sports


THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE Final Four


By Leland Stein III SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE


Downtown Detroit, get ready for a sea of green jerseys and T-shirts, and if it is too cold, jackets and sweaters. The green and white swarm of the Michigan State Spartans is set to descend on the Motor City.


What is happening is not an everyday occurrence. After all, not since 1994 has a team played in a Final Four in its home state. Duke was the last school to have that pleasure.


Michigan State University,


only 90 miles from Detroit, 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 over the same span.


When MSU proved many of


the prognosticators wrong in overcoming Louisville, they did it exactly 30 years after Magic Johnson, Greg Kelser and Jay Vincent led Michigan State to a 75-64 victory over Larry Bird and Indiana State for the school’s first national title.


“This is the best feeling


I could have,” Johnson told reporters after MSU’s excit- ing victory. “The whole state should be proud and excited of this moment.”


Indeed many are engulfed


in a euphoric state over Michi- gan State’s appearance at Ford Field in the first Final Four held in Detroit.


MICHIGAN STATE forward Raymar Morgan is looking to lead the Spartans in the NCAA Final Four April 4 and April 6 at Ford Field. – Dan Graschuck photo


The odds were not in MSU’s


favor. In the Elite 8 most pre- dictors pointed to the fact


Marygrove College men’s hoop squad shows improvement


By Harry M. Anderson, Jr. What a difference a year


makes. After struggling through last season the Marygrove College Men’s Bas- ketball squad put together its most improve season yet. Al- though a 14-16 overall (13-13 regular season) might not turn a lot of heads, it’s big improve- ment for a program struggling to build a winning and consis- tent program in the city of De-


Pershing


By Leland Stein III SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE


EAST LANSING - The De-


troit Public School League (PSL) has a long history of producing great basketball players. During March Mad- ness, however, the PSL teams, after beating up on each other during conference play, have to face one another in district and regional play of the state playoffs.


“No one other than Flint


or Saginaw have to travel the road we go through,” Pershing coach A. W. Canada said. “We have to go through the other PSL teams to get here. So, yes, it is a blessing to get back here for a second consecutive year and finally get it done.”


What Pershing (26-1) got


done was win the Michigan High Sports School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Class A state boys’ basketball title with a commanding 90-73 win over a very good Kalamazoo Central squad.


In the Game


State of Michigan has solid Final Four history


Earning a trip to the Final


Four is a laborious task. There are only two uni-


versities from the great state of Michigan that have found their way to a Final Four and NCAA championship.


Eastern Michigan, Western


Michigan, Central Michigan, the University of Detroit Mercy and Oakland all have had to watch the NCAA Final Four dance from the side- lines.


In the long and noteworthy


history of America’s basket- ball fun fest, only Michigan State University and the University of Michigan have negotiated the minefield of hostile teams that await anyone that seeks the NCAA championship.


The state of Michigan only


has three NCAA titles to its credit. That valued champi- onship has proven to be very elusive.


troit. “Ending the regular season


at .500 (13-13) with a trip to the USCAA National Cham- pionships was a treat,” said Marygrove men’s coach Glen Donahue. “We are a young team that has a long way to go.


“Our young nucleus with


only one senior on this year’s squad will be very successful before their careers are fin- ished as Mustangs. With the


From page C-1 The win was the first for a


PSL Class A team since 1998 when Central won it all. The victory was the Doughboys’ first state championships since they won back-to-back crowns in 1992 and 1993.


Leading the way for Per-


shing was junior guard Keith Appling. He produced the most prolific individual scor- ing effort in the history of the MHSAA Finals - regardless of class.


Appling sliced and diced


his way to 49 points, break- ing the record set in 1983 by Southwestern High’s Antoine Joubert.


“I did not know anything


about the record,” Appling said. “Coach told me to stay aggressive and pick my spots. I kept my poise and kept my mind in the game.”


Added Canada: “What you


saw today was nothing. He does this all the time in prac- tice.”


Pershing took a 21-16 lead, From page C-1 Maybe in 2009 at Ford


Field, with an expected mostly pro-MSU crowd leading the cheers, another title will be brought home by the Spar- tans. It will not be easy, but they are only one of four teams left, while 61 teams are sitting on the sidelines watching.


