Sports: Dramatic Surge to the NCAA's
At season's end, MSU won five straight games and gave Jud Heathcote his eighth NCAA bid. When the MSU cagers beat Indiana 94-78 for its 19th win of the 1993-94 season, assuring a spot in the NCAA tournament, it also provided Jud Heathcote with an incredible Breslin Center finale should the head coach decide to retire this year. And make no mistake about it. Heathcote will decide after the NCAAs whether to return for one more season.In any case, his final or penultimate season proved to be a masterpiece.
Picked to finish no better than 7th, MSU notched 10 wins in the rugged Big Ten conference by mounting a five-game winning streak at season's end, landing in a tie for fourth in the league, and peaking for Jud's 8th appearance in the NCAA tourney in 18 seasons as the Spartan mentor.
The winning streak followed, ironically, a revelation of sentiments in the athletic department for Jud to retire. It was sparked by the inspired play of several players, most importantly that of junior sharpshooter Shawn Respert, who twice broke the 40-point barrier. A starter on a national team last summer, Respert was virtually unstoppable, averaging in the high twenties and resembling an NBA pro. Fans hope Shawn will return for his senior season, which he might do after 'testing the waters' in the draft as allowed by a new rule change.
'At the beginning of the season, he was leaning toward going,' says Jud, 'but now I think Shawn is leaning towards staying for his senior year.'
Senior center Anthony 'Pig' Miller enjoyed what Heathcote calls 'a very solid year,' producing a steady slew of 'double doubles' while ranking among the top three nationally in shooting percentage. Pig also improved his free show shooting, with a flat-curve, funky-spin toss that got the job done.
Junior point guard Eric Snow, a fierce competitor and dogged defensive specialist, led the league in assists. He has visibly improved his shooting technique as well as his playmaking. And senior guard Kris Weshinskey finished with a goatee and great confidence, making crucial plays for the Spartans down the stretch.
Fans can look forward in future years to the emergence of several young players, such as freshman Jon Garavaglia, Michigan's Mr. Basketball in 1993, sophomores Quinton Brooks, Jamie Feick and Daimon Beathea, and redshirt freshman Steve Polonowski. Feick showed Big Ten caliber strength and rebounding ability while Brooks displayed uncanny quickness and the ability to score, especially in finishing off fast breaks.
MSU's overachievement this season was especially impressive given the overall strength of the Big Ten conference. 'We've played better than expected,' says Jud, 'but the league is so tough that it's hard to win all the games you would like to win.' Echoes associate head coach Tom Izzo, 'We've played pretty good, and still lost some games.'
Izzo will step in as head coach after Jud retires. Helping Jud and Izzo are assistant coach Stan Joplin and graduate assistant Brian Gregory. Next year MSU will have the services of guard Ray Weathers, who sat out this year because of Proposition 48, and point guard Thomas Kelly of Grand Rapids.