INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2000-01 record: 19-12; 10-6 in Big Ten (5th) Postseason: Lost to North Carolina State 69-58 in first round of NCAA East Region. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Hill 11.4 Rebs: Ballinger 6.8 Assists: Hill 2.1 FG: Ballinger 54.5% 3pt: Wolfe 46.2% FT: Ballinger 85.0% 01-02 Stats: Michigan State | Big Ten KEY LOSSES Marcus Taylor | 16.8 ppg PROJECTED STARTERS G | Chris Hill | Soph G | Kelvin Torbert | Soph F | Alan Anderson | Soph F | Adam Ballinger | Senior F | Al. Anagonye | Senior Player to Watch Chris Hill Sophomore Guard A natural scorer, he'll be asked to get others involved as well this season. DATE TO REMEMBER Jan. 4 How about this for hard-nosed, blue-collar, punch-'em-in-the-face hoops: Michigan State against Oklahoma. Two good teams, two of the best coaches in the game, and two teams that will turn every missed shot into a war. Ought to be really interesting. .

 

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

It was, by Michigan State standards, a down year. The Spartans didn't win 20 games a year ago (just 19), they didn't win another Big Ten title (finished one game out) and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. That's what happens when a team has three freshman play more than 24 minutes per game and start at least a dozen games each. Now, however, things are back to normal in East Lansing: Michigan State is the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten. Tom Izzo's team returns four starters from a year ago. The Spartans have inside rebounding beef in the form of seniors Aloysius Anagonye and Adam Ballinger. The trio of Chris Hill, Kelvin Torbert and Alan Anderson return for their sophomore seasons in better shape and with a better understanding of what Izzo demands. And the Spartans annual recruiting haul features one of the best juco point guards in Rashi Johnson, one of the top five players in the country in 6-11 Paul Davis, an exciting perimeter player in Maurice Ager, a strong power forward named Delco Rowley and an international big man in Erazem Lorbek. And think, the Spartans could've returned five starters if not for Marcus Taylor's ill-advised decision to turn pro. Instead of playing for a Big Ten contender, he'll be living large in the NBDL. While nine of the Spartans 13 scholarship players are in their first or second year at Michigan State, Izzo doesn't mind the favorite label. This Spartans team could falter early because injuries to Torbert and Ager could keep both out of the lineup into December. And Izzo certainly isn't afraid to play competition considering Michigan State is in the Great Alaska Shootout, hosts Virginia and travels to both Kentucky and Oklahoma.

TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
When you look up "tough" in the dictionary, Sparty, the Michigan State mascot, is pictured there, isn't he? If not, he should be. With Izzo leading the Spartans, there are two guarantees: Michigan State is going to defend and the players are going to rebound. That's just the way it is. With much more depth than a year ago, that's certainly going to be the case again.

TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
The only real question about this team is at point guard. While Taylor drove Izzo crazy at times, his departure leaves the Spartans without a tested point guard. Chris Hill, a converted shooting guard, saw some action at point last season and will be the starter. Johnson is extremely quick and is talented, but he is going to have to adapt to playing in a setting more structured than junior college.

BOTTOM LINE..............................
There is good reason why the Spartans are the clear Big Ten favorites and a top 10 team nationally. While expectations are high, they need to be tempered at least a little bit. This team isn't at the same level as the Spartans that went to three consecutive Final Fours. However, it isn't far behind. This team is good enough to win the Big Ten and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.