Michigan State-Florida Preview
3/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 22, 2003
GAME: No. 7 Michigan State (20-12) vs. No. 2 Florida (25-7).
REGIONAL: South, second round.
TIME: Sunday, 7 p.m. EST.
SITE: St. Pete Times Forum; Tampa, Fla.
Just getting past the second round would be an important accomplishment this time for Florida when it meets Michigan State.
Early exits the last two seasons have been tough on the second-seeded Gators, but suffering one this year to the seventh-seeded Spartans would be particularly devastating in this rematch of the 2000 national title game.
The stakes are significantly lower for this second-round matchup as opposed to the last time these teams squared off in the NCAA tournament. Three years ago, coach Tom Izzo and Michigan State defeated Billy Donovan and Florida 89-76 to win the national championship.
Seniors Brett Nelson, Matt Bonner and Justin Hamilton were all members of that losing Gators team.
"I look forward to playing them. I look forward to the challenge, but it doesn't mean anything more than that to me," Hamilton said.
The year following that national runner-up finish, the Gators were upset by 11th-seeded Temple in the second round. Last season, they were stunned in the opening round by No. 12 seed Creighton in double overtime.
Getting to the round of 16 this year would mean avenging the national title game loss.
Florida freshman point guard Anthony Roberson was not involved in that contest, but enters this one with a unique perspective. He is from Saginaw, Mich., and was heavily recruited by Izzo, but eventually decided to go to Florida.
"We're playing for that 2000 team that lost, we're playing for ourselves, we're playing for a whole lot of things," Roberson said.
"I respect Coach Izzo," Roberson said. "I respect the situation he's in. No matter what happens Sunday, I'm happy I'm at Florida."
Roberson's play keyed the Gators' win in the opening round. He hit five 3-pointers en route to his 16 points and Florida easily defeated Sam Houston State 85-55.
Another underclassman, sophomore David Lee, scored a career-high 23 points as the Gators won for the first time since March 1. They had dropped three straight heading into the NCAA tournament.
"We're capable the next night of coming out and going 0-for-50, or going 50-for-50," Lee said. "Each game has its own little streaks. To me, I'm not concerned with how things went in the past. It's the next game."
The Spartans also had a relatively easy time in the opening round, beating Colorado 79-64. They built a 13-point halftime lead and maintained a double-digit advantage the rest of the way.
Michigan State is looking to resume its run of trips to the regional semifinals, having reached that round in four straight years before blowing a big lead in a first-round loss last season to North Carolina State.
"You have to learn how to win at one-and-done time. This gives us a good step forward," Izzo said. "Last year we were up by 11 or 12 and we folded the tent. This time we came out in the second half and played well."
The winner faces Xavier or defending national champion Maryland in the regional semifinals.
PROBABLE STARTERS:
Michigan State - F Aloysius Anagonye, F Paul Davis, G Alan Anderson, G Chris Hill, G Kelvin Torbert.
Florida - F Bonner, F Matt Walsh, C Lee, G Hamilton, G Roberson.
TEAM LEADERS:
Michigan State - Hill, 14.0 ppg and 3.7 apg; Anagonye, 5.4 rpg.
Florida - Bonner, 15.5 ppg; Lee, 6.9 rpg; Hamilton, 3.7 apg.
HOW THEY GOT HERE:
Michigan State - At-large bid, Big Ten; beat Colorado 79-64, first round.
Florida - At-large bid, Southeastern Conference; beat Sam Houston State 85-55, first round.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD:
Michigan State - 34-15, 17 years.
Florida - 16-9, 10 years.
