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EVENTS
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
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Closer Look Wildcats turn up their defense
Updated: Sunday April 01, 2001 8:15 AM
By Albert Lin, CNNSI.com MINNEAPOLIS -- Late in a first half in which Arizona managed to match Michigan State off the glass and emerge with a two-point lead, the Spartans began to assert themselves off the boards. After a slow start, it seemed their heralded big people would turn the tide after intermission. Which means the Wildcats had Michigan State right where they wanted. "They're probably a better rebounding team, but that doesn't mean they're the better team," Richard Jefferson said. When the second stanza opened, Arizona went on a roll. The Wildcats started with an inside hoop by Michael Wright, who had gone scoreless in the first half, then forced turnovers on six of the Spartans' initial seven possessions. Before you could say Aloysius Anangonye, Arizona had a 17-point lead. The key was exceptional perimeter defense, something that seemed to catch Michigan State off guard. While the Spartans were trying to swing the ball around the outside and wait for the perfect entry pass to the post, the Wildcats were stepping into lanes and coming up with steal after steal. "It set the tone for the game," Wright said. Jason Gardner streaked in for a breakaway layup, adding the free throw. Jefferson took off and slammed one home. Gilbert Arenas followed suit. "A lot of people call us not a physical team or that our defensive pressure is not good, and that's good and bad," Gardner said. "I don't think Michigan State expected us to come out like that. When you play the game, you just try to react to the situation, and that's what happened." As tough and intimidating as the Spartans are, other than Jason Richardson they lack superior athleticism. Arizona, on the other hand, employs one wing athlete after another. Michigan State hasn't faced a team all season with the perimeter quickness that the Wildcats possess. Jefferson matches Richardson in explosiveness, and he is a much better ballhandler and shooter. Arenas tops Charlie Bell in everything except rebounding and girlfriend. Gardner is ultra-quick and dangerous with the ball; Marcus Taylor is steady and unspectacular. The signs were there in the first half, when Gardner exceeded his average with 13 points and Jefferson held Richardson to three on 1-for-6 shooting. Jefferson then also began to find the bottom of the net, and the Spartans simply had no answers. Gardner finished with 21, Jefferson with 17 (16 after the break). "So many teams key on Michael and Loren [Woods] that the perimeter gets a lot of open looks," Gardner said. After Arizona opened up its huge lead, the Spartans made a mini-run to cut the deficit to nine, but then they got sloppy again. Arenas picked off a pass and found a streaking Jefferson for a dunk. Seconds later, Gardner swiped another one at the top of the key and raced in for a layup while getting fouled by Taylor. When the whistle blew, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo buried his head in his right hand, in equal parts dismay and disgust. His team found itself down 15 with 6:44 left. "I'm not sure a lot of people know about our defense, but our defense has been tremendous all year long," Arizona head coach Lute Olson said. "I think we make it as difficult to score on us as anybody. "Not many shots were taken from the perimeter where there wasn't somebody flying at the shooter and putting pressure on him."
Richardson (2-for-11), Bell (1-for-10) and Taylor (3-for-9) know that all too well. Which is why, despite winning the battle of the boards 40-33 (16-8 on the offensive end), the Spartans are headed home and the Wildcats will stay in Minneapolis to play for the title.
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