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The men: With 2 more wins, Izzo likes team's chances of title run
Not long ago, MSU was shooting for an NCAA Tournament game at The Palace of Auburn Hills and possibly even for a No.
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Coming up empty
Davis, Ager, Brown or get out of town. MSU's Big Three — senior center Paul Davis, senior guard Maurice Ager and junior guard Shannon Brown — once again dominated the scoresheet Sunday, accounting for all but nine of the Spartans' points in their 78-71 loss to Indiana. MSU got just three points from its bench — all from freshman guard Travis Walton, who played 32 minutes in place of injured senior forward Matt Trannon. The Hoosiers, meanwhile, got 16 points from their bench, including a game-tying free throw by Errek Suhr and a game-tying layup by Roderick Wilmont in the game's final minutes. But MSU head coach Tom Izzo insists he's not looking to his bench to score more. "We don't have a great bench — I told you that in September," Izzo said.
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Izzo: Expect more offensive production this time around between MSU, Ohio St.
When MSU and Ohio State met earlier this season, most people expected the two to combine for 100 points by halftime.
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Still in the hunt
Three things made MSU head coach Tom Izzo smile after Saturday's game at Breslin Center. The first: Regaining dominance over archrival Michigan, courtesy of a 90-71 win. The second: The re-emerging possibility of winning the Big Ten.
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MSU's most overlooked athlete back to old self
It had not been a good week for Drew Neitzel. The sophomore guard played arguably his worst game of the season against Minnesota last Saturday, missing seven of eight shots and recording more turnovers (four) than points (three). He followed that with another frustrating game at Iowa on Tuesday, finishing with his fewest assists in more than a month. And sadly, that wasn't the worst part.
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Title hopes sink
Iowa City, Iowa — MSU's Big Ten title hopes were dealt a crushing blow Tuesday night, as No.
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Lansing minor-league hoops squad to tip off in the spring
When the MSU men's and women's basketball seasons wrap up each spring, high-level basketball in the Lansing area usually lays dormant until the fall.
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Wanted: Player to assume leadership role
In years past, when MSU head coach Tom Izzo wanted to get a feel for how his team was doing, there were certain players he knew he could talk to and find out. Right now, he's not sure where to turn. "The last three or four years, it's been harder for me to gauge our team because we haven't had that true, true leader," Izzo said Monday at his weekly press conference.
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Izzo: MSU lacked preparation
Minneapolis — It's not often MSU head coach Tom Izzo throws around words like "outcoached" and "outplayed," no matter what the circumstance. That is what made Saturday's 69-55 loss to Minnesota that much more surprising.
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Purdue's recent success hurting Big Ten's image
When Purdue beat Wisconsin on Saturday, many around the Big Ten were left scratching their heads. After all, the Boilermakers had won only one of their nine Big Ten games to that point.
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Men's Basketball: Izzo says foul troubles a 'nightmare'
MSU head coach Tom Izzo, in a way, has a habit of developing "themes" for practice during a given week. During winter break, it was team defense.
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Rebounds key MSU victory vs. Wildcats
Evanston, Ill. — With the Big Ten as tough as it is this season, any win, especially on the road, will be greeted with a smile. That is why MSU's 77-66 road win over Northwestern on Saturday is much bigger than it seems. With Illinois' and Michigan's losses Saturday, the No.
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Davis contributes 16 points in game back after head injury
Evanston, Ill. — After missing a week because of a head injury sustained in practice, senior center Paul Davis returned to practice Friday and was deemed well enough to start Saturday against Northwestern. "There was a decision made (Friday) that we would probably start him, but we did not know how long he could play," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.
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Much-needed road win a sigh of relief
Evanston, Ill. — At first glance, it might have seemed like no big deal. No. 12 MSU beats Northwestern, 77-66.
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Izzo preaches rebounding; Davis still feeling 'lightheaded'
Tom Izzo delivered his own State of the Union on Monday. Forget the Cabinet — he wants more from the boards. "This is the worst rebounding team I've ever had, and it's cost us a couple games already," an obviously frustrated Izzo said after practice.
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Big Ten basketball at a glance
How the men fared in their last game (as of Monday): 1. Illinois Defeated Purdue on Saturday, 76-58 2.
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'Big Three' is 'Only One' with injured Davis, Ager cold but team survives
The Spartans got a glimpse of life without Paul Davis. They didn't like what they saw. The senior center was hit by an errant elbow in practice Friday and had to get 10 stitches on the top of his head.
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Izzo softer on U-M, but still wants win
He's not going to start singing "Hail to the Victors" anytime soon, but head coach Tom Izzo says he's not the same coach who let his hatred for Michigan "gnaw" at him earlier in his career. "I don't like Michigan — who's kidding who?" Izzo said.
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Spartans having fun while sharing the basketball
Slowly but surely the Spartans are coming around. Riding a three-game winning streak, MSU has made a name for itself sharing the ball. And it's not just the point guard who has been the main distributor.
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Passing by
Perfect? Maybe not quite. But No. 11 MSU was about as close as it could be on Saturday in its most lopsided win of the season, an 85-55 rout of No.