The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, March 24, 1999 - 11 Izzo believes Michigan State has potential to surprise Duke EAST LANSING (AP) - Michigan State knows all too well how powerful Duke can be. * When the Spartans played the Blue Devils in December, Duke scored the first 13 points and had a 17-point lead three times in the opening nine minutes. Still, the Spartans managed to make a game of it, closing within three points before 'finally losing 73- 67 in the Great Eight in Chicago. Despite the troubles early in that game, Michigan State coach Tom zo said he believes the loss will lp the Spartans when they face ke on Saturday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. t,"It gives you some confidence that you played decent against a team," Izzo said Monday. "I think at least our players know their personnel. Our players know what to expect. They know what they do offensively and defensively, so there won't be a jt of surprises anywhere." While Izzo admires Duke's pro- gram, its coach and its team, he isn't writing off Michigan State's chances. Izzo said that his gritty Spartans, gome-from-behind victors Sunday over Kentucky, shouldn't be ruled out. Michigan State can be tough gnough to handle the Blue Devils. "There's no bigger upset than Michigan State beating Duke," Izzo said. "All I have to do is make sure our kids understand that. And know- ing these players and knowing their toughness, I'm sure we're not going in there scared. "Nervous, maybe. Scared, no." The winner between No. 1-rated Duke (36-1) and No. 2 Michigan State (33-4) advances to the champi- onship Monday night, to face either Ohio State or Connecticut. Izzo said Michigan State matches up with Duke somewhat, at least in size. And even though Duke has been the dom- inant team in college hoops this sea- son, he has hopes for a big upset. "It's no doubt we're going to be an underdog, but we've been the under- dog before," he said. "I'm really looking forward to it; I really am. I'm not looking forward to it in a cocky way, thinking that hey, we're just going to go out and beat Duke, but in a confident way where I think we can do some things." If the Spartans want some inspira- tion, they and their fans don't have to look further than Sunday's game, in which Michigan State rebounded from an early 13-point deficit to slam dunk a 73-66 win over Kentucky. "Remember: A slow start and a good ending is a lot better than a fast start and a bad ending," Izzo said. Michigan State may pick up an edge from happy Spartans fans. After Sunday's victory, the team returned to Lansing around midnight to find about 300 fans crowding the airport, and Izzo could sense the enthusiasm. "Yesterday was such an emotional event ... seeing all those people out there at 12:30 at night," he said. "I think the campus is electric right now; people are caught up in the spir- it of it. "Not only the students, but this entire community has kind of taken a grasp of this team." Among those caught up in the green-and-white spirit are former Spartans players and coaches, many of whom have shown up to root on this year's team. Watching from the stands in St. Louis on Sunday, among others, were Magic Johnson and former coach Jud Heathcote, who guided Johnson and the Spartans to the NCAA title in 1979. "It was great he took the time to come back," Izzo said of Heathcote. And, he said, Johnson "thinks we can win it all." "I have a lot of faith in what he thinks, so I'll just go with that," Izzo said. Michigan State is scheduled to leave Thursday morning for St. Petersburg. NCAA is finale for M Mseniors xSENIORS Continued from Page 10 a difference with this hockey program, and the younger players appreciate their efforts. "The seniors are obviously a huge part of our team," Michigan center Mark Kosick said. "They want to gp out with a bang, with a national chant pionship." Michigan fans should treasure this year's senior class, because their careers could end without notice. One bounce, one mistake, or evbiir just one great play by the opposition might make this weekend Michigan's last. It would be a disappointment to the Wolverines if things ended that way, but for most programs, finishing with a loss is commonplace. Only one team wins its final NCAA postseason game every year. Everyone else ends up a loser. "It's something you don't reflect on until the end of the season," Rominski said. "What's really going to separate this class is our two national champi rO onships." And the quality of leaders that fol- low their legacy. Ar r Mateen Cleaves and Michigan State will have reason to celebrate if it can stop Duke in the Final Four on Saturday. 4M' baseball heads to Kalamazoo to rodeo with Western Michigan By Geoff Gagnon Daily Sports Writer Michigan baseball coach Geoff Zahn jd his crew are hoping for a favorable cast today as they make their first midwest appearance of the season. 4And for Zahn and company, an ideal forecast means not only favorable weather, but also a consistant showing on the field as Michigan battles Western Michigan this afternoon at 3 p.m. Currently 7-10 on the season, today's game marks the first for the Wolverines not being played in California, Texas or rida. The Wolverines' home opener istill a week away. And despite the cooler temperatures expected in Kalamazoo, Zahn does not expect the weather to factor into today's contest. "I think that we're ready to play in Michigan," Zahn said in his WTKA radio interview yesterday. "We've been outside here in Ann Arbor and we know what to expect. I'm confident that we're ready to go, and I'm happy that it's a game that doesn't require a lot of travel or flying." On the heels of an offensively domi- nated 17-15 win over Nevada-Las Vegas on Monday, Michigan will be looking for its second win in as many tries after breaking out of a slump that saw the Wolverines drop six of their previous seven games. Yet Zahn said he's happy with his team's early-season performance against some of the top teams in the country. "I feel really good about where we are right now as a team," Zahn said. "We've played very well against some fine teams in what has to be considered one of the toughest non-conference sched- ules around." And while their performance may not have translated into victories for the Wolverines, Zahn said that strong out- ings against No. 9 Pepperdine and No. 10 Texas A&M, among others, will help Michigan improve recognition and gain confidence. "It's tough to play so many talented teams so early." Zahn said. "Especially considering that some of them have played 30 or so games, and we haven't even played at home yet. "Our kids would've preferred to have a winning record, but we've played well." Particularly impressed with his team's pitching in the early going, Zahn said he knows that as the season wears on, pres- sure on his hurlers will continue to mount. "We have to play so many games so quickly up here that pitching is really going to come into play," Zahn said. But it wasn't pitching or defense that defined Michigan's last contest. And after posting an impressive 17 runs on 14 hits in Monday's game, Michigan is hoping today to provide the same type of offensive explosion. "The guys are starting to stay with it," Zahn said. "Monday, we saw them start to swing the bats very well. We need that to continue." 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M 'I You can complete most of our spring and summer. classes in just S& W six weeks. They're as fast paced and dynamic as they are short and sweet. So you can pick up that class you need and still have time to enjoy your summer break. Visit our Web site at www.gvsu.edu for a schedule of courses D,,,%; ~J..A1 Allr.lmo 1 d1.,...A an ! PLAY BEGINS: Sun 5/9 Elbel Fields 400000*"- 400000000, __________________________________________I__I p. D SAND VOLLEYBALL ENTRIES TAKEN: Thursday 5/6 ONLY 6:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $40 per team MANAGER'S MEETING: MANDATORY Thurs 5/6, 6:30 PM, IMSB PLAY BEGINS: Tues 5/11, Elbel Courts 3-on-3 BASKETBALL ENTRIES TAKEN: Thursday 5/6 ONLY 7:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $20 per team MANAGER'S MEETING:an MANDATORY x Thurs 5/6,7:30 PM, IMSB PLAY BEGINS: Tues 5/11, Elbel Courts POWERBAR I i ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ I