Men's Basketball Hosts Rival Michigan On Thursday
1/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 26, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
#13/15 Michigan State (12-3, 4-1)vs. Michigan (12-7, 3-2)
Jan. 27, 20057 p.m. ESTEast Lansing, Mich.Breslin Center (14,759)
Radio: Spartan Sports Network - Will Tieman (Play by Play), Gus Ganakas (Color). Flagship - WJIM (97.5 FM/1240 AM)
TV: ESPN - Brent Musburger (Play by Play), Steve Lavin (Color), Erin Andrews (Sidelines)
The Opening Tip
Michigan State opens a three-game homestand having won nine of its last 10 contests. Michigan has lost two straight games, but has won six of its last eight games. The Spartans are 8-0 at the Breslin Center this season. MSU has won 10 of the last 11 games in the series, including six in a row at the Breslin Center. The MSU-UM game marks the beginning of a stretch where the Spartans play three games in six days.
MSU Game Notes
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The Starting Five
Getting Defensive - In the last 10 contests, Spartan opponents are averaging just 58.2 points, with no single opponent scoring more than 64 points. Opponents are also shooting just 41.3 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from 3-point range, while averaging 15.6 turnovers. In conference games, MSU leads the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing just 59.4 points per contest.
Good To Be Back Home - Michigan State has been extremely productive offensively in its eight home games. The Spartans are averaging 87.4 points, shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from 3-point range at the Breslin Center.
The Free Throw Story - According to the most recent NCAA statistics, Michigan State leads the nation in free-throw percentage (80.7 pct. through Jan. 24). The Spartans are currently shooting 80.7 percent from the foul line, including eight players who are shooting at least 80 percent. Among players with at least 15 attempts, Kelvin Torbert paces the way, connecting on 90.9 percent of his attempts (30-of-33). In fact, Torbert, Shannon Brown (89.1 percent) and Alan Anderson (88.1 percent) rank first, second and third in the Big Ten in free-throw percentage. MSU is shooting 83.1 percent in games which it won and 71.2 percent in games which it lost.
Hitting The Boards - Michigan State is doing a much better job rebounding the basketball this season than it did last year. The Spartans are out-rebounding their opponents by a +7.6 margin. They are also hitting the offensive glass, grabbing 12.13 offensive boards per game. MSU leads the conference in rebounding margin and ranks third in offensive rebounds. Rebounding is also a good indicator of the team's success. MSU is 11-1 when it out-rebounds its opponent, 1-2 when it is out-rebounded. Most recently, MSU out-rebounded Minnesota, 40-25.
Torbert Hits The Mark - After shooting 41.1 percent from the floor in his first two seasons, Kelvin Torbert is shooting 54.9 percent in his last two years. This season, Torbert is the only player in the Big Ten to rank in the top 10 in all three shooting categories, ranking 1st in free-throw percentage (.909), 1st in 3-point field-goal percentage (.486) and 6th in field-goal percentage (.582). He accomplished the same feat in 2003-04, ranking 8th in field-goal percentage (.534), 1st in 3-point field-goal percentage (.484) and 6th in free-throw percentage (.800). His .588 3-point percentage in conference games in 2003-04 is the second highest mark in conference history.
Game 15 Notes - MSU 69 - Minnesota 55 - Jan. 22, 2005
* Michigan State out-rebounded Minnesota by 15 (40-25). The Golden Gophers entered the game as the league's second-leading rebounding team with a +5.1 rebound margin.
* Michigan State committed 21 turnovers, but Minnesota was only able to convert them into 12 points.
* Alan Anderson scored 11 of his 13 points at the foul line, connecting on 11-of-12 attempts.
* Anderson grabbed all seven of his rebounds in the second half. His only field goal came on an offensive rebound and put back with 1:43 left and MSU leading by 5.
* Michigan State made a season-high 26 free throws.
* MSU's defense held Vincent Grier to 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting. Grier entered the game averaging 16.9 points.
Michigan Wolverines
Coach Amaker - Tommy Amaker (Duke, '87) is 131-104 in eight seasons as a collegiate head coach, including 63-49 in four seasons at Michigan. Prior to his arrival in Ann Arbor, he spent four years at Seton Hall.
Wolverine Notes - Michigan is shooting 74.3 percent from the free-throw line, with seven players shooting at least 75.0 percent ... The Wolverines rank second in the Big Ten in field-goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 39.9 percent from the field ... Michigan has lost nearly 70 games to injury this season.
MSU-UM Notes
Series History - Michigan leads the all-time series with Michigan State, 89-66. The Spartans, however, own a 40-35 advantage in games played in East Lansing. MSU has won 10 of the last 11 games in the series, including six in a row at the Breslin Center. Tom Izzo is 10-6 in his career against the Wolverines.
