First look: UCLA vs Michigan State

Southeast Region
#7 UCLA Bruins (22-10) vs #10 Michigan State Spartans (19-14)
Thursday, March 17
6:20 pm PDT
TV: TBS

First look: UCLA vs Michigan State
March, 14, 2011 Mar 147:44AM PT
By Peter Yoon, ESPNLA.com, UCLA Report




For six years running, either UCLA or Michigan State has made it to the Final Four.

In their combined histories, they have played in 69 NCAA tournaments, 26 Final fours and 16 national championship games.

Never have they met in an NCAA tournament game.

That changes Thursday when the Bruins meet the Spartans at approximately 6:20 p.m. Pacific in the second round of the NCAA tournament at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla.

It figures to be a slugfest between two proud programs looking to make a surprise run in this year’s tournament. The No. 7-seeded Bruins (22-10) are back in the NCAA tournament after a one-year absence and the No. 10-seeded Spartans (19-14) are looking to shake off an inconsistent regular season and reach the final four for the third consecutive season.

“We’re playing against a team that is really experienced,” UCLA center Joshua Smith said. “They kind of had a down year, but they’re still good. These guys are mostly juniors and seniors and they’ve had success so it’s not going to be easy.”

Michigan State has five players returning from a team that lost to Butler in the national semifinals last year, including three of its top four scorers from that team. The Spartans were No. 2 in the preseason rankings heading into this season, but stumbled in Big Ten play, going 9-9 to finish tied for fourth in the conference.

Michigan State has lost nine of its last 16 games, but defeated No. 9 Purdue in the Big Ten Conference tournament for a victory many feel got the Spartans an NCAA Tournament bid.

“Nobody on our team thinks we can take this team lightly,” said UCLA guard Malcolm Lee. “Especially because they went to the Final Four last year. That gives us more to feed off of knowing that they could beat anybody no matter what their record shows or no matter what their seeding is.”

Michigan State has been to the last two Final Fours and also went in 2005. Add in a national championship in 2000 and a Final Four in 2001 and coach Tom Izzo has led teams to the Final Four in six of the last 12 years.

The Spartans have a string of 14 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, the third longest active streak in the nation behind Kansas (22) and Duke (16).

“They’re a team that has had great success in the tournament,” said UCLA coach Ben Howland, who took teams to the Final Four in 2006, '07 and '08. “I think the world of Tom Izzo. I think he’s one of the top two or three coaches in the country. They are a team that can make a real serious run in the NCAA tournament. It wouldn’t surprise anybody.”

Guards Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers make up a strong backcourt. Lucas, a 6-1 senior, was the Big Ten player of the year in 2008-09, a first team all-conference selection last year and earned second-team honors this year after averaging 17.2 points and 3.3 assists.

Summers, a 6-5 senior, was named outstanding player of the 2010 NCAA Midwest Regional after averaging 20 points in leading the Spartans to the Final Four. He’s averaging 11.5 points this year and leads the team with 60 three-point baskets.

Forward Draymond Green, a 6-7 junior, is the team’s top inside player. He leads the team in rebounding (8.6), assists (4.0) and is second in scoring (12.3). For sheer size, freshman center Adreian Payne (6-10, 230) and sophomore center Garrick Sherman (6-10, 240) do a nice job clogging the middle in the Spartans’ man-to-man defense.

The Spartans are also very deep, with eight players averaging at least 10 minutes a game and two others averaging 8.3 or more.

“They are physical, they defend, they take good shots, they have depth they have size, they have girth,” Howland said. “The thing that they have is that they have great experience in the tournament with their team. Those guys have been there, done that, won in the tournament and that’s definitely an advantage for them.”


LINEUPS:

UCLA

Projected starters:

F-Reeves Nelson (So., 6-8, 235), 9.0 rpg

F-Tyler Honeycutt (So., 6-8, 188), 12.6 ppg

C-Anthony Stover (Fr., 6-10, 235), 25 blocks

G-Malcolm Lee (Jr., 6-5, 200), 13 ppg

G-Lazeric Jones (Jr., 6-0, 187), 3.7 apg

Key Reserves:

C-Joshua Smith (Fr., 6-10, 305), 10.6 ppg

G-Jerime Anderson (Jr., 6-2, 183), 39.3% 3-ptrs

G-Tyler Lamb (Fr., 6-5, 200), 2.7 ppg

F-Brendan Lane (So., 6-9, 223), 2.9 ppg


MICHIGAN STATE

Projected starters:

