Starting 5 highlight unmatched decade

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It’s only right that the decade’s best team is well-represented on the All-Decade team. Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson already have had their numbers retired, and Charlie Bell also might get that honor some day, but he gets knocked out of the starting lineup for Alan Anderson — just barely.

PG: Mateen Cleaves (1996-2000, 12.5 ppg, 6.6 apg) — Cleaves is the best leader in MSU basketball history, and maybe in all of MSU sports. He willed the Spartans to three Big Ten Championships, two Final Fours and the 2000 national championship. His No. 12 jersey is permanently retired and hanging from Breslin Center’s rafters.

SG: Alan Anderson (2001-05, 9.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.4 apg) — Point guard, shooting guard, small forward or the post, the versatile Anderson played everywhere for the Spartans. As a senior, Anderson was a key contributor for the 2004-05 Final Four team.

SF: Morris Peterson (1995-2000, 11.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 37 percent 3-point) — He came off the bench as a sophomore and junior — becoming the first reserve in Big Ten history to be named to the conference’s First-Team. The following season, he was named Big Ten Player of the Year and led the Spartans to the 2000 national championship. Like Cleaves, his No. 42 will never be worn by another Spartan.

PF: Andre Hutson (1997-2001, 10.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg) — The dominant post player for the 2000 national championship team, Hutson started almost every game during his career. He ranks 16th on MSU’s all-time scoring list and was the Spartans’ leading rebounder for two seasons.

C: Paul Davis (2002-06, 13.2 ppg, 7 rpg) — One of the top two or three centers in MSU history, Davis ranks 8th on MSU’s all-time scoring list and fourth on the rebounding list. As a junior, he was part of MSU’s 2004-05 Final Four team, and dominated as a senior, averaging 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds a game.

Second team

PG: Drew Neitzel (2004-08, 11.1 ppg, 4.2 apg, 39.9 percent 3-point)

SG: Charlie Bell (1997-2001, 10.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.7 apg)

SF: Maurice Ager (2002-06, 12.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg)

PF: Jason Richardson (1999-2001, 9.6 ppg, 5 rpg)

C: Goran Suton (2005-09, 8.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg)

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