Men's Basketball Tabbed As Big Ten Favorite
10/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 27, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - After finishing one win short of a fifth-straight Big Ten title in 2002, Michigan State is expected to make it five out of six in 2003 according to conference experts. The Big Ten Conference released its top three preseason picks at the 2002-03 Big Ten Men's Basketball Media Day on Sunday, Oct. 27 in Chicago, and the Spartans were picked by both the league's media and coaches to win the league title. Indiana and Minnesota tied for second in the coaches' poll, while the media picked Indiana second, followed by Illinois.
"Before last year, I thought not being picked to win the title would be more exciting, but it's a lot better being picked to win," said Spartan head coach Tom Izzo. "I think we have a good team this year. The problem is that the Big Ten is as balanced as it's ever been. I don't think there's anybody that is head and shoulders above the rest. We're picked first because maybe we are an eyelash above somebody.
"As long as there is a championship out there to win, we are still going to be the hunter. I like the fact that we have a lot of players that are committed to winning and we welcome the expectations."
Michigan State finished the 2001-02 campaign with a 19-12 mark, 10-6 in the Big Ten. The Spartans return four starters and nine of 11 letterwinners from that unit. MSU also advanced to a fifth-straight NCAA Tournament.
Seniors Aloysius Anagonye (Southfield) and Adam Ballinger (Bluffton, Ind.) were in attendance at media day and both welcomed the expectations.
"It's nice to be picked to win the league, but it's not going to be nice if we finish the season in second place or somewhere else besides first," said Anagonye. "Right now, the team has goals and expectations of winning a Big Ten championship. It's something we want for ourselves. It's nice to see that people outside the program expect us to win, but unless we want it for ourselves, it does us no good."
"It's always better to have a little pressure on you," added Ballinger. "It makes things a little more fun, knowing that everyone is watching you."
Minnesota's Rick Rickert was the coaches' pick for preseason Player of the Year, while Illinois' Brian Cook got the media vote. They were joined by Indiana's Tom Coverdale, Ohio State's Brent Darby and Wisconsin's Kirk Penney on the preseason All-Big Ten team.
For Anagonye and Ballinger, the fact that no Spartans were on the first team despite being picked to win the league was not a concern. Instead, they took it to be a compliment to the program.
"I think it's a big compliment to the program," said Ballinger. "Maybe we don't have that one standout player, but as a team we work hard and can accomplish great things."
"We're going back to the old ways of winning championships with a team effort," explained Anagonye. "To win championships, you need some good individuals coming together for a common goal to make a great team."
Michigan State plays its first exhibition game of the season on Friday, Nov. 1 vs. the Magic Johnson All-Stars at 7 p.m. at the Breslin Center. The Spartans open the regular-season on Friday, Nov. 22 vs. UNC Asheville in East Lansing. The Big Ten opener is Thursday, Jan. 9 vs. Ohio State in the Breslin Center.