The Last Meeting - MSU 72 - UM 69 - Feb. 24, 2004 - Ann Arbor
Michigan held a 34-26 advantage at the half. The Spartans made a couple of runs early in the second half, but Michigan held a 52-40 lead with 11:15 remaining. Both teams traded missed shots, but MSU then started a stretch where it scored on 14 of its next 16 possessions, including 11 straight at one point. Trailing 55-48, Michigan State's defense forced seven straight missed shots for Michigan as the Wolverines went 7:04 (8:15 - 1:11) without a basket. MSU tied the game at 57 when Paul Davis slammed home an Alan Anderson miss. With 3:24 remaining in the game, Anderson's layup gave the Spartans a 63-61 lead, their first since 8-6. Leading 65-63 with 39 seconds left, Chris Hill hit a 3-pointer over Courtney Sims to take a five-point lead. UM hit a three to pull within two, but Kelvin Torbert and Hill each hit two free throws in the final seconds to give the Spartans a 72-69 win. Torbert scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half.
The Last Meeting At Breslin - MSU 71 - UM 54 - Jan. 17, 2004 - East Lansing
Both teams opened the game shooting well from the field. Michigan made six of its first eight shots to take a 16-15 lead with 14:02 remaining. The Wolverines, however, would make just 11 of their final 39 attempts. Trailing 19-15 with 10:11 left in the first half, MSU's defense went to work, forcing 11 straight misses and seven turnovers. MSU closed the half on a 17-4 run over the final 9:41 to take a 32-23 lead into the break. In the second half, Michigan did not get any closer than seven points. Paul Davis was the only Spartan to score in double figures (22 points), but seven scored six points or more.
MSU Notables - Paul Davis averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in two games against Michigan last season ... Michigan State shot 14-of-26 from 3-point range against Michigan last year ... Chris Hill leads all current Spartans in scoring against the Wolverines, averaging 13.8 points per game ... Alan Anderson's 11.3 scoring average against Michigan is his best against any Big Ten opponent.
MSU Basketball Notes
Breslin Success - Michigan State has sold out 105 consecutive regular-season games at the Breslin Center. Since the start of the 1998-99 season, Michigan State has won 93 of its last 99 regular-season games in Breslin, a winning percentage of .939.
Balanced Scoring - Michigan State's impressive offensive performance has been the result of a team effort. Five Spartans are averaging in double figures, led by Maurice Ager at 13.7 ppg. Chris Hill had been averaging in double figures all year, but has slipped to 9.4 points per game after scoring in single digits for six straight games. Michigan State had been the only team in the nation with six guys averaging in dobule figures. By comparison, just three Spartans averaged in double figures last year, after Chris Hill was the only player to do so in 2002-03.
The Turnover Story - Taking care of the basketball continues to be a point of emphasis for the Spartans. Michigan State is 9-0 this season when committing fewer turnovers than its opponents, but just 3-3 when committing an equal number or more than the opposition. On the season, MSU is averaging 14.1 turnovers per game. In the last nine games, the Spartans are averaging 12.8 turnovers per game. MSU ranks third in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+2.73) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.26).
MSU In NCAA Stats - According to the most recent NCAA statistics (through games of 1/24), MSU ranks in the top 10 in three categories nationally and in the top 15 in six categories. The Spartans lead the nation in free-throw percentage (.807), rank fifth in scoring margin (+18.9), 10th in rebound margin (+7.6), 11th in assists per game (17.7), 14th in field-goal percentage (.499) and 15th in scoring offense (80.8).
Spartan Point Guards Value The Ball - Michigan State's two point guards, Chris Hill and Drew Neitzel, have done a remarkable job taking care of the basketball over the last 10 games. In that stretch, the two have combined for 73 assists and just 21 turnovers (Hill - 49 assists, 15 turnovers; Neitzel - 24 assists, 6 turnovers). In the last six games, Hill has recorded 32 assists and seven turnovers, while Neitzel has recorded 20 assists and just four turnovers in his last eight games.
Hill's Ratio - Chris Hill currently leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.29-to-1. That number ranks first among Spartan point guards of the last 20 years, ahead of solid point guards like Mateen Cleaves (1.9 in his last three years); Mark Montgomery (2.3 as a junior), Scott Skiles (2.0 as a senior) and Eric Snow (2.5 as a junior and senior).
