Saturday, December 27, 2025

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Sports | Basketball Men's 1000

ICE HOCKEY

Goaltender ready to man the pipes

If junior goaltender Ryan Miller leaves school early - and that’s still an “if” at this point - Spartan fans probably will be a little worried about MSU’s last line of defense next season.After all, Miller has been the epitome of excellence and durability in his three-year MSU career.

BASEBALL

Spartans split Big Ten opening series

After dropping its Big Ten opener, the MSU baseball team used the long ball to split a four-game series with Minnesota at Kobs Field this weekend.The Spartans (17-5 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) hit nine home runs in Saturday’s tripleheader to win two games.

SPORTS

U professor studies coaches

Tom Izzo has it. Ron Mason had it. Bobby Williams is developing it.It, is something coaches call the ability to positively affect the learning ability and performance of their athletes.Deb Feltz, director of MSU’ Department of Kinesiology, has been examining this philosophy not only on the athletic field, but also in the classroom.However, the idea of coaching efficacy, or coaching competence, was not the first thing that got her interested in this field of research.“My intents started with nonathletes attempting physical activities for the first time,” Feltz said.“I was interested in fear-invoking activities - like diving.”Feltz decided to take the role of confidence in a different direction.She looked at how teachers used their efficacy to motivate their students.

BASEBALL

Baseball team deserves more

This has not been the ideal March for MSU sports fans. After three consecutive Final Fours, you thought the men’s basketball team could pull it together and make another run at a title, but they bowed out in the first round. Then, the Spartan hockey team followed suit with a disappointing 2-0 loss to Colorado College in the NCAA Tournament ending the career of legendary coach Ron Mason. Then the women’s basketball team created some excitement on campus, advancing deep into the 2002 Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Junior guard named to WNIT All-Tournament Team Junior guard Vnemina Reese was named to the 2002 Women’s National Invitation Tournament All-Tournament Team on Thursday. Reese, who graduates in May, will not use her final year of eligibility next season. “I’m surprised,” she said.

BASEBALL

Spartans blank Saints in home opener

The Spartans’ home opener treated fans to the baseball team’s first shutout of the season.MSU (15-3) defeated Siena Heights (4-19) 6-0 at Kobs Field on Wednesday afternoon.“Our team is definitely really confident, there’s no question about that,” Spartan manager Ted Mahan said.

ICE HOCKEY

No chance for Miller to claim second Hobey Baker

MSU suffered a disheartening loss to North Dakota in last year’s Frozen Four, but Ryan Miller won the 2001 Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s outstanding player the very next day.This year, the Spartans’ season ended earlier - with a first-round NCAA Tournament loss Friday - and so did the junior goaltender’s Hobey Baker pursuit.Miller, one of 10 semifinalists for the 2002 Hobey, didn’t make the cut of three finalists announced Wednesday by the Hobey Baker Award Selection Committee.St.

FOOTBALL

Pretrial for defensive end postponed

The pretrial hearing Wednesday for Spartan defensive end Clifford Dukes was adjourned. Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor Joyce Draganchuck said the reason for the adjournment was so that Dukes’ attorney, Brian Jeffries of ASMSU’s legal services, could have access to all the information. “He just had to sort through all of the police report,” Draganchuck said.

SPORTS

WNIT run suggests bright future for Spartans

After making the Women’s National Invitation Tournament final four, the MSU women’s basketball team has Spartan faithful excited for next season.Recent WNIT history may prove to be a blessing for the Spartans (19-13). Of the previous 16 WNIT final four teams, seven made the NCAA Tournament the following year and only two of those teams failed to win a tournament game.“Ultimately, we’re going to pursue the same goal we pursued this year - to be one of 64 and to make a run and pursue championships,” Spartan head coach Joanne P.

ICE HOCKEY

Comley era begins; changes expected

Some fans were grinding their teeth just as hard as the MSU hockey team was trying to grind out a goal during the NCAA Tournament West Regional on Friday in Ann Arbor. In the end, the toil didn’t pay off for the Spartans - who wrapped up their season with a 2-0 loss to Colorado College that day.

SPORTS

Coach retires after nearly 4 decades

After 37 years as MSU’s head diving coach, John Narcy will finally leave the pool. Narcy, 66, brought closure to his collegiate coaching career at the 2002 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Austin, Texas, on Saturday. The Spartan’s only diving representative, senior Carly Weiden, placed 11th in the one-meter dive and 24th in the three-meter dive. “I had a great farewell,” Narcy said.