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Sports | Basketball

BASKETBALL

Summer lovin'

Megan Homanick
October 14, 2004

MSU junior center Paul Davis learned to love during the summer. "He told me that he's here to learn how to love the game, instead of liking (it) like most guys do," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said at the men's basketball media day on Wednesday. Izzo added that Davis' new-found love for the game started showing through his summer work ethic and schedule. "I was in the gym at 8 in the morning, working out with a couple of the managers for about an hour and a half," Davis said.

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Midnight Mania event to kick off seasons

Darrell Hughes
October 4, 2004

The MSU men's and women's basketball teams are opening their arms to fans and students at its annual Midnight Mania event to kick off the 2004-05 season. Fans and students will have the chance to get autographs from coaches and players at 10:30 p.m.

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Students brave wind, cold for chance at lower-bowl tickets

Sonia Khaleel
October 4, 2004

More than 400 multi-colored tents speckled Munn field Saturday night as devoted students sporting hats, coats and gloves waited to receive their coveted basketball tickets in the windy, bitter cold. "I'm wearing a fleece, a hoodie, my winter jacket, a long-sleeve T-shirt and a short-sleeve T-shirt," said finance junior Michelle Lee as she shivered.

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Izzone explosion

The Izzone's intensity, complete with the loud echoes of stomping feet and screaming fans will multiply by four this season. For the 2004-05 season about 3,050 student seats will be added to one of the best-known fan sections in the country that touted 950 members last year.

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Fans celebrate championship in downtown Detroit with Pistons

Dawn Klemish
June 21, 2004

Detroit - History junior Sean McDaniel squinted as his eyes adjusted to the sunlight Thursday morning at Detroit's Hart Plaza. "Boy, having a reason to wake up early - besides school - was great," he said. McDaniel and a group of his friends were among the one million people who crowded into downtown Detroit on Thursday for an afternoon of celebration. The reason?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Tough love

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

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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.

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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.

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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.