Taking Over Cleaves’ Leadership Role Proves to Be Quiet Achievement

With Mateen Cleaves in the NBA, Michigan State struggled at times this season to replace his leadership.

The duty fell to point guard Charlie Bell and forward Andre Hutson, both seniors--and both a little on the quiet side.

“It’s hard to replace a guy like Mateen,” Hutson said. “Charlie and I have really tried to step it up. We’re trying to be better leaders.”

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Lynn Greer is Temple’s iron man.

The Owls’ point guard averages 39.6 minutes a game and has played every minute of 28 games this season, including two overtime games.

“Coach told me before the season I’d be playing 40 minutes,” Greer said. “I never knew he meant it like that.”

So far, Greer has played 113 minutes out of 120 in Temple’s three NCAA tournament games, sitting out seven minutes during the first-round victory over Texas.

“I look at it like I’m playing on the playground,” Greer said. “I never ask out.”

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Need proof Temple’s matchup zone is hard to decipher?

After several seasons, some of the Owls still don’t have it down.

“They still are confused,” Coach John Chaney said.

“That’s the truth,” guard Quincy Wadley said. “There still is confusion. We know if we’re confused about our assignments and areas we have to cover, the other team is definitely uncertain about how to attack it properly.”

Greer agreed.

“I’ve been playing it three or four years now, and Coach still gets on me about making mistakes. I know it’s going to be tough to prepare for in one day.”

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Temple reserve forward Greg Jefferson is from Fairfax High by way of Redemption Christian Academy in Troy, N.Y.

Though he averages only two points a game, he had a career-high 15 against Penn State.

Chaney praises his quickness.

“Just like Ali said, he’s so quick he can go in the bedroom and cut the lights off and be in bed before it gets dark.”

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There shouldn’t be much debate that Chaney is college basketball’s most mesmerizing speaker.

After his news conference Saturday, sportswriters were overheard considering career changes.

“He makes me want to go back and teach,” one said. “That’s what I got my degree in.”

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Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo didn’t need long to compare and contrast Temple and his Spartans.

“We are 99% man and they are 99% zone,” he said. “I think maybe they rely a little more on the three-point shot, while we rely more on the inside game.”

He also was quick to identify what they have in common.

Both teams play tough defense, and play hard.