Indianapolis — The reporters cleared. Raymar Morgan took a deep breath, and with an expressionless look, took off his jersey. The word “State” no longer was present across his chest. He took off his shoes and placed them to the side. Still, no expression. It wasn’t supposed to end like this.
Indianapolis — Growing up, Butler’s players followed, watched and admired the Duke men’s basketball program. It didn’t exactly go both ways.
Even without their best player, and their best shooter and one of their best post players not anywhere near 100 percent, the Spartans were able to storm through the adversity and reach the Final Four.
Indianapolis – A span of about 10 minutes in the MSU and Butler men’s basketball teams’ game Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium was a perfect microcosm of the two teams’ philosophies that they’ve built their programs on.
Indianapolis — The MSU men’s basketball team’s unlikely Final Four run came to an end Saturday night in Indianapolis as the Spartans couldn’t manage a late comeback against Butler and fell, 52-50.
Indianapolis – Nine-year-old Andrew Eaton of Oxford, Mich., isn’t surprised the MSU men’s basketball team is in the Final Four.
Indianapolis — Brad Stevens knew his players were unaccustomed to shooting in a massive stadium, so he compared it to something similar he knew his Butler team had been doing its entire life.
Indianapolis — It’s been one gigantic homecoming for the Bulldogs, who returned to their hometown of Indianapolis to play this weekend’s Final Four in their own backyard at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indianapolis — Since the first tip-off of the NCAA Tournament three weeks ago, a variety of Spartans have been thrust into the spotlight. But the end of the road is nigh, which means the inevitable target becomes Raymar Morgan.
Indianapolis — After last season’s loss to North Carolina in the national championship game, then-freshman forward Draymond Green reminded his team that the Tar Heels were in the same position the previous season as MSU before coming back to win it all that year. With Green’s speech in mind, the Spartans have fought their way back into the Final Four this season, looking to take after the 2009 North Carolina squad and get MSU’s third national title in school history.
Indianapolis — Duke and West Virginia square off in the other NCAA national semifinal at approximately 8:47 p.m. Saturday. Here are a few key issues for the two:
Indianapolis — The Bulldogs’ top players don’t look like typical college stars and head coach Brad Stevens doesn’t look like a coach, as evident by a security guard asking him if he was a player. But don’t be fooled by the No. 5 that sits next to Butler’s name.
Before Butler, MSU, Duke or West Virginia get the checkered flag, the four squads will square off in two national semifinal games Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis — Travis Walton forever is grateful that MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo gave him a scholarship and an opportunity. In January, Tom Izzo gave Walton another chance, this time as a student assistant.
With the Spartans one step closer to taking on the Butler Bulldogs on Saturday, students and residents of the East Lansing and Lansing communities comment on their favorite Spartans. Add your comment on who your favorite Spartan is and why.
After hitting key shots at the end of MSU’s victories over No. 4-seed Maryland and No. 9-seed Northern Iowa, sophomore guard Korie Lucious seemed to want the ball in the final moments.
When Butler head coach Brad Stevens and his team returned to campus at 3 a.m. Saturday following their Elite Eight victory over Kansas State, they returned to a crazy scene.
The MSU men’s basketball program’s success has been a family affair, which includes members of MSU head coach Tom Izzo’s family, managers, assistants, former student-athletes and their families.
It has been nine days since junior guard Kalin Lucas’ season ended with a ruptured Achilles’ tendon, but it hasn’t gotten any easier for the first-team All-Big Ten selection to cope with the fact he won’t be on the floor with his teammates in the Final Four.
It’s been a week since the MSU women’s basketball team was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by Kentucky, and although the loss surely still stings the team, the Spartans have a bright future despite losing four important seniors.