Sports: The Heathcote Era Comes to An End
Superstar Shawn Respert and backcourt mate Eric Snow's 'fire and ice' show highlighted Jud's final season. It was, as the headline said, 'Jud's Last Thud.'
The first round NCAA loss against Weber State stunned Spartans across the country. It also saddened fans everywhere, for it abruptly ended a legendary career marked by integrity, wit, and a passion for perfection. And, Heathcote would add, caring. Facing the postgame press, he clearly came through as 'someone who cared' for his players.
The loss also capped the sensational careers of Shawn Respert, The Sporting News 'Player of the Year,' and the Big Ten's MVP and all-time scorer in league competition, and Eric Snow, the Big Ten's all-time single-season assists leader. The 'Fire and Ice' senior guard tandem spearheaded MSU to a 22-6 season, the seventh 20-win-plus season in school history. The foray to Tallahassee, FL, was Jud's ninth NCAA appearance and his fifth in the last six years. MSU finished the regular season ranked second in the Big Ten and 9th nationally by CNN/USA Today.
Named 'National Coach of the Year' by The Sporting News, Jud leaves as MSU's winningest basketball coach ever with 338 triumphs. The future of Spartan hoops now rests in the hands of associate coach Tom Izzo, who debuts with a fine recruiting class, youth, energy, and plenty of on-the- job training under ye olde sideline master, his mentor Jud Heathcote. Izzo will retain current assistant coaches Stan Joplin and Brian Gregory.
Although it did not win Jud his fourth Big Ten championship, the regular season home finale against Wisconsin--a 97-72 rout--was followed by one of those special Spartan moments that will linger in many memories. A capacity crowd stayed on for a farewell ceremony that saw a Heathcote banner raised between the retired numbers for Magic Johnson and Greg Kelser. The emotions that flowed at the Breslin Center came from many memories-- including the 1977-78 Big Ten title, the repeat in 1978-79, when Jud led MSU to its only NCAA championship in a 'magical' season, and the 1989-90 season, when he was named 'National Coach of the Year.'
They came from respect and love for a figure whose head thumps and sideline delirium have become familiar trademarks. They remembered the bizzare clockwork that plagued him in NCAA competition, against Kansas in 1986 and Georgia Tech in 1990. The ceremony also woke up plenty of echoes, including those of Spartans who made the NBA--stars like Magic Johnson, Greg Kelser, Jay Vincent, Kevin Willis, Sam Vincent, Scott Skiles, Steve Smith, Mike Peplowski and Anthony Miller. And, as President McPherson noted, the applause flowed for someone whose impact has extended well beyond the campus.
Jud was a Pan American coach in 1975 and 1987, the North Squad coach in the 1989 U.S. Olympic Festival, and president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 1988- 89. Indicative of the widespread appreciation for Heathcote were his 'farewell tour' gifts around the Big Ten. Among other things, he received a television set, a reclining sofa, and a set of golf clubs and a golf cart. He was featured by both Sports Illustrated ('The Last Harrumph,' by Jack McCallum) and USA Today, and by television shows and newspapers. 'In my eyes,' says Cleveland State's Mike Boyd, a former assistant at Michigan, 'Jud is the best coach in the Big Ten.'
Just as not many eyes stayed dry during Jud's Breslin tribute, not many hearts stayed calm during the season. MSU won buzzer beaters against Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota. The Spartans scrapped and clawed for victories. Although many games proved very tight, the Spartans usually found a way to win. MSU's two wins against Michigan were agonizing to watch even at the triumphant end, when the Wolverines blew last-second shots. The 'Fire and Ice' show was dazzling, but fans also appreciated MSU's helter skelter combativeness and all the hustle points that resulted.
Leading MSU was First Team All-American Shawn Respert, whose 1,545 league points set the all-time Big Ten record, and whose 2,532 overall points ranks second in Big Ten history. Shooting treys at a remarkable 48 percent clip, Respert was able to post numbers despite being double- and triple-teamed and, at times, mugged. He proved multi-dimensional, dishing out some spectacular assists, including a back-from-the-endzone pass to Quinton Brooks in the NCAA game. Snow, the league's top defensive player, set an all-time Big Ten assists record (141)--the fourth time in five years a Spartan led the league in assists--and drove to the hoop with cyclone speed and NBA-like strength. Known for his work ethic, he improved to .616 in free throw shooting.
Center Jamie Feick proved consistent at center, dominating the boards with 277 and averaging 10.6 rebounds a game, second in league play. In the last six league games, improving forward Quinton Brooks shot .571 and averaged 15.5 points. Jon Garavaglia, Daimon Beathea and Ray Weathers all had their moments.
As a team, MSU led the Big Ten in overall shooting (.497) and, for the fifth time in six years, led the Big Ten in league scoring defense (65.5).
New head coach Izzo has been a part of the Spartan program for 12 years, since 1983, with a brief interlude in 1986. Izzo, a native of Iron Mountain, starred for Northern Michigan in 1973-77 and has been inducted into the NMU Hall of Fame. Known as an ace recruiter, he will debut with four recruits, including Antonio Smith and Morris Peterson from Flint, and Jason Klein from Grosse Ile. Next season, as Izzo begins to establish his indentity and style as head coach, rest assured that his fandom will extend to Spokane, WA. That's where Jud and wife Beverly have chosen to reside.