Sports: MSU Cagers Sputter in Big Ten

MSU CAGERS SPUTTER IN BIG TEN SEASON

The 1992-93 men's basketball players racked up a respectable 8-1 preseason along with a Top 20 national ranking. But the Big Ten conference, touted as the country's toughest by most experts, derailed any juggernaut ambitions MSU might have harbored.

Midway during league play, the Spartans were barely surviving at 4-5. Early on MSU's cagers were 'road warriors' who won in such outposts as Columbus, Evanston and West Lafayette, but lost four straight at home until a must-win payback game against Minnesota in early February. Ironically, the Breslin Center had been the site of tremendous success in the past. This year, however, MSU had inexplicable letdowns.

• Beat at the buzzer by Wisconsin.
• Beat in overtime by an emotionally aroused Iowa after enjoying a 17 point lead late in the second half.
• Held to 39 points by Illinois.
• Beat soundly by a not-so-fabulous Michigan.

Jud Heathcote, associate head coach Tom Izzo, and assistants Stan Joplin and Bryan Gregory are probably still trying to fathom these anomalies.

The year began with great promise. MSU returned three starters from last year's NCAA team, a squad that had beaten three of the four Final Four teams-- Michigan, Cincinnati and Indiana. The nucleus of senior center Mike Peplowski as space-eater, senior power forward Dwayne Stephens as stopper, and sophomore Shawn Respert as the 'go to' shooter, seemed a solid basis for a good team. And, indeed, the Spartans proved to be a good team, racking up a solid 8-1 record in the pre-season.

MSU's only loss came against then nationally-ranked Louisville at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena in a nationally-televised game. MSU made only 7 of 20 free throws and lost by four points. But there were many plus signs. For the third straight year, the Spartans won yet another holiday tournament--the L.A. Classic--beating host Loyola of Marymount in the final.

Former Spartan great Magic Johnson attended both games and did some radio commentary with Terry Braverman and Gus Ganakas. Later MSU beat an excellent East Tennessee State team on the road and on national TV--although ETSU's second half comeback foreshadowed a potential Spartan weakness in maintaining big leads. The first half of the Big Ten season was disappointing as the Spartans lost four straight games at home but won three of five on the road. The cagers showed flashes of great basketball as well as of individual brilliance.

But the team suffered from horrendous free throw shooting and, partly as a result, seemed vulnerable to late-game charges. Peplowski dominated the boards and was unstoppable when not double- or triple-teamed; by midseason he led the nation with 67.7 shooting percentage. But he was subject to injuries and early foul trouble. Dwayne Stephens focused on his two fortes--defense and passing. Shawn Respert, the team's best shooter, had some up and down nights. Point guard Eric Snow provided great defense and good floor leadership, but his inability to make jump shots allowed defenses to collapse merciless on the low post.

Anthony 'Pig' Miller and Larry Bethea made some solid contributions off the bench, as did freshman Quinton Brooks early in the season. 'We have a good basketball team right now, not a great basketball team,' assesses Heathcote at mid-season. 'We do not have the potential to be a great basketball team because we have too many team deficiencies.'

About the only line-up change that made a difference was when radio color commentator Gus Ganakas moved to television and son and former Spartan guard Gary Ganakas did the radio. MSU won 3-for-3 in those instances. The tragic collapse against Iowa--losing after a 15-point lead with 3:30 remaining--unfolded against the tragic backdrop of the death of Iowa forward Chris Street. MSU and local business leaders raised upwards of $4,000 towards the youth center to be erected in Street's hometown in Iowa.