Mateen Cleaves still gets chills when thinking about Michigan State's 2000 National Championship

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Mateen Cleaves was back in leadership mode at Breslin Center on Saturday. He is always the lynchpin any time the 2000 National Championship team gets back together, and that was certainly the case on Saturday for ceremonies celebrating the 25th anniversary of the title team. Cleaves drew cheers from the Breslin Center crowd when he arrived at the arena, and made his way down the sideline, stopping to hug Mat Ishbia at courtside before taking a seat next to Jason Richardson, Morris Peterson, Andre Hutson, David Thomas and others to watch Michigan State come back from a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Oregon, 86-74. The players were introduced at halftime of the game, and Cleaves said a few words to the crowd, relaying how special he feels to be part of a team that is revered by Michigan State fans a quarter century later.