2008-2009 Men's College Basketball Discussion

GO SPARTANS!

Saturday, March 7, 2009
Michigan 67, Minnesota 64
U-M nabs big win over Minnesota
Joanne C. Gerstner / The Detroit News

MINNEAPOLIS -- Burn the ships?

Michigan coach John Beilein turned to an unlikely source Saturday -- 16th century Aztec conqueror Hernando Cortez -- to inspire his players.

Cortez directed his Spanish troops in 1519 to burn their ships before the siege of the now-Mexican coast, as an overt act of confidence that they would win and then take their enemies' vessels as prizes.

The Wolverines warmed up in Williams Arena wearing shooting shirts saying "Quemar los barcos" -- Cortez's famous quote in Spanish.

The enemy was Minnesota.

The prize was moving a sure step closer to the NCAA Tournament.

The emotional Wolverines won 67-64, riding a brilliant comeback engineered by sophomore Laval Lucas-Perry and junior DeShawn Sims. Michigan moves to 19-13 overall, 9-9 in the Big Ten -- numbers that should provide serious candidacy before the NCAA tournament selection committee.

"We were so fired up, I was so hyped before this game, we wanted this so badly," said Sims, who scored a game-high 24 points. "This feels so good because we fought hard. Nothing was coming easy, and we didn't stop trying to fight.

"We all were fighting for this and we got it together."

Beilein's speech, accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation the night before the game on Cortez's tactics, made an impact.

"We were all about burning the ships, all about it," said Lucas-Perry, who scored a season-high 19 points. "Coach just got us going."

Beilein senses his team has been getting stronger as the season has progressed. But using a little history lesson, from one of history's most ruthless conquerors, was designed to sharpen the focus.

"Anybody's who's in March, you know in some way, shape or form, you're about to play your last game at some point," Beilein said of his unique motivational tactic. "I've given that speech before. (Assistant coach) John Mahoney researched it, and that's why we have 'Burn the ships' in Spanish.

"I think we've gotten tougher as the year has gone on. To win on the road, you have to be mentally tough."

Lucas-Perry rescued Michigan midway in the second half, a point where things appeared quite bleak for the Wolverines. The Gophers (21-9, 9-9) were up by 11 and seemed securely in command.

Lucas-Perry scored 11 points in a three-minute span, including three 3-pointers, and brought Michigan to within two points.

Then Sims took over.

A short Sims jumper tied the game at 58. Sims hit two free throws a minute later, giving Michigan its first lead since the game's early moments.

Sophomore guard Manny Harris padded the margin with a 3-pointer at the 2:04 mark, putting U-M up for good at 65-60.

"We weren't backing down, we weren't going to lose our cool," said Harris, who scored 14. "This is right up there with one of the best feelings I've ever had playing at Michigan. This was incredible."

The first half was an ugly affair, with both teams struggling to score and turning the ball over. Tough defense was a factor, but guards from both teams appeared to lose focus at times. Michigan and Minnesota both went scoreless for nearly six minutes in the middle of the half.

The Wolverines made a 10-2 run to pull within one, 23-22, with 4:43 left. U-M had been 0-for-6 on 3-pointers before freshman guard Zack Novak connected at 5:59. Harris followed with another three 20 seconds later and the run was on.

The Gophers responded, however, never allowing U-M to tie or take the lead after the run.

Freshman Ralph Sampson III punished Michigan inside, using his 6-11 body to grab rebounds and drop in layups.

Minnesota caught fire starting the second half, putting U-M down by 10 with a 10-3 run in the first three minutes. The Wolverines went offensively cold again, while the Gophers continued to pound the interior.

But Minnesota couldn't sustain the aggression, and Michigan's Sims and Lucas-Perry took over when it mattered most.

Lucas-Perry was asked, metaphorically of course, what Michigan would be looking to burn during the Big Ten tournament and beyond.

"Ships, shoes, basketballs, whatever," Lucas-Perry said. "We're burning ours first, because we're coming to take theirs. We want it bad."

Huge win

Win at least 1 in the Big 10 tourney and they're probably going to make the field of 65.

