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.
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.
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.
Iowa City, Iowa — MSU's Big Ten title hopes were dealt a crushing blow Tuesday night, as No.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Evanston, Ill. — At first glance, it might have seemed like no big deal. No. 12 MSU beats Northwestern, 77-66.
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.
How the men fared in their last game (as of Monday): 1. Illinois Defeated Purdue on Saturday, 76-58 2.
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.
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.
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.
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.
After landing a top 20 2006 recruiting class, MSU men's basketball coach Tom Izzo already secured commitments from two of the top guards in the 2007 class. Kalin Lucas, of Orchard Lake St.
Big Ten Men 1. Wisconsin (4-0 Big Ten, 14-2 overall) Defeated Northwestern 68-52 on Saturday 2.
The bad news: The No. 14 MSU men's basketball team lost its first two Big Ten games and is in danger of falling out of the conference race before it even starts. The worse news: The Spartans have to right the ship tonight against No.