Saturday, November 23, 2024

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Basketball

BASKETBALL

Taylor still questionable

The Spartan men’s basketball team may have to gun down Big-Ten-leading No. 16 Ohio State on Sunday at Breslin Center without its most effective weapon available. Sophomore guard Marcus Taylor could still be shelved for the Spartans’ (13-9 overall, 4-5 Big Ten) 1 p.m.

BASKETBALL

Northwestern offense poses challenge to U

The MSU men’s basketball team will do its best to stay awake tonight against Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena. “It’s kind of a lull-you-to-sleep offense,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said of the Wildcats’ attack. Wildcats head coach Bill Carmody coached under the legendary Pete Carril at Princeton from 1982-96, and was the Tigers’ head coach until 2000.

BASKETBALL

Taylors status questionable

When sophomore guard Marcus Taylor left Sunday’s game early in the second half, things looked bleak.But after the final buzzer sounded, the MSU men’s basketball team recorded more than a 67-61 win over No.

BASKETBALL

Illinois Cook keeps game within reach in first half

Champaign, Ill. - Forward Brian Cook carried No. 12 Illinois against the Spartans in the first half Sunday at Assembly Hall. But after scoring 20 points in that half, the 6-foot-10, 240 -pounderonly scored two points in the second half as MSU (13-8 overall, 4-4) routed the Illini (15-7, 4-5) 67-61.

BASKETBALL

Spartans ready for Illinois

Despite No. 12 Illinois’ two-game losing streak, the MSU men’s basketball team will have its hands full Sunday at Assembly Hall. The Illini (15-6 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) haven’t lost a Big Ten game at home this season, but they are coming off a 78-67 loss to conference leader No.

BASKETBALL

Amaker new to rivalry

Ann Arbor - Tommy Amaker has never seen a Michigan-MSU basketball game in its entirety. But even though tonight’s game is the 36-year-old U-M head coach’s first experience with the rivalry, he’s no stranger to big games. As a four-year starter at Duke from 1984-87, Amaker was center stage for one of college basketball’s greatest rivalries - Duke vs.

BASKETBALL

Football experiment helping Spartans cope

One common factor exists among the Spartan men’s basketball and football teams, but that factor may soon multiply.Since freshman quarterback Aaron Alexander joined the team Thursday, basketball head coach Tom Izzo has liked what he’s seen.In fact, Izzo’s been impressed enough with Alexander to continue talks with football head coach Bobby Williams about the possibilities of adding other bodies to his depleted roster.“There’s one or two other guys we’ve looked at, and maybe feel like we could use,” Izzo said.

BASKETBALL

Hoops team get depth from the football field

After a rash of injuries, the MSU men’s basketball team is looking to the football team to fill holes on its roster.Anytime a team has a lot of injuries, it’s hard to prepare for opponents, ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas said.“When you’re short-handed you can’t practice as long or as hard as you want to,” Bilas said.

BASKETBALL

Wolfe out for season with hamstring tear

The Spartans will be without sophomore forward Adam Wolfe for the remainder of the season. Wolfe suffered a severe hamstring tear to his right leg in the first half of Saturday’s Penn State game. “It’s very disappointing news,” said MSU head coach Tom Izzo in a written statement.

BASKETBALL

Andreas continues to improve

Before the season even began, Jason Andreas lost his nose for the ball.The 6-foot-10, third-year sophomore center broke his nose three times in the preseason and hasn’t been the same since, MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo said.“He was playing more like Rambo as a freshman and sophomore, and more like Tinkerbell as a junior,” Izzo said.

BASKETBALL

Hoops team heads to Iowa

Coming off its first road win at Penn State, the MSU men’s basketball team looks to duplicate that feat in Iowa.Like MSU (11-7 overall, 2-3 Big Ten), the No.

BASKETBALL

Spartans look for road win

The MSU men’s basketball team achieved one of its goals Wednesday night, and will look for another Saturday at Penn State. After notching its first Big Ten win Wednesday, the Spartans (10-7 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) will look for their first road victory at 12:17 p.m.

BASKETBALL

Spartans look to rebound

MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo said after Saturday’s loss to Wisconsin, it’s time “to start a new streak.”And the Spartans (9-7 overall, 0-3 Big Ten) have a chance to do just that at 8 p.m.

BASKETBALL

Deane has shooters touch

In Purdue’s basketball media guide, Willie Deanes lists his favorite film as “When We Were Kings” - a documentary about Muhammad Ali’s 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” with George Foreman.Despite the recent Hollywood release of “Ali,” the Big Ten’s leading scorer hasn’t shifted his allegiance.“When We Were Kings’ is still my favorite movie,” Deane, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior guard said.

BASKETBALL

Torberts shot not enough

The old sports cliché “catch the ball with two hands” haunts Kelvin Torbert after Saturday’s 64-63 loss to Wisconsin.In one motion, the freshman guard caught an inbound pass, cradled the ball and banked in what seemed to be the winning shot as time expired.But after officials reviewed the play, the shot was disallowed.

BASKETBALL

Basketball looking for Breslin Center boost

After losing three road games in three weeks, the No. 25 Spartans finally return to Breslin Center on Saturday to take on Wisconsin. A home game could be the catalyst MSU (9-6 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) needs to pull itself out of the Big Ten’s basement.