WEB UPDATE: Nick Simmons loses semifinal match

Auburn Hills — All top-seeded MSU wrestler Nick Simmons could do after his semifinal match Friday night was fall to his knees and watch.

Events planned for war's beginning

Tuesday marks the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Several events will be held in the community to highlight the country's continued involvement in the conflict. • "Voices of Resistance — Poets Against the War," will feature poets from the Lansing area sounding off on peace and violence.

Prognosticators

Midwest Region TK — Florida's the pick here by elimination. Wisconsin has been holding its cheese house together with toothpicks since Brian Butch's injury.

MSU, U-M matchup more than rivalry for 2 friends

Tonight's matchup between MSU and Michigan is something that happens in movies, not real life. Playoff game.

Duke enters women's tourney as favorite

By now, you've probably spent hours breaking down your men's NCAA Tournament bracket. You think you know which No.

WEB UPDATE: Izzo: 'Depth we don't have could be a factor'

Winston-Salem, N.C. — North Carolina scores 86.3 points per game — second nationally. MSU allows 56.7 points per game — fourth nationally. The Tar Heels have scored 100 points seven times this season and have topped 70 in every game. The Spartans have held nine opponents below 50 points and have held all but two below 70. "Jiminy Christmas," lamented North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, "I like to score that many in a half." Saturday's second-round NCAA Tournament matchup between the two (8:20 p.m., CBS) promises to be the end-all clash of styles — kind of like the tortoise and the hare, except if the tortoise was wearing sandbags and the hare had borrowed Michael Andretti's car. "We had a prep for North Carolina in the Marquette game," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said Friday, referring to his team's 61-49 opening-round win the night before.

Cultural Vogue 2007 involves dance, musical performances to be held tonight

Cultural Vogue 2007: Transcendence is set to begin at 7 p.m. today at the Auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m.

A closer look at Drew Neitzel's down screens

You can probably remember a hundred times this season when junior guard Drew Neitzel water-bugged his way around the court to open himself up for a shot.

Police briefs 03/15/07

Religious policy should be changed

When a student is sick and obtains a doctor's note, professors typically allow the pupil to make up any missed class — sans penalty.

MSU associate professor fights government power

Every day, our government increases its power and control over our lives. The Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act and wiretapping are but a few of the many onslaughts against personal liberty brought on by an increasingly bold and absolutist government.

U.S. policy on drugs is wrong, must be reformed

David McAllister's column, "Drug war overhaul" (SN 2/27), is right: The core problem in this country is poverty, and we do need to address that.

Prognosticators weigh in

TK — After a season of adversity, all it took was the NCAA Tournament for the Spartans to catch a break.

It's game time

You know about Tom Izzo and Tom Crean. They're best friends. They built MSU to be the program it is today.

McCallies receive offers to leave MSU

On Tuesday, his first day of class, since his arrest at a Florida airport, associate economics Professor John D.

Panel: Universities crucial for Mich. economy

Higher education is the key to improving Michigan's workforce, but with the cost of tuition rising, that goal may be harder to achieve, legislators and MSU officials said Wednesday at a higher education symposium on campus. The root of the problem is that Michigan's budget for education is decreasing, whereas the cost of tuition is increasing, said James Madison College Dean Louise Jezierski, adding that in 2004, Michigan had the 15th worst aid-to-tuition ratio in the United States. A group of MSU faculty and state representatives gathered at the Engineering Building to discuss the future of higher education funding in Michigan. The eight-person, bipartisan panel was comprised of Jezierski, economics Professor Charles Ballard, state Reps.

Law center lists YAF as 'hate group'

A list of national hate groups produced by an internationally known civil rights organization now includes the name of MSU's chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, the first university-affiliated group to be placed on the list. The Southern Poverty Law Center's annual Hate Group list, which names more than 800 groups in the country and 25 in Michigan, is predominantly symbolic and does not imply any consequences or penalties. The list is released to approximately 50,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide that uses the list as a tool for monitoring hate groups, said Heidi Beirich, deputy director of the Intelligence Project, which monitors hate and extremist activity through the law center. Beirich said three of the main reasons MSU's YAF was placed on the list were its constant use of slur words the proposal that the governance for MSU to be white supremacist and its "constant immigrant bashing." The MSU College Republicans and YAF were in the spotlight for bringing Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo to MSU to speak about immigration last semester.

Tales of the 1,300 tapes

Ever wish you could watch film of every 3-pointer Drew Neitzel has ever made off the dribble out of a timeout in a road game? Kevin Pauga can make it happen. Pauga, the video coordinator for the MSU men's basketball team, manages a film scouting system that puts Blockbuster to shame.

Event to showcase Asian culture, dances

To be an emcee for Cultural Vogue 2007 is an honor for Lemuel Goopio — as a graduating senior, he said this will complete his college career. The Asian Pacific American Student Organization, or APASO, sets up the biennial event with the help of some Asian-based campus groups.

Word on the street

"I'm not really interested in (basketball), so not much for me, but I'm sure people would go to crazy lengths for it." Lily McNamara apparel and textile design junior "I'd camp out all day if they were going to release them.