ICE HOCKEY
Prognosticators
It’s once again that time to guess the outcome of this weekend’s games with the State News prognosticators.
ICE HOCKEY
Icers hope to keep win streak alive with BGSU series
Nobody wants to finish in last place. But with the 10th place MSU hockey team playing a home-and-home series against last place Bowling Green this weekend, it’s not farfetched to say the loser of the weekend might finish at the bottom of the pile in the CCHA this season.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Izzo's three laws of basketball
Whatever Michigan guard Manny Harris tried to do, it simply wouldn’t work. The Wolverines’ 6-foot-5 guard tried to drive through the lane, post up in the paint and spot up from three, but wherever he went on Feb. 10, MSU senior guard Travis Walton was there in his face.
BASKETBALL
Intense Spartans look to keep hold of first place
Intensity hasn’t been a problem for the MSU women’s basketball team all season. But in Michigan week, the Spartans have ratchetted up any extra moxie they have left to get the best of their in-state rivals and keep themselves on track for a Big Ten Championship.
BASKETBALL
Boilermakers beat MSU at its own game
The Big Ten Conference has always been a league known for its physical style of play, with the MSU men’s basketball team embodying that image for the past decade.
FOOTBALL
Former Spartans football star Van Pelt dies at 57
Former MSU football great Brad Van Pelt died Tuesday of an apparent heart attack in Harrison, according to the MSU athletics department. He was 57 years old.
BASKETBALL
MSU loss tightens Big Ten race
For more than a month, Purdue forward Robbie Hummel had been waiting for his injured back to heal. His back felt so good Tuesday, he gave his entire team a ride.
BASKETBALL
MSU's Lucas, Summers shut down by Purdue's Kramer in 72-54 loss
Throughout the season, Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers have firmly taken over the role of dynamic scorers for the MSU men’s basketball team. With the glory of that role also comes the challenge of drawing the opponent’s best defender, which on Tuesday night was the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
BASEBALL
New look Spartans to open season with 3 games in Fla.
Going into its opening weekend, Eric Roof has no problems rattling off the MSU baseball team’s strengths. It was the weaknesses he was stumped on.
ICE HOCKEY
Early goals increasing icers' confidence
Scoring first has been the catalyst for the success of the MSU hockey team of late. The Spartans have scored the first goal in each of the last five games, going 2-1-2 in that span — earning seven points to pull into a tie for 10th place in the CCHA.
BASKETBALL
Tough test lies ahead for rested, ready No. 6 Spartans
Purdue is listed next on the MSU men’s basketball team’s schedule, but head coach Tom Izzo still isn’t sure which team will show up tonight at Mackey Arena. It could either be the team with Robbie Hummel or the team without him. According to Izzo, the difference between those scenarios is like night and day.
BASKETBALL
Merchant looking to improve during off week; awaits U-M on Thursday
The last time the MSU women’s basketball team got a full week of rest was prior to the Jan. 15 game against Michigan, a 41-37 win in Ann Arbor. Since then, the Spartans have won seven of eight games, moving into first place in the Big Ten.
ICE HOCKEY
Spartans still fighting for every victory
The MSU hockey team had the towel in hand. After being pushed around, pummeled and knocked down time and time again this season, it would have been easy to simply toss in the towel and prepare for the next fight — or next season.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
MSU will need to be tough to win conference
Good old-fashioned grit. That’s how the MSU women’s basketball team has made its way to the top of the Big Ten standings the last month.
SPORTS
Morley’s effort not enough as MSU falls to Gators
With a contingent of family and friends in attendance, Kelsey Morley couldn’t deny feeling something special going into Saturday’s meet.
SPORTS
Facing first ranked team of season, Spartans fall to No. 25 Notre Dame
The MSU men’s tennis team saw its perfect regular season fade into thin air Saturday, but not all was lost at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
MSU looking for revenge
It’s not that senior guard Travis Walton needed reminding, but he watched film from the last time the MSU men’s basketball team traveled to Purdue anyway. Then he watched it again.
SPORTS
Loss to No. 12 Oklahoma caps tough weekend for MSU
With what MSU wrestling coach Tom Minkel calls “the youngest team in the history of college wrestling,” there are likely to be a number of shortfalls — especially wrestling against ranked opponents in nearly every competition.
ICE HOCKEY
Icers unbeaten in 4 games
As the losses have piled up this season, the MSU hockey team has become accustomed to returning to the locker room after a game in poor spirits. But after Saturday’s 2-1 win and Friday’s 1-1 tie and shootout victory against No. 16 Ohio State, the Spartans had a reason to celebrate on Valentine’s Day.
FOOTBALL
Football ticket prices raised; student prices to remain steady
The MSU Athletics Department announced Sunday that season ticket prices for MSU home football games will increase for the 2009 season.