Michigan State has won


two NCAA titles (1979 and 2000) and the University of Michigan has won one title (1989). MSU has earned it way to seven Final Fours (1957, ‘79, ‘99, 2000, ‘01, ‘05 and ‘09) and U-M has found its way to six Final Fours (1964, ‘65, ‘76, ‘89, ‘92 and ‘93)


Michigan State was the


first university from the state of Michigan to make it to the NCAA Final Four.


Led by Coach Forrest A.


Anderson, the Spartans made their first Final Four appea- rance in 1957. The team was led by the “Jumping” Johnny Green. The Spartans lost to the University of North Caroli- na in the semifinals.


The University of Michigan was next to get to the NCAA’s


exception of one junior, Justin McKinney, we have a group of talented freshmen and sopho- mores ready to work hard in the off season.”


The Mustangs last their


first seven games of the season to the likes of Wayne State, Northwood, Kalamazoo and Adrian College. Marygrove’s first win of the season came against Michigan-Dearborn on December 3rd in a one point 67-66. When the Mustangs lost to Rochester College 75- 50 on January 27th, they were only 6-12; but things got inter- esting.


Marygrove was victorious in


seven of its last eight games to clinch a USCAA Tournament bid with victories over Great Lakes Christian (119-66), Kuyper College (61-59), St. Clair College of Ontario (91- 59), Taylor-Ft. Wayne, (73-58) Algoma University of Ontario (76-60), Holy Cross of Indiana (113-70) and Michigan-Dear- born (82-68). When the Mus- tangs went to the USCAA Tour- nament earlier this month, they lost in the first round to Talladega College of Alabama 70-47, defeated Florida College 95-93 in overtime, and lost the fifth place consolation game to Indiana-Northwest 97-88 to finish the 2008-09 campaign with a 14-16 record.


Louisville had won 13 straight games, including a 39-point rout of Arizona in the Sweet 16. They had won the Big East regular season championship, the postseason championship and three straight NCAA Tour- nament games in convincing fashion.


Most experts thought Lou-


isville would win in a breeze, figuring the Spartans would just roll over and die against the Cardinals’ vaunted full- court press.


However, Travis Walton and


Kalin Lucas handled the full- court press magnificently and the Spartans kept the tempo


at a pace that was conducive to their style.


As has been the case for the Spartans throughout the tour- nament, someone different stepped to the forefront as needed.


In the Louisville game, it


was senior Goran Suton, a 6- foot-10 center, who produced 17 points first-half points, in- cluding the three shots he hit from behind the three-point arc. His ability to pull the de- fense out and make them guard him away from the basket kept the Spartans’ offense flowing.


The second half featured


April 1-7, 2009


Page C-2 From page C-1


more of Michigan State getting the best of Louisville. While Suton only scored two more points in the second half, Durrell Summers, Lucas and Chris Allen stepped up to keep the Spartans on track to earn a Final Four spot.


If MSU emerges victorious


in its final two games, it will be its defensive prowess that carries them there.


The Final Four in Motown


showcases four universities that have all won NCAA titles - North Carolina, Villanova, Connecticut and Michigan State.


18601 Berg Road


Detroit, MI Open 7 Days: 7:00 am til dark Reserve your tee time (313) 255-4653


Early Bird Special: (Mon.-Thurs.)


7-8am 9 holes w/cart $8:00 per person (2 player minimum)


Blue Monday Special:


18 holes w/cart $20.00 per person (2 player minimum)


New ROGELL Member ONLY - Tue. Special: 18 holes w/cart $20.00 per person


Must call for Tee time! Member Card $99 TGIF (FRIDAY) SPECIAL:


18 holes w/cart $15.00 per person (2 player minimum)


MEMBER ONLY GAS SAVER - 2 FOR 1 (18 holes w/cart)


Thurs. Only


Must have Membership card - New ROGELL GOLF CLUB


NEW! Full fl eet of gas carts Banquet Room


Also: Golf Lessons Available: Lindsey Mason III (Head Golf Professional) Call (313) 633-5904


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33