F-Draymond Green (Jr. 6-7, 230), 8.6 rpg

C-Adreian Payne (Fr. 6-10, 230), 26 blocks

G-Mike Kelber (Sr. 6-4, 205), 54.1% FGs

G-Durrell Summers (Sr. 6-5, 205), 11.5 ppg

G-Kalin Lucas (Sr. 6-1, 195), 17.2 ppg

Key reserves:

F-Delvon Roe (Jr. 6-8, 230), 5.1 rpg

G-Keith Appling (Fr. 6-1, 180), 89.5% FTs

C-Garrick Sherman (So. 6-10, 240), 69.1% FGs

G-Austin Thornton (Jr. 6-5, 210), 2.0 ppg

C-Derrick Nix (So. 6-9, 270), 2.7 ppg


PAST MEETINGS:

11/20/07 UCLA 68, Michigan State 63

12/21/04 Michigan State 76, UCLA 64

12/20/03 UCLA 64, Michigan State 58

12/28/60 UCLA 98, Michigan State 61

12/27/57 Michigan St 63, UCLA 61

12/31/53 UCLA 67, Michigan State 57

12/19/52 UCLA 60, Michigan State 55

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UCLA vs. Michigan State at a glance

How the No. 7-seeded Bruins match up with the No. 10-seeded Spartans.

By Ben Bolch
The Los Angeles Times
9:55 PM PDT, March 13, 2011


No. 7 UCLA (22-10)

vs. No. 10 Michigan State (19-14)

THURSDAY, AT TAMPA, FLA.

How they got here: UCLA received an at-large berth after finishing second in the Pacific 10 Conference regular-season standings and losing in the conference tournament quarterfinals; Michigan State received an at-large berth after finishing in a four-way tie for fourth in the Big Ten Conference regular-season and advancing to the conference semifinals.

Last 10 games: UCLA, 7-3; Michigan State, 6-4.

Best wins/worst losses: UCLA defeated Brigham Young, 86-79, and Arizona, 71-49, but lost to Montana, 66-57, and Oregon, 76-59. Michigan State defeated Minnesota twice and Wisconsin, 64-61, but lost to Iowa, 72-52.

Common opponent: Washington. UCLA lost to the Huskies twice, 74-63, on Dec. 31 and 70-63 on March 3. Michigan State defeated the Huskies, 76-71, on Nov. 24.

UCLA lineup: Starters — F Reeves Nelson (13.9 ppg, 9.0 rpg); F Tyler Honeycutt (12.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg); C Anthony Stover (0.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg); G Malcolm Lee (13.0 ppg); G Lazeric Jones (9.4 ppg, 3.7 apg). Top reserves — C Joshua Smith (10.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg); G Jerime Anderson (5.3 ppg); F Brendan Lane (2.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg).

Michigan State lineup: Starters — G Kalin Lucas (17.2 ppg, 3.3 apg); F Draymond Green (12.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg); G Durrell Summers (11.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg); C Adreian Payne (2.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg); G Mike Kebler (1.6 ppg, 1.0 rpg). Top reserves — G Keith Appling (6.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg); F Delvon Roe (6.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg); C Garrick Sherman (3.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg).

Stat watch: UCLA led the Pac-10 with an average of 4.7 more rebounds than its opponents, and Michigan State ranked second in the Big Ten with an average of 4.2 more rebounds than its opponents. The Bruins led the Pac-10 with 5.8 blocked shots per game; the Spartans ranked second in the Big Ten with 4.8.

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The road starts here: MICHIGAN STATE

By Jon Gold
Inside UCLA with Jon Gold
The Los Angeles Daily News
on March 14, 2011 12:11 PM

Matchup: No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Michigan State

For Starters:

G Lazeric Jones 9.4 ppg/3.66 apg vs. G Kalin Lucas 17.2 ppg/2.1 rpg/ 3.3 apg
G Malcolm Lee 13 ppg/2.1 apg/2.9 rpg vs. G Durrell Summers 11.5 ppg/4.3 rpg
F Tyler Honeycutt 12.6 ppg/3.1 apg/7.4 rpg vs. G Mike Kebler 1.5 ppg/.9 rpg/.5 apg
F Reeves Nelson 13.9 ppg/9 rpg vs. F Draymond Green 12.3 ppg/8.6 rpg/4 apg
C Joshua Smith (Anthony Stover starts, Smith plays more minutes) 10.6 ppg/6.5 rpg/1.0 bpg vs. C Adreian Payne 2.7 ppg/2.4 rpg


