NCAA at 75 - College Basketball
31. Michigan State, 2000
Michigan State opened the season playing without one of its "Flintstones." a trio of players from nearby Flint, Mich., who became the heart and soul of the Spartans during their national championship run. Mateen Cleaves missed MSU's first 13 games. The Spartans went 9-4 without him, then won 14 of their next 17 games after he returned. The Spartans won each of their first five games in the NCAA tournament by 11 points or more. MSU beat No. 5 seed Florida 89-76 in the finals to win its second national championship. Cleaves finished his senior season the way it started -- on crutches, after he rolled his right ankle in the second half against the Gators. He returned to the floor and finished with 18 points. Morris Peterson, another Flint native, scored 21 points. -- Mark Schlabach
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