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Sports | Basketball

BASKETBALL

Heat extinguished

Jason Worthy
May 24, 2005

As the defending world champion Pistons competed Monday night in the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat, local bars and restaurants also competed to draw the largest crowds. With most MSU students gone for the summer, bars and restaurants are experiencing less business, so they've turned to things such as high-definition TVs to lure people into their establishments, said Aaron Weiner, the general manager of Buffalo Wild Wings, 360 Albert Ave. Retired East Lansing resident Allan Harwitz said he heads to Buffalo Wild Wings on game nights because of the big screens. "I am here every time the Pistons play because the TVs here are huge," he said, while waiting for the game to begin.

BASKETBALL

Spurs, Pistons will be in finals thanks to lack of defense from Suns, Heat

I was watching the San Antonio versus Phoenix game the other night and started laughing to myself - in reference to the Suns' performance, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. While Quentin Richardson is jogging back on defense, tapping his fists at the corners of his forehead, Manu Ginobili is flying past him for a layup.

BASKETBALL

Seniors pass on knowledge

Brian Charlton
April 8, 2005

When Chris Hill, Alan Anderson and Kelvin Torbert joined the Spartans as freshmen, the team lacked a solid senior class to show them the ropes. Now that the senior trio is leaving, Anderson said he made sure to leave behind their knowledge and experience. "We never had that," Anderson said.

BASKETBALL

Writer shares 'rules of the road'

Brian Charlton
April 5, 2005

My parrot is better than your honor student. That's a weird bumper sticker to have on that beat-up 1980s Ford truck, I thought while driving down the center of Interstate 69 in Indiana. As I peered into the driver's seat, expecting a guy in Army gear and a NASCAR hat, I couldn't believe my eyes.

BASKETBALL

Team, media names Anderson team MVP

Matt Bishop
March 16, 2005

The MSU men's basketball team announced its award winners at its Basketball Bust on Monday. Senior swingman Alan Anderson was named the team's Most Valuable Player by both the team and the media. Along with senior guard Kelvin Torbert, Anderson also was awarded the John E.

BASKETBALL

Tulsa nabs Wojcik as coach

Brian Charlton
March 15, 2005

MSU head coach Tom Izzo is sending another apprentice out into the head coaching world. MSU associate head coach Doug Wojcik was hired by Tulsa on Monday to replace interim head coach Alvin Williamson, who led the Golden Hurricane to a 9-20 season after John Phillips resigned in December. Wojcik is the sixth coach under Izzo to nab a head coaching job. Wojcik will stick with MSU for the NCAA Tournament including Friday's opening game against Old Dominion, but has a short timetable to assemble his staff. Izzo joked at his weekly Monday press conference that the bad news was former MSU coach Jud Heathcote called to say he's interested in the position. "But I think I'm going for 10 years younger, and we're going to hire Gene Keady," Izzo said with a laugh. Izzo said when Wojcik came to MSU, there was an understanding it would be a short stop before he snagged a head coaching job but his contribution would help the Spartans and give Wojcik the extra experience he needed. Hiring Wojcik puts Tulsa back on track with past practices of hiring up-and-coming coaches including Tubby Smith, Bill Self and Buzz Peterson. Wojcik has spent two seasons at MSU, specializing in recruiting and scouting.

BASKETBALL

Izzo: Team needs big games from Hill, Torbert

Brian Charlton
March 15, 2005

Following a close loss to Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament on Friday, MSU head coach Tom Izzo said Sunday was a much better day. With calls from former coach Jud Heathcote and Earvin "Magic" Johnson and individual meetings with players, he said he felt better. "I've tried to come to grips with what this team is all about," Izzo said.

BASKETBALL

Missed free throws hurt Spartans in upset loss versus Iowa

Matt Bishop
March 14, 2005

Chicago - He came into the game shooting almost 90 percent from the free-throw line. He had missed just 10 free throws all year coming into the game. But in 40 minutes of playing time, MSU senior swingman Alan Anderson missed five free throws, including two crucial misses with 6.5 seconds left in the game that gave Iowa a 71-69 win in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal game Friday at the United Center. For the game, MSU shot 15-for-30 from the charity stripe. "Never would I have thought we would shoot 50 percent from the free-throw line," Anderson said.

BASKETBALL

Spartans' opponent fighting for NIT spot

Brian Charlton
March 2, 2005

MSU head coach Tom Izzo picked Northwestern as his sleeper team this year in the Big Ten. Although the Wildcats (14-13 overall, 6-8 Big Ten) have struggled with injuries and chemistry, they still are fighting for an NIT spot. "We've been hit by injuries and a lot of other things," Northwestern head coach Bill Carmody said.

BASKETBALL

Izzo pleased with Bograkos

Matt Bishop
March 1, 2005

Tim Bograkos always has been a favorite of MSU head coach Tom Izzo. But lately, the senior guard has been garnering even more praise from his coach for his hard work and determination. "He's probably the hardest working, toughest player that we've got the last three or four years," Izzo said.

BASKETBALL

Indiana's nonconference play pays off

Brian Charlton
February 28, 2005

Bloomington, Ind. - MSU head coach Tom Izzo wouldn't suggest to anyone in the world to play the type of schedule his team did last year. After playing Kansas, Duke, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Syracuse and UCLA in the nonconference conference, the Spartans lost all six games heading into the Big Ten. But although the schedule stripped his team of a lot of confidence, Izzo suggested that the experience of tough, close games would help MSU. That's one reason that Izzo knew Sunday's game against Indiana, an NCAA Tournament bubble team, would be a nail-biter. "Indiana is a good enough team.

BASKETBALL

Izzo, Spartans look to erase 6-game winless record against Ryan, Badgers

Brian Charlton
February 24, 2005

When junior center Paul Davis looks back on six straight losses to No. 20 Wisconsin, he said he remembers the big plays. Although nearly all of them have been made by the Badgers, Davis said the Spartans (19-4 overall, 10-2 Big Ten) need to knock off Wisconsin (17-6, 10-2) to give them the lift needed to make a run in March during tournament time. "They beat us down there with the three," Davis said of MSU's last loss at Madison, Wis.