Big Ten Leaders - The Spartans lead the conference in four statistical categories, including free-throw percentage (.807), field-goal percentage (.497), rebounding defense (28.7) and rebounding margin (+7.6). MSU ranks in the top three in 13 of 19 categories. Individually, Chris Hill leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.29-to-1, while Kelvin Torbert paces the conference in free-throw percentage (.909). In fact, Torbert, Shannon Brown (.891) and Alan Anderson (.881) rank first, second and third in the league in free-throw percentage.
The 1,000 Club - With 11 points against Penn State, Kelvin Torbert (1,035 points) became the 32nd player in Michigan State history to score 1,000 in his career. He joins teammate Chris Hill (1,390) as current Spartans with more than 1,000 career points, while Alan Anderson (938) and Paul Davis (940) also are likely to reach 1,000 points this year.
Off The Gridiron, Onto The Hardwood - Matt Trannon is back with the basketball team after playing football in the fall. This year, he ranked second on the team in receptions (36) and yards (405), while also scoring two touchdowns in 11 games. He returned to practice on Monday, Dec. 13. He has appeared in seven games this season. In his last seven games, he is averaging 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 points in 12.7 minutes per contest. He grabbed a career-best seven rebounds against UNC Asheville and scored a career-best six points against Northwestern. Last season, he averaged 6.9 minutes in 17 games, recording 1.2 points and 1.6 rebounds.
Using The Bench - Michigan State's bench has outscored its opponent's bench in 13 out of 15 games. In fact, Spartan subs have scored 140 more points (9.3 per game). In six of the 15 games, MSU's bench advantage has been greater than 10 points, including three of 19 or more.
Taking Turns - Through 15 games, five different Spartans have led the team in scoring this season. Paul Davis and Maurice Ager have been the leading scorer in five games. Alan Anderson has done it three times and Kelvin Torbert has done it twice. Chris Hill has led the team in one game.
Hitting The Mark - Last season, Michigan State was the only team to rank in the top 10 nationally in field-goal percentage (5th, .492), free-throw percentage (4th, .771) and 3-point field-goal percentage (8th, .401). Through 15 games this year, the Spartans are just as good, shooting 49.7 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from 3-point range and 80.7 percent from the free-throw line. MSU's shooting should come as no surprise considering the team returns its top six scorers from a 2003-04 squad that became the first team ever to lead the Big Ten in league games in field-goal percentage (.522), 3-point field-goal percentage (.434), free-throw percentage (.777) and scoring offense (71.3 ppg) (conference games only).
Ager's Explosion - Finally healthy for the first time in his three seasons, Maurice Ager is having a very good junior campaign. He leads the team in scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game, and ranks third in rebounding with 4.3 boards per contest. He entered the season averaging 7.5 points for his career, shooting 39.2 percent, including 36.9 percent from 3-point range. His accuracy has improved greatly this season, shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point range.
Hill Moves Up Career Scoring List - Chris Hill currently stands at 1,390 points, in 13th place on the MSU all-time scoring list. With four points, he will move into 12th place, passing Andre Hutson (1,393 points). With 151 points, he will move into the top 10.
Hill For Three - Chris Hill is among the best 3-point shooters in MSU history. He ranks second in career 3-point field goals made (280) and career attempts (654) and sixth in career 3-point field-goal percentage (.428). Hill has made at least one 3-point field goal in 107 of 111 games in his career, including 40 straight games. His 280 career 3-point field goals rank sixth in Big Ten history, 52 behind Penn State's Pete Lisicky. With three more 3-pointers Hill will move into a tie with Indiana's A.J. Guyton for fifth place in Big Ten history.
Spartans Share The Ball - One of the greatest traits of this Michigan State team is its unselfishness. Through 15 games, MSU is averaging 17.7 assists per game, ranking second in the Big Ten. The Spartans have recorded assists on 266 of their 420 baskets (63.3 percent).
He Can Pass, Too - In addition to all of his scoring and long-range shooting, Chris Hill is positioned to finish his career among the school's all-time leaders in assists. He currently stands in seventh place in MSU history with 380 career assists. Hill dished out a season-best nine assists against UNC Asheville and recorded eight assists against Stanford.
Chris Hill Off The Court - Chris Hill has been named the 2004 Playboy Magazine Anson Mount Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In recognition of this honor, Michigan State University receives a $5,000 check for its general scholarship fund in Hill's name. Now in its 17th year, the purpose of the award is to call attention to the importance of scholarship combined with excellence in collegiate athletics and to honor an individual who personifies the best qualities of both. In 2003-04, Hill earned first-team Academic All-America honors, becoming the first Spartan to accomplish that feat since Greg Kelser in 1979.
Spartan Depth - Through 15 games, 10 Michigan State Spartans are averaging at least 10 minutes of action, including six players playing more than 20 minutes. No single player is averaging more than 25.9 minutes per contest.
