Follow along with our live chat from Breslin Center as the No. 8 MSU men’s basketball team takes on the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines in a top-10 showdown.
The Spartans and Wolverines have met on the hardwood 169 other times, but never like this, never as a pair of top-10 teams.
He stood at the bench with Tom Izzo, and after a brief conversation, headed to the scorer’s table, checking into the game for the final time. “Now entering the game for the Spartans, number 22, Branden Dawson.” The announcer’s call echoed throughout Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind., but it was the following sound that left the greatest impression — a deafening silence.
West Lafayette, Ind. — When Tom Izzo looked out on practice Friday and saw two of his top guards sitting out injured and several other players hobbled, he didn’t know what he had. Could they be healthy enough to compete in a tough road environment? Would they be mature enough to focus on the game at hand and avoid getting caught looking ahead to a matchup with arch-rival Michigan on Tuesday? It didn’t take long for Izzo to get his answer. The No.
As Tom Izzo made his way to the podium he handed off a towel, took a seat, sighed and smiled. The always-talkative Izzo caught himself in a rare moment, “speechless” — unsure of what to say about a performance that didn’t meet his expectations and a team growing more hobbled by the second. “I’m healthy, my wife’s healthy, my trainer’s in great shape, other than that we’ve got problems,” Izzo said. It started with Gary Harris’ back. Then it was Branden Dawson’s ankle. Add on a bloody — initially feared to be broken — nose for Adreian Payne, a shoulder popping out of place for Keith Appling, and a head injury that prevented Travis Trice from even suiting up. One can begin to understand why Izzo is simply thankful for his own health. Despite it all, the No.
It certainly wasn’t a pretty showing by the No. 12 MSU men’s basketball team Wednesday at Breslin Center.
After plodding through an ugly first half, the No. 12 MSU men’s basketball team (19-4 overall, 8-2 Big Ten) used an energetic second half to come from behind and defeat No. 18 Minnesota (17-6, 5-5), 61-50, on Wednesday night at Breslin Center.
Tom Izzo has developed many friends in the coaching business. After 18 years with the MSU men’s basketball program, it’s bound to happen.
When Branden Dawson thinks about his performance in MSU’s past game, Thursday against Illinois, one word sticks in his mind — “embarrassing.”
The bench continues to shrink for the No. 12 MSU men’s basketball team. After battling the injury bug earlier this season, freshman guard Gary Harris and sophomore guard Travis Trice both left Thursday’s 80-75 win against Illinois with a new set of ailments.
Weaving his way through the defense, Denzel Valentine spotted his teammate open in the corner on the opposite side of the court — yet, that wasn’t where he passed the ball.
From the moment he steps on the Breslin Center floor, Russell Byrd hears everything.
When the game is on the line, MSU head coach Tom Izzo has few question where the ball belongs. A slick pass here. A layup there. And not to mention, pure ice in the veins at the free throw line.
A lineup initially altered to address off the court issues now faces serious on the court concerns, as the Spartans wait to learn of the fate of guards Gary Harris and Travis Trice.
Keith Appling knew the implication of what had happened.
Keith Appling knew the implication of what had happened. Having been in foul trouble for much of the afternoon, the junior guard fouled out in the second half of Sunday’s game against Indiana, forcing the No.
As the Spartans prepare to welcome Illinois (15-6, 2-5) to Breslin Center Tonight (7 p.m., ESPN), sophomore guard Travis Trice said it’s imperative the team doesn’t let one loss snowball into anything more, as was the case a season ago.
Not only is the No. 13 MSU men’s basketball team’s (17-4 overall, 6-2 Big Ten) rotation small, it’s also potentially frail, with each of the seven players burdened in one way or another.
After taking one of the nation’s top teams down to the wire before falling short of the victory Sunday, there was little different about the way Tom Izzo spent his postgame press conference.
The No. 13 MSU men’s basketball team (17-4 overall, 6-2 Big Ten) was unable to pull off the upset in Bloomington, Ind. Sunday afternoon, falling to No. 7 Indiana (18-2, 6-1), 75-70, before a capacity crowd at Assembly Hall.