BASKETBALL
Spartans ignite offense, stomp Niagara 116-50
One game into the MSU women’s basketball season, the record books already need to be re-written.
BASKETBALL
Izzo readies team for unknown
You’ll have to excuse MSU head coach Tom Izzo for not knowing much about the Idaho men’s basketball team. After all, the team features 12 new players, a new head coach and has played only one exhibition game.
BASKETBALL
MSU picks up two recruits on national signing day
The MSU men’s basketball program prepared for the loss of three senior post players from this year’s team with the signing of two centers for its 2009 recruiting class Wednesday.
BASKETBALL
MSU overcomes Lake Superior State, 112-69
The MSU men’s basketball team ran its fast break like there was nobody else on the court — slashing through its lanes, leaping toward the basket and finishing around the hoop with ease.
BASKETBALL
Spartans find their strengths in final exhibition game
With two games down and 230 points on the books after their two-game exhibition season, the MSU men’s basketball team looks to be in full force heading into the regular season.
BASKETBALL
Spartans too much for Lakers
The MSU women’s basketball team capped off its exhibition season with a convincing 84-44 win against Grand Valley State on Sunday at Breslin Center — using their superior strength, quickness and depth to pull away from the Lakers despite turning the ball over 25 times.
BASKETBALL
Women’s basketball team obliterates Saginaw Valley State, 97-32, in exhibition game
After Thursday’s 97-32 drubbing at the hands of the MSU women’s basketball team, Saginaw Valley State’s athletic trainer had better have some extra ice packs prepared for the night’s ride home.
BASKETBALL
Summers emerges as star scorer in Northern Michigan blowout
All of the questions facing the MSU men’s basketball team were answered resoundingly Wednesday night with a 118-57 drubbing of Northern Michigan.
BASKETBALL
Spartans dominate Wildcats in opening exhibition
Breslin Center’s roof might need to pop a couple ibuprofen and rest a while with the headache it’s suffering from. Because the structure appeared as if it may blow off the arena’s walls Wednesday evening from all the booming noise and violent shaking that came pounding from all angles.
BASKETBALL
Roe making strides as MSU prepares for exhibition game
The No. 7 MSU men’s basketball team has been practicing and scrimmaging each other so much lately that freshman forward Delvon Roe admitted he can’t even remember what five-on-five hoops looks like between two different teams.
BASKETBALL
Pistons swap Billups for Iverson; smart move by Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars has done it again. With the trade of Denver Nuggets All-Star Allen Iverson for Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups, center Cheikh Samb and five minutes with Antonio McDyess’ bought-out contract, the Pistons general manager has pulled off another risky swap that not only keeps Detroit in the NBA title hunt, but also positions the team for success in the future.
BASKETBALL
Women's team struggles with fatigues, splits halves with scout team
The women’s basketball team looked strong Sunday as it battled the scout team in the annual Green and White Game.
BASKETBALL
Lucas scores 24 points to lead Green to 88-79 victory over White
When there’s no other squad available, just divvy ‘em up, grab a couple referees and hit the hardwood.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Spartans look to reduce mental errors
With less than two weeks of practice under its belt, the MSU women’s basketball team still has a lot of work to do before the start of the 2008-09 season.
BASKETBALL
Men's basketball battles in Green-White Game
The MSU men’s basketball team will split up into two groups in preparation for Saturday’s Green and White Game — battling for squad supremacy.
BASKETBALL
Izzo seeks more effort, vocal leadership from team
You don’t have to do much to upset MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo. That’s nothing new. But as a team, the Spartans won’t have much time to apologize to the coaching staff for being too soft and lackadaisical in their second week of practice — as the 14th-year head coach plans to swamp his squad with two-a-days, one practice immediately followed by another after a short break.
BASKETBALL
Freshmen looking to make immediate impact for Spartans
It wasn’t anything personal, but in all honesty, Porschè Poole didn’t like Courtney Schiffauer in high school. That’s how it went in Ohio’s Federal League Conference when Poole, a 5-foot-8 guard at McKinley High School, constantly battled Boardman High School and Schiffauer, Boardman’s standout 6-foot-1 forward throughout their high school years.
BASKETBALL
Women's hoops team vies for better season, trip to Big Dance
Ever since that fateful day when the MSU women’s basketball team found out it wasn’t headed to the Big Dance, it’s wanted to prove to the nation that a mistake was made. The Spartans, who finished 23-14 overall, felt they deserved to be in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.
BASKETBALL
Izzo keeps players on their toes with early practices
So early on, truly anything flies. That’s been MSU men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo’s mindset throughout the team’s first four official practices, playing every single one of his players in various positions to get them comfortable with moving around and responding to adversity when the team needs it most.
BASKETBALL
Spartans show personality at 'Friday Night Flashback'
Disco music and short basketball shorts were all the rage Friday as the men’s and women’s basketball teams kicked off the season with Midnight Madness. A crowd that filled most of Breslin Center watched the “Friday Night Flashback,” which paid tribute to the 1979 men’s basketball national championship team. Greg Kelser, who was a key part of that ’79 team, hosted the night. It was the first time he had attended Midnight Madness, and he wore a jersey that resembled those worn by the 1979 team.