Saturday, November 23, 2024

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Basketball

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Spartans look to contain Wildcats' post play

The MSU women’s basketball team will look to extend its winning streak to four games tonight against Northwestern. After alternating wins and losses for much of the Big Ten season, the Spartans have won three straight for the first time since late November.

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A lot still up for grabs in Big Ten race

The season’s women’s Big Ten race is turning into a mad dash. Usually by now there are about two or three teams that have any chance at first place and have anywhere from zero to two losses. Not this year.

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No-nonsense policy has team on track

It’s official — MSU women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant has put her foot down once and for all. She will not, under any circumstance, allow any of her players to perform in an ill-advised fashion.

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Turnover troubles still biggest obstacle

MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo had much to say at his weekly news conference Monday, but there was one significant word that echoed — turnover. Coming off the first back-to-back losses of the season at Purdue and Indiana last week, Izzo said he spent the rest of the weekend reviewing what the No.

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Turnover turmoil

Bloomington, Ind. — Problems are not being corrected. Nineteen turnovers, 9 assists — not exactly a statistic MSU men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo can stomach anymore.

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Merchant searches for winning formula

Women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant is having an interesting first year at MSU. Untimely injuries, combined with early departures and inconsistency, has left the Spartans floundering at the middle-to-bottom of the Big Ten.

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Injuries - not Merchant - to blame for rough 1st year

Take it to the bank: Suzy Merchant will succeed as MSU women’s basketball coach. Although some have criticized MSU’s first-year head coach for her team’s tough season, a lot of what’s contributed to the rough start thus far has been out of her control.

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Big Ten Roundup: Minnesota excelling on court, in classroom

Being a Division I athlete is hard enough, but when you throw in the fact that they’re also students, it gets even tougher. Well, it doesn’t seem to be too difficult for the Minnesota women’s basketball team, as the Golden Gophers landed four players on ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-District team.

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Shades of Gray

Toward the end of the national anthem before basketball games, Marquise Gray raises one finger to the sky. The moment is one of solitude, thought and dedication for the junior forward, and it has special significance — both for Gray’s immediate family and for his Spartans family.

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Rebound battle crucial to Spartan victory

Like a broken record, the MSU women’s basketball team’s rebounding problems are happening again and again. MSU head coach Suzy Merchant said rebounding will be one of the big keys to beat Indiana tonight — especially after being outrebounded by 12 the first time the two teams met on Jan. 20. The Spartans dropped the game, 70-56.

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Lucas steps up to plate Tuesday, becomes 'go-to guy'

Anyone watching the MSU men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Purdue witnessed a real coming of age. Kalin Lucas took the last step in his maturation process from a Spartan boy to a man. The freshman guard has emerged this season as a prolific scorer, but on Tuesday he became the Spartans’ go-to guy.

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Boiled over

A Boilermaker couldn’t have been a more fitting mascot to cheer for Purdue’s team Tuesday night. The No. 1 team in the Big Ten never came to a screeching halt — or showed signs of slowing down. They chugged along and steamrolled the MSU men’s basketball team, 60-54, at Mackey Arena, giving the Spartans their third conference and road loss of the season.

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Roller coaster ride is making me nervous

Loss. Win. Say those words four more times each and you have the results, in order, of the last 10 MSU women’s basketball games. The Spartans (14-11 overall, 6-7 Big Ten) have been exchanging wins and losses for more than a month now, most recently getting crushed by Iowa on Feb.

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Spartans win after race with Boilermakers

Senior guard Courtney Davidson saved the day – from the bench. The MSU women’s basketball team (14-11 overall, 6-7 Big Ten) clinched a 56-54 win against Purdue (13-11, 9-4) on Monday night at Breslin Center thanks to Davidson’s scoring five of the last seven Spartans points in the closing moments.

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Rap music, cold bath part of Summers' pregame

The State News tracked down freshman guard Durrell Summers to find out what life is like as a newcomer to MSU basketball head coach Tom Izzo’s team. Summers touched on everything from mashed potatoes to away games as he gave a little insight into his day-to-day activities.

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MSU in for fight vs. physical Purdue

When the MSU men’s basketball team travels to West Lafayette, Ind., today it will face a walking statistical anomaly. Purdue, sitting atop the Big Ten with a 10-1 conference record, ranks third or better in only three categories — free-throw percentage, steals and turnover margin.