In Purdue’s basketball media guide, Willie Deanes lists his favorite film as “When We Were Kings” - a documentary about Muhammad Ali’s 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” with George Foreman.Despite the recent Hollywood release of “Ali,” the Big Ten’s leading scorer hasn’t shifted his allegiance.“When We Were Kings’ is still my favorite movie,” Deane, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior guard said.
The sixth-ranked Spartans are in the midst of a rare eight-day, three-game stretch against three different schools at three different arenas. Behind MSU is a 2-0 loss at Western Michigan on Saturday night. Looming on the horizon is a main event showdown against the co-first-place Michigan Wolverines at Yost Ice Arena this Saturday. But for the only time this season, Tuesday is a game-night this week.
A glance at the Spartan women’s basketball team’s spot in the Big Ten conference standings might not fairly portray where the team is at.
Kalamazoo - Sixth-ranked MSU had the pedal to the metal in Friday’s 6-3 win over Western Michigan, but the Spartans’ offensive fuel tank went dry a night later as they sputtered to a 2-0 loss in Kalamazoo.The Spartans (16-5-2 overall, 11-4-1 CCHA) seemed to get all the bounces in the series opener at Munn Ice Arena, but MSU players and coaches were left scratching their heads after their luck took a 180-degree turn Saturday at hostile Lawson Arena.Western (12-9-3, 6-8-2) packed 4,575 rowdy fans into Lawson for a “Black Out” promotion Saturday, and the arena continued to be an Achilles’ heel for the Spartans.
Here lies the 53-game home winning streak of the MSU men’s basketball team at Breslin Center. Thanks for the memories - Nov.
Gymnastics season off to record beginning The MSU women’s gymnastics team opened the season Friday at Jenison Field House with a second-place finish. The four-team field included No.
Champaign, Ill. - Despite their best comeback attempts, the Spartan women’s basketball team dropped their third straight game 72-66 to Illinois at Assembly Hall. The Spartans (10-6 overall, 0-5 Big Ten) trailed by as many as 11 to the Fighting Illini (11-4, 4-1) and faced an eight-point deficit at halftime, before staging a second-half comeback that came up just short. Spartan head coach Joanne P.
Auburn Hills - Bodies hit the floor all night long Friday, but in the end it was MSU’s John Lesneski who remained standing with his arm raised in victory. MSU defeated Michigan 11-9 in the first-ever Toughman Contest fueled by a college rivalry. The kinesiology senior was the fighter who put MSU over the top by winning all four of his contests, including the championship, at the Palace of Auburn Hills. “My head hurts really bad, my thumb is a little messed up, but I’m really happy,” Lesneski said. Lesneski fought four fights in a three-hour time period, explaining his loss for words and desire for aspirin.
The old sports cliché “catch the ball with two hands” haunts Kelvin Torbert after Saturday’s 64-63 loss to Wisconsin.In one motion, the freshman guard caught an inbound pass, cradled the ball and banked in what seemed to be the winning shot as time expired.But after officials reviewed the play, the shot was disallowed.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Former Spartan and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress was cited for missing court Wednesday. Burress was charged for carrying an open alcoholic beverage in downtown Cleveland on Christmas Eve. In his second NFL season, Burress had 66 receptions for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns. No further charges have been made at this time.
You can expect blood and sweat, but don’t count on any tears when MSU and Michigan face off in the ring. Students, faculty and alumni from the age-old rivals will be going head-to-head in a Toughman Contest at 8 p.m.
It’s hard to believe, but only four players on MSU’s roster have ever won a game against Western Michigan. All four - right wing Adam Hall, left wing Joe Goodenow, and defensemen Andrew Hutchinson and Jon Insana - are seniors now.
After losing three road games in three weeks, the No. 25 Spartans finally return to Breslin Center on Saturday to take on Wisconsin. A home game could be the catalyst MSU (9-6 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) needs to pull itself out of the Big Ten’s basement.
Sometimes a change of scenery can be a good thing, but for the Spartan women’s basketball team leaving the MSU campus creates some challenges.The Spartans (10-4 overall, 0-3 Big Ten as of Jan.
To raise money for New York area charities, officers from the Michigan State Police and Ontario Provincial Police are trading in their uniforms for hockey jerseys. The two departments will square off in a charity hockey game at 7 p.m.
When he steps onto the court, the reception he gets doesn’t rival that of senior guard Mat Ishbia.But when it comes to walk-ons, Flint native Tim Bograkos is MSU basketball head coach Tom Izzo’s guy.With only eight scholarship players, Izzo looks for depth when the starting backcourt needs a breath.
The Spartan women’s basketball team continues its uphill battle in the Big Ten.Fifth-ranked Wisconsin (13-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) poses the next challenge for MSU (10-4, 0-3) at 7 p.m.
MSU volleyball head coach Chuck Erbe announced the signing of Caroline Belichto a National Letter of Intent for the 2002-03 season. “She’s a tremendously well-rounded player that will fit in well with all the players we have here,” Erbe said. The Illinois native was a three-year letter winner at Lyons Township High School, leading her team to conference and regional championships as a junior and a senior. Belich, a 6-1 outside hitter, earned all-conference and all-region honors as her team reached the sectional finals the last two seasons. “She’s a great athlete,” said Erbe.
Quick, who leads sixth-ranked MSU in goal scoring?No, it’s not senior captain Adam Hall, sensational freshman center Jim Slater or even thunder-shooting junior wing Brian Maloney.It’s John-Michael Liles - a 5-foot-10 defenseman from the renowned hockey hotbed of Indiana.Against Quinnipiac on Saturday, Liles became the first Spartan to notch 10 goals this season.
Bloomington, Ind. - The No. 25 MSU men’s basketball hasn’t lost three games in a row since 1997.