A Spartan win Saturday would guarantee the men’s basketball team a first-round bye in the Big Ten Tournament. MSU (18-10 overall, 9-6 Big Ten) needs to win its final regular-season game against Iowa (16-13, 5-10) at Breslin Center to earn the No.
Optimism and excitement have surrounded the Spartans’ late-season success. But a few months back, the MSU faithful could only look to what lay well ahead for excitement. The future seemed to be at least one year away for the Spartans (18-10 overall, 9-6 Big Ten) not too long ago. Opening the Big Ten season with three straight back-breaking losses, MSU’s youth and inexperience quickly became a stumbling block and postseason hopes seemed to spell NIT. The first was a 70-67 loss at Minnesota on Jan.
With the move to Indianapolis, Big Ten Tournamentgoers won’t be able to rely on the familiar nightlife of Chicago for their entertainment. The intensity of Big Ten basketball promises to be the same.
Record: 18-10 overall, 9-6 Big Ten 2001-2002 Report Card: Shooting: B+ The Spartans have shot the ball especially well lately, most recently hitting 59 percent from the field in an 81-76 win at No.
Goodbye Windy City. Hello Hoosier hospitality. The fifth annual men’s Big Ten Tournament will call Indianapolis its new home, after a four-year run in Chicago.However, the 11 teams that compete in the Big Ten shouldn’t make themselves comfortable.Scott Chipman, associate director of communications for the Big Ten, said the move this year is just the first in a series of moves between the two cities.“The tournament is going back to Chicago next year, then back to Indiana,” Chipman said.
As the court inside Breslin Center was taken apart piece by piece, one couldn’t help but think of MSU’s 2000 National Championship won on that very floor. It stands as a foundation for the entire program - the NCAA title, the Big Ten championships, the 53-game home-court winning streak.
Playing in front of the hometown fans is always difficult. The desire to rise to the challenge and represent is unavoidable, but so are the distractions.As an Indianapolis native, freshman guard Chris Hill has more to think about than just the Big Ten Tournament.
Illinois (10-5 Big Ten, 22-7 overall) Key Players: Frank Williams, junior guard - 16.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 4.0 apg; Brian Cook, junior forward - 12.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 1.3 bpg; Williams can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, from wherever he wants on offense.
Former Spartan head coach Gus Ganakas will receive the 2002 Men’s Basketball Distinguished Alumnus Award, the university announced Tuesday. Ganakas, who is currently the team’s color commentator on the Spartan Radio Network, is the sixth recipient of the award.
The past four seasons head coach Tom Izzo and his Spartans have spent the last weeks of February fighting off opponents trying to spoil their Big Ten Championship dreams. But with conference title hopes gone, the MSU men’s basketball team (17-10 overall, 8-6 Big Ten) gets to play the spoiler tonight in Columbus, Ohio.
The Spartans’ NCAA Tournament chances remained intact as Alan Anderson stepped to the line and connected on two free throws, giving MSU a 57-54 win against Indiana. Sunday’s win all but wraps up a bid for the Spartans (17-10 overall, 8-6 Big Ten) in the NCAA Tournament.
The MSU men’s basketball team made the NCAA Tournament selection committee raise a collective brow Sunday.The Spartans toppled Big Ten-leading No.
When Spartan men’s basketball fans look back to MSU’s 83-65 loss to Indiana on Jan.
The Spartan men’s basketball team begins a crucial five-day span tonight, when it hosts Minnesota. MSU (15-10 overall, 6-6 Big Ten) plays three games against the Big Ten’s best - beginning with surprising fifth-place Minnesota (14-9, 7-5) at 7 p.m. Spartan head coach Tom Izzo said the upcoming week will play a major role in determining MSU’s NCAA Tournament fate. “It’s no question that this week will pretty much determine our NCAA Tournament future,” Izzo said.
College basketball players aren’t normally adored by hometown fans when they’re 13 years old.But Rick Rickert is an exception.
The men’s basketball team has revenge on its mind. With Minnesota (14-9 overall, 7-5 Big Ten) and Indiana (17-8, 9-3) coming to Breslin Center this week, MSU has plenty of motivation.
Spartan men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo has asked a lot of things from his freshman this season - more than ever before. But in addition to big minutes, freshman swingman Alan Anderson has been asked to be a little bit of everything for MSU (15-10 overall, 6-6 Big Ten). “The kid’s going to be a better player for it in the next three years, but I’m not sure we’ve asked more of a freshman,” Izzo said.
West Lafayette, Ind. - Purdue’s love for the three-point basket was clear Saturday night, but Valentine’s Day had long passed. “It killed us tonight,” Boilermaker forward Rodney Smith said.
West Lafayette, Ind. - For the first time all season, the Spartan men’s basketball team came from behind at halftime to steal a win.
After a disappointing effort its last time out, the Spartan men’s basketball team travels to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue at 7 p.m.