INDIANAPOLIS — For a Michigan State basketball player, it couldn’t get any better than to have Earvin “Magic” Johnson waiting for the team in the locker room after the Spartans earned a trip to the Final Four.
With this being the 30-year celebration of Johnson leading Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA championship over Larry Bird-led Indiana State, the Magic man could have had other obligations. But there was nowhere he wanted to be than with the Spartans.
“He told us to take one game at a time,” MSU senior guard Travis Walton said. “He told us to keep it going.”
A few minutes earlier, Johnson hugged Spartans sophomore guard Kalin Lucas at midcourt.
“We don’t have that star player,” Johnson said of the Spartans. “We have a bunch of really good players, and you don’t know where it’s going to come from each night. That’s what makes this team so outstanding. (Coach Tom Izzo) can go 10 deep.
“He’s the best game-planner in the country. He knew what he wanted, and he got it most of the time.”
Izzo’s name is always circulated when another high-profile job comes up. Might he get a call from Kentucky?
“You’re always worried about the money (other schools) are offering,” Johnson said. “You have to worry. Every Michigan State fan has to be worried. This is some serious business. The thing that Michigan State has going for him is, the (level) of Michigan high school basketball is so good, and every player wants to come to Michigan State.”
Bests
Double-double, with an Eastern European accent.
Michigan State senior center Goran Suton recorded 19 points and 10 rebounds Sunday against Louisville and was named the Midwest Regional’s outstanding player.
19 assists.
No, it wasn’t by Louisville. This time it was against the Cardinals. Michigan State broke Louisville’s full-court press with crisp passing and deft ballhandling.
48.1 percent.
Nerves can tighten the forearms in the second half of a regional final. But Michigan State remained calm and shot 48.1 percent after the break.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
Worsts
The no-respect card.
ESPN college basketball analyst and former Notre Dame coach Digger Phelps all but said before the game that Michigan State did not belong on the floor with Louisville. You can rest assured that was pointed out to the Spartans prior to tipoff.
No run and gun.
You could have won a lot of bets had you known that Louisville would fail to score any points off its fast break.
Sooners stagnant.
Oklahoma scored only 60 points — 19 below its average — in the regional final loss to North Carolina.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post, and wire reports
