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Sports | Basketball

BASKETBALL

Up and running

Megan Homanick
November 24, 2004

MSU head coach Tom Izzo was looking for better defense from his No. 10 Spartans on Tuesday night, after giving up 72 points in their first game. Izzo got some defense and a lot of offense, in a 104-46 win over Wisconsin-Green Bay (1-1) at Breslin Center, while doing well in the three aspects he has been focusing on since the start of practices. "It is encouraging that we went into the game with three objectives: to do a better job with our turnovers, do a better job with our rebounding and do a better job with our defense," Izzo said.

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3-year starter Torbert steps back without complaints

It's possible that Kelvin Torbert will become the next Morris Peterson, a senior sixth man whose talents off the bench pushed MSU toward the 2000 NCAA National Championship. Head coach Tom Izzo has asked Torbert, for now, to adjust to a new role, to move from starter to bench player. It's a big change for someone who started 86 of the first 96 games he appeared in during his first three years at MSU.

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Izzo satisfied with 42-point blowout win vs. alma mater

Head coach Tom Izzo didn't take it easy on his old school, as MSU handed Northern Michigan a 42-point loss in its second exhibition game at Breslin Center on Sunday. Izzo said he was satisfied with MSU's unselfish play and rebounding in the 98-56 win against his alma mater. But he was disappointed the Spartans shot 41 percent from the field. "We did a poor job of shooting the ball, and I think we are the best shooting team I've ever had," he said. "It was our inside game that was really poor and I don't mean just our big guys.

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Rookies survive 1st practice week

Megan Homanick
October 