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Basketball

BASKETBALL

Coming up empty

Tom Keller
February 27, 2006

Davis, Ager, Brown or get out of town. MSU's Big Three — senior center Paul Davis, senior guard Maurice Ager and junior guard Shannon Brown — once again dominated the scoresheet Sunday, accounting for all but nine of the Spartans' points in their 78-71 loss to Indiana. MSU got just three points from its bench — all from freshman guard Travis Walton, who played 32 minutes in place of injured senior forward Matt Trannon. The Hoosiers, meanwhile, got 16 points from their bench, including a game-tying free throw by Errek Suhr and a game-tying layup by Roderick Wilmont in the game's final minutes. But MSU head coach Tom Izzo insists he's not looking to his bench to score more. "We don't have a great bench — I told you that in September," Izzo said.

BASKETBALL

MSU's most overlooked athlete back to old self

It had not been a good week for Drew Neitzel. The sophomore guard played arguably his worst game of the season against Minnesota last Saturday, missing seven of eight shots and recording more turnovers (four) than points (three). He followed that with another frustrating game at Iowa on Tuesday, finishing with his fewest assists in more than a month. And sadly, that wasn't the worst part.

BASKETBALL

Still in the hunt

Matt Bishop
February 20, 2006

Three things made MSU head coach Tom Izzo smile after Saturday's game at Breslin Center. The first: Regaining dominance over archrival Michigan, courtesy of a 90-71 win. The second: The re-emerging possibility of winning the Big Ten.

BASKETBALL

Wanted: Player to assume leadership role

Tom Keller
February 14, 2006

In years past, when MSU head coach Tom Izzo wanted to get a feel for how his team was doing, there were certain players he knew he could talk to and find out. Right now, he's not sure where to turn. "The last three or four years, it's been harder for me to gauge our team because we haven't had that true, true leader," Izzo said Monday at his weekly press conference.

BASKETBALL

Izzo: MSU lacked preparation

Matt Bishop
February 13, 2006

Minneapolis — It's not often MSU head coach Tom Izzo throws around words like "outcoached" and "outplayed," no matter what the circumstance. That is what made Saturday's 69-55 loss to Minnesota that much more surprising.

BASKETBALL

Davis contributes 16 points in game back after head injury

Matt Bishop
February 6, 2006

Evanston, Ill. — After missing a week because of a head injury sustained in practice, senior center Paul Davis returned to practice Friday and was deemed well enough to start Saturday against Northwestern. "There was a decision made (Friday) that we would probably start him, but we did not know how long he could play," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.

BASKETBALL

Rebounds key MSU victory vs. Wildcats

Matt Bishop
February 6, 2006

Evanston, Ill. — With the Big Ten as tough as it is this season, any win, especially on the road, will be greeted with a smile. That is why MSU's 77-66 road win over Northwestern on Saturday is much bigger than it seems. With Illinois' and Michigan's losses Saturday, the No.

BASKETBALL

Izzo softer on U-M, but still wants win

Tom Keller
January 25, 2006

He's not going to start singing "Hail to the Victors" anytime soon, but head coach Tom Izzo says he's not the same coach who let his hatred for Michigan "gnaw" at him earlier in his career. "I don't like Michigan — who's kidding who?" Izzo said.

BASKETBALL

Passing by

Tom Keller
January 23, 2006

Perfect? Maybe not quite. But No. 11 MSU was about as close as it could be on Saturday in its most lopsided win of the season, an 85-55 rout of No.