BASKETBALL

Izzo not interested in Raptors, plans to stay put

Kelly Thesier

June 15, 2004

Despite speculation that MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo will meet with Toronto Raptors general manager Rob Babcock about the team's head coaching vacancy, Izzo said Monday that he is committed to MSU and is not interested in the job. Through a statement, Izzo said he knows a lot of candidates have been interviewed for the Toronto job but that he is not one of them. "I have a commitment to this program and that is to try to win another national championship," Izzo said. Questions surrounding Izzo's interest began when a source close to the Toronto search told ESPN.com and college basketball analyst Andy Katz that Izzo had talked to Babcock, the newly hired GM, and that the two will meet at a yet to be determined time. Katz said he didn't know of Izzo's interest in the job vacancy but he did know Izzo took the call from Babcock and the two talked. According to Jim LaBumbard, Director of Media Relations for the Toronto Raptors, no candidates for the coaching vacancy have been announced. "Rob has not said anything on the coaching search and will likely not comment on the search until it is over," LaBumbard said. Babcock could not be reached for comment. Izzo is one of the candidates being considered for the position according to a report by the Toronto Star.

BASKETBALL

Mr. Basketball makes mark

In front of a Breslin Center crowd that was buzzing with anticipation Saturday, Drew Neitzel, MSU's point guard of the future and recently-crowned Mr. Basketball of Michigan, scored 36 points and showed why he could be the missing ingredient for the Spartans next season. It was the biggest game of Neitzel's high school career, and it was on the biggest stage.

BASKETBALL

25th anniversary of championship today

Chris Mackinder

March 26, 2004

A beaming smile graced Earvin "Magic" Johnson's face as the scissors in his hand snipped the final piece of the net in Salt Lake City. The Spartans were champions. It was 25 years ago today the Spartans were national champions for the first time, captivating the nation and changing college hoops in East Lansing. "The first thing in memory is that it did revolutionize college basketball," said Billy Packer, a current analyst for CBS and broadcaster for the '79 championship game.

BASKETBALL

One and done

Chris Mackinder

March 19, 2004

Seattle - For their NCAA Tournament first round game against Nevada, the Spartans goal was to stop all but one Wolf Pack player.

BASKETBALL

Basketball fans crowd into Breslin Center

It was just like a real basketball game. Except, Breslin Center wasn't filled. There were no crazy hats, no face paint, no Izzone.

BASKETBALL

March sadness

Seattle - Paul Davis couldn't watch. He sat on the bench with his head down, picking at a towel as Nevada's Todd Okeson hit the free throws that put a fork in his sophomore season. For the second time in the last four games, Davis sat helpless as his team's offense crumbled without him.

BASKETBALL

Izzo: Spartans capable of run

Chris Mackinder

March 18, 2004

Seattle - Heading into the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans know they could win the whole thing. They also know they could be knocked out in the first round against Nevada on Thursday night. In MSU's seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance, the No.

BASKETBALL

Tough love

It's Monday afternoon, and Tom Izzo is late. His weekly press conference was supposed to begin 15 minutes ago.

BASKETBALL

Student, former coach torn during NCAA tournament time

Scott Bartosiewicz

March 18, 2004

Masters student Matthew Wood completed his undergraduate studies at Nevada and never saw the Wolf Pack make it to the NCAA Basketball Tournament - until now. He sat anxiously watching the CBS Selection Sunday breakdown, happily knowing that both of his universities would be in the Big Dance. "I finally had two teams I could root for," Wood said.

BASKETBALL

Rebounding a must

Chris Mackinder

March 17, 2004

Rebound or else. That is the motto MSU head coach Tom Izzo tells his team heading into the NCAA Tournament.

BASKETBALL

Nevada keeps Izzo, staff up all night

Chris Mackinder

March 16, 2004

Assuming MSU head coach Tom Izzo went home and dreamed about his team's NCAA Tournament chances after the Spartans found out they were a No.

BASKETBALL

Ups & downs

Indianapolis - The Spartans can't help their coach beat Bo Ryan. MSU had another opportunity to defeat Wisconsin on Saturday evening in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, but the Spartans' chance clanked off the back of the rim. Down by two points with 4.8 seconds on the clock, Spartans sophomore guard Maurice Ager grabbed a rebound and sprinted up the floor, but a last-ditch 18-foot jumper hit off the back of the rim, leaving the Badgers with a 68-66 triumph. "I don't think I could have gotten a better look," Ager said after the game.

BASKETBALL

Spartans draw Wolfpack

Chris Mackinder  and  Joey Guillen

March 15, 2004

The Spartans fell short on two of their goals for the 2003-04 season - winning the Big Ten regular season title and the Big Ten Tournament Championship - but there still is the chance of reaching one goal: a Final Four. And as unlikely as it might seem, the Spartans are serious. MSU received a No.

BASKETBALL

Flight deck may double as court

Evan Rondeau

March 3, 2004

The MSU men's basketball team might get a chance next year to take its game to a whole new level - aboard an aircraft carrier. University officials are engaged in talks about the plan, which would pit MSU against the Navy while the Air Force would take on North Carolina in a season-opening doubleheader.

BASKETBALL

Badgered

Chris Mackinder

March 3, 2004

MSU's chance at a Big Ten championship will have to wait - whether for a couple of days or another season is the question. The Spartans had a chance to recapture the conference crown and raise another banner at Breslin Center after a two-year hiatus, but MSU lost a 68-64 thrilling overtime game to No.

BASKETBALL

Badgers last roadblock in championship race

State College, Pa. - Sharpen the scissors and get the ladders out of storage, because MSU is playing for a Big Ten Championship - and a chance to cut down the nets - Tuesday against Wisconsin at Breslin Center. The Spartans (17-9 overall, 12-3 Big Ten) beat Penn State, 67-42, on Saturday night, guaranteeing them at least a share of the Big Ten Championship if they win their regular season finale against the Badgers. "Everything now is one and done," head coach Tom Izzo said.

BASKETBALL

Passing makes perfect: assists prove essential to unselfish 'U' squad

Chris Mackinder

March 1, 2004

State College, Pa. - The Spartans are honoring a creed handed down from generation to generation: sharing. Against Penn State, nearly every Spartans shot was prefaced with pass.

BASKETBALL

Izzo: Big Ten deserves credit

The Big Ten is portrayed in the national media as the black sheep of the major conferences, and Tom Izzo doesn't like it. With the Big Ten's best record, MSU (16-9 overall, 11-3 Big Ten) is nearly a lock for the NCAA Tournament.

BASKETBALL

Turnovers key to win

What a difference a game makes. Michigan's improbable win against Wisconsin on Sunday suddenly thrust the Wolverines into the batch of Big Ten NCAA Tournament hopefuls.

BASKETBALL

Spartans control Big Ten destiny

Like an aging boxer short on money, the MSU basketball team refused to give up. And as the Big Ten season winds down to its final rounds, the Spartans are proving the beatings they took only made them stronger. After MSU's first Big Ten game, a loss to Wisconsin, the team was two games under 500 - its worst start since the 1987-88 season - and had lost each of its marquee nonconference matchups.