Travis Trice's big day started well before the opening tip. It started with a message from former MSU forward Draymond Green, who texted Trice the morning of the game reminding him of the goal at stake. "Draymond Green actually this morning said don't let this be your last game and I texted him back and said, I won't," Trice said.
When Mateen Cleaves and Tom Izzo were cutting down the nets after MSU basketball's last national championship in 2000 they were doing it in Reebok apparel. Times have changed for MSU athletics, as they now wear the Nike swoosh on their uniforms.
On to Syracuse. It wasn't sexy.
It was the Travis Trice show to begin the first half. The senior guard was absolutely electric to start the game, scoring 13 consecutive points on an array of fast break layups and 3-point bombs early in the half to help give MSU the advantage at halftime, 23-18.
MSU (24-11 overall) doesn’t have to look far to see similarities between Wisconsin and Virginia (30-3 overall), their opponent tomorrow in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
When head coach Tom Izzo first realized MSU would potentially play No. 2 seed Virginia in the second round, he first thought to himself, "why?" The Spartans barely prevailed against the top-seeded Cavaliers in last year's Sweet 16 round, and will now have to crack one of the top defenses in the nation for a second year in a row.
By Troy Jefferson Tjefferson@statenews.com Branden Dawson and Gavin Schilling’s early foul trouble could’ve signaled doom for MSU but thanks to the bench, it wasn’t the case.
Charlotte, North Carolina — MSU missed five of their first six shots and trailed Georgia 9-3 five minutes into the game.
By Troy Jefferson Tjefferson@statenews.com Fan story Birds flock back north for spring but Spartan fans have come south on the first day of the new season.
Following MSU’s Big Ten tournament championship loss, senior forward Branden Dawson showed a rare set of emotions--tears. He and senior guard Travis Trice are entering the final stretch of their Spartan careers, and following such a tough defeat, Dawson just couldn’t hold back.
The streak continues for Izzo: it's the Spartans' 18th consecutive NCAA tourney appearance. But he isn't looking past MSU's games this weekend. The first being Friday's matchup with Georgia.
Benching senior guard Travis Trice in favor of freshman guard Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn against Ohio State on Feb.
Georgia (21-11, 11-7 SEC) Georgia’s most impressive performance of the year came in a close 72-68 home loss to No.
I for one can say for everyone that this season has had its ups and downs. Whether or not it’s considered to be a disappointing campaign, there was an out that would have made everyone feel better. First, let’s be honest, your six-year streak of NCAA postseason berths EMCwas coming to an end.
By Omari Sankofa II osankofa@statenews.com After falling to Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship on Sunday, Izzo was adamant that there were no moral victories to be taken from the loss. When he addressed the media on Tuesday, his tone was a little different. The Spartans were seven minutes away from securing head coach Tom Izzo's fifth Big Ten championship banner before Wisconsin flipped the script and stole the game in overtime.
The Spartans had them beat. Right until they didn't. Leading No. 6 Wisconsin by 11 points with 7:45 to play, MSU was right around the corner from winning their second consecutive Big Ten championship and third in four years.
But with success on the court comes success financially.
The injuries and setbacks have taken such a major toll on the Spartans this season, that they've decided to forgo any postseason berths. After bulldozing the Michigan Wolverines in the second round of the Big Ten tournament last week, before falling to eventual champion, Maryland, in the quarterfinals, a possible women's NIT berth was in the picture for MSU, but head coach Suzy Merchant has made the decision to rest her players, rather to fight for a championship. “I am incredibly proud of what this year’s team accomplished under such challenging circumstances.
A six-year prolonged streak of consecutive NCAA tournament appearances for women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant is on the line Monday when the selection committee will make their final decision of MSU's fate.