Let me introduce you to Allyssa DeHaan. She'll be a freshman at MSU next year. She's from Grandville. She wants to be a doctor. And, oh yeah, she's going to revolutionize women's basketball at MSU. See, DeHaan is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of player.
Grand Rapids — It was a grand homecoming for Drew Neitzel. The sophomore guard, who once starred at Wyoming Park High School, returned to his old stomping grounds and was cheered loudly at every mention of his name. And to boot, he played well for the second straight game and helped the Spartans to a 72-67 win over Arkansas-Little Rock. "I will admit, I was looking forward to this game for a long time," Neitzel said.
Swimming and diving head coach Matt Gianiodis is trying to bring the program out of the Big Ten cellar. He made big steps toward doing so this past week as he signed 11 recruits, six men and five women, to join the Spartans next season.
Having gone 0-5-3 in the past eight games, the MSU hockey team is in dire need of a sweep as the Spartans play Bowling Green in a home-and-home series starting tonight. The winless streak is MSU's longest since the 1980-81 season.
Junior Tony Greathouse was named the Big Ten's Wrestler of the Week for his 6-4 win against No.
After a strong showing during his freshman year, many of the MSU faithful thought there was little chance Paul Davis would stay at MSU beyond his sophomore season, let alone for all four years of eligibility. With guaranteed multi-year, multimillion-dollar contracts waiting for first-round picks in the NBA draft, bolting to the pros when his stock was high was an option Davis considered — but he stuck around anyway. "It was first round, maybe around the 20s or something, maybe even first round," Davis said.
The MSU women's basketball program is looking for additional male scout team members. Scout team members' responsibilities consist of playing against current MSU players in team practices throughout the season. Team practices take place both weekdays and weekends from October through April. Scout team members must be full-time MSU students. Members must also carry a minimum 2.0 GPA. For more information, students should contact Ed Scott at (517) 432-4596.
Despite placing three teams in the Elite Eight and two in the Final Four last season, the perception of the Big Ten is that it's still not a power conference when it comes to men's basketball. But now is as good a time as any to change that as all 11 Big Ten teams meet foes from the Atlantic Coast Conference in the seventh annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
The National Football League season is now 12 weeks old, and the contenders have been separated from the pretenders. The biggest thing that hasn't changed is the general opinion on the various NFL divisions. Every time I turn on a television program or a radio show that is talking about sports or the NFL, all I hear is how the NFC North is the worst division and how its teams can't be taken seriously. After 12 weeks, though, the NFC North boasts a team with a seven-game winning streak and the second-best record in the NFC.
Matt Trannon is all but ready to go for the Spartans but head coach Tom Izzo joked the senior forward is "in the doghouse" because he brought the flu to the rest of the team.
The Detroit Lions finally made the move they had to make by firing Steve Mariucci on Monday. Mariucci might be a good coach, but Detroit just wasn't the right situation.
At 6-foot-8, being the center of attention has never been anything out of the ordinary for Allyssa DeHaan. The Grandville High School senior has always felt comfortable with her height but realized it never guaranteed basketball success.
After a heartbreaking 3-1 loss to No. 2 Wisconsin on Friday night, the No. 18 MSU hockey team bounced back to tie No.
What do the Red Wings and Pistons have in common, besides the fact that they both actually win? Your answer: Great ownership, great coaches, a top-notch front office staff, and general managers that fans can trust to make the right decisions. The polar opposite of these characteristics lies in the pathetic Detroit Lions, whom I find myself rooting against every week because sadly that might be the only way that changes (for the better) are made. Instead of your Mike Illitches and your Bill Davidsons, the Lions are owned by a man, William Clay Ford, whose family name has been famed in the auto industry.
• Pro golfer Fred Funk got tons of publicity this weekend for wearing a pink flowered skirt for the third hole of the Skins Game, his penalty for being outdriven by Annika Sorenstam. Meanwhile, John Daly is upset about the lack of coverage he got for appearing at his local putt-putt golf course wearing nothing but a thong. • The Pistons are continuing their strong start, knocking off Milwaukee on Saturday to improve to an NBA-best 10-2. How good are things going for the 'Stones?
Eight schools, three days and unlimited college basketball — now that's paradise. This year's EA Sports Maui Invitational was pegged as the best ever, with four schools in the preseason Top 10.
MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie knows her No. 9-ranked Spartans still have a lot to prove after dropping two of three games in the Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands during Thanksgiving weekend. "We're just getting started," McCallie said in a written statement.
After losing their final match on Saturday, MSU's volleyball players wiped the tears from their eyes and began to form a circle.
MSU senior field hockey forward Michelle Huynh-Ba has been named a first-team All-American by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.
Hanging from the rafters above the wooden floors of Jension Field House are five banners. The one in the middle is for a 1996 NCAA national semifinal appearance. It's been almost a decade since the MSU volleyball team celebrated a conference championship, and this year won't be any different.