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Out for respect

Charlie Bell thinks defending champion Michigan State could be even better this year

Charlie Bell Senior G, MSU 11.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.2 apg

We couldn't wait until Midnight Madness to catch up with college basketball's premier players, so we decided to track them down during summer break. Check back here each week to find out whether your favorite hoopster has been bulking up, barbecuing or perfecting his turnaround J.

By Carl Bialik, CNNSI.com

Charlie Bell is working on a project this summer for an advertising class, putting together a campaign to increase public recognition of the YWCA in Lansing, Mich. At the same time, the senior guard is pitching his Michigan State teammates a promotional plan with the theme of R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Cue Aretha Franklin.

"Everybody's counting us out," Bell says. "And a lot of people [on the team] are taking that as an insult. We're just going to play hard and show the country we're still a good team."

Charlie Bell, one of the best rebounding guards in the country, averaged 4.9 last season. John Biever

That shouldn't be such a stretch. After all, Michigan State is the defending national champion. But, as Bell points out, team leaders Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson -- both first-round picks in last month's NBA draft -- and starter A.J. Granger have graduated, taking with them nearly half the Spartans' points and assists, and a third of their rebounds. "[People say] we're not going to be as good because we don't have those guys," says Bell, an advertising major. "I think everybody's going to try to go out there and show them that we are just as good, or even better."

The Spartans just might be. Incoming freshmen Zach Randolph (forward) and Marcus Taylor (guard), both consensus high school All-Americans, are likely to start in the fall. The two have already shown that they deserve to be listed among the country's best college players by being selected as finalists for the U.S. 20-and-under junior world championship team; they are two of only 16 to have survived the first training camp in Colorado Springs in May. Sophomore swingman Jason Richardson, a 1998-99 McDonald's All-American, also advanced and joins his new teammates at the 20 and unders' final training camp this week in Miami.

Michigan State's storyline last year revolved around the bond among the Flintstones -- Cleaves, Peterson and Bell -- who grew up playing with and against each other in Flint, Mich. Though two of the three have departed, the team remains tight. Between tryout camps, Taylor and Richardson have scrimmaged with the rest of the returning Spartans in East Lansing. As a result, Bell and likely starting point guard Taylor have been able to get in some crucial time on the court together. "It's still not the same as it was with Mateen because we played with each other for so long that he knew where I wanted the ball," Bell says. "I'm trying to teach Marcus that because I know I'm going to be open a lot. He's coming along." When the guard combo is in better sync, watch out. "Marcus can shoot the ball a little better than Mateen did," Bell says. "So I think we're going to be a lot more effective."

Quotables On his studies: "I'm on track to be done first semester, so I'll be graduating kind of early. But this season I'm maybe going to be taking some more classes. I've thought about even working on a master's [in advertising]." On his summer job: "I'm having a lot of fun. You know, I dress up every day, get in at a certain time, have an air-conditioned office. I have my own computer, my own phone." On Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson: "I'm going to miss them a lot. Playing together with those guys is like a dream come true." On his brother Brandon, a sophomore at Southwestern Academy in Flint, Mich.: "At that age, I was probably a better scorer, but he's a much better all-around player than I was. He's more talented than I was." On playing in the NBA after this season: "As long as I get drafted, as long as you pay me the league minimum, I'm going to go out there and play hard." On his Dad, Charlie: "He was a big Celtics fan. The magazine they had, Celtic Pride, we had that delivered to the house every week for a couple of years, religiously. He loved Larry Bird. We went to French Lick one time just so we could see where Bird was from."

Bell is widely considered one of the country's best defensive and rebounding guards -- he averaged 4.9 boards per game last season -- but he says he'll want the ball in his hands more on offense next year. In high school, Bell scored more career points (2,252) than any other schoolboy player in Flint history.

Having Taylor as a perimeter threat will allow the Spartans more flexibility in the backcourt. "If I get a rebound, [Taylor] is going to be able to play the 2, and I can play the point and push the ball up," Bell says. Bell has experience playing both guard positions; at the start of last season he filled in for Cleaves, who was out with a stress fracture in his right foot, and then moved over to the two-spot when Cleaves returned. Last year Bell dished out 123 assists while committing only 76 turnovers. Still, to prepare for more time at the point, he is working on his ballhandling skills this summer.

Bell is also preparing to take over as team leader. "Coach [Tom Izzo] has already told me and [senior forward Andre Hutson] that next year we're going to have to carry the load, like Mateen and Morris did," Bell says. This summer Bell's leadership tack has been to convince his teammates that they aren't getting their props. "Everybody is really excited about that," he says.

Besides for working on the YWCA campaign this summer, Bell is interning at a local branch of the advertising firm CB Richard Ellis. He hopes someday to start his own advertising company. And if Bell has successfully sold the defending champs on the notion that they will have to fight for respect -- as it seems he has -- he's well on his way to a prosperous career.

Note: Zach Randolph made the final cut for the U.S. 20-and-under junior world championship team, but Marcus Taylor did not.

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