Michigan State Doesn't Mind Bright Preseason Spotlight

Oct. 14, 2005

By TIM MARTIN
The Associated Press

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) --

MSU Media Day Notes
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Paul Davis won't shy away from the preseason hype surrounding the Michigan State basketball team.

Several publications have picked the Spartans to return to the Final Four and win the Big Ten conference. And that's OK with Davis, Michigan State's senior center and one of the best big men in the nation.

"We welcome the target on our backs," Davis said Wednesday at Michigan State's media day. "We're not hiding from anybody."

It would be hard to hide with the success the Spartan program has had over the past decade under coach Tom Izzo.

Last season, Michigan State made it to the NCAA Tournament's Final Four for the fourth time in the past seven years. The Spartans lost to eventual national champion North Carolina.

Michigan State finished last season 26-7 and was second in the Big Ten behind Illinois. This season's team won't be as deep, but it could be just as good or better.

"Last year, we had a lot of ups and downs. But as a team we rallied together," said senior guard Maurice Ager. "It just put us in a position where we see what we can do. I don't want to leave college without a ring."

Davis averaged 12.3 points and 8 rebounds last year. Ager led a balanced scoring attack by averaging 14.1 points per game.

Junior shooting guard Shannon Brown (10.9 points) and sophomore point guard Drew Neitzel are both back on the perimeter. Freshmen Maurice Joseph and Travis Walton could provide depth.

The Spartans lost four key contributors from last year's team -- Alan Anderson, Kelvin Torbert, Chris Hill and Tim Bograkos. All were perimeter-oriented players, allowing Izzo to go deep into his bench all season. Ten different Spartans averaged at least nine minutes per game last season, and no player averaged more than 27 minutes.

"We will not have that luxury this year," Izzo said. "But we will address it in other ways."

Inside, Drew Naymick and Delco Rowley return to help Davis with the rebounding load. A trio of redshirt freshmen -- Marquise Gray, Idong Ibok and Goran Suton -- could get playing time in the frontcourt. Matt Trannon, a receiver on the Michigan State football team, could join the basketball team after the football season.

Several of the Spartans have added weight and strength in the offseason, Izzo said, for more durability. That will be tested by a tough schedule.

The Spartans open the regular season Nov. 19 at Hawaii, followed by an appearance in the Maui Invitational.

The Maui tournament features national powerhouses such as Connecticut, Kansas, Arizona, Gonzaga and Maryland.