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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE April 1-7, 2009 Page C-2
Final Four From page C-1
By Leland Stein III
Louisville had won 13 straight at a pace that was conducive more of Michigan State getting
games, including a 39-point to their style. the best of Louisville. While
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
rout of Arizona in the Sweet
16. They had won the Big East
As has been the case for the
Suton only scored two more
Downtown Detroit, get ready
regular season championship,
Spartans throughout the tour-
points in the second half,
for a sea of green jerseys and
the postseason championship
nament, someone different
Durrell Summers, Lucas and
T-shirts, and if it is too cold,
and three straight NCAA Tour-
stepped to the forefront as
Chris Allen stepped up to keep
jackets and sweaters. The
nament games in convincing
needed.
the Spartans on track to earn
green and white swarm of the
a Final Four spot.
fashion.
Michigan State Spartans is set
In the Louisville game, it
to descend on the Motor City.
Most experts thought Lou-
was senior Goran Suton, a 6-
If MSU emerges victorious
isville would win in a breeze,
foot-10 center, who produced
in its final two games, it will
What is happening is not an
figuring the Spartans would
17 points first-half points, in-
be its defensive prowess that
everyday occurrence. After
just roll over and die against
cluding the three shots he hit
carries them there.
all, not since 1994 has a team
the Cardinals’ vaunted full-
from behind the three-point
played in a Final Four in its
The Final Four in Motown
court press.
arc. His ability to pull the de-
home state. Duke was the last
showcases four universities
school to have that pleasure.
However, Travis Walton and
fense out and make them guard
that have all won NCAA titles
Kalin Lucas handled the full-
him away from the basket kept
- North Carolina, Villanova,
Michigan State University,
court press magnificently and
the Spartans’ offense flowing.
Connecticut and Michigan
only 90 miles from Detroit,
the Spartans kept the tempo The second half featured State.
outlasted No. 1 overall seed
Louisville, 64-52, on Sunday
in the Midwest Regional final,
thus earning its fifth Final
Four appearance in 11 years
- the best record of any team
18601 Berg Road
over the same span.
When MSU proved many of
the prognosticators wrong in
Detroit, MI
overcoming Louisville, they
did it exactly 30 years after
Open 7 Days: 7:00 am til dark
Magic Johnson, Greg Kelser
and Jay Vincent led Michigan
Reserve your tee time (313) 255-4653
State to a 75-64 victory over
Larry Bird and Indiana State
for the school’s first national
title. Early Bird Special: (Mon.-Thurs.)
“This is the best feeling
I could have,” Johnson told
7-8am 9 holes w/cart $8:00 per person
reporters after MSU’s excit-
ing victory. “The whole state
(2 player minimum)
should be proud and excited
of this moment.”
Indeed many are engulfed
in a euphoric state over Michi-
Blue Monday Special:
gan State’s appearance at Ford
Field in the first Final Four
held in Detroit.
18 holes w/cart $20.00 per person
MichiGan state forward Raymar Morgan is looking to lead
The odds were not in MSU’s
favor. In the Elite 8 most pre-
(2 player minimum)
the Spartans in the NCAA Final Four April 4 and April 6 at Ford
dictors pointed to the fact
Field. – Dan Graschuck photo
New ROGELL Member ONLY - Tue. Special:
Marygrove College men’s hoop
18 holes w/cart $20.00 per person
squad shows improvement Must call for Tee time! Member Card $99
By Harry M. Anderson, Jr.
troit. exception of one junior, Justin
“Ending the regular season
McKinney, we have a group of
What a difference a year
at .500 (13-13) with a trip to
talented freshmen and sopho-
TGIF (FRIDAY) SPECIAL:
makes. After struggling
the USCAA National Cham-
mores ready to work hard in
through last season the
pionships was a treat,” said
the off season.”
18 holes w/cart $15.00 per person
Marygrove College Men’s Bas-
Marygrove men’s coach Glen The Mustangs last their
ketball squad put together its
Donahue. “We are a young first seven games of the season
most improve season yet. Al-
team that has a long way to to the likes of Wayne State,
(2 player minimum)
though a 14-16 overall (13-13
go. Northwood, Kalamazoo and
regular season) might not turn
Adrian College. Marygrove’s
a lot of heads, it’s big improve-
“Our young nucleus with
first win of the season came
ment for a program struggling
only one senior on this year’s
against Michigan-Dearborn on
to build a winning and consis-
squad will be very successful
December 3rd in a one point
tent program in the city of De-
before their careers are fin-
MEMBER ONLY GAS SAVER
ished as Mustangs. With the
67-66. When the Mustangs
lost to Rochester College 75- - 2 FOR 1 (18 holes w/cart)
50 on January 27th, they were
only 6-12; but things got inter-
Thurs. Only
Pershing
esting.
