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New big guns hyped at Media Day

October 29, 2001

Chicago - Things were slightly different for MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo at Big Ten Conference Basketball Media Day this year.

For the past four years, the Spartans have been the team opposing coaches have commended. Spartan players have filled the preseason all-conference teams, and MSU has found itself predicted to finish in the top tier of the standings.

Not this time around, as Illinois, Iowa and Indiana place one, two and three in the preseason Big Ten poll. And not one Spartan landed in the preseason All-Big Ten team - Iowa guard Luke Recker, Michigan forward LaVell Blanchard, Hawkeye forward Reggie Evans, Indiana forward Jared Jeffries and Illinois guard Frank Williams took those honors.

“I really kind of enjoy having the pressure and expectations, like everyone does,” Izzo said Sunday. “But now, if we have to play the role of the spoiler, I like that role too.

“I’m looking forward to see if we can maintain some of the standards, not so much the wins and losses, but what are we going to stand for as a team? Will we still play hard? Are we still going to be respected?”

Izzo said his main concerns this season aren’t winning another national title, but maintaining the overall quality of his program.

“Whether we play as good or not, I’m not looking at that so much this year,” he said. “I’m not throwing in the towel or anything, because I think we can be good, real good even - if certain things happen.

“But I just have some concerns this year that I haven’t had in the past, mainly with depth and inexperience.”

The Spartans only have eight scholarship players - three freshmen - on this year’s roster. Izzo lost starters Charlie Bell, Andre Hutson, David Thomas and Mike Chappell to eligibility limits last spring, and Zach Randolph and Jason Richardson exited early for the NBA.

“I don’t think anyone has lost as much as we have over the past two years,” he said.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean the competition is counting MSU out.

“They’ve lost a lot, there’s no doubt about that,” All-Big Ten selection Recker said. “And what’s scary is, they’re still going to be tough.”

But the consensus at Media Day was that other teams should be tougher.

The Hawkeyes and the Fighting Illini are both returning superstars such as Williams, Evans and Recker, all preseason conference favorites. Williams was also named Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year by the coaches and the media.

Williams said despite all the hoopla over Illinois and Iowa, the conference title isn’t determined yet.

“We’re very confident, but it’s just not going to be between us and Iowa,” Williams said. “You still have Michigan State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana, Ohio State and the rest of those guys - there are going to be a lot of tough games out there.”

Purdue head coach Gene Keady said he is surprised the Spartans are not as highly regarded as some other Big Ten teams and could capitalize on the lowered expectations.

“I think they are really going to be a lot better than people think because of their guards,” he said. “They’ve had such a great run that they don’t need anymore expectations - they are just there.”

Freshman guard Kelvin Torbert, one of the country’s most highly regarded prospects, is expected to join sophomore point guard Marcus Taylor in the backcourt.

Taylor said he is anxious for the added responsibility and pressure.

“It’s a lot of pressure, but I want it and I accept it,” he said. “I’m very excited. It kind of reminds me of my senior year of high school, because I have more weight on my shoulders.”

MSU’s first game is an exhibition matchup against the Magic Johnson All-Stars at 9 p.m. Friday, at Breslin Center.

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