Tuesday, January 6, 2026

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Sports

BASKETBALL

Izzo has high hopes

As MSU men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo enters his seventh season at the helm, he said he plans on taking the same course he used to win four straight Big Ten titles.“What I think what we’ve done, we have a blueprint of what it takes,” Izzo said at media day Wednesday.

SPORTS

Toughman Contest to pit rivals

If Spartan fans feel they haven’t proven their dominance over Michigan, their chance is coming. The “Toughman Contest,” an amateur boxing event seen on Fox’s FX Network, is challenging fans, students and alumni of MSU and U-M to represent their schools in the ring on Jan.

ICE HOCKEY

Goodenow puts health problems behind him

Reporters weren’t asking Joe Goodenow the questions he expected to hear in his first three seasons at MSU.Instead of queries about hat tricks, tape-to-tape passes or bone-rattling body checks, Goodenow has had to explain separated shoulders and groin pulls.Those are certainly not the topics the 5-foot-10, 196-pound Toronto native wants to be synonymous with his collegiate career.“The last four years have really been a struggle to be healthy,” said Goodenow, a senior left wing and center.

VOLLEYBALL

Win at Indiana solid before problems begin at Illinois

Champaign, Ill. - Unforced errors cost the Spartan volleyball team a perfect weekend, as it settled for a split after Illinois swept MSU 3-0 in Champaign, Ill., on Saturday.The Illini handled the Spartans for all three games of the match winning 30-27, 30-26 and 30-22.The Spartans (11-4, 4-4 Big Ten) suffered more serve and pass breakdowns against the Illini, recording 12 service errors and 13 return errors.

SPORTS

Weekend ends with win

After opening the weekend with a disappointment, the Spartans women’s soccer team returned Sunday with more intensity and resulted in a better outcome.The MSU women’s soccer team (6-5-2 overall, 3-4-1 Big Ten) lost to Purdue 2-0 on Friday and beat Indiana 2-1 on Sunday.The Spartans struck quickly against Indiana (6-4-1, 3-3-1).After only five minutes of play, sophomore midfielder Trisha Kenny sent the ball down field to sophomore forward Tiffany Laskowski, who put the ball in the net.Kenny also attacked the Indiana defense tenaciously in the second half, creating several opportunities because of her increased intensity, Kenny said.“I always try to use my speed, because that’s really all I have,” she said.

SPORTS

Field hockey teams win streak at 4

The No. 6 field hockey team’s winning streak grew to four games as it beat Kent State 3-2 on Sunday and Indiana 3-2 in overtime Friday. MSU improved to 12-4, which is the team’s most wins since the 1996 season.