Sunday, March 8, 2009
Michigan State 62, Purdue 51
MSU ends regular season with victory over Purdue
Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

EAST LANSING -- Outright Big Ten champion Michigan State could earn even more hardware after a 62-51 win Sunday over Purdue in its home finale.

In a tight game on senior day, coach Tom Izzo, Kalin Lucas and Travis Walton all made cases to possibly earn top individual conference honors.

A likely finalist for Big Ten Coach of the Year, Izzo finished the regular season with a nation's best 12 victories among the RPI poll's top 50.

Lucas finished Sunday with a game-high 21 points and might earn recognition as the league's best player after one of the most well-balanced games of his career.

And Walton once again lived up to his reputation as a top defender, in an effort that helped hold the nation's No. 19 team to two second half field goals for nearly 16 minutes.

The Spartans definitely appear primed for this week's Big Ten Tournament and a potential No. 1, 2 or no worse than 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

With Sunday's win, MSU is the first Big Ten team since 1985 to win an outright championship by four games.

Minnesota won the league by four games in 1997 under coach Clem Haskins, but was later forced to vacate the title due to NCAA sanctions.

JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore each had a team-high 12 points for the Boilermakers.

Robbie Hummel, the 2007 Big Ten Player of the Year, was held to eight on 3-of-12 shooting.

Wilson set to announce

Jamil Wilson , a top 2009 recruiting target from Racine, Wis. is expected to announce his college choice later today and has MSU in his final three schools, along with Texas and Oregon.

Wilson, listed at 6-foot-7, 211 pounds, has a reported 84-inch wing span and is ranked by Rivals the No. 21 small forward in the nation and No. 93 prospect overall.

You can reach Eric Lacy at elacy@detnews.com

Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Lucas is Big Ten player of the year
Izzo is named coach of the year by his peers, Walton top defender; Suton, Roe honored.
Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

EAST LANSING -- A day after the Spartans celebrated a Big Ten title -- a team thing -- the individuals took over.

There's Kalin Lucas, the Big Ten player of the year.

There's Travis Walton, the Big Ten defensive player of the year.

And there's Tom Izzo, the Big Ten coach of the year.

A clean sweep of the top awards for the top team.

"Even in a great year, you normally don't get this many people," Izzo said Monday. "That means everybody was on the same page, and that's pretty cool."

Three other Spartans also were honored: Goran Suton on the second All-Big Ten team, Delvon Roe on the all-freshman team, and Raymar Morgan (honorable mention).

Since the school joined the Big Ten in 1950, no Michigan State team has earned so many top conference honors in a season.

But with those honors come more pressure.

And higher expectations.

Walton knows that.

"When you win, you get a lot of things," Walton said. "There will be an offensive player that will want to come at (me), a defensive player will wants to shut down Kalin and a big man who try to prove he's better than G (Suton)."

Lucas' award was unanimous -- given to him by the coaches and media -- while Walton's came from coaches only (the media does not select a defensive player of the year).

Izzo's award was from the coaches, while the media chose Penn State's Ed DeChellis as its coach of the year.

Recruiting trail

Sunday's verbal commitment of Jamil Wilson (Racine, Wis.) to Oregon doesn't appear to create an immediate need for Izzo to find another recruit for 2009.

"We could possibly add someone," Izzo said. "I'm looking more at underclassmen right now."

Wilson, a 6-foot-7 forward, is rated by Rivals.com the No. 93 player overall and No. 21 player at his position nationwide.

Michigan State's 2009 class consists of frontcourt players Derrick Nix (Detroit Pershing) and Garrick Sherman (Kenton, Ohio). The Spartans also are expected to have football signee Dion Sims (Orchard Lake St. Mary's) join the team at some point next season.

Michigan State currently has 2010 commitments from guards Keith Appling (Detroit Pershing) and Russell Byrd (Fort Wayne, Ind.).

You can reach Eric Lacy at eric.lacy@detnews.com

GO

Michigan beats Iowa in the first round of the Big 10 tournament!

They're probably in the NCAA tournament now.

Michigan has Illinois tomorrow. That'll be very tough but if they do win they are in no matter what.

