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Sports | Basketball

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Big Ten busts

Matt Bishop
March 13, 2006

Indianapolis — After a stretch of three physically and emotionally draining games in 47 hours, Tom Izzo refused to cite fatigue as an excuse after his team shot 28.3 percent while falling 53-48 to Iowa in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse. The MSU head coach felt so strongly about it that he opened up his postgame press conference with an emphatic "no." "Fatigue had zero to do with the loss, zero," Izzo said.

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Fatigue not a factor? Are you serious?

Indianapolis — The party line in the MSU locker room after Saturday's 53-48 loss to Iowa was more rigid than Matt Trannon's smile behind that goalie mask. Despite playing their third game in 47 hours and second in less than 14, the Spartans said — insisted — that it wasn't fatigue that rendered them helpless as the Hawkeyes rode their early second-half lead all the way into the tournament finals. Head coach Tom Izzo: "I'd be the first to tell you if I thought it had even a little to do with it.

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Victory at last

Tom Keller
March 3, 2006

Finally, Paul Davis asserted himself down low. Finally, Tom Izzo found some clarity in his rotation. Finally, MSU made big plays down the stretch. And finally, the No.

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Badgers have size, lack athleticism

Matt Bishop
March 2, 2006

The first time around, Wisconsin handed MSU its worst beating of the season, a 82-63 decision at the Kohl Center. Now, it's MSU's turn to protect its home floor when the two teams resume their rivalry at 7 p.m.

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Coming up empty

Tom Keller
February 27, 2006

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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Still in the hunt

Matt Bishop
February 20, 2006

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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Wanted: Player to assume leadership role

Tom Keller
February 14, 2006

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

Matt Bishop
February 13, 2006

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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Rebounds key MSU victory vs. Wildcats

Matt Bishop
February 6, 2006

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

Matt Bishop
February 6, 2006

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.