Sunday, April 02, 2000
Florida vs. Mich St.: Opposites attract
BY HAL BOCK
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — After spending a week preparing for Wisconsin's throwback offense, Michigan State has one day to get ready for Florida's racehorse game in the Final Four.
The senior-laden Spartans, champions of the Big Ten conference, play for the national championship against the Gators, whose roster is bulging with freshmen and sophomores.
Michigan State survived a bruising battle with Wisconsin 53-41, a game that sometimes seemed to be played in quicksand with lids on the baskets. And then they were joined in the final by Florida, whose run-and-gun attack wore down North Carolina, 71-59.
“It will be opposite styles from what we've had to prepare for,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.
Florida coach Billy Donovan said he'd seen Michigan State periodically.
“We're going against a team that has tremendous experience,” he said. “I think they're a hungry team, just like we are. They're terrific. They do a great job defensively. They can play any way you want to play. We've got our hands full. It's a tremendous challenge.”
Mike Miller said Florida was ready for the Spartans.
“They're a great club,” he said. “They've got seniors. They shoot well. We're going to do a good job. Coach already has a plan.”
Point guard Mateen Cleaves, who returned for a final season at Michigan State and one last run at a national championship, knows the Spartans are in for a track meet against the Gators' pressing game.
“I've watched Florida play all year,” he said. “They play intense defense. They're going to be in your face.”
That is the style of the Gators, the first No. 5 seed to make it to a national championship.
They were a fraction of a second away from washing out of the NCAA tournament in their first game against Butler. Mike Miller saved them with a game-winning basket with three-tenths of a second left in overtime.
From there, Florida knocked off No. 4 Illinois, No. 1 Duke and No. 3 Oklahoma State to win the East Regional. Against North Carolina, they used the same formula, running the floor, using their depth and speed to wear down the Tar Heels.
They built a 15-point lead early, saw it disappear, and then reconstructed a comfortable margin.
Michigan State led by just two points against Wisconsin at the half, but then pulled away in the second half to beat the Badgers for the fourth time this season.
“The first half, we weren't playing as aggressive as we should have,” said Morris Peterson, who led the Spartans with 20 points. “In the second half, we started playing with a sense of urgency. We started realizing that they could be our last 20 minutes if we didn't pick it up.”
Associated Press Final Four Coverage: Men's •
Women's
Florida 71, North Carolina 59
Michigan State 53, Wisconsin 41
A happy end to Badger boredom
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