Spartans Stand One Win Away From Big Ten Championship
Michigan State hosts Wisconsin on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
March 1, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Michigan State (17-9, 12-3)
vs. Wisconsin (19-6, 10-4)
March 2, 2004
7 p.m. EST
East Lansing, Mich.
Breslin Center (14,759)
Radio: Spartan Sports Network - Will Tieman (Play by Play), Gus Ganakas (Color). Flagship - WJIM (1240 AM/97.5 FM)
TV: ESPN - Dave Barnett (Play by Play), Steve Lavin & Tim McCormick (Color)
The Opening Tip
First-place Michigan State looks to clinch a share of a Big Ten Championship with a win against Wisconsin. The Spartans enter the game having won five straight, nine of their last 10 and 12 of their last 14 contests since a 77-64 loss at Wisconsin in MSU's opening game of the conference season. The Spartans are 7-0 at home in Big Ten play this season and are looking to complete a perfect 8-0 home slate for the fifth time in six seasons. After the UW game, MSU will have nine days off before the Big Ten Tournament.
Michigan State Game Notes
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The Starting Five (And A Sixth Man)
Spartan Championships - A win over Wisconsin would clinch at least a share of the Big Ten Championship for Michigan State for the fifth time in seven seasons. MSU has won 10 Big Ten Championships since joining the league in 1951 and four in Tom Izzo's tenure as head coach, including titles in 1957, 1959, 1967, 1978, 1979, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
Spartans And Badgers Own Championships - It should come as no surprise that the Michigan State-Wisconsin game has championship implications, considering that Michigan State or Wisconsin has won at least a share of the Big Ten title every year since 1998. MSU won four straight league titles from 1998-2001, becoming just the fourth school in Big Ten history to win four straight league titles. UW won back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003.
Senior Salute - The Wisconsin game marks the final home game for seniors Jason Andreas and Rashi Johnson. Andreas is a fifth-year senior who redshirted during MSU's 2000 NCAA Championship season. A year later, he played on MSU's fourth straight Big Ten Championship team and appeared in the Final Four against Arizona. He will end his career as a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and earn his degree in general business administration. Johnson joined the Spartan program in 2002 after two years at Flint Mott Community College. A psychology major, Johnson will be appearing in his 50th career game at Michigan State.
A Different Looking Team - Following a 77-64 loss at Wisconsin on Jan. 10, Michigan State stood at 5-7 overall, 0-1 in the Big Ten Conference. Since that game, MSU has won 12 of its last 14 games, including nine of its last 10 and five in a row.
Finding Success On The Road - Michigan State finished the road portion of its Big Ten schedule with a 5-3 record away from the Breslin Center. The Spartans also finished the 2000 and 2001 Big Ten schedules with 5-3 road records en route to 13-3 overall records and a share of the league championship each year.
MSU's Month - Michigan State is 29-7 in March since the 1998-99 season, including a 7-0 mark in Big Ten regular-season play. For his career, Tom Izzo is 36-14 in March.
Game 26 Notes - MSU 67 - Penn State 42 - Feb. 28, 2004
* Paul Davis recorded a career-best six assists.
* Michigan State's defense allowed a season-low 42 points.
* Michigan State recorded a season-high 23 assists on 28 field goals.
* Michigan State made a season-high 11 three-point field goals on a season-high 27 attempts.
* Michigan State's 25-point margin of victory is its largest in the Big Ten this year and ties the largest of the season (MSU defeated Penn, 77-52); it's MSU's largest margin of victory on the road since defeating Michigan, 91-64, on Jan. 30, 2001.
* Penn State grabbed just seven offensive boards after entering the game averaging 14.08 offensive rebounds per game in Big Ten action.
* With 10 steals, it marked the fifth game of the season in which Michigan State has recorded 10 or more steals.
* Michigan State did not attempt a single free throw. MSU's previous season low was a 3-of-6 effort vs. Northwestern (2/21). This was the first game in recorded MSU history in which the Spartans did not attempt a free throw (dating back to 1950).
Wisconsin Notes
Coach Ryan - Bo Ryan (Wilkes College, '69) is 445-130 in his 20th year as a college head coach, including a 62-27 record in his third year at Wisconsin. Ryan previously served as head coach at UW-Milwaukee for two seasons and UW-Platteville for 15 seasons before that.
Michigan State Vs. Wisconsin Series Notes - Michigan State leads the all-time series with Wisconsin, 63-50, including a 38-13 advantage in East Lansing. Although Wisconsin has won the last three games, Michigan State has won eight of the last 11 games and 12 of the last 16. Tom Izzo is 12-6 vs. Wisconsin, including 5-2 in East Lansing.
Badger Briefs - Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in scoring defense (56.5 ppg), scoring margin (+12.2), turnover margin (+4.84) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.41) in all games ... Devin Harris ranks third in the Big Ten in both scoring (19.1 ppg) and assists (4.64 apg) ... In Big Ten games, Harris is tied for the conference lead in scoring (20.7 ppg).
Last Meeting Notes - Wisconsin 77 - MSU 64 - Jan. 10, 2004
* MSU opened with a 17-5 run through the first 4:57, making its first eight shots.
* MSU shot 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from three-point range and 100 percent from the free throw line.
* Michigan State shot just 13 free throws compared to Wisconsin's 35.
* Seven of MSU's 17 turnovers came in the final six minutes of the first half.
* MSU went from the 15:03 mark of the first half until 8:26 without scoring.
Michigan State hosts Wisconsin on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
March 1, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Michigan State (17-9, 12-3)
vs. Wisconsin (19-6, 10-4)
March 2, 2004
7 p.m. EST
East Lansing, Mich.
Breslin Center (14,759)
Radio: Spartan Sports Network - Will Tieman (Play by Play), Gus Ganakas (Color). Flagship - WJIM (1240 AM/97.5 FM)
TV: ESPN - Dave Barnett (Play by Play), Steve Lavin & Tim McCormick (Color)
The Opening Tip
First-place Michigan State looks to clinch a share of a Big Ten Championship with a win against Wisconsin. The Spartans enter the game having won five straight, nine of their last 10 and 12 of their last 14 contests since a 77-64 loss at Wisconsin in MSU's opening game of the conference season. The Spartans are 7-0 at home in Big Ten play this season and are looking to complete a perfect 8-0 home slate for the fifth time in six seasons. After the UW game, MSU will have nine days off before the Big Ten Tournament.
Michigan State Game Notes
Download Free Acrobat Reader
The Starting Five (And A Sixth Man)
Spartan Championships - A win over Wisconsin would clinch at least a share of the Big Ten Championship for Michigan State for the fifth time in seven seasons. MSU has won 10 Big Ten Championships since joining the league in 1951 and four in Tom Izzo's tenure as head coach, including titles in 1957, 1959, 1967, 1978, 1979, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
Spartans And Badgers Own Championships - It should come as no surprise that the Michigan State-Wisconsin game has championship implications, considering that Michigan State or Wisconsin has won at least a share of the Big Ten title every year since 1998. MSU won four straight league titles from 1998-2001, becoming just the fourth school in Big Ten history to win four straight league titles. UW won back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003.
Senior Salute - The Wisconsin game marks the final home game for seniors Jason Andreas and Rashi Johnson. Andreas is a fifth-year senior who redshirted during MSU's 2000 NCAA Championship season. A year later, he played on MSU's fourth straight Big Ten Championship team and appeared in the Final Four against Arizona. He will end his career as a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and earn his degree in general business administration. Johnson joined the Spartan program in 2002 after two years at Flint Mott Community College. A psychology major, Johnson will be appearing in his 50th career game at Michigan State.
A Different Looking Team - Following a 77-64 loss at Wisconsin on Jan. 10, Michigan State stood at 5-7 overall, 0-1 in the Big Ten Conference. Since that game, MSU has won 12 of its last 14 games, including nine of its last 10 and five in a row.
Finding Success On The Road - Michigan State finished the road portion of its Big Ten schedule with a 5-3 record away from the Breslin Center. The Spartans also finished the 2000 and 2001 Big Ten schedules with 5-3 road records en route to 13-3 overall records and a share of the league championship each year.
MSU's Month - Michigan State is 29-7 in March since the 1998-99 season, including a 7-0 mark in Big Ten regular-season play. For his career, Tom Izzo is 36-14 in March.
Game 26 Notes - MSU 67 - Penn State 42 - Feb. 28, 2004
* Paul Davis recorded a career-best six assists.
* Michigan State's defense allowed a season-low 42 points.
* Michigan State recorded a season-high 23 assists on 28 field goals.
* Michigan State made a season-high 11 three-point field goals on a season-high 27 attempts.
* Michigan State's 25-point margin of victory is its largest in the Big Ten this year and ties the largest of the season (MSU defeated Penn, 77-52); it's MSU's largest margin of victory on the road since defeating Michigan, 91-64, on Jan. 30, 2001.
* Penn State grabbed just seven offensive boards after entering the game averaging 14.08 offensive rebounds per game in Big Ten action.
* With 10 steals, it marked the fifth game of the season in which Michigan State has recorded 10 or more steals.
* Michigan State did not attempt a single free throw. MSU's previous season low was a 3-of-6 effort vs. Northwestern (2/21). This was the first game in recorded MSU history in which the Spartans did not attempt a free throw (dating back to 1950).
Wisconsin Notes
Coach Ryan - Bo Ryan (Wilkes College, '69) is 445-130 in his 20th year as a college head coach, including a 62-27 record in his third year at Wisconsin. Ryan previously served as head coach at UW-Milwaukee for two seasons and UW-Platteville for 15 seasons before that.
Michigan State Vs. Wisconsin Series Notes - Michigan State leads the all-time series with Wisconsin, 63-50, including a 38-13 advantage in East Lansing. Although Wisconsin has won the last three games, Michigan State has won eight of the last 11 games and 12 of the last 16. Tom Izzo is 12-6 vs. Wisconsin, including 5-2 in East Lansing.
Badger Briefs - Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in scoring defense (56.5 ppg), scoring margin (+12.2), turnover margin (+4.84) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.41) in all games ... Devin Harris ranks third in the Big Ten in both scoring (19.1 ppg) and assists (4.64 apg) ... In Big Ten games, Harris is tied for the conference lead in scoring (20.7 ppg).
Last Meeting Notes - Wisconsin 77 - MSU 64 - Jan. 10, 2004
* MSU opened with a 17-5 run through the first 4:57, making its first eight shots.
* MSU shot 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from three-point range and 100 percent from the free throw line.
* Michigan State shot just 13 free throws compared to Wisconsin's 35.
* Seven of MSU's 17 turnovers came in the final six minutes of the first half.
* MSU went from the 15:03 mark of the first half until 8:26 without scoring.
