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.
Spartan head coach Tom Izzo could point fingers in a lot of directions following Tuesday’s 63-61 loss to No.
After losing 63-61 to No. 18 Illinois on Tuesday night, the MSU men’s basketball team was forced to add a new word to its dictionary - bubble.Unless the Spartans win the Big Ten Tournament, they will likely be on the fringe of the 65-team pool in March’s NCAA Tournament.
When the MSU men’s basketball team tangles with Illinois tonight, people will be watching Illini guard Frank Williams. Williams, the 2001 Big Ten Player of the Year, is the Illini’s leading scorer at 16.4 points per game. But lurking in Williams’ shadow is the key to the Illini’s attack, guard Cory Bradford. Many college basketball enthusiasts remember the senior as one of the conference’s best players his freshman and sophomore campaigns, when he averaged just over 15 points a game.
The MSU men’s basketball team is coming off one of its biggest wins the season, but it won’t have time to take it in.
Ohio State’s backcourt duo of Brian Brown and Brent Darby were on an offensive tear before arriving at Breslin Center on Sunday. Brown and Darby combined for an average of 28.1 points per game before losing to MSU (14-9 overall, 5-5 Big Ten) 67-64.