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MSU sees success despite losing Dawson

Jeremy Warnemuende

March 13, 2012

When Branden Dawson went down with a season-ending knee injury in the MSU men’s basketball team’s regular season finale a week and a half ago, the Spartans didn’t have much time to adjust. Four days later, MSU traveled to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Tournament without the freshman guard — who started all 31 games before tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, in a 72-70 loss to Ohio State.

Alex McClung ·

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Women’s basketball prepares underclassmen, FEET for tournament

Josh Mansour

March 13, 2012

The thought of returning home has crossed Taylor Alton’s mind more than once this season. The senior forward is a Colorado native, and after learning this year’s Final Four will be held in Denver, Alton said her teammates began telling her they would help her find her way home.

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Women's basketball earns No. 10-seed, faces Louisville in first round

Josh Mansour

March 12, 2012

Spartans aren’t known to root for Wolverines, but as the MSU women’s basketball team (20-11 overall, 11-5 Big Ten) waited to see if it made the NCAA Tournament, the school from Ann Arbor gave reason to hope.

Jeremy Warnemuende ·

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Izzo: Championship win highlights postives, necessary improvements

Pat Evans

March 12, 2012

Entering the Big Ten Tournament, the MSU men’s basketball team dropped two in a row and a chance at an outright Big Ten regular-season title,but the Spartans (27-7) bounced back and won their outright title on Sunday and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

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A DECADE OF DANCING

Jeremy Warnemuende

March 12, 2012

When the MSU men’s basketball program won its last national championship in 2000, the current Spartans were in grade school, still familiarizing themselves with the game of basketball.

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Column: Big Ten Championship earned after impressive win

Pat Evans

March 12, 2012

The MSU men’s basketball team got its outright conference championship in the Big Ten Tournament title game, where the Spartans bested Ohio State, 68-64. Just as head coach Tom Izzo promised last week at Senior Day, after a loss to Ohio State, they won their title back.

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Column: Spartans look to capitalize on chance at redemption

Jeremy Warnemuende

March 10, 2012

Only one thing will be on the minds of the Spartans on Sunday, and it won’t have anything to do with payback or seeds.

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Thornton changes game with play on floor, leadership

Jeremy Warnemuende

March 10, 2012

Scoring nine straight points, Austin Thornton’s three consecutive 3-pointers sparked a 26-5 MSU run that changed the complexion of the game and led to the Spartans’ 65-52 win over the Badgers.

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Trice plays through pain, makes impact in first Big Ten Tournament game

Jeremy Warnemuende

March 9, 2012

Not only was Trice able to play Friday in MSU’s 92-75 win over Iowa, he logged 24 minutes — the second most he’s played all season — and knocked down three 3-pointers on his way to nine points.

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Payne scores career high in win against Iowa

Pat Evans

March 9, 2012

Indianapolis — Adreian Payne had a focus he’s never had before during the No. 8 men’s basketball team’s 92-75 win against Iowa.

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Men's basketball starts 'new season' against Iowa at Big Ten Tournament

Jeremy Warnemuende

March 8, 2012

After the MSU men’s basketball team lost its final two games of the regular season, the Spartans felt like they let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers. MSU (24-7 overall, 13-5 Big Ten) could have won an outright Big Ten Championship with a win against either Indiana or Ohio State last week.

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Column: Spartans remember seniors' accomplishments, not disappointing loss

Jeremy Warnemuende

March 4, 2012

It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Sunday was destined to be a Hollywood-esque sendoff for forward Draymond Green, and the stage had been set perfectly. Green and his fellow seniors were supposed to lead the No.

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Column: Spartans fail to capitalize on opportunities for success

Josh Mansour

March 3, 2012

Indianapolis – As Kiana Johnson walked toward the bench, she pulled her headband down to cover her eyes. At some point, you’ve just seen enough.

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Spartans' NCAA Tournament chances left up to fate

Dillon Davis

March 3, 2012

Indianapolis – Walking off the court after being bounced by Purdue in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, the minds of Lykendra Johnson and players on the MSU women’s basketball team were filled with uncertainty. Following MSU’s 74-63 loss to the Boilermakers on Friday, questions surrounded the team’s candidacy for a bid in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

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Spartans unable to stop Purdue's Rayburn in tournament loss

Dillon Davis

March 3, 2012

Indianapolis – With each shot that crossed the threshold of the rim by Purdue guard Brittany Rayburn, the MSU women’s basketball team gradually watched its Big Ten Tournament chances fade away.

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Women's basketball falls to Purdue, eliminated from Big Ten Tournament

Josh Mansour

March 3, 2012

Indianapolis — The MSU women’s basketball team (20-11 overall, 11-5 Big Ten) fell to Purdue (22-8, 11-5) 73-64 in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.

Jaclyn McNeal ·

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Women's basketball out for revenge against Purdue

Josh Mansour

March 2, 2012

Indianapolis – As she sat at her locker, thinking about the upcoming opportunity to face Purdue, freshman guard Kiana Johnson’s face couldn’t help but light up. The Spartans (20-10 overall, 11-5 Big Ten) will take on No.

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Column: Spartans' progress shows in Big Ten Tournament

Josh Mansour

March 2, 2012

One down, three to go. The MSU women’s basketball team (20-10 overall, 11-5 Big Ten) came into the Big Ten Tournament determined to make history as the first team to win four games in four days to win the title. If Thursday’s opening round game against Indiana (6-24 overall, 1-15) is any indication, it’s clear the Spartans mean business.

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Merchant spreads playing time in preparation for Purdue tonight

Dillon Davis

March 2, 2012

Indianapolis – With the benefit of a 97-68 rout against No. 11 seeded Indiana, MSU women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant had the opportunity to spread out some minutes Thursday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.

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Women's team wins in Indianapolis, faces off against Purdue tonight

Dillon Davis

March 2, 2012

Indianapolis- When asked before the game what a win in her team’s opening game at the Big Ten Tournament would do for the MSU women’s basketball team’s chances to secure an NCAA Tournament bid, Suzy Merchant assured a victory would put her team over the top. Well at least for now, mission accomplished.