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Spartans face stiff competition in ongoing rivalry against Florida

December 5, 2001

The MSU vs. Florida matchup is turning into a mini-rivalry.

It began when Spartan kicker Paul Edinger sealed a 37-34 win over the Gators in the Florida Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2000.

That flame was reignited when the men’s basketball team met Florida in the 2000 National Championship three months later and trounced the Gators 89-76. And in last year’s basketball rematch, MSU won 99-83 at Breslin Center.

Get ready for round four when No. 24 Spartans play No. 6 Florida at 7 tonight on ESPN2.

“I do think one thing we’re going to do is go down there and compete, we’re going to play,” MSU men’s head basketball coach Tom Izzo said. “I think we at least have some understanding of what it takes - whether we can do it or not is a different story. I feel confident that they’re going to get our best effort.”

MSU leads the all-time series against Florida 2-1. But tonight is the first time MSU will play in Gainesville, Fla., and the game promises to be tough for the youthful Spartan squad.

Unlike MSU, experience is key for the Gators. Four of their starters played against MSU in the 2000 title game.

“I don’t think they’re much different (than the last two seasons),” MSU junior forward Adam Ballinger said. “They have a lot of the same players.”

But even more crucial is the Gators’ man-to-man, full-court press that MSU will face. Izzo said that pressure defense doesn’t faze him, and recalled the way former Spartans Mateen Cleaves and Andre Hutson broke the press in 2000.

He said he expects a similar effort tonight.

“I don’t mind getting pressed, I never have minded getting pressed,” Izzo said. “It’s just that we have got to make sure we handle the press and make baskets in the open court.”

The players said they understand how important it is to convert a broken press into easy buckets, especially against a team as athletic as Florida.

“They got some really good athletes, they’re definitely very athletic. And they do play good solid defense,” MSU freshman guard Chris Hill said. “We’re looking for them to press, and we want to attack that. With the pressures they put on, we can score more easy baskets - the faster we can get out in transition the better off we’ll be.”

Tough matchups for the Spartans include 6-foot-9 center Udonis Haslem and 6-foot-4 guard Brett Nelson.

Nelson, known for his streaky shooting, could be guarded by any number of Spartan guards, most likely sophomore Marcus Taylor and freshman Kelvin Torbert.

“Last year Nelson was struggling a little bit, right after our game he went on a run that was a terror,” Izzo said. “The guy’s a great player.”

Junior forward Al Anagonye will handle Haslem, but the Spartans are prepared to throw double teams at the Gator big man.

“I’m a physical player so it doesn’t bother me much,” Anagonye said.

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