It's one of the most maligned defensive strategies in basketball. NBA great Shaquille O'Neal was often fouled at the end of games in a strategy known as "Hack a Shaq," which saw teams exploit his poor percentage at the line to attempt a comeback win. It's common in basketball to exploit players who are weak at the free throw line.
MSU professor and Senior Advisor to the Dean Matthew Anderson has attended every Big Ten tournament since its inception in 1998.
To say the series between MSU men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo and Ohio State men's basketball head coach Thad Matta has been close would be an understatement.
With Ohio State's 79-73 win over Minnesota last night, the Buckeyes secured a date with MSU tonight at 9 p.m.
Despite clinching the third seed in the Big Ten tournament, the men's basketball team saw zero first team All-Big Ten selections and just one second team selection. Head coach Tom Izzo points his finger to inconsistency and scheduling as a reason for any potential snubs. With the Big Ten conference being recently expanded to 14 teams with the addition of Maryland and Rutgers, many conference teams only face each other once, ensuring the customary
Senior forward Branden Dawson, who had concussion-like symption after taking an elbow to the head
(Chicago, Ill.) It wasn’t the smoothest ride but after closing the season winning eight of eleven games, MSU is heading into the Big Ten tournament with a double-bye and a No.
Three men's basketball players received All-Big Ten honors on Monday. Senior forward Branden Dawson led MSU with an All-Big Ten second team selection, and junior guard Denzel Valentine and senior guard Travis Trice each received third team selections. Dawson leads the conference in rebounding, pulling down 9.3 per game, to go with 11.6 points and 1.5 blocks.
The emphasis has been on MSU’s Big Three all year long, but in the regular season finale at Indiana, it was role players who helped the Spartans to a 74-72 win. Freshman forward Marvin Clark and sophomore guard Alvin Ellis were tested Saturday, and they each answered the call.
Valentine fouled Indiana junior guard Yogi Ferrell with two seconds left as Ferrell raced up the court.
In a first half marked by the play of MSU's role players, the Spartans are tied with Indiana at the break, 34-34. It was a balanced half of scoring for MSU, as eight different Spartans contributed points.
Powers' double-double of 27 points and 10 rebounds, including three assists still wasn't enough to knock off the likely No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament Maryland, losing 70-60.
It was exactly one month ago today when the Spartans were obliterated in East Lansing by the hands of their instate rivals by a 13 point margin, begin swept in the regular-season for the first time in over a decade. It's always a difficult task to beat a team three times in a row, especially when that opponent is riding a three game winning streak at the conclusion of the season. That was seen at the Sears Centre Aren on Wednesday when something finally clicked for MSU, garnering the second round victory in the Big Ten tournament over the Michigan Wolverines in dominating fashion, 69-49. Their run towards total annihilation in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, began as early as the 16:37 mark in the first half, by jumping out to an early 12-4 advantage, thanks to an uncontested layup by freshman guard Lexi Gussert underneath the basket. Things got worse from there, as the Spartans went on a 10-2 run that concluded with Gussert's one of one-of-four three-pointers from beyond the arc. The freshman tied with Aerial Powers for a team-high 16 points on the afternoon.
A spark that wasn't seen in the regular-season was finally discovered in the second round of the Big Ten tournament by the Spartans, who go into the locker room with a commanding 46-22 advantage over Michigan. MSU's dominating performance began right from the start, jumping out to an early 12-4 run at the 16:37 mark, thanks to an uncontested layup by freshman Lexi Gussert underneath the basket. Gussert, the guard, leads the team with 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting and 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.
On senior night, Travis Trice sent quite the farewell to Spartan fans, leading MSU to a 72-66 victory over Purdue. Trice was electric for MSU (20-10 overall, 11-6 Big Ten), tying his career-high of 27 points. He and fellow senior Branden Dawson returned to the starting lineup but only Trice was able to finish the game. After hitting his head and leaving the game with about eight minutes left in the first half, Dawson went to the locker room and did not return to the contest.
On senior night, Travis Trice sent quite the farewell to Spartan fans, leading MSU to a 72-66 victory over Purdue. Trice was electric, tying his season-high of 27 points. He and fellow Branden Dawson returned to the starting lineup but only Trice was able to finish the game.
It wasn't the prettiest half of basketball, but a late burst helped keep the deficit close entering halftime.
With the Big Ten tournament just a week away, the seeding of teams is still completely up in the air. Just four teams in the league – Wisconsin, Maryland, Penn State, and Rutgers – know when they will be playing.
Whenever the Spartan and Wolverine basketball teams clash there's always a lot on the line.
The good news for MSU women’s basketball is that they’re riding an undefeated streak (4-0) against Michigan in the Big Ten tournament since its creation back in 1995.