In 1998, Karen Langeland had a rather unusual problem.  In Maxann Reese and Kristen Rasmussen, she had two of the very best players in the league. Soph center Becky Cummings proved to be a much more than adequate complement to Rasmussen inside. But the Spartans were very short on role players, those players few covet or pay attention to.

As a result was teams were able to key on Reese and Rasmussen.  While Reese can carry her team single-handedly, she is a very streaky player.  When she struggled or was held in check, the Spartans struggled.  There weren't any players who could step in and pick up the slack.

MSU planned to let freshman Vnemina Reese run the point, but she tore her acl in the non-conference and Langeland was never really able to find an acceptable replacement. Donita Johnson had a few strong games at point and the Spartans were effective. More often, she and Christine Pung were erratic and the offense became simply throwing the ball to Maxann Reese and waiting for her to score.

Defensively, the Spartans were solid but unspectacular. They were a physically large team but they didn't play large.  They were not an especially good rebounding team despite their size.

As has been frequently the case with Langeland's teams, the Spartans were average. They finished in the middle of almost every team statistical category. Her teams usually finish in the middle of the Big 10, no matter if they're picked to finish first or last. The '98-99 team was picked to finish in the middle and did so.

   

 

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