I for one can say for everyone that this season has had its ups and downs. Whether or not it’s considered to be a disappointing campaign, there was an out that would have made everyone feel better. First, let’s be honest, your six-year streak of NCAA postseason berths EMCwas coming to an end.
By Omari Sankofa II osankofa@statenews.com After falling to Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship on Sunday, Izzo was adamant that there were no moral victories to be taken from the loss. When he addressed the media on Tuesday, his tone was a little different. The Spartans were seven minutes away from securing head coach Tom Izzo's fifth Big Ten championship banner before Wisconsin flipped the script and stole the game in overtime.
The Spartans had them beat. Right until they didn't. Leading No. 6 Wisconsin by 11 points with 7:45 to play, MSU was right around the corner from winning their second consecutive Big Ten championship and third in four years.
The injuries and setbacks have taken such a major toll on the Spartans this season, that they've decided to forgo any postseason berths. After bulldozing the Michigan Wolverines in the second round of the Big Ten tournament last week, before falling to eventual champion, Maryland, in the quarterfinals, a possible women's NIT berth was in the picture for MSU, but head coach Suzy Merchant has made the decision to rest her players, rather to fight for a championship. “I am incredibly proud of what this year’s team accomplished under such challenging circumstances.
A six-year prolonged streak of consecutive NCAA tournament appearances for women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant is on the line Monday when the selection committee will make their final decision of MSU's fate.
The Spartans have made 29 NCAA Tournament appearances, been to the final four eight times and have cut down the nets twice.
When a basketball program has made the NCAA tournament 18 consecutive seasons, and 29 overall, there are bound to be a few disappointments.
March Madness has just begun.
Though MSU played some of their best basketball of the season on the road to the championship, they fell short in overtime against Wisconsin on Sunday.
With Wisconsin and MSU each battling with different motivations, 40 minutes wasn’t enough to decide a Big Ten tournament champion. A valiant Spartan effort came up short and the Badgers outscored MSU 11-0 in overtime to pull away for an 80-69 win. Nigel Hayes led all scorers with 25 points.
Chicago — Freshman forward Marvin Clark Jr. has had his share of ups and downs this season. But during the past week, he has emerged as a key cog in head coach Tom Izzo's rotation.
Championships. According to head coach Tom Izzo, they're what you live for, what you play for, and what you work for. On Sunday, the Spartans (23-10 overall, 12-6 Big Ten) will look to win the Big Ten championship for the second consecutive year and third time in four years when they take on No.
MSU's season was summarized in just a few words from head coach Tom Izzo following his team's 62-58 victory. "Well, we don't make it easy, I can promise you that," Izzo said. MSU's most disappointing losses have been defined by crunch time meltdowns.
The Spartans trailed by 16 in the first half. But a 15-0 second half run changed MSU's fortunes and bought them a ticket to the Big Ten championship round.
Following its quarterfinal victory, MSU has earned a shot at redemption in a semi-final matchup with No.
In its Windy City Big Ten tournament opener, MSU’s door blew open and shut all night long. No lead has been safe for the Spartans this year but with an eerily competitive recent history with Ohio State, MSU knew it would have to play all 40 minutes. After losing double-digit leads multiple times, MSU eventually held on for a 76-67 victory. Junior guard Denzel Valentine finished with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists and senior guard Travis Trice totaled 18 points.
It's one of the most maligned defensive strategies in basketball. NBA great Shaquille O'Neal was often fouled at the end of games in a strategy known as "Hack a Shaq," which saw teams exploit his poor percentage at the line to attempt a comeback win. It's common in basketball to exploit players who are weak at the free throw line.
MSU professor and Senior Advisor to the Dean Matthew Anderson has attended every Big Ten tournament since its inception in 1998.
To say the series between MSU men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo and Ohio State men's basketball head coach Thad Matta has been close would be an understatement.
With Ohio State's 79-73 win over Minnesota last night, the Buckeyes secured a date with MSU tonight at 9 p.m.