Originally Published: March 12, 2009
Big Ten could be big winner
By Pat Forde
ESPN.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- When the NCAA selection committee finishes its work Sunday afternoon, it might very well release a bracket that looks as if it was created by Salvador Dali.

How's this for surrealism:

Eight Big Ten teams could be in.

More than the Big East, which is looking at seven.

More than the Atlantic Coast Conference, which is hoping for seven.

More than anyone else.

Although this would tickle Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany like a noon kickoff in the Big House, it could produce Linda Blair "Exorcist" reactions along the East Coast and elsewhere. Heads spinning, vomit and cusswords flying.

And understandably so. It's crazy. But it could happen.

The season-long, nationwide consensus has been that the Big East and ACC have been head-and-shoulders-knees-and-toes better than every other conference. But after Take Care of Business Thursday at the Big Ten tourney, the heartland could swoop in late and occupy one-eighth of the field while the Big East and ACC are left with no more than seven bids each.

Three Big Ten bubble teams took the court at Conseco Fieldhouse on Thursday -- Minnesota against Northwestern, Michigan against Iowa, Penn State against Indiana. All three avoided damaging defeats. The Gophers blew a lead, then rallied late to beat the Wildcats 66-53; the Wolverines smoked the Hawkeyes from the opening minutes and won 73-45; and the Nittany Lions similarly rolled up the outmanned Hoosiers 66-51.

Now these three move on to the quarterfinals with five teams that already figure to be in: Michigan State, Illinois, Purdue, Ohio State and Wisconsin.

So simply by avoiding a really bad day, the Gophers, Wolverines and Nittany Lions had a really good day. It's not clear beyond a doubt that they locked themselves into the bracket -- especially Penn State -- but they certainly did not kick themselves out.

At its hotel just a few blocks from Conseco, the NCAA selection committee surely took notice. Meanwhile, other bubble teams played their way further into trouble. Providence, Arizona, Kansas State, Miami, UNLV and Rhode Island lost critical games Thursday.

There is no toteboard in the NCAA selection committee meeting room keeping track of bids by conference. But everyone else keeps track. And at various points this season, there was discussion of whether the Big East deserved nine or 10 bids and whether the ACC deserved nine. There was little discussion of the Big Ten's getting eight teams -- until everything just sort of fell into place.

Now, people in the league are getting downright bullish.

"I spent three years in the Big East," said Indiana coach Tom Crean, late of Marquette. "It's a tremendous league, but this league doesn't take a back seat to anybody's league.

"There's no question that Michigan State should be a No. 1 seed no matter what happens here, and nobody should be shocked it this league gets nine [including Northwestern]. OK, maybe we get happy with eight. But there ought to be a major revolt if it's seven because it wouldn't make any sense."

If it comes to a great eight from the Big Ten, credit the fact that all the bubble teams have solid wins and none of them cratered at any point.

There were no massive losing streaks like the ones that doomed Notre Dame and Georgetown. And there have been some serve-notice victories that jump off the résumés: Minnesota beat Louisville on a neutral floor; Michigan beat Duke and UCLA; Penn State won on the home courts of this tournament's top two seeds, Michigan State and Illinois.

On Thursday, Minnesota faced the toughest task and had the toughest time. Northwestern has won 17 games this season, quite a year by the Wildcats' perennially meager standards, and was still fighting for a bid of its own.

That determination showed when Northwestern rallied from a 14-point deficit to take a 49-47 lead with 7:46 to play. But the Wildcats, who have lost several games in agonizing fashion this year, then went empty on three straight attempts to make it a two-possession lead, and Minnesota took advantage of the reprieve.

Namely, it got a bailout from freshman center Ralph Sampson III, whose basketball ability has not yet matched his bloodlines.

He's the son of That Ralph Sampson: the 7-foot-4 center who made the cover of Sports Illustrated as a high-schooler and was a four-year force at Virginia despite never making a Final Four.

The Gophers finally figured out Northwestern's 1-3-1 half-court trap and got the ball inside to Sampson III for an old-fashioned three-point play. Then Sampson took over the paint at the other end, grabbing rebounds and blocking shots. In the final 5:11, Sampson produced seven points, five rebounds and two blocks.

