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Friday, March 31, 2000

Five of six
local coaches
choose Spartans

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Five of six local basketball coaches at the Division I and II levels pick Michigan State to win its Final Four game against Wisconsin Saturday. Four of the coaches say the Spartans will do what a top seed is supposed to do, and go on to win the NCAA championship.

Riley Wallace, UH head coach:
"I'll take Wisconsin for the upset, and North Carolina because they're hot. I think North Carolina wins the championship. I think (Wisconsin's) Dick Bennett's coaching style is an excellent style of basketball. It's good for tournaments, it's good for winning, and I just want to see them win it. North Carolina has come of age, and they have a freshman (Joseph Forte) who started the season. I think all of their athletic size will neutralize the athleticism of Florida."

Bob Nash, UH associate head coach:
"I'm going to go with North Carolina to win it all. And I pick Michigan State. Coaching personality plays a big role in basketball, and Bill Guthridge has become more fiery as the season wore on, and his team has fed off of that. Wisconsin does a good job of controlling tempo, but I think Michigan State, because they've been there before, will have an answer for it. They can play different styles, come from behind, play ahead."

Tony Sellitto, head coach HPU:
"I pick North Carolina and Michigan State because I always vote in favor of the point guards. Ed Cota is just sensational. He's a surgeon. The bad part is when they (Cota and Mateen Cleaves) have to play each other. I don't feel Michigan State has a better point guard, but I just think Michigan State has a few more horses."

Ken Wagner, BYUH head coach:
"I think it will be Michigan State and Florida with Michigan State winning it. Michigan State has beaten Wisconsin three times, so they obviously know how to beat them. Michigan State is better defensively and more talented. I pick Florida because they're playing better now. In the perimeter shooting, I think Florida is better. They pressure all over the court and have more depth."

Jackson Wheeler, UH assistant:
"I would go with Florida over North Carolina and Michigan State wins it all. It will be a close game between Michigan State and Wisconsin, but the Spartans score a little easier. I think Florida has too much depth for North Carolina. But one thing this tournament has shown is that anything can happen."

Scott Rigot, UH assistant coach:
"I think Chapel Hill will get Florida and I think Michigan State will win the whole thing. Michigan State will trounce Wisconsin. They can just take a game over in 10 minutes.''

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NCAA men The Final Four At Indianapolis National semifinals Saturday Wisconsin (22-13) vs. Michigan State (30-7), 12:42 p.m. North Carolina (22-13) vs. Florida (28-7), 30 minutes after first game National Championship Monday Semifinal winners, 4:18 p.m. NCAA women The Final Four At Philadelphia National semifinals Today Tennessee (32-3) vs. Rutgers (26-7), 2 p.m. Connecticut (34-1) vs. Penn State (30-4), 4 p.m. National Championship Sunday Semifinal winners, 4 p.m. NIT men Yesterday At New York Third place Penn State 74, North Carolina State 72 Championship Wake Forest 71, Notre Dame 61