
"We've gone from America's team (Gonzaga) to America's coach," Izzo said Saturday. "I wish I wasn't playing Temple. If I wasn't, I'd be cheering for them 200 percent."
With a win, Michigan State would be the first school to reach the Final Four three straight years since Kentucky accomplished the feat from 1996-98.
PROBABLE STARTERS:
Temple - F Wesby (10.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg), F Hawkins (10.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg), C Kevin Lyde (12.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg), G Wadley (15.4 ppg, 2.3 apg), G Greer (18.1 ppg, 5.5 apg).
Michigan State - F Jason Richardson (15.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg), F Aloysius Anagonye (5.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg), C Hutson (13.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg), G Bell (13.8 ppg, 5.3 apg), G David Thomas (4.8 ppg, 1.9 apg).
HOW THEY GOT HERE:
Temple - Automatic bid, Atlantic 10 Conference tournament champion, defeated Texas 79-65 in first round, defeated Florida 75-54 in second round, defeated Penn State 84-72 in regional semifinal.
Michigan State - At-large bid, Big Ten Conference, defeated Alabama State 69-35 in first round, defeated Fresno State 81-65 in second round, defeated Gonzaga 77-62 in regional semifinals.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD:
Temple - 31-24, 24 years.
Michigan State - 32-13, 15 years.