From page C-1
Must have Membership card - New
Marygrove was victorious in
By Leland Stein III
The win was the first for a seven of its last eight games to ROGELL GOLF CLUB
PSL Class A team since 1998 clinch a USCAA Tournament
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
when Central won it all. The bid with victories over Great
victory was the Doughboys’ Lakes Christian (119-66),
NEW! Full fl eet of gas carts
EAST LANSING - The De-
first state championships Kuyper College (61-59), St.
Banquet Room
troit Public School League
since they won back-to-back Clair College of Ontario (91-
(PSL) has a long history of
crowns in 1992 and 1993. 59), Taylor-Ft. Wayne, (73-58)
producing great basketball
Algoma University of Ontario
players. During March Mad-
Leading the way for Per-
(76-60), Holy Cross of Indiana Also: Golf Lessons Available:
ness, however, the PSL teams,
shing was junior guard Keith
(113-70) and Michigan-Dear-
after beating up on each other
Appling. He produced the
born (82-68). When the Mus-
during conference play, have
most prolific individual scor-
tangs went to the USCAA Tour-
Lindsey Mason III
to face one another in district
ing effort in the history of the
nament earlier this month,
and regional play of the state
MHSAA Finals - regardless of
they lost in the first round to
(Head Golf Professional)
playoffs.
class.
Talladega College of Alabama
“No one other than Flint
Appling sliced and diced
70-47, defeated Florida College
Call (313) 633-5904
or Saginaw have to travel the
his way to 49 points, break-
95-93 in overtime, and lost the
road we go through,” Pershing
ing the record set in 1983 by
fifth place consolation game
coach A. W. Canada said. “We
Southwestern High’s Antoine
to Indiana-Northwest 97-88 to
have to go through the other
Joubert.
finish the 2008-09 campaign
PSL teams to get here. So, “I did not know anything
with a 14-16 record.
yes, it is a blessing to get back about the record,” Appling
here for a second consecutive said. “Coach told me to stay
year and finally get it done.” aggressive and pick my spots.
What Pershing (26-1) got
I kept my poise and kept my
done was win the Michigan
mind in the game.”
High Sports School Athletic Added Canada: “What you
Association (MHSAA) Class saw today was nothing. He
A state boys’ basketball title does this all the time in prac-
with a commanding 90-73 win tice.”
over a very good Kalamazoo
Central squad.
Pershing took a 21-16 lead,
In the Game From page C-1
State of Michigan
Maybe in 2009 at Ford
Field, with an expected mostly
has solid Final
pro-MSU crowd leading the
cheers, another title will be
Four history
brought home by the Spar-
tans. It will not be easy, but
Earning a trip to the Final
they are only one of four
Four is a laborious task.
teams left, while 61 teams
There are only two uni- are sitting on the sidelines
versities from the great state watching.
of Michigan that have found
Michigan State has won
their way to a Final Four and
two NCAA titles (1979 and
NCAA championship.
2000) and the University of
Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan has won one title
Michigan, Central Michigan, (1989). MSU has earned it way
the University of Detroit to seven Final Fours (1957,
Mercy and Oakland all have ‘79, ‘99, 2000, ‘01, ‘05 and
had to watch the NCAA Final ‘09) and U-M has found its
Four dance from the side- way to six Final Fours (1964,
lines. ‘65, ‘76, ‘89, ‘92 and ‘93)
In the long and noteworthy Michigan State was the
history of America’s basket- first university from the state
ball fun fest, only Michigan of Michigan to make it to the
State University and the NCAA Final Four.
University of Michigan have
Led by Coach Forrest A.
negotiated the minefield
Anderson, the Spartans made
of hostile teams that await
their first Final Four appea-
anyone that seeks the NCAA
rance in 1957. The team was
championship.
led by the “Jumping” Johnny
The state of Michigan only Green. The Spartans lost to
has three NCAA titles to its the University of North Caroli-
credit. That valued champi- na in the semifinals.
onship has proven to be very
The University of Michigan
elusive.
was next to get to the NCAA’s
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