Indianapolis — All it took was seven ties, 15 lead changes and the most herculean of efforts from the Butler Bulldogs before the Duke Blue Devils could put a thrilling 61-59 victory in the books.
With the weather heating up and basketball season over, it’s time to start looking forward to football.
After the MSU baseball team pounded Iowa, 26-11, Sunday, MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. had an important message for his team. In the postgame huddle, Boss stressed not to let the lopsided victory get into his team’s head, especially with a tough game against Bowling Green slated for 3:05 p.m. Tuesday at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field.
It took a little while for the MSU baseball team’s offense to get rolling Sunday. But when the Spartans found their groove, they made Iowa pay, routing the Hawkeyes 26-11 on Sunday at McLane Baseball Stadium in the rubber match of the first Big Ten series of the season for both teams.
Indianapolis — The reporters cleared. Raymar Morgan took a deep breath, and with an expressionless look, took off his jersey. The word “State” no longer was present across his chest. He took off his shoes and placed them to the side. Still, no expression. It wasn’t supposed to end like this.
Indianapolis — Growing up, Butler’s players followed, watched and admired the Duke men’s basketball program. It didn’t exactly go both ways.
After going up 7-1, the Spartans held off a furious rally to beat Minnesota 7-6 at Old College Field.
Even without their best player, and their best shooter and one of their best post players not anywhere near 100 percent, the Spartans were able to storm through the adversity and reach the Final Four.
Indianapolis – A span of about 10 minutes in the MSU and Butler men’s basketball teams’ game Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium was a perfect microcosm of the two teams’ philosophies that they’ve built their programs on.
Indianapolis — Ever wake up in the morning and think today is just not your day?
Indianapolis — The MSU men’s basketball team’s unlikely Final Four run came to an end Saturday night in Indianapolis as the Spartans couldn’t manage a late comeback against Butler and fell, 52-50.
Indianapolis – Nine-year-old Andrew Eaton of Oxford, Mich., isn’t surprised the MSU men’s basketball team is in the Final Four.
Indianapolis — Brad Stevens knew his players were unaccustomed to shooting in a massive stadium, so he compared it to something similar he knew his Butler team had been doing its entire life.
Indianapolis — It’s been one gigantic homecoming for the Bulldogs, who returned to their hometown of Indianapolis to play this weekend’s Final Four in their own backyard at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indianapolis — Since the first tip-off of the NCAA Tournament three weeks ago, a variety of Spartans have been thrust into the spotlight. But the end of the road is nigh, which means the inevitable target becomes Raymar Morgan.
Indianapolis — After last season’s loss to North Carolina in the national championship game, then-freshman forward Draymond Green reminded his team that the Tar Heels were in the same position the previous season as MSU before coming back to win it all that year. With Green’s speech in mind, the Spartans have fought their way back into the Final Four this season, looking to take after the 2009 North Carolina squad and get MSU’s third national title in school history.
Indianapolis — Duke and West Virginia square off in the other NCAA national semifinal at approximately 8:47 p.m. Saturday. Here are a few key issues for the two:
Indianapolis — The Bulldogs’ top players don’t look like typical college stars and head coach Brad Stevens doesn’t look like a coach, as evident by a security guard asking him if he was a player. But don’t be fooled by the No. 5 that sits next to Butler’s name.
Before Butler, MSU, Duke or West Virginia get the checkered flag, the four squads will square off in two national semifinal games Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis — Travis Walton forever is grateful that MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo gave him a scholarship and an opportunity. In January, Tom Izzo gave Walton another chance, this time as a student assistant.