Although those are not his father's numbers, you have to understand how far the 6-11 Georgian has come as a collegian. I saw him play in high school and thought his only major selling points were size and surname. I figured he'd be at least a year from even a minimal contribution at Minnesota.

Instead, he has started most of the season and averaged a respectable 6.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots. Credit Tubby Smith, who has done some fine work developing players in his career.

"I think I improved 100 percent in my overall game," Sampson said. "Under the leadership of coach Smith and all the veteran players, they helped me evolve my game 100 percent since the first day I walked in the door."

Said Smith: "He's certainly developed and grown into a pretty good player for us, and he really has come on. He's as hard a worker as we have in our program. He's always willing to stay late, come early. That's why he's improved."

It would be at least a little ironic if Minnesota's first NCAA bid since 2005 was in part secured by the son of a guy whose greatest collegiate failings came at NCAA tournament time.

But it sure wouldn't be the strangest thing to happen this March. Not if the Big Ten is suddenly going to rise up and become the boss of the bracket.

Pat Forde is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at ESPN4D@aol.com.

I still say Michigan is gonna be left out


Unless they win the Big Ten Tournament

GO BIG TEN!

Friday, March 13, 2009
Michigan State 64, Minnesota 56
Michigan State opens Big Ten in dominating fashion
Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

INDIANAPOLIS -- No matter how well or poorly Michigan State plays, there's usually been one sure bet: Travis Walton will give maximum effort.

Walton, the Big Ten's defensive player of the year did just that Friday afternoon in a 64-56 victory over Minnesota in the conference tournament's first round.

Michigan State (26-5) plays at 1:40 p.m. Saturday the winner of Friday afternoon's Wisconsin-Ohio State game. Saturday's game will be broadcast on CBS.

"Travis is the glue guy," coach Tom Izzo said. "He did a great job bringing this group together."

Walton didn't score until the five-minute mark but orchestrated a second half headlined by his assists for two alley-oop dunks and relentless defense.

Durrell Summers caught Walton's first lob pass for a one-handed jam before Marquise Gray caught another about 90 seconds later for a two-handed dunk.

Michigan State led, 44-36, at the time and later pulled away with 48.9 seconds left after two Walton free throws to make it 61-53.

"Basketball is not just about scoring," Walton said. "You can be a decoy to help somebody else."

Walton finished with four points, a season-high six assists, four rebounds and three steals. He was one of four starters who didn't score in the first half.

Against a trapping zone, the Spartans had to rely on their bench to get an edge midway through the first half.

Gray and Chris Allen combined for 21 of the Spartans' first 31 points.

Allen finished with a team-high 17, 12 in the first half.

Izzo noticed improved play and focus from Allen in practice and was glad it translated into an outing that marked his fourth double-figure scoring game in a month.

Allen said he simply found openings in a 2-3 zone and got the ball and the most opportune times.

"All week I was trying to listen to coach, take his advice and be more aggressive," Allen said. "It worked out all right."

Gray had nine of his 11 points by the break in four minutes and made two free throws for a 23-22 lead, MSU's first in nearly 10 minutes.

Kalin Lucas had 12 points and three assists.

Minnesota's largest advantage was 10-6 after a Jamal Abu-Shamala free throw. The Golden Gophers (22-10) never led in the second half.

Izzo appeared calm after the victory, even after he said the game "wasn't pretty," but made it clear he's still not satisfied with a group he believes still has room for improvement.

The Spartans are 24-4 when they outrebound an opponent and 15-0 when they hold an opponent to 60 points or less.

"No, I'm not that cool," Izzo said. "If you have (dreams) of grandeur, of being something bigger than this, (then) we have to get better as a team."

Friday, March 13, 2009
Illinois 60, Michigan 50
Wolverines fall to Illini, now await fate
Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

INDIANAPOLIS -- And now they wait.

The Michigan Wolverines' brief Big Ten tournament run ended in the quarterfinals with a 60-50 loss to second-seeded Illinois on Friday night at Conseco Fieldhouse. After a sizzling shooting performance in a convincing -- perhaps NCAA Tournament-invite sealing -- victory over Iowa on Thursday night, the Wolverines struggled against the Illini.

