12-26-2007, 12:27 PM
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 Izzo, Spartans happy to be in fast lane again
Quote:
By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports
December 22, 2007
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Not so long ago, Michigan State used to streak to Final Fours nearly every year behind a seemingly endless array of Mateen Cleaves fast breaks and Jason Richardson alley-oops.
There were four Final Fours, an Elite Eight and the 2000 NCAA title in seven mostly thrilling seasons. Then came the last two seasons, where there was no one to alley it, which made sense since there was no one to oop it to.
The Spartans never collapsed during those years, pounding their way to 45 combined victories and a couple of brief NCAA appearances, because coach Tom Izzo will never allow his teams to forget how to defend or rebound.
But every victory felt like a tractor pull, the team posted consecutive 8-8 Big Ten records and the Spartans' offense would be most politely described as having a good personality.
"We did have to grind it out," Izzo said.
It was the first official practice this fall, when Izzo put his new team, featuring its new return to old speed and athletic ability, on the floor that a weight seemed to lift slightly off his shoulders, according to his assistants. Izzo wasn't going to stop coaching every dribble, but once again, he had the kind of tools he covets, the kind of players he wins championships with.
Michigan State, everyone could see, was back.
Saturday's 78-72 victory over No. 4 Texas wasn't just a show of strength for the ninth-ranked Spartans; it was a return to their version of Showtime.
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