Sunday, April 12, 2026

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

Sports | Basketball Men's 1037

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Softball ranked in preseason polls MSU softball team was ranked No. 24 in the ESPN.com/USA Today Softball Top 25 preseason poll released Wednesday. The Spartans are one of just three Big Ten teams in the top 25, including No.

FOOTBALL

Lineman's 2004 NFL Draft decision leaves spectators anxious, optimistic

Matthias Askew's decision to enter the 2004 NFL Draft has left both fans and analysts divided. The junior defensive lineman announced Monday he would forgo his senior season in order to pursue a professional career. Stewart Mandel, an online reporter for Sports Illustrated, said Askew will probably be a third or fourth-round pick, not faring as well as former Spartans who also left early.

VOLLEYBALL

Former assistant to help lead USA National, Olympic teams

Todd Dagenais has some adjusting to do. MSU's former associate head volleyball coach will be spending the next few weeks getting acclimated to his new home, Colorado Springs, Colorado. "The funny thing is, the biggest adjustment has been getting used to the altitude," Dagenais said, adding that the city is more than a mile above sea level.

FOOTBALL

Spartans gain transfer, prep standout for 2004

Spartan football's fall lineup is going to add some much-needed bulk, now that defensive tackle Daniel Zynn has committed to play. The 6-foot-4, 303-pound Zynn was one of the best defensive tackles coming out of high school, and was ranked second at the California Nike Camp.

SPORTS

'U' trio brings home gold

With one period left and down two goals, it was do-or-die time for the U.S. National Junior Team, which included three Spartan hockey players.

SPORTS

Izzo: Cotton still confused, receiving calls from schools

It seems imminent Brandon Cotton will transfer from MSU. At his weekly press conference Monday, MSU head coach Tom Izzo said the freshman point guard still was confused as to what he was doing, but mentioned Cotton's name when talking about college basketball transfers in general. "As of last night, it was still up in the air (if Cotton would start school Monday)," Izzo said.

SPORTS

'U' dismantles Titans

The No. 25 MSU women's basketball team stepped out of conference to grab a 64-41 win over Detroit Mercy on Monday afternoon. The Spartans (11-3) used a press and their matchup zone defense to overwhelm the Titans (6-7). MSU forced 20 turnovers, which it turned into 21 points. "Their matchup zone is as good as anybody's in the country," Detroit head coach Mickey Barrett said.

SPORTS

Spartans earn respect for roller coaster season

The MSU football team traveled a wide and quite unexpected spectrum of success and strife in 2003. Emotions in East Lansing ran rampant as the Green and White endured a fairy tale season that nearly came crashing down near the end.

SPORTS

Departure of guard leaves Izzo 'jilted'

Freshman point guard Brandon Cotton's defection from the MSU men's basketball team last week was a shocking revelation to head coach Tom Izzo, but it wasn't the first time a player surprised Izzo by leaving the team. "Do I feel a little bit jilted?

SPORTS

Men's track finishes in top spots at invite

Four Spartans took home first or second place individual honors in the men's track and field indoor season-opener Saturday in Ann Arbor. Senior All-American Steve Manz finished first in the shot put with a throw of 55 feet 4.25 inches, while freshman Jason Brown finished in the runner-up spot with a throw of 53 feet 2.75 inches.

SPORTS

Blue-collar work equals Big Ten, NCAA rewards

MSU is not a champagne school; it's a university for the beer connoisseur. Since MSU's conception in 1855, the trails lining the banks of the Red Cedar have been reserved for people of the blue-collar variety - the beer drinker.

SPORTS

Field hockey athlete makes national team

Michelle Huynh-Ba was named to USA Field Hockey's Under-21 National Team along with four other players from the Big Ten. The MSU sophomore joins Michigan's Jill Civic, Indiana's Kayla Bashore and Jodi Murphy and Penn State's Karin Grap as the national team competes both at home and abroad. Huynh-Ba has made a splash in her two years with the Spartans, including being named womensfieldhockey.com's Rookie of the Week, making the USFHA's Under-20 Team and leading the 2002 Big Ten in freshman scoring. The Spartans boast a 40-8 record during Huynh-Ba's career, including two Big Ten Tournament Championships and an Elite Eight finish in 2003.