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Tampa subregional
Spartans' suffocating D, a strength all season, keeps UF from mounting a challenge.
By RODNEY PAGE, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 24, 2003
TAMPA -- With one day to prepare for Florida in its second-round game of the South Region, Michigan State was not going to do anything fancy. Defense is what got the Spartans this far, and they needed a suffocating effort against the speedy, athletic Gators to continue playing in the NCAA Tournament.
The Gators still are trying to catch their breath.
From the opening whistle, Michigan State was all over Florida in a 68-46 win. The Gators were held to 37.2 percent shooting and hit 5 of 21 3-pointers.
It's the lowest point total for Florida this season and ties the lowest point total of any team in this year's tournament (Mississippi State versus Butler).
"I saw where people were talking that it would be Michigan State's bruisers against Florida, and I like that," freshman forward Paul Davis said. "There's a little intimidation there when people know they're playing Michigan State. That's what we want to be known for. We want to be the toughest team in the country."
They certainly were Sunday at the St. Pete Times Forum. Florida had trouble getting the ball inside and had to rely on the outside shot, but Michigan State wasn't allowing that either.
Aside from David Lee (5-for-8) and Justin Hamilton (5-for-7), the Gators were a combined 6-for-28.
Florida had 10 points past the midway portion of the first half. In the second half, when Florida needed to make a run, it was held to 19 points, its fewest in any half this season.
"We had to be with them on every catch because everyone on that team is a shooter," MSU sophomore forward Alan Anderson said. "We had to challenge every look they had. We did that. I think this was our best defensive effort."
Michigan State's Paul Davis, Aloysius Anagonye and Erazem Lorbek were strong inside. Florida center Matt Bonner was frustrated both inside and beyond the 3-point line. He was 2-of-9 from the field. Both were 3-pointers.
Florida long-range shooters Brett Nelson and Anthony Roberson were held in check. In fact, Roberson was scoreless for the first time this season.
"Give them credit, but Florida didn't play that well," Roberson said. "What happened was they played one of their best games all year, and we didn't play well from any spot. It's sad we have to end our season when we didn't play our best ball."
MSU would rather believe its defense wore out and frustrated Florida.
"If you're physical you can wear people down, and that's what we did," Davis said. "We can use our bench and send waves of people in. It was an unbelievable day for us. We did a lot of things right."
The Spartans, who held an opponent under 50 points a fourth time, led by 10 at the half and cruised midway through the second half, leading 56-36. Many of the baskets in the 10-0 run came after a defensive stop.
When the Gators were unable to make a second-half run, the writing was on the wall.
"Michigan State is very steady," Lee said. "They don't make any mistakes. So midway through the second half, when we didn't make a run, you could sense it was over. They play so well defensively, and are so set in what they do, that unless they go completely cold you can't come back from a big deficit."