'The Flintstones' weigh in on Miles Bridges

TULSA, Okla. -- Former Spartan great Morris Peterson says Miles Bridges can consider himself a “Flintstone.”

When you are from Flint and play basketball at Michigan State University, that is arguably the most prestigious nickname out there.

“He earned it,” Peterson said. “You know how they bring back a new character in the Marvel comics, like Superman? He is like a new character that is added to the same story. He’s definitely in there.”

Peterson was an All-American on the 2000 national championship team at MSU. He was also a member of “The Flintstones,” a foursome of Flint natives who helped put Spartan basketball back in the national spotlight.

It’s an exclusive club. Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell, Antonio Smith and Peterson were the first to earn the nickname. Bridges is just carrying on a hometown tradition of excellence.

Basketball players from Flint get called tough, blue-collar, hard-working, athletic.

And champions. They get called that, too.

Bridges was trying to add one to his already impressive resume. It won't happen this year after a second-round ouster at the hands of childhood friend Josh Jackson and the Kansas Jayhawks.

It may never happen if the star freshman opts for a career in the NBA after one season in East Lansing.

If you ask Peterson, a national title is the only thing missing from Bridges' legacy.

“He is definitely already one of the Flint greats,” Peterson said. “Look at the impact he has made.”

In just 28 games at MSU, Bridges averaged 16.9 points and 8 rebounds per game. Only a guy named Earvin “Magic” Johnson averaged more points (17) in his first season in East Lansing.

The 6-foot-7 Bridges was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. This season, he led the team with 10 games of 20 points or more. He scored in double figures 25 times, including a 33-point game against Purdue, which broke the school’s single-game freshman scoring record.

Bridges shot 48.6% from the floor and added 43 blocked shots, 58 assists and 19 steals.

Imagine what might have happened if he hadn’t missed seven games with an ankle injury?

“His talent is undeniable,” Peterson said. “His body of work this year has been great. He battled through adversity, found his rhythm again and hasn’t looked back.”

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Friday night in Tulsa, Bridges helped lead the Spartans back from an early double-digit deficit in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Down 17-5 midway through the first half, MSU stormed back thanks in part to an 18-point night from its star freshman. In the 90-70 loss to the Jayhawks, Bridges also scored a team-high 22 points, battling through a hip injury he sustained early in the first half.

Bell attended the opening round at the BOK Center, sitting directly behind the Spartan bench. He made the four-plus hour drive from Frisco, Texas, where he is an assistant coach with the Texas Legends of the NBA D-League.

Bell came to cheer on his alma mater and chat with his former head coach Tom Izzo, but one of the main reasons for the trip was to see Bridges play in person.

“He didn’t look like a freshman,” Bell said with a smile Friday night outside the Spartans locker room. “He played under control and didn’t take a bad shot. He attacked the basket and looked great defensively. He could be the best all-around player in the country."

Bridges is not your typical superstar. He is unassuming. He loves his teammates. More importantly, he just revels in the opportunity to be on the team.

He is a guy known for his highlight-reel dunks, inviting smile and boyish enthusiasm on the court.

He lives above the rim. But doesn't look down on everyone else.

After a closed practice last Saturday afternoon, Bridges slowly made his way through the winding concrete hallways deep inside the Tulsa arena. He was coming from yet another press conference. Wearing a green MSU jump suit with his headphones clinging on to the top of his head, he joked with teammates Alvin Ellis III and Tum Tum Nairn.

Told what Peterson and Bell had to say about him, he smiled shyly.

“That’s an honor for me, because I always looked up to them,” Bridges said. “I learned a lot from them. Most of what I do, where I get it from, is them. They are great role models.”

Then he said he wasn’t worthy of the compliments from two of Flint's best because those guys won a national title and played in the NBA.

“It’s just crazy to hear that,” he repeated.

Bell and Bridges talked briefly after the win over Miami. Bell told him the usual things; Keep playing hard, focus on winning, stay hungry and humble.

It’s the Flint way.

Glen Rice, Kelvin Torbert, Terry Furlow and Eric Turner all showcased in Flint high schools before moving on to college stardom and NBA careers. Flint's current collegiate players Monte Morris and Kyle Kuzma are also well on their way to the next level.

But there is just something different about Bridges, said Peterson, who still lives in Flint. He's more just what we see on television. He's “socially conscious.” He cares about things outside of basketball, like the local water crisis. After attending prep school for three years in West Virginia, Bridges also came back to his home state even though he had scholarship offers to some of the best basketball schools in the country.

“Miles is carrying the torch,” Peterson said. “When I was in college, I mean, I love my city, but we were just trying to win games. Miles gets it. The impact he has made is great to watch.”

Izzo said the impact the Flintstones still have on the program – particularly Bridges – is also felt in the locker room and on the court.

He calls Bridges his “blue-collar superstar.”

“That was the culture that we developed,” Izzo said of the toughness and underdog mentality of his Flint players in the late '90s. “And thank God those guys are still part of that culture because they all come back, they all text and call these guys. And they inform Bridges on what it's supposed to be like. If you're a Flintstone, you better be doing this, this and this. And I think that's helped.”

The big elephant in the room when it comes to Bridges these days is whether the 19-year-old will leave for the NBA next season. Some experts have him inserted as a lottery pick in the upcoming June draft. ESPN’s Chad Ford projects Bridges to be the No. 10 player picked, and DraftExpress.net ranks Bridges No. 12 overall.

The freshman claims he hasn’t made up his mind, telling reporters in Tulsa, “I’m gonna talk to my mom and my coaches about that. And then we’ll find out. That’s about it. Just my mom and my coach."

Bridges has not made up his mind yet, but Bell has made up his.

“Nowadays, I think the longer you stay in college the more your stock drops,” Bell said. “If you are coming out as a junior or senior, (NBA personnel) look at you totally different compared to if you are a freshman. He’s had a great year. I’d love to see him at the next level.”

Peterson didn’t say whether Bridges should stay or go.

“I think he can catch on quick at the next level,” he said. “Being a Spartan, I want to see him play at Michigan State as long as he can, for selfish reasons. He is definitely a lottery pick.”

Izzo said he has been trying to pry the truth out of his young superstar, joking that he "begged" Bridges to discuss his upcoming decision a couple of times so that he wouldn't be surprised. Bridges wouldn't oblige, telling his coach his focus was on sending the seniors out the right way and winning a title.

Now that a title is off the table this year, the clock is officially ticking.

Izzo will talk with NBA executives and scouts to gauge Bridges’ stock in the coming weeks and then discuss the findings with Bridges' mother, Cynthia Bridges.

"I have an obligation to him," Izzo said outside the Spartans locker room Sunday night in Tulsa. "He doesn’t really have to me now. He gave me his. We’ll gather information. The way his mother has wanted it the whole time is nobody be bothering him – as far as I know, they haven’t, and I really believe that.”

After the Kansas loss, Bridges answered every question thrown his way. He showed little emotion as he talked about the loss, his teammates and his future. He was still in mid-season form, acting as if there was another game to be played.

“I just take everything as a blessing,” he said. “I don’t look at it as I am a big-time player or anything. I am just a regular human being. I want to do what (The Flintstones) did. That’s win a national championship.

“I love my team, but I’m always gonna make the best decision for myself.”

Contact Cody Tucker at (517) 377-1070 or cjtucker@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @CodyTucker_LSJ.