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.
The MSU women’s hoops team really needed Monday’s victory over Michigan. It needed it to maintain dominance over the Spartans’ arch rival.
When Branden Dawson thinks about his performance in MSU’s past game, Thursday against Illinois, one word sticks in his mind — “embarrassing.”
The MSU women’s basketball team welcomed first-year Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico to the in-state rivalry in overwhelming fashion Monday night. Once the Spartans overcame a poor shooting stretch at the beginning the game, the rout was on. MSU (18-4 overall, 6-3 Big Ten) took advantage of an explosive run in the second half to down rival Michigan (16-6, 5-4) for the 12th consecutive time, 61-46. “I think Michigan State is the program that sets the bar, obviously, for the state of Michigan,” Barnes Arico said. “They have a great fan base.
It was supposed to be close. Identical conference records. Overall records separated by just a game. One of the mainstays of the Big Ten’s elite against a program on the rise, with a new head coach and coming off its first NCAA Tournament berth in 11 years. But when Kiana Johnson stood with the ball in her hands, arms crossed as the final seconds ticked off the clock, an authoritative message of dominance was sent. “Get off my court,” Johnson said was the thought on her mind as she stood near midcourt.
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.
The only thing pretty in the first half of tonight’s installment of the MSU – Michigan series was the special pink jerseys each team was sporting. It was a typical low-scoring, gritty rivalry game you would expect in a matchup of the No. 1 and 2 scoring defenses in the Big Ten.
Pink jerseys, Breslin Center, arch rivals. The last time those three factors for the MSU women’s basketball team came together was Feb. 13, 2011, and culminated in a 69-56 victory against Michigan in front of the first sellout crowd in program history.
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.
It wasn’t the dominating, confidence-boosting win the Spartans were hoping for, but they’ll take it. The MSU women’s basketball team (17-4 overall, 5-3 Big Ten) avoided a three-game skid by beating Northwestern 67-62 on the road tonight behind junior forward Annalise Pickrel’s career-high 21 points.
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.
After one half of play at Breslin Center, the No. 13 MSU men’s basketball team trails Illinois, 37-27.
Staring at their first losing streak of the season, it’s gut-check time for the MSU women’s basketball team (16-4 overall, 4-3 Big Ten), as the Spartans look to stay in contention for the Big Ten title Thursday (8 p.m.) in Evanston, Ill.
Sitting in the bleachers of East Lansing High School’s gym, Robert Smith recounted fond memories of one of the most accomplished players in his 11-year tenure — MSU junior guard Klarissa Bell. “We were in a team meeting one time and we had to pass the ball to each other,” Smith recalled.
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.
Before to the game at Illinois on Jan. 13, MSU women’s basketball coach Suzy Merchant held a meeting with her three primary guards: senior Jasmine Thomas, junior Klarissa Bell and sophomore Kiana Johnson to break down extra game film.