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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Physically, Austin Thornton has been here before. A fifth-year senior guard for the No. 5 MSU men’s basketball team, Thornton has been to two Final Fours, played in a National Championship game and he’s been a part of three Big Ten championship teams.