Basket Brawl

Michigan State has its soft spots, but few teams have been able to take advantage of them, least of all the Badgers, who are 0-fer this season against the Spartans. In the final Michigan State has depth to rival Florida's. But the Spartans' great advantage is at point guard. When the ball finds its way into Cleaves's hands, a calm seems to settle over the team. To watch him stride up the floor is to see nothing so much as a quarterback who advances with great prepossession toward the line of scrimmage—only this particular signal-caller can do more than just pass; he can run the option, too. More, Cleaves has a knack for coming up with plays commensurate with big moments. As Izzo says, "He's like Deion Sanders for us."

In a Michigan State-Florida final, the pick here is the team with the broadest shoulders—shoulders onto which the Spartans should soon be hoisting their coach.