Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Izzo Stuns Wooden to Put Michigan St. in All-Time Elite 8

Mateen Cleaves led a stunning 18-11 run in the last five minutes to let double digit underdog Michigan State 2000 advance to the All-Time Elite 8 with an 81-80 stunner over the first undefeated UCLA champion from 1964 in The Value Add Basketball Game.

In our game's history, teams that are 7- to 12-point underdogs have only won 21% of their games.

Michigan State will now advance to face the all-time No. 1 UCLA 1972, while the 10th and final champ in that 12-year run UCLA team from 1975 faces Western Kentucky 1966 for the last All-Time Elite 8 team.

UCLA led 69-63 with 4:35 to play when A.J. Granger scored and drew a foul, completing the 3-point play to make it 69-66. On consecutive trips, Charlie Bell and then all-time great point guard Mateen Cleaves had steals and fast break scores to take the 70-69 lead. The two combined for nine of the Spartans 10 steals.

However, 2nd team All-American Morris Peterson finished his game high 23 point outing with key baskets down the stretch to make it 81-80, and then Andre Hutson stole the ball in the closing seconds to deny UCLA a chance for a game-winning shot.

This Michigan State 2000 was the most recent champion from the Big Ten and from Tom Izzo, and the All-time Sweet 16 win is in line with his all-time 10-5 mark in Sweet 16 games. This 1964 UCLA team was John Wooden's 15th UCLA team but first champion and undefeated team in what would start the the greatest run of all sports ever, 10 titles in 12 years ending with the 1975 title before he retired.

As the box score shows, four Michigan State 2000 players and three UCLA 1964 players went onto the NBA.
 
Pos      Michigan St. 2000   Pts 3pt 2pt FT Att Reb Stl BlkFlHeight    Actual Season
1-PGMateen Cleaves10131235036'2,NBA12.1 Pts,1.8 Reb,6.9 Ast
2-SGCharlie Bell10026614036'3,NBA11.5 Pts, 4.9 Reb
3-SFMorris Peterson23346950016'7,NBA16.8 Pts, 6.0 Reb
4-PFAndre Hutson14070051016'810.2 Pts, 6.2 Reb
5-CA.J. Granger10123350116'99.5 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 1.2 Ast
1-PGMike Chappell6030020016'95.9 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 0.6 Ast
2-SGAdam Ballinger2010010016'92.0 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 0.3 Ast
3-SFAloysius Anagonye2010010016'82.9 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 0.3 Ast
4-PFDavid Thomas2010010016'72.4 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 1.5 Ast
5-CJason Richardson2010010016'6,NBA5.1 Pts, 4.1 Reb, 0.6 Ast
 Turnovers 158152516202510114  
             
PosUCLA 1964Pts3pt2ptFTAttRebStlBlkFlHeightActual Season
1-PGGail Goodrich13223413116'1,NBA21.5 Pts, 5.2 Reb
2-SGWalt Hazzard21093422016'2,NBA18.6 Pts, 4.7 Reb
3-SFFred Slaughter2010020156'57.9 Pts, 8.1 Reb
4-PFJack Hirsch13150050016'314.0 Pts, 7.6 Reb
5-CKeith Erickson12060061236'5,NBA10.7 Pts, 9.1 Reb
1-PGMike Huggins4020010025'111.6 Pts, 1.0 Reb
2-SGKenny Washington2010020036'36.1 Pts, 4.2 Reb
3-SFRich Levin2010010016'42.0 Pts, 0.6 Reb
4-PFKim Stewart6030020016'52.2 Pts, 2.0 Reb
5-CDoug McIntosh5110030016'73.6 Pts, 4.4 Reb
 Turnovers 168043168256419 

Here is the updated bracket with only one Sweet 16 game left before the Elite 8.




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