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Tampa subregional
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 21, 2003
TAMPA -- With heavy eyelids and slouched over their microphones, Colorado's Blair Wilson and Stephane Pelle faced the media Thursday night. They looked as if they wanted to hit the snooze button more than the basketball court.
Snowed in for a few days in Colorado and weary from a long day of travel, Wilson and Pelle answered a barrage of questions about how CU's itinerary-gone-awry -- they were supposed to arrive the previous day -- could impact their performance.
"We are working it to our advantage," said Wilson, a junior forward/guard. "We haven't had time to get nervous."
The Buffaloes landed about 3:30 p.m., giving them a little more than a day to get organized and to get acclimated to the sultry weather, the decrease in altitude and a two-hour time zone change.
"I've been very rushed," coach Ricardo Patton said. "I'm not sure how it's been for the players, I haven't even had a chance to talk to them. We have to make sure they get a good night's rest."
Pelle said he didn't think the delayed travel was relevant. The senior was more focused on making his only NCAA appearance last.
"We are here to play. I have never been (to the NCAAs) and do not want to leave," Pelle said. "I plan on being here to play Florida or whomever on Sunday."
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said he didn't think CU's late arrival would matter since most teams arrive about a day before the game during the regular season.
"We came in last night, they came in today. I don't see any advantage there for us," Izzo said.
Patton was relieved to have made it.
"It's great to feel the warm weather and to get out of all that white stuff," he said.
TWO GREEDY SPARTANS: Michigan State may be a No. 7 seed and considered a long shot to advance out of the South Region, but don't tell that to seniors Aloysius Anagonye and Adam Ballinger. They are the only two players left over from the 2000 national championship team and they don't want to see the season end.
"It's good that (the national championship) happened so soon, but it also makes you greedy," Anagonye said. "We want one more championship, and we've talked to the young guys about that. It seems like it's easy to get there the first time, but it takes a lot more to get back. There's more intensity and one point can kill you. These guys understand that."
Michigan State didn't last long in last year's NCAA Tournament, losing in the first round to North Carolina State 69-58.
MIRROR IMAGES: As for who has the edge in this game, good luck trying to figure it out. Both teams favor defense, especially rebounding.
Both teams have struggled on the road but thrived at home. Colorado was 14-1 at home, 4-10 on the road and at neutral sites. Michigan State was 14-2 at home, but 5-10 on the road and at neutral sites. Both teams are 6-4 in their last 10 games, and both were 1-1 in their conference tournaments.
"It's very even. Some of their strengths are some of our strengths," Izzo said. "(Colorado) is the best offensive rebounding team we've faced. They kind of remind me of the way we were a couple years ago (2000 national champions).
THE GOOD OLD DAYS: While Michigan State hasn't fallen off the NCAA Tournament map, it's certainly not the program it used to be. Izzo said comparisons to teams in the past aren't fair, but he admits he would like to return to the top soon.
"It's kind of unfair for this group because some of the pieces and parts aren't there," Izzo said. "The transition hasn't been quite as smooth as I would've liked. But nobody, at least in our family, is putting too much pressure on them. We're still trying to get back to where we were, and a couple of wins would go a long way to doing that."
WHAT ABOUT ANDRE THE GIANT?: Izzo is concerned about matching up with 7-foot Colorado center David Harrison.
"He reminds me of Hulk Hogan," Izzo said. "He's so big and strong. There's not a lot of true post players around."
PLAY BALL: During a lull in Izzo's news conference Thursday, the coach joked, "You're sick of talking to us, we're sick of practicing, let the games begin."