Anderson Feeling Comfortable - With the addition of Drew Neitzel to help handle the point guard duties, Alan Anderson has been able to return to his natural forward position. The change has led to increased production, as he is currently averaging career highs with 12.0 points and 4.9 rebounds, shooting a career-best 53.1 percent from the field. Prior to this season, he had never averaged 10 points in any season or shot better than 50.3 percent.
No Sophomore Slump - In 2003-04, Shannon Brown earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team, averaging 7.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 22.9 minutes per game. This season, he is averaging 11.9 points and 3.5 boards in 24.1 minutes per contest. Recently, he posted career highs in scoring (20 points) and rebounding (9 boards) against Purdue.
The Century Mark - Michigan State opened the season with three consecutive 100-point games for just the second time in school history (1963-64). Prior to this season, Tom Izzo's Spartans had topped 100 points just twice in his nine full seasons.
Davis Earns Big Ten POW Honors - After scoring a season-best 20 points and grabbing a team-high eight rebounds vs. Stanford, Paul Davis was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday, Dec. 13. He shot 7-of-12 from the field and 6-of-7 from the foul line in recording the 10th 20-point game of his career.
Winning The Right Way - In addition to excelling on the court, the Spartans are standouts in the classroom. Fourteen Spartans have received their undergraduate degrees over the last five years, including five each in 2001 and 2003.
Another Difficult Slate - Michigan State has put together another challenging schedule in 2004-05. It includes five teams that appeared in the 2004 NCAA Tournament (Duke, Illinois, Florida A&M, Stanford and Wisconsin) and five that appeared in the NIT (George Mason, George Washington, Iowa, Michigan and Purdue).
Experience Matters - Michigan State players have a combined 387 starts in their careers, including 265 career starts for Alan Anderson, Chris Hill and Kelvin Torbert. Entering the season, MSU's returning players had 312 career starts (most in the Big Ten) and 601 career appearances (second most in the Big Ten). The trio of Anderson, Hill and Torbert had 235 career starts, making them the most experienced trio in the Big Ten. The Spartans also return 93.7 percent of their scoring, 85.6 percent of their rebounding and 88.3 percent of their minutes from last year.
Spartans On TV - This season, 26 of Michigan State's 27 regular-season games will be televised, including seven on ESPN, one on ESPN2 and three on CBS. In addition, MSU could have one more game on either ESPN or ESPN2.
Davis Earns Preseason Honor - Junior center Paul Davis was selected to the Big Ten preseason all-conference team. As a sophomore, Davis averaged 15.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 56.8 percent from the floor. Last year, he was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and an Associated Press honorable mention All-American. This season, he has been named a John R. Wooden Award Preseason All-American and a preseason candidate for the Naismith Award.
The Golden Arches - Michigan State is becoming the home for McDonald's All-Americans. Over the past six seasons, seven McDonald's All-Americans have joined the Spartan squad, including Jason Richardson in 1999, Marcus Taylor and McDonald's All-American All-Star game MVP Zach Randolph in 2000, Kelvin Torbert in 2001, Paul Davis in 2002 and Shannon Brown and Brandon Cotton in 2003.
Home To Mr. Basketball - Five of the last six recipients of Michigan's Hal Schram Mr. Basketball Award, presented to the top high school player in the state, have gone on to wear a Spartan jersey. Jason Richardson (Saginaw Arthur Hill HS) won the award in 1999, followed by Marcus Taylor (Lansing Waverly HS) in 2000, Kelvin Torbert (Flint Northwestern HS) in 2001, Paul Davis (Rochester HS) in 2002 and Drew Neitzel (Wyoming Park HS) in 2004. While the 2003 winner did not attend MSU, Shannon Brown (Proviso East HS) captured Illinois' Mr. Basketball Award that same year.
Spartans In The NBA - Listed below is an update on seven former Spartans currently on NBA rosters: (Stats current through Jan. 14.)
Mateen Cleaves (Seattle): 8 GP, 1.6 mpg, 0.3 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.3 apg Morris Peterson (Toronto): 36 GP, 25.2 mpg, 10.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.5 apg Zach Randolph (Portland): 33 GP, 37.4 mpg, 20.2 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.0 apg Jason Richardson (Golden State): 29 GP, 37.3 mpg, 20.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.4 apg Steve Smith (Charlotte): 22 GP, 19.8 mpg, 9.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.0 apg Eric Snow (Cleveland): 33 GP, 20.7 mpg, 3.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 3.5 apg Kevin Willis (Atlanta): 22 GP, 12.0 mpg, 3.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.3 apg
