SPORTS
Spartans host Big Ten tourney
The MSU women's tennis team is trying to rebuild its program. Senior Keri Thompson has gone from the No.
SPORTS
Blogging Pistons' Tuesday victory
This seems to be a trend in the world today - live blogging a sporting event. This seems to be a fun idea, so I said, what the heck, I'll give it a shot. 7:31 - The first shots on FSN Detroit's broadcast are of Ben Wallace carrying in his world heavyweight championship belt and of Allen Iverson carrying in ? shoes.
SPORTS
Offensive tackle Poole signs with Chicago
The Chicago Bears signed former MSU offensive tackle Sean Poole as an undrafted free agent Monday. The 6-foot-7, 290-pound Flint native was one of 10 free agents the Bears signed this week, according to a statement from the team. The Detroit Lions also signed seven undrafted free agents, including former MSU tight end Jason Randall for its post draft mini-camp, LionsFans.com reported. Eight Spartans from last season's team have been signed by an NFL team, including four Spartans that were drafted. Running back DeAndra Cobb (Atlanta), kicker Dave Rayner (Indianapolis), defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson (Miami) and offensive guard William Whitticker (Green Bay) were all drafted.
BASEBALL
MSU's offense runs in 14 in victory
It was a career day for MSU sophomore catcher Kris Morris. Morris hit his first two career home runs and drove in six runs in the MSU baseball team's 14-7 rout of Indiana Tech on Tuesday afternoon at Kobs Field. "It was probably one of the best offensive days of my life," Morris said "It was great." Morris' big game came in the wake of a season-ending arm injury to Sean Walker. MSU's offense was on fire in the first three innings, scoring eight runs and driving Indiana Tech pitcher Marc Caban out of the game. In the first inning, MSU sophomore left fielder Ryan Basham's double drove in sophomore right fielder Adam Tripp to give MSU (16-18 overall) a 1-0 lead. MSU scored two in the second on Morris' first career home run, a bomb to center field, but the Warriors cut the lead to 3-1 in the top of the third on an RBI single by second baseman Adam Storms. But the Spartans exploded in the bottom half of the inning, as RBI singles by designated hitter Alan Cattrysse and third baseman Oliver Wolcott put up two more runs before Morris connected on his second home run of the game, an opposite field shot to right field, putting MSU ahead 8-1. "He's been getting better, he's swinging the bat better," MSU head coach Ted Mahan said of Morris.
SPORTS
With draftees, Lions should be .500 at worst next season
While watching NFL analysts critique the decision for the Detroit Lions to take wide receiver Mike Williams, I was surprised to hear how much flack the organization was taking for its first-round draft choice. Radio talk-show hosts were ripping the front office for their decision. The obvious question asked was why the Lions would draft another offensive player when defense is what they needed the most? You have to take Williams because he was the best player available in the draft when the Lions were picking. I love the fact that the Lions should have one of the best offenses in the NFC if not in all of football next season pending that all of the key offensive weapons can stay healthy. Charles Rogers, Roy Williams and Mike Williams - it's probably the best corps of young receivers in the NFL, and don't forget about recently acquired Kevin Johnson and Marcus Pollard. The Lions have great depth at the wide receiver position, if nothing else.
SPORTS
Spartans host IPFW in doubleheader today
The MSU softball team plays a doubleheader against IPFW starting at 3 p.m. today at Old College Field. The Spartans currently have an 18-24-1 overall record, 6-6 in the Big Ten, and sit fifth in the Big Ten conference.
SPORTS
Dukes, Stanley signed as free agents in NFL
Two more former MSU football players were taken following the NFL Draft on Sunday. Defensive end Clifford Dukes was signed by the St.
SPORTS
Baseball team plays Indiana Tech today
The MSU baseball team added a midweek contest scheduled for 4 p.m. today at Kobs Field against Indiana Tech. The Spartans currently are 15-8 and 6-6 in the Big Ten.