Bench Press:

UCLA's bench has been very inconsistent, with sporadic production from Jerime Anderson, Brendan Lane, Tyler Lamb and Stover, who for posterity's sake is being placed here. Anderson has been the most reliable bench player, and probably makes an argument for starting, given Zeek Jones' decreased production since injuring his right middle finger and left wrist. UCLA gets roughly 11.5 points per game out of the bench, but Anderson has shown the ability to go off on some nights, and he seems to be able to rise to the occasion.

Michigan State, meanwhile, gets major production from backup forward, and Big Ten All-Defensive pick Delvon Roe (103 career blocks), and from guard Keith Appling, who started 18 games this season and has averaged 12 points in his last four games. Centers Garrick Sherman and Derrick Nix also give the Spartans size in the post, and they're good for a few fouls each, which could hurt the Bruins if foul-trouble becomes an issue.


Jeckyl and Hyde...squared:

Both UCLA and Michigan State have shown the ability to rise to the occasion and to play up to their opponents. But the results have been vastly different. Playing in the Pac-10 and with tough non-conference games against Kansas, BYU and St. John's, the Bruins have gone 22-10, 19-6 over the last 25 games. Against a tough Big Ten gauntlet and with non-conference tilts with UConn, Washington, Duke, Syracuse and Texas, the Spartans finished 19-14, but just 10-10 in their last 20 games.


Old vs. New:

As I wrote in my story yesterday, Michigan State is more than battle-tested. They're lifelong soldiers at this point. The Spartans have been to back-to-back Final Fours and that followed a Sweet 16 birth. Kalin Lucas alone has 322 NCAA Tournament minutes. UCLA's 14-man roster? Thirty-two, total.


Coach's Corner:

Undoubtedly, this matchup pits two of the preeminent minds in the game against each other: UCLA's Ben Howland and Michigan State's Tom Izzo. The two have combined for six straight Final Four berths and are very adept at handling the Tournament's ebbs and flows.

Izzo had a very public flirtation with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the offseason that seems to have caused a bit of a drag on his Spartans. Howland, meanwhile, has struggled to get his team motivated at times this season, evidenced by a shocking loss to Oregon in the Pac-10 Tournament.


What to Expect:

With UCLA, this is almost unanswerable. But we have seen the Bruins rise to the level of their opponents - wins over BYU, Arizona, St. John's and a one-point loss at Kansas that included a controversial last-minute call - and that bodes well for UCLA here and for the rest of the tournament, if they survive.

I expect them to (my prediction: a 67-61 UCLA win), but I also know that the team can both individually and collectively lay an egg. Ultimately, though, UCLA's balance and front-court strength outmatches Michigan State and sets up a matchup with Florida.

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UCLA basketball: Michigan State at a glance

By SCOTT M. REID
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: March 13, 2011
Updated: 8:29 p.m.

Taking a quick look Michigan State, UCLA's first opponent in the NCAA Tournament.


Mr. March : Tom Izzo has guided six Michigan State teams to Final Four in the past 12years, an achievement unmatched during the period. The Spartans won the 2000 national title, beating Florida 89-76. The Spartans and Gators could meet again in the NCAA Tournament third round should Michigan State get past UCLA and Florida beat UC Santa Barbara. Michigan State has been to three Final Fours in the past six years, including the last two. Izzo is only the second coach to reach four Final Fours in his first 10 years as a head coach.


Overachieving: No other school has done a better job of outperforming its seed in the NCAA Tournament than Michigan State under Izzo. In both 2005 and 2010, the Spartans reached the Final Four as No. 5 seeds.


Rank and file: The Spartans played 13 ranked teams in 2009-2010, going 4-9. Until Michigan State upset No. 8 Purdue in the Big Ten quarterfinals Friday, the Spartans had lost five-straight games to ranked opponents, eight of their last 10.

Too Easy: This season hasn't exactly lived up to Michigan State guard Kalin Lucas' nickname. The 2009 Big Ten Player of the Year has been plagued by an ankle injury much of the season, reinjuring himself most recently early in the second half against Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. The injury, however, didn't prevent Lucas from scoring 18 of his career-high 30 points in the second half of the upset of Purdue. The Spartans are so dependent on Lucas that even with the injury he is averaging 37.2 minutes per game over the last 11 contests.

