ESPN RISE

Great State Debate bracket

The phrase March Madness may have been coined in Illinois, but based on the results of this week's ESPN RISE Great State Debate championship, the madness for high school basketball is even more intense in Michigan.

In the championship round of an eight-team bracket, No. 2 seed Illinois suffered the same fate as top-seeded New York. When all votes were counted Wednesday night, No. 5 seed Michigan was named the winner with a surprising 57 percent of the vote.

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Michigan has Magic -- and magic -- in the Great State Debate.

The Wolverine State started the tournament with a triumph over No. 4 seed Pennsylvania. In the semifinal round, Michigan ousted New York with 52.3 percent of the vote.

The unique aspect of the Great State Debate is that it didn't focus on cities. The matchups weren't Detroit versus Philadelphia, Detroit versus New York City or Detroit versus Chicago. The results show how much tradition and support Michigan high school basketball enjoys throughout the entire state, particularly in places such as Flint, East Lansing, Saginaw, Kalamazoo and even in the Upper Peninsula.

Illinois began its road to the final by taking out No. 7 Kentucky, then in the semifinals rolled past California with just more than 70 percent of the vote. Other states involved in the debate were Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

This is the 30-year anniversary of Michigan native Earvin "Magic" Johnson's leading Michigan State to the NCAA championship, and it's also the 20th year since Chris Webber led his high school team at Detroit Country Day to a state title and was the national player of the year.

Now, Michigan basketball fans can point to 2009 as the year when they proved their state is second to none for high school boys' basketball.

Thanks to all who participated in the 2009 Great State Debate for basketball.

Best of the Great State Debate

Great State Debate

After weeks of voting, No. 5 seed Michigan was crowned the Greatest State by SportsNation. Take a look at the road the Wolverine State traveled:

Features:
// Watch: Jemele Hill states her case
// Michigan natives star in-state
// Watch: Jemele Hill states her case
// Watch: Michigan highlights

Debate:
// Michigan crowned Greatest State
// Michigan, Illinois vie for title
// Michigan takes a bite out of New York
// New York, Michigan clash in semifinals
// Michigan muscles out Pennsylvania
// Michigan meets Pennsylvania

"Is this even close? I'll take the hoops history of Flint and Detroit against the entire state of Illinois. Did anyone mention Eric Turner, Mark Harris, Terrance Greene, Justus Thigpen (Jr and Sr.), Charlie Bell, Morris Peterson, Jason Richardson, Jeff Grayer, Andre "Moon" Wiley, Dan Fife, Trent Tucker, Cory Hightower, Latrell Sprewell, Leon Derricks, Terrance Roberson, Antonio Gates, Andre Rison (they could hoop too!). Also, the Summer Leagues in Flint and Detroit rivaled any in the country. The Flint Pro-Am and St. Cecilia's in Detroit were legendary in the 90's. Current pros and Hall of Famers littered those gyms. Also, have to mention Mott CC in Flint. 3 JUCO National Championships in the past 6 years."
-- rkerperien25

"Try this all-star team from Flint Northwestern against any other single Illinois high-school's all-star team (in no particular order): Trent Tucker, Glen Rice, Barry Stevens, Andre Rison, Jeff Grayer, Kelvin Torbert (National HS Player of the Year), Anthony Pendleton, Morris Peterson, and Cory Hightower. I believe Rice, Grayer and Rison were the nucleus of a team in the mid-80's that went 79-3 and was ranked #1/#2 in the country for several years by various national publications (includes a winning streak of 60 games). I think Westinghouse's all-time trio of Mark Aguirre, Hersey Hawkins, and Eddie Johnson would be tough....another two from Westinghouse to field their starting team, anyone?"
-- bennytheneck

"The state of Illinois has produced some great basketball players, I. Thomas (St Joseph),Terry Cummings(Carver),Nick Anderson(Simeon),Kevin Garnett(Farragut), Quinton Richardson(Young) and those are some that just stick out but there are a lot of hoopsters that did'nt make it past high school, and Illinois is a great state for that as well. Some players make the mistake of going elsewhere to play for example, we lost some great players to Duke, I Freaking hate Duke! but we have a strong tradition of basketball here and we just keep getting stronger."
-- Tre_B3

"You can post all you want about Illinois basketball. But the fact of the matter is they have no one to contain Magic, Webber, Iceman, or Glen Rice coming off the bench. Recognize the real Michigan high School hoops is where its at. I wish people would have seen those Southwestern teams with Rose, Lenard, Eisley and the others. Straight fire!!!! Understand we have big time cities all over the state, FLINT-Glen Rice, SAGINAW-Jason Richardson, Benton Harbor, Romulus-Terry Mills, Grand Ledge-Al Horford. It just aint my hometown Detroit. The only player I give props to off of Illinois is Isiah Thomas, Garnett doesnt count he played his most important years in South Carolina. So hands down Michigan my home state all the way baby."
-- BigDaddyHughes

"Is this even a debate. Illinois should get at least 90% of the vote."
-- tjb1995 "pg=Magic 6"8 vs Thomas 6"1 Magic works him, post him down low, Isiah can not stop him
sg= Steve Smith vs Hardaway Smith big, longer with better outside shot winner smith
SF= G. Gervin vs Wade Iceman bigger, but love Wades game winner wade
PF= Webber vs Issel Webber too strong and quick off feet for Issel winner Webber
C= Hayward vs Garnett Garnett a hybrid center like the match up, Garnett wins
michigan bench= Rose 6"9 pg, BJ pg great shooter, Coleman PF, Battier great defender, Kaman 7 foot 3 pt threat, Rudy and Long rebounders Vs Illinois Aguirre good shooter, Anderson 3pt specialist, Cheeks and Doc good pgs but too small, Howard and Curry soft down low winner Michigan
3pt shooters Thunder Dan Majerle, Rice,Kaman, BJ vs
Anderson, Gill, Eddie Johnson, Walker
too close to call here
Michigan has the size, strength and Championships on all levels over Illinois......match ups do not lie and Illinois is over matched"
-- slowroll12