Tampa subregional

Michigan State

SCHOOL: Michigan State.

LOCATION: East Lansing, Mich.

ENROLLMENT: 40,254.

CONFERENCE: Big Ten.

TOURNAMENT BID: At-large.

SEED: Seven.

STRENGTHS: The Spartans have a decent blend of inside size and talented guard play. They rebound the ball very well and play a stifling team defense. Across the board, the Spartans aren't going to bury an opponent with any one player. Guard Chris Hill likely will get more shots than others, but the Spartans have five players who average more than seven points and three who average more than five. It also implies that coach Tom Izzo's team is deep and can play a tough physical defensive game. Eleven players have started this season for the Spartans, who have held opponents to 59.2 points and shooting .403 from the field this season. Izzo has a 16-4 NCAA mark at MSU.

WEAKNESSES: With the exception of Aloysius Anagone, who was on the championship winning team in 2000, the Spartans rely heavily on the contributions of a bunch of freshmen and sophomores and do not yet have a bona-fide superstar who could take over a game. Their inexperience has shown at points this season as the offense hasn't clicked like it could. Hill, who made 10 3-pointers against Syracuse on Feb. 23, was a second-team All-Big Ten and Ager has shown some scoring tenacity in the Big Ten tournament, but a big question is who will not be afraid to take the winning shot. With no true point guard, they could struggle with decision-making in a close game.

WHAT TO EXPECT: At 19-12, the young Spartans, who won eight of their last 11 regular-season games, aren't likely to get pushed around by Colorado, especially considering they have beaten Kentucky, the No. 1 team in the country. Outrebounding their opponents 34.9-28.7, the Spartans will pound inside and let their guards rebound. They also aren't likely to give up second-chance points. They'll want to slow down the game and grind their opponents into submission.

HE SAID IT: "You know, Michigan State and Tom Izzo, are very tough at tournament time. And I don't know, in that (first-round game against Colorado), I'm going to give an edge to Michigan State. They're going to find a way in a physical halfcourt game, to win." -- ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale.

-- Compiled By Roger Mills.

The starters and coach

Chris Hill

GUARD, 6-3 SOPHOMORE

14.0 ppg, 3.7 apg

A second-team All Big Ten selection, Hill leads the team in scoring, steals (1.62 spg), field goals made (133) and three-point field goals made (79).

Alan Anderson

FORWARD, 6-6 SOPHOMORE

9.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg

As the season progressed, he emerged as the team's most consistent point guard and is their best all-around player.

Kelvin Torbert

GUARD, 6-4 SOPHOMORE

9.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg

He was the USA Today High School player of the year and has shown, at times, flashes of all the hype that came with his arrival in East Lansing.

Aloysius Anagone

FORWARD, 6-8 SENIOR

7.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg

The big man is as strong as they come inside but is foul prone. He routinely has foul troubles in the first half and has fouled out of four games.

Paul Davis

CENTER, 6-11 FRESHMAN

7.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg

Davis is supposed to be the next great Spartan big man. At times he looks dominating and at times he seems a freshman learning the college game.

Coach: Tom Izzo

RECORD: 186-77, eighth season.

He has guided the Spartans to a National Championship (1999-2000), four regular season Big Ten titles, two Big Ten Tournament titles and three Final Four appearances.

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