Spartans lead a pack of six atop standings

OK, we're approaching the halfway point of the Big Ten regular season. So much has happened - so many surprises, a few disappointments, a rookie Big Ten coach has succeeded and one has received an unwelcome greeting in the conference.

Players have transferred from their original schools, new transfers entering new programs have flourished, and another player has left Hoosierland.

A new arena opened, another one is in its last year. Last year's Final Four team is in the final four of another kind - one of the conference cellar dwellers.

There have been upsets and just plain ugly games. Take a breath, tune in or you might miss something.

SARA STILLMAN/Daily Maceo Baston and the Wolverines dealt Michigan State a 79-69 loss on Jan. 10, but it has been the Spartans only setback of the Big Ten season.

The biggest story of the Big Ten is by far the success of conference leader Michigan State.

At 6-1, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo's team has thrived mainly because of the Spartans' defense. The Spartans are tops in the conference in scoring defense (59.4 points a game), second in rebounding (37.1 boards a game) and second in steals, averaging 9.14.

Sophomore point guard Mateen Cleaves, who started this season lighter and in better shape, has done everything for the Spartans.

Heading into tonight's home affair against Indiana, Cleaves has averaged 19.7 points - second in the conference to Ohio State freshman Michael Redd (20.0 ppg) - and leads the conference with 7.3 assists per game.

Purdue coach Gene Keady can tell you all about Cleaves and the Spartans, because Michigan State manhandled the Boilermakers, 74-57, at Mackey Arena on Dec. 30. Michigan State went on to defeat then-No. 10 Iowa a few weeks ago at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

"It's been fun to watch them develop," Keady said. "Cleaves, losing all of that weight, is probably the best point guard in the league at this point. It's one of those things where everyone is clicking."

Behind Michigan State, there is a tussle for second place as Michigan, Illinois, Purdue and Indiana are tied in the conference at 5-2.

The Wolverines had a chance to remain tied with the Spartans, but Sunday's loss to the Fighting Illini created a logjam. Even with the loss, Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe has gotten off to a solid start in his first year at the helm of the Michigan team.

If there's any team that has the momentum right now, it's Indiana. After starting the conference season 0-2, the Hoosiers have won five in a row, including impressive home victories against Michigan and Purdue. Sophomore A.J. Guyton and freshman Luke Recker have led the Indiana charge with 16.9 points and 15.0 points per game, respectively.

The Hoosiers survived another Bobby Knight casualty as The General's coaching style was too much for sophomore Jason Collier. Collier, who said he couldn't take the verbal abuse, transferred to Georgia Tech.

Another prominent transfer was Wisconsin's Sam Okey, who was suspended for the beginning of the regular season and left school last month. Okey didn't get to play in the Badgers' new 16,500-seat Kohl Center, which Wisconsin (3-5) unveiled two weeks ago.

Okey was accused of possession of marijuana and was charged regarding an incident this past summer in which Okey was caught using a fake ID. Just this week, Okey announced that he would transfer to Iowa, but won't be allowed to play in January, 1999 at the earliest.

At 4-2 in the Big Ten, Iowa is the most difficult team to figure out. After starting off the season 14-1, the Hawkeyes lost on their home floor to the Spartans by 21 points, and then fell to the Illini.

Freshman sensation Ricky Davis has provided immediate scoring production, leading the Hawkeyes with 13.0 points a game, and Iowa coach Tom Davis' press-oriented defense can always cause havoc for conference foes.

Michigan plays the Hawkeyes on Sunday in Iowa City. In such a tight conference race, each game is important for the Wolverines.

"These road games coming up against Iowa, Minnesota and Penn State are definitely wins for us that we have to get in order to be champions," Michigan guard Travis Conlan said.

Penn State (2-4), Northwestern (1-6), Minnesota (2-6) and Ohio State (0-6) are the teams struggling in the conference. The one major surprise is how quickly the Gophers have fallen after last year's Big Ten championship and Final Four appearance.

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