There is no doubt now, no question, not after the performance Michigan State put on Saturday against the national champions from Connecticut.
The Spartans did much more than pick up a win at their packed-and-pulsating Breslin Center. They also defiantly declared themselves legitimate contenders for the national title the Huskies now hold.
They did that by demolishing and demoralizing the Huskies, handling them as if they were nothing more than one of those cupcake teams scheduled in December to guarantee a win. The final score of 85-66 was hardly relevant. What was importantwas the first half, which ended with the Spartans up 46-17.
In that 20 minutes, No. 8 Michigan State (17-5) served notice it is clearly talented enough to repeat the run that carried it to the Final Four last spring. Until then that had not been certain. Despite the Spartans maintaining a top 10 ranking and the Big Ten lead, coach Tom Izzo fretted about looking out of synch.
But on Saturday there was none of that. The Spartans were a killing machine in those 20 minutes, cutting through No. 7 Connecticut (16-5) the way a raging tornado cuts through a Kansas plain.
“They gave us no inches, no space,” UConn coach Jim Calhoun said. “We got drilled. We didn’t have a chance, quite frankly, after the first 10 minutes.”
Izzo’s reaction? “I was amazed. Everything went our way the first half and nothing went their way. I was shocked. Today was one of those storybook days.”
The Spartans began with a plan–keep UConn guard Khalid El-Amin out of the middle where he is most dangerous and most creative. With Mateen Cleaves sticking to him like gum to the bottom of a shoe, El Amin’s first-half line was two points, three assists and five turnovers.
“We couldn’t let him penetrate,” Izzo said.
The Huskies had nine first-half turnovers, which allowed the Spartans easy baskets. Defensively, the Spartans also paid attention to designated shooter Albert Mouring, holding him to seven first-half points and 13 for the game.
Forward Morris Peterson (team-high 16 points) opened on him, and then Mouring was confronted either by a zone or a rotating cast that included Charlie Bell, David Thomas and Jason Richardson.
“I was trying to make him earn every shot he got,” Peterson said.
The Huskies shot 2 for 11 and committed eight turnovers in one 10-minute stretch, during which the Spartans stretched an 11-8 lead to 35-13.
“We played great team defense today,” Cleaves said, “and we feed off our defense.”
The Spartans played defense like piranhas in a feeding frenzy, taking turns savaging the Huskies. Cleaves was clearly superior in his matchup with El-Amin. Peterson, Bell (11 points) and A.J. Granger (13) riddled the UConn defense with their outside shooting, and freshman Richardson (14 points and seven rebounds, five of them offensive) demonstrated a level of athletic play not often seen in the physical Big Ten.
“I think we surprised them a little bit,” Richardson said after the second 20 minutes were played to fulfill contractual obligations. “Maybe they thought we’d be timid. But I think we’re contenders for the national championship.”
Calhoun wasn’t about to argue.
“Simply put, I’m astounded at how we played, or did not play. At the same time, I’m terrifically impressed with the way Michigan State played,” he said. “They played sensational, sensational basketball. Certainly they’re very talented. But they played with a terrific energy level, and it’s not any one possession, it’s every possession. We’ve had the fortune of playing Duke, Arizona, Syracuse and Texas, and clearly that is the best a team has played against us.”
Cleaves wasn’t quite ready to go that far. Not yet.
“I can’t say we’re the best team. I don’t want to sound arrogant,” he said. “But I think we’re one of the best teams.” And he laughed the laugh of a man who knows that is true.
