Michigan State and Duke Make It 3 No.1-Seeded Teams and a No.4 (Ohio State) Heading to Final Hour

By SCOTT HOWARD-COOPER

March 22, 1999 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

ST. LOUIS —

The respect that eluded them every step of the journey that now continues to the Final Four might have come anyway, but that is no longer an option, not after the events of Sunday at the Trans World Dome forced doubters into a deep breath of acceptance.

Michigan State defeated Kentucky, 73-66, in the Midwest Regional final before 42,519.

There’s more.

Michigan State defeated Kentucky after being buried at the start, after being all but left for dead with a 13-point deficit that was surely affirmation to anyone who figured the Spartans could not match the big-game experience of the defending national champions.

There’s still more.

Michigan State defeated Kentucky by shooting 52% in the second half and 49.1% overall, this from a team that, though capable enough to finish second in the Big Ten in shooting accuracy, has been the subject of critical comments because of the regular stretches when it goes into cough-and-wheeze mode.

The Spartans cut down the nets and the skeptics. They are going to the Final Four for the first time in 20 years, to play Duke on Saturday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Kentucky is going home.

“It’s probably as good a day as we’ve had at Michigan State in a long, long time,” Coach Tom Izzo said after his team’s winning streak reached 22.

Not about to let the moment pass without making note of such a moment, of having gone from 16-16 three seasons ago and 4-3 to start this one, the Spartans celebrated in a way they had coming.

Forward Antonio Smith, the only senior starter, kicked the ball high in the air after the final horn.

The players took turns climbing the ladder to cut their piece of the net.

Izzo grabbed Smith and said they would make the final cut together, commemorating a much longer journey than the 1998-99 season, because Smith was Izzo’s first big recruit after replacing Jud Heathcote. So up they went, Izzo slicing off the last bit of twine and then hugging Smith near the top of the ladder.

“I really can’t describe the emotion,” Smith said. “We’ve been through so much. We started out as a .500 ballclub and now we have the opportunity to be in the Final Four. We were celebrating together.”

All the Spartans had it coming, of course. Morris Peterson, good enough to start but kept in a reserve role because Izzo likes the offensive spark he brings off the bench, had 19 points and 10 rebounds, both game highs. Mateen Cleaves, making only four of 11 shots, had 11 assists. A.J. Granger made all three three-point attempts, all the more important because they came in the first half and helped Michigan State climb out of the rubble that was the first few minutes.

It was the first 7 minutes 2 seconds actually, by which time Kentucky had a 17-4 lead. Michigan State, falling in line with the script, appeared tentative. Just in case no one realized it, Smith lit into his teammates during a timeout.

“Antonio came in the huddle,” Cleaves said. “He got in everybody’s face, told guys they weren’t playing hard, that we had come too far.”

It was a step out of character for Smith, normally more low-key than that, but the response was just as stirring. When Cleaves made a three-point basket at the buzzer, Michigan State had climbed within 36-35 by halftime.

“For once, we were the team that got too excited over the start,” Kentucky’s Scott Padgett said. “We sort of let up when it was 17-4.

“Every time it seemed like we’d make a play to start a run, they’d come back and hit a big shot or make a big play. You’ve got to tip your hat to them.”

Smith offered another pep talk during intermission, the Spartans really having come too far now. Three and a half minutes into the second half, they had a 41-41 tie. One possession after that, when Cleaves made a jump shot from the free-throw line, they had a lead for the first time.

Michigan State (33-4) briefly fell behind again, this time 54-51, then pulled away for good with a 14-4 run. It was 65-58 with 3:08 remaining. When Kentucky (28-9) missed shots on its next three trips, then made only one free throw on each of the two that followed, the top-seeded Spartans were in control for good.

The Wildcats’ last gasp at a repeat, and a fourth trip to the championship game in as many years, was Padgett’s three-point basket that got them within 67-63 with 31 seconds left. But Peterson erased any hopes for a miracle comeback by swishing six consecutive free throws in the final 29 seconds.

The celebration followed. Magic Johnson, the leader of the last Spartan team to get to the Final Four, visited the locker room afterward.

Then everyone packed up, to continue the party in East Lansing, Mich., at least for a day before focusing on Duke.

“Do we need a plane to get back?” Smith said. “No, we’ll just float back.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NCAA Tournament

Sunday EAST REGIONAL

Duke: 85

Temple: 64

MIDWEST REGIONAL

Michigan St: .73

Kentucky: 66

Final Four: Saturday at St. Petersburg, Fla.