Illinois led by 20 late in the second half, but Michigan made a late charge, cutting the lead to seven before succumbing.

DeShawn Sims led Michigan with 15 points, and Zack Novak scored 10. Sims, who had 27 points against Iowa, was 6-of-19 , while Manny Harris was 3-of-11. The Wolverines were 9-of-27 from 3-point range.

It's now wait-and-see time for the Wolverines, who will find out Sunday night whether they have earned an at-large invitation to the 65-team NCAA Tournament.

If the Wolverines, who had won five of their last seven before losing to Illinois, receive an NCAA spot, it'll be their first since 1998. While most bracket projections had Michigan in the tournament field heading into the Big Ten tournament, the victory over Iowa on Friday night likely was enough to ensure the Wolverines a spot. Michigan is 20-13 overall.

Michigan has a strong case to be part of the NCAA Tournament field. According to CollegeRPI.com, the Wolverines have an RPI of 43, their strength of schedule is rated No. 12, and they had six victories during the regular season against top-50 RPI teams. And during non-conference play, Michigan had victories over then-top-five UCLA and Duke.

The Illini, playing their first game in the Big Ten tournament, played short-handed against the Wolverines. Starter Chester Frazier, the team's top defending guard, underwent minor surgery Thursday on a broken bone in his right hand, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday. Frazier, wearing a long, black cast, sat on the bench in uniform, but it's unclear whether he'll be able to return for the NCAA Tournament, which begins next week.

Frazier, who suffered the injury in practice on Wednesday, was averaging 5.3 assists entering the game.

But even without Frazier, the Illini were too much for the Wolverines.

Michigan trailed 25-24 at halftime, despite shooting 30 percent. Sims and Harris, who played so brilliantly against Iowa, were a combined 3-of-15 in the first half.

The Wolverines, who led by four in the first half, would never again get as close as they were at halftime. Illinois was seemingly unstoppable at the start of the second half, going on a 10-2 run at the start to build a 35-26 lead with 15:45 left.

Michigan went four minutes without a basket before Novak hit a 3-pointer.

That would be the Wolverines' last basket for almost four minutes.

Illinois went on a 13-0 run during a nearly four-minute drought for the Wolverines. The Illini led 54-34 with seven minutes left.

The Wolverines pushed the Illini in the final minutes, however. Thanks to a run sparked by back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers by Stu Douglass, Harris and Sims, Michigan drew to 54-47 with 3:28 remaining.

You can reach Angelique S. Chengelis at angelique.chengelis@detnews.com

That's too bad. Still, they're probably going to make it. If they could have won they would have been in for sure though.

C'mon committee, don't screw this up

catbox_9 wrote:

That's too bad. Still, they're probably going to make it. If they could have won they would have been in for sure though.

C'mon committee, don't screw this up

NIT

NIT

That is where Michigan is going!

I don't think so - ESPN, CBS, and every other place I've looked says Michigan is a lock for the NCAA Tournament.

Saturday, March 14, 2009
Big Ten tournament: Ohio State 82, Michigan State 70
Spartans fall, hurt chances for No. 1 seed in NCAA
Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

INDIANAPOLIS -- Boisterous TV personality Dick Vitale said Saturday morning on ESPN's "SportsCenter" that Michigan State had "absolutely no chance" for a No. 1 seed.

The Spartans validated critics like Vitale on Saturday afternoon in 82-70 loss to Ohio State that was mired by inconsistency on both ends of the floor.

Out of the Big Ten Tournament more than 24 hours before Selection Sunday, Tom Izzo's team now is most likely a No. 2 or 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament with a postseason destination that could be in any region.

Thad Matta's Buckeyes (22-9) looked like the better team in this second-round matchup with a mix of man-to-man and zone that made MSU (26-6) play from behind most of the contest.

Without a lead in the second half, Izzo's squad often played at a frantic pace in order to cut the deficit to under 10 with less than four minutes to go. But the effort stalled when Draymond Green missed two free throws with 3:50 left and Chris Allen missed a pull-up jumper at the 3:17 mark.

Ohio State's largest lead was 16 after an Evan Turner layup midway through the second half.

Considered a runner-up to Kalin Lucas for Big Ten player of the year, Turner went scoreless in the first half with only four shot attempts, but finished with a game-high 18 points.

Lucas had 17 for MSU and Korie Lucious came off bench to score 10 of his 13 in the second half.

The loss snaps a string five consecutive Big Ten Tournament No. 1 seeds advancing to the championship game; three of the previous four won the title. MSU was trying to win the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles in the same year for the first time since 2000, the year the Spartans won the national championship.

You can reach Eric Lacy at elacy@detnews.com

Spartans beat OSU twice during the regular season then lose to them in the Big 10 Tournament!!!

catbox_9 wrote:

I don't think so - ESPN, CBS, and every other place I've looked says Michigan is a lock for the NCAA Tournament.

But Michigan got lucky

They could have been and should have been NIT bound

On the other hand; the Spartans could make a deep run in the NCCA tournament

gs78 wrote:

On the other hand; the Spartans could make a deep run in the NCCA tournament

Yeah they can will. #2 seeds win the championship all the time.

catbox_9 wrote:

gs78 wrote:

On the other hand; the Spartans could make a deep run in the NCCA tournament

Yeah they can will. #2 seeds win the championship all the time.

But i think the Spartans will fall short


I see them going down before the Final four


Sweet 16 or Elite 8

gs78 wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

gs78 wrote:

On the other hand; the Spartans could make a deep run in the NCCA tournament

Yeah they can will. #2 seeds win the championship all the time.

But i think the Spartans will fall short


I see them going down before the Final four


Sweet 16 or Elite 8

I have them losing to Kansas in the Sweet 16

catbox_9 wrote:

gs78 wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

gs78 wrote:

On the other hand; the Spartans could make a deep run in the NCCA tournament

Yeah they can will. #2 seeds win the championship all the time.

But i think the Spartans will fall short


I see them going down before the Final four


Sweet 16 or Elite 8

I have them losing to Kansas in the Sweet 16

If they play Kansas; they will lose

Michigan wins!!!!

On my bracket on CBS I picked Michigan so I got that upset right!

I picked them to lose to Oklahoma in the next round though

C'mon Michigan, pull off an upset

catbox_9 wrote:

Michigan wins!!!!

On my bracket on CBS I picked Michigan so I got that upset right!

I picked them to lose to Oklahoma in the next round though

C'mon Michigan, pull off an upset

GO CATBOX

Friday, March 27, 2009
Midwest Regional: Michigan State 67, Kansas 62
Spartans prevail over Kansas in nail-biter
Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michigan State has plenty of work to do Friday night if it wants to stay alive in the NCAA Tournament.

The Spartans trailed Kansas 36-29 at halftime in the tournament's Midwest Regional semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Goran Suton led MSU with 13 first-half points, while the Jayhawks' Sherron Collins had 12.

Tom Izzo's squad missed 16 of its first 23 shots and had trouble taking care of the ball.

Kansas out-rebounded Michigan State in the first half and got a strong performance from 6-foot-11 center Cole Aldrich, who had 10 points by the break.

MSU entered the postseason leading the country in rebounding margin ( 10).

The winner plays Sunday against Louisville, the tournament's overall No. 1 seed. .

Rick Pitino's Cardinals destroyed Arizona 103-64 in Friday's first semifinal.

You can reach Eric Lacy at elacy@detnews.com.

They did it! I knew they could I just didn't think they would.

Up next is Louisville. Again, I think they can win but I don't think they will.

I'll watch obviously. They're 3 wins away from the national championship. I don't think they'll do it but if they did I wouldn't be stunned. They're good enough to do it but they are bad enough to where they probably won't. Still, it wouldn't even be anywhere near the biggest shocker ever if they won it all.

Go State Go!

Saturday, March 28, 2009
Spartans face tough test against Louisville
Tournament's top seed comes into Sunday's Regional Final on a roll
Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

INDIANAPOLIS -- Louisville is expected to give Michigan State its biggest challenge of the season when the teams square off at 2:20 p.m. Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Cardinals destroyed Arizona, 103-64, in Friday's Midwest Regional semifinal for the sixth biggest blowout in NCAA Tournament regional game history.