SPORTS
Golf team earns bid to NCAA regionals
The MSU women's golf team earned a No. 14 seed in the Central Region of the NCAA Women's Golf Regional Championships on May 5-7 in Lubbock, Texas, the Spartans' seventh consecutive appearance in the championships. The NCAA Championship round, May 17-20 in Corvallis, Ore., will feature the top eight teams and two individual players from each region. The Spartans finished third in the Big Ten Championships this past weekend in Ann Arbor.
SPORTS
Huntington hired as men's track assistant
Walled Lake native Randy Huntington has joined the MSU men's track and field coaching staff as an assistant, coaching the throwers, jumpers and multi-event competitors. Huntington will bring almost three decades of experience coaching professional and amateur athletes to East Lansing, including eight Olympians and seven World Championship members. "Bringing Randy in gives us a better understanding of the scientific part of coaching," MSU head coach Darroll Gatson said in a statement.
ICE HOCKEY
League changes playoff format
The CCHA is in the process of revising the league's playoff system, which will shorten the regular season by one week and extend the postseason from two to three rounds. The new playoff system will give the top four teams in the regular season first-round byes, and the remaining eight teams would play a best-of-three series with their corresponding seeds. The winners of the eight-team first round will then advance to face the top four teams in the division that were awarded the first-round byes.
SPORTS
WEB ONLY: Women's tennis loses at Indiana
The MSU women's tennis team finished its season with a 6-1 loss at Indiana. Sophomore Sarah Andrews picked up the lone point for the Spartans after Indiana's Brianna Williams retired while up in the match. At No.
SPORTS
WEB ONLY: Spartans place third in championships
The final round of the 2005 Big Ten Women's Golf Championships in Ann Arbor was canceled because of the weather. This meant MSU finished in third place with a three-round score of 933. Sophomore Heather Rose led the Spartans with a fourth-place finish.
FOOTBALL
Quarterbacks have options with receivers
After two seasons of dropped passes and inconsistency at wide receiver under MSU head coach John L. Smith, the position that gave the Spartans trouble in the past looks to be one of their greatest strengths entering the 2005 season. With wide receivers Aaron Alexander, Kyle Brown, Agim Shabaj and Matt Trannon all entering their senior years of play and junior Jerramy Scott and sophomore Terry Love returning to the program as well, the Spartans might have one of the best lists of wide receivers in the Big Ten. Alexander said the group is coming together well, but there still is work to be done before the fall.
FOOTBALL
Spartans finish 4-week spring practice
The MSU football team ended spring football with a scrimmage Friday, moving indoors to the Duffy Daugherty Football Building because of poor weather. The scrimmage concluded the Spartans' 15 practices during a four-week period, a spring session MSU head coach John L.
SPORTS
MSU drops final home match of year
It was a long weekend for the MSU men's tennis team after dropping two dual meets at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. MSU lost a grueling match 4-3 against No.
SPORTS
2 days of NFL draft too long for viewers
I woke up this morning and thought, "I better check ESPN to see if the NFL Draft is still going." I was shocked that it was finally over. It was the second-longest first round ever - thanks to the Detroit Lions, since they only took two minutes to make their selection.
SPORTS
1st day of NBA playoffs has comebacks, Webber hitting some shots
Saturday proved to be a most interesting day of basketball. It was a day of monster comebacks and elation on my part. The day started with the Detroit Pistons against the Philadelphia 76ers on ABC. To say the least, the Pistons didn't get off to a great start, being outscored 28-16 in the first quarter. Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala threw down a sick reverse jam after Allen Iverson saved the ball from going out of bounds.
FOOTBALL
4 Spartans selected in draft
When former MSU running back DeAndra Cobb was 9 years old, his mother signed him up for a local little league football team with encouragement from her brother, even though she knew little about football. "We signed him up, and they actually called him 'Turbo' and we have been running with him ever since," Cobb's mother, Terri Cobb-Harden, said. She had no idea that years later, she would watch her son be drafted into the NFL on national television and share in the excitement. Four Spartans were drafted in the sixth and seventh rounds of the NFL Draft on Sunday afternoon.
FOOTBALL
Goss No. 1 kicker without Rayner
Practice is just about over, and members of the MSU football team start gathering together. Instead of circling around MSU head coach John L.