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The Dartmouth
July 14, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

The Crystal Ball

Much has been written about how Michigan State's Monday night victory over Florida was the fitting end to the great collegiate careers of Spartan seniors Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, and A.J. Granger. Indeed, perhaps no team in recent memory has made the national title such an imperative goal and then worked so hard to reach that goal.

However, although Monday night was the last time we will see Cleaves and company in a Michigan State uniform, it is not the last time we'll see Michigan State in the national title game. The fact is, Michigan State will have every bit as much talent on their basketball team next year, if not more. Cleaves' remarkable leadership abilities are irreplaceable, but there are a number of reasons to believe that the Spartans will have a good chance to repeat as champions next year.

First, head coach Tom Izzo is simply one of the best college basketball coaches in the country. He built his team to be able to succeed against any team, in any type of game, as we witnessed in the Final Four. In their national semifinal game against Wisconsin, perhaps the ugliest, dullest basketball game since the days of the peach basket, Izzo proved that his teams could play tough half court defense and were patient enough to play against one of toughest defenses in college basketball.

In the national title game against Florida, Izzo's team showed that it could do the exact opposite, outrunning one of college basketball's premier run and gun programs.

Another reason the Spartans' success will continue is that they still have an abundance of talent on their roster. In addition to two starters returning, guard Charlie Bell and forward Andre Hutson, the Spartans also return all of their key reserves. Freshman Jason Richardson played brilliantly at times this year and has the potential to be a huge star. Junior Mike Chappell had a disappointing season coming off the bench, but his clutch play in the championship game could be a sign of things to come.

Augmenting Michigan State's lineup next season will be incoming freshmen Zack Randolph and Marcus Taylor. The 6 foot 9, 270 pound Randolph, MVP of the McDonald's All-America high school game, will provide an imposing interior presence for the Spartans, perhaps even making that part of the team stronger.

Taylor, one of Randolph's teammates in the All-America game, will have the unenviable task of trying to fill Cleaves' shoes at the point guard position. Being one of the best high school ball players in the country, however, should make the task a bit easier for him.

If Michigan State does indeed return to the Final Four next year, one of the teams it could find itself up against could well be this year's title game foe, Florida. In fact, most prognosticators believed that next year would be the year the Gators make a run at the national title.

Florida's full-court press, run and gun style, often called "Billy Ball" in reference to head coach Billy Donavan, is complemented by a deep and talented bench that usually is able to completely wear down opponents. Florida loses only one senior, guard Kenyan Weaks, off of this year's team, which was built mainly around freshmen and sophomores.

The Gators could be dealt a blow if sophomore Mike Miller, their leading scorer and best player, decides to leave college and head to the NBA, a possibility he is definitely considering. Even if he does leave, the Gators will return eight of their top ten players, including big men Donnell Harvey and Udonis Haslem, who was dominant in the title game, and freshman point guard Brett Nelson, the best thing to come out of West Virginia in decades. If Miller decides to leave, look for Nelson to have an outstanding season next year and keep the Gators in contention for the title.

Who besides this year's title game participants will be looking to bring home the trophy next year? Right now, Duke looks to be a likely favorite to make the Final Four. Although they lose ACC Player of the Year Chris Carrawell, they will have a two-headed monster at the point guard position with Jason Williams and incoming freshman Chris Duhon. Arizona returns everyone from a team that earned a number one seed in this year's NCAA tournament, so they should contend for the title as well.

Any one of these teams, plus probably a dozen others, has a legitimate shot at the title next year, but right now they're my early favorites to make the 2001 Final Four.