Rick Pitino's team produced a season-high point total, recorded 29 assists, shot nearly 62 percent in the second half, made 13 of 14 free throws and committed just nine turnovers.

Asked about Louisville, MSU coach Tom Izzo couldn't help but give a lighthearted compliment.

"The way they shot (against Arizona), they could have beaten the Celtics," Izzo joked.

After the lopsided win, Pitino had few complaints about his team.

"It was a dominating defensive performance," Pitino said. "We just wanted to make sure we were good at every phase of the game.

"Other than dunking the ball at the end, I can't find fault in anything they did tonight."

The Spartans are well aware of how difficult it will be to pull out a victory and earn a Final Four trip to Detroit.

"It feels like (a Final Four) is still far away because we probably have the toughest game of the season coming up," guard Travis Walton said. "Louisville is playing with a lot of confidence and a lot of swagger."

The Cardinals are one of the nation's best defensive teams and have three players scoring in double figures: forwards Earl Clark and Terrance Williams and center Samardo Samuels.

The Big East regular-season champions are the tournament's No. 1 overall and have the respect of Goran Suton.

"We know how talented they are, but we're talented too," Suton said. "It's going to be a challenge for both teams and should be one hell of a game."

Izzo a hot commodity?

In the wake of Billy Gillispie 's firing Friday, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported Izzo and Ohio State's Thad Matta are "among the most prominent coaches that have been discussed" for the Kentucky job.

A story on the newspaper's Web site, however, didn't specify if Kentucky officials have interest in Izzo or Matta or if it's just speculation.

Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart said no successor is in place for Gillispie and that no interviews were scheduled this weekend.

The Courier-Journal also mentions Florida's Billy Donovan , Pittsburgh's Jamie Dixon , Memphis' John Calipari , Missouri's Mike Anderson and Texas' Rick Barnes .

Izzo is also rumored to be a candidate at Arizona.

The Wildcats were led this season by interim coach Russ Pennell .

Pennell declined to speculate Friday if he could lose his job, but appeared to hint that he most likely will be relieved of his duties.

"It's pretty certain," Pennell said when asked about his uncertain future. "...The last thing I'm thinking about is any job than the one I just finished."

Starters switch

Durrell Summers started the second half over Delvon Roe and finished with nine points and five rebounds. .

Roe started the first half, didn't attempt a shot the entire game and went scoreless.

The freshman returned in the second half at the 12:52 mark while Suton sat with three fouls.

Slam dunks

Michigan State's six Elite Eight appearances in an 11-year span are the most in the nation.

... MSU trailed 36-29 at the break, missed 16 of its first 23 shots, committed 10 turnovers leading to 15 Kansas points and also gave up 22 points in the paint.

... The Spartans were outrebounded 37-31 and have a record of 3-1 when that's happened this season.

You can reach Eric Lacy at eric.lacy@detnews.com.

Sparty On!

Sunday, March 29, 2009
MSU 64, Louisville 52
Michigan State returns to Final Four
Spartans punch ticket to Detroit with upset win over Louisville.
Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

INDIANAPOLIS -- After months of depressing news, Michiganians officially have a feel-good story because Michigan State on Sunday earned a Final Four trip to Detroit.

The Spartans used a second-half surge against Louisville to dominate the NCAA Tournament's No. 1 overall seed, 64-52, at Lucas Oil Stadium.

With legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson in attendance, coach Tom Izzo earned his fifth Final Four appearance since 1999 and fulfilled one of his ultimate dreams.

Michigan State brought a sparse crowd of green-and-white fans to its feet with a two-handed Chris Allen dunk near the five-minute mark for a 14-point lead.

Attendance was announced at more than 36,000.

But there appeared to be more than 30,000 Cardinals fans since Louisville is about a two-hour drive from Indianapolis.

Goran Suton led all scorers with 19 points, followed by Durrell Summers' 12 off the bench and Kalin Lucas' 10.

Earl Clark led Louisville with 16 points and Preston Knowles had 11 for Rick Pitino's team, which had won 13 in a row.