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men_s_basketball:msu_03_15_07 [2010/12/02 20:54] TallTitan34 |
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- | ====== Michigan State's stifling defense handcuffs | + | ====== |
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- | {{men_s_basketball: | + | {{men_s_basketball: |
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+ | ===== Michigan State' | ||
+ | {{ men_s_basketball: | ||
Raymar Morgan scored eight of his 14 points during a dominating first half, and ninth-seeded Michigan State clamped down on eighth-seeded Marquette in a 61-49 win in the first round of the East Regional on Thursday night. | Raymar Morgan scored eight of his 14 points during a dominating first half, and ninth-seeded Michigan State clamped down on eighth-seeded Marquette in a 61-49 win in the first round of the East Regional on Thursday night. | ||
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"I don't want to just be a defensive team -- basketball is a two-way game," Izzo said. " | "I don't want to just be a defensive team -- basketball is a two-way game," Izzo said. " | ||
- | Drew Neitzel and Marquise Gray added 12 points apiece for the Spartans (23-11), who shot nearly 54 percent and never trailed in advancing to face top-seeded North Carolina, an 86-65 winner over Eastern Kentucky, in the second round Saturday in a rematch of a 2005 national semifinal. | + | |
+ | Drew Neitzel and Marquise Gray added 12 points apiece for the Spartans (23-11), who shot nearly 54 percent and never trailed in advancing to face top-seeded | ||
" | " | ||
- | The nation' | + | |
+ | The nation' | ||
"It was a very difficult prep week for me," Izzo said. "Yet I'm learning that it's going to happen in this business. You're going to play your friends sometimes." | "It was a very difficult prep week for me," Izzo said. "Yet I'm learning that it's going to happen in this business. You're going to play your friends sometimes." | ||
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Izzo saved a few tricks for his first matchup against his close friend, with most coming on defense. | Izzo saved a few tricks for his first matchup against his close friend, with most coming on defense. | ||
"We had some new things, but bottom line, they executed their defense game plan really well, and we didn' | "We had some new things, but bottom line, they executed their defense game plan really well, and we didn' | ||
- | Dominic James scored 18 points on 6-of-16 shooting and Wesley Matthews added 10 points for Marquette (24-10). But they couldn' | + | |
+ | [[Dominic James]] scored 18 points on 6-of-16 shooting and [[Wesley Matthews]] added 10 points for Marquette (24-10). But they couldn' | ||
The Golden Eagles trailed by double figures for nearly all of the second half before pulling as close as 57-49 on James' 3-pointer with 36.5 seconds left. But it wasn't nearly enough to keep them from their second straight first-round loss. | The Golden Eagles trailed by double figures for nearly all of the second half before pulling as close as 57-49 on James' 3-pointer with 36.5 seconds left. But it wasn't nearly enough to keep them from their second straight first-round loss. | ||
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Meanwhile, the Spartans were saved from another early exit. Michigan State lost to George Mason in the first round last year in a game that propelled the Patriots to a most improbable Final Four. | Meanwhile, the Spartans were saved from another early exit. Michigan State lost to George Mason in the first round last year in a game that propelled the Patriots to a most improbable Final Four. | ||
"We had some struggles at the end of last year," Izzo said. "I didn't think all year long that we really had the defensive mentality we needed to win. It wasn't all the players -- I got soft." | "We had some struggles at the end of last year," Izzo said. "I didn't think all year long that we really had the defensive mentality we needed to win. It wasn't all the players -- I got soft." | ||
There was nothing soft about the Spartans this time. | There was nothing soft about the Spartans this time. | ||
- | Michigan State' | + | |
+ | [[Michigan State]]'s punishing defensive effort helped Izzo win his first coaching meeting with Crean, an awkward game between two tight friends who spent five years together on Michigan State' | ||
Their first matchup was decided early, when Marquette missed its first eight shots and was held scoreless for the first 9:40. | Their first matchup was decided early, when Marquette missed its first eight shots and was held scoreless for the first 9:40. | ||
- | Marquette played without its best defender and second-leading scorer. Guard Jerel McNeal missed his fourth straight game with an injured right thumb. He wasn't expected to play, though he did sit on the bench in warm-ups with his thumb wrapped. | + | |
- | "Being down a perimeter defender -- especially one that was voted best in the Big East -- caught up with us tonight," | + | Marquette played without its best defender and second-leading scorer. Guard [[Jerel McNeal]] missed his fourth straight game with an injured right thumb. He wasn't expected to play, though he did sit on the bench in warm-ups with his thumb wrapped. |
- | Yet his absence was more noticeable on offense because the Golden Eagles couldn' | + | |
+ | "Being down a perimeter defender -- especially one that was voted best in the [[Big East]] -- caught up with us tonight," | ||
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+ | Yet his absence was more noticeable on offense because the Golden Eagles couldn' | ||
Meanwhile, Michigan State scored the game's first 14 points, and controlled both ends of the floor by making six of their first 11 shots. | Meanwhile, Michigan State scored the game's first 14 points, and controlled both ends of the floor by making six of their first 11 shots. | ||
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"There was a couple of times we started helping when there was no need to help, and they'd slip to the basket for some easy layups," | "There was a couple of times we started helping when there was no need to help, and they'd slip to the basket for some easy layups," | ||
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Joseph capped Michigan State' | Joseph capped Michigan State' | ||
Each of Marquette' | Each of Marquette' | ||
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"We wanted to force them to take outside shots and limit their penetration," | "We wanted to force them to take outside shots and limit their penetration," | ||
Neitzel, who entered with 995 career points, reached the 1,000-point mark on a 3-pointer in the opening moments of the second half. | Neitzel, who entered with 995 career points, reached the 1,000-point mark on a 3-pointer in the opening moments of the second half. | ||
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- | Official Basketball Box Score | ||
Michigan State vs Marquette | Michigan State vs Marquette | ||
03/15/07 7:20 p.m. at Winston-Salem, | 03/15/07 7:20 p.m. at Winston-Salem, |