Eight clap: This will be Michigan State's eighth meeting with UCLA. Michigan State is 2-5 in the previous seven games, the most recent a 68-63 victory by the No. 2 Bruins over the No. 10 Spartans on November 20, 2007.

Notable alums: Michigan State alums include James Caan, who played wise guy Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather," Jimmy Hoffa, who was done in (allegedly) by the wiseguys in real life. Other Spartans include billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad, former Dodgers Kirk Gibson and Steve Garvey and, of course, Magic Johnson, who led Michigan State to the 1979 national title over Larry Bird's Indiana State.

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UCLA seeded No. 7; will play Michigan St.
Mar 13 7:08 PM PT
By Peter Yoon
ESPNLA.com, UCLA Report


LOS ANGELES -- UCLA stumbled and staggered at the end of the regular season and into the Pac-10 conference tournament, but the Bruins get a clean slate this week when they face Michigan State in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla.

UCLA (22-10), which missed the NCAA tournament last season, was seeded No. 7 in the Southeast bracket and will face the No. 10-seeded Spartans (19-14), who have advanced to the Final Four in each of the past two seasons and six times in the past 12.

It will be quite a challenge for UCLA, which is reeling after an embarrassing 76-59 loss to Oregon last Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Pac-10 tournament. Still, the Bruins are in after a 14-18 record last year kept them out of the Big Dance for only the third time since 1989.

"We expected to get back in the tournament," UCLA coach Ben Howland said. "That's the expectation here."

A second-place finish in the Pac-10 all but assured the Bruins would be back, but the stumble to the finish line -- UCLA went 3-3 in its final six games and needed overtime to defeat an undermanned Washington State in the regular-season finale -- casts doubt on how far the Bruins can advance in the NCAA tournament.

"The tournament is a whole new season," Howland said. "Everybody comes into the tournament at 0-0 and everybody who is in there is deserving."

Michigan State is not exactly rolling coming in. The Spartans were No. 2 in the preseason rankings this year with nine players returning from the team that lost to Butler in the national semifinals last year, but the Spartans have lost nine of their past 16 games, including a 61-48 loss to Penn State in the Big Ten conference tournament.

But Howland said Michigan State's tournament experience would be a big advantage over his Bruins. Five of the current Spartans players have been to the past two Final Fours. UCLA has only two players -- guards Malcolm Lee and Jerime Anderson -- still on the team from when UCLA last went to the tournament in 2009.

"They are a NCAA tournament battle-tested team and program with [coach Tom] Izzo probably having the most success in the tournament over the last 12 years of anybody," Howland said. "They’re a team that has had great success in the tournament. It’s going to be a very difficult game this year and we know that."

Still, playing a difficult game is better than playing none at all, which is what the Bruins had to face last year.

"Last March wasn't fun," Howland said.

This March hasn't exactly gotten off to a good start.

The Bruins have lost two of their three games this month, and Lee injured his left knee during the regular-season finale at Washington State. Also, forward Tyler Honeycutt and freshman guard Tyler Lamb have strep throat and Anderson is battling a viral illness.

None is expected to miss the NCAA tournament opener Thursday.

"As a college basketball player, this is what you want to do," Anderson said. "It was pretty disappointing not getting there last year so we want to make the most of this opportunity."

Although most of the players and coaches were confident that the Bruins would make the tournament, there were some moments of trepidation during the selection show.

UCLA's bracket was announced last, so the Bruins didn't hear their name called until the end of the show. Additionally, UCLA did not allow media into the room where the Bruins had gathered to watch the show.

"That made me think a little," said point guard Lazeric Jones. "Why wouldn't they have TV cameras in here? Did they think we weren't going to get picked?"

Center Joshua Smith said the team had a "controlled" celebration when they found out they were in and who they'd be playing.

"It was like 'It’s cool. We’re in'" Smith said. "It’s cool to say we’re one of the 68 teams."

The only regrets were that they didn't finish the season stronger to improve their seeding or get selected to a site that was closer to home.

"The Pac-10 tournament was for seeding and maybe to get in the West, but we lost and we got a 7-seed in the Southeast," Smith said. "We’ll take what we can get."