Thursday, March 28, 2024

Sports | Basketball

MEN'S BASKETBALL

For band and basketball

For 17 years of MSU basketball games, Barry Greer has directed the Spartan Brass, jeered opponents with the Izzone, given high fives to players before games and offered coaching tips in the locker room after the buzzer. And he does it all with Down syndrome, a genetic condition that causes a mental disability.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

No tears this year

A collective cheer took a year’s worth of grief off the shoulders of the MSU women’s basketball team. After being left out of the NCAA Tournament last season, the Spartans were awarded a No. 9 seed this season and will play No. 8 Middle Tennessee State in the first round of the tournament.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Seeding keeps MSU close to home

The highs, lows and inconsistencies of the MSU men’s basketball team’s regular season are in the past. All that matters now is that the Spartans (22-6) are officially in one-and-done territory, learning Sunday evening they earned the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional, drawing No. 15 seed Robert Morris in the first round on Friday at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Many factors led to loss to Ohio State

With the Big Ten Tournament done and the NCAA Tournament on the horizon, men’s basketball reporter Cash Kruth examines four questions surrounding the Spartans as they look to rebound from a disappointing conference tournament with a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Big Ten letdowns

After his team’s season-ending victory against Purdue, MSU senior guard Travis Walton made a bold guarantee during the Senior Day celebration. “We’re gonna raise another banner up in here,” said Walton, moments before the team hoisted its 2008-09 regular season championship banner into the rafters.

BASKETBALL

Cold shooting day dooms Spartans

Indianapolis — For the second straight game, the MSU men’s basketball team was beat at its own game. This time, however, the Spartans couldn’t get away from a subpar performance, falling to Ohio State 82-70 at Conseco Fieldhouse

BASKETBALL

Buckeyes upset Spartans, 82-70

Indianapolis — The talk of a potential No. 1 seed can stop. The questions of how far the MSU men’s basketball team is capable of going in the NCAA Tournament — and how far it actually will — can start once again. The No. 7 Spartans struggled offensively, defensively and every which way, losing 82-70 to Ohio State on Saturday in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse.

BASKETBALL

Gray, Green spark team off bench

Indianapolis — Senior guard Travis Walton said Minnesota probably had all of three sentences on freshman forward Draymond Green in its scouting report. Same with senior forward Marquise Gray, who had barely played the last eight games.

BASKETBALL

MSU advances with 64-56 win over Minnesota

Indianapolis — Maybe it’s the pressure, maybe it’s the bright lights. Whatever the reason, Chris Allen sure likes playing in the postseason. The sophomore guard picked up where he left off in Houston during last year’s Sweet 16, swishing 3-pointers, hitting shots in traffic, and making plays for the MSU men’s basketball team, which dispatched Minnesota 64-56 Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse.

BASKETBALL

Seniors honored, banner raised during post-game ceremony

It’s been an entire decade since its last conference championship, but the MSU men’s basketball team hasn’t forgotten how to party. The Spartans threw a party for the ages after their 62-51 season-ending victory over Purdue, combining an extravagant Senior Day celebration with a decorated banner-raising ceremony. After the final horn sounded, the public address announcer requested that fans stay seated for the post-game celebration.

BASKETBALL

Family atmosphere makes MSU great

Last week, I had the privilege of covering the MSU men’s basketball team during its trips to Indiana and Illinois. It just so happened that both schools were celebrating their senior nights before the games, and I got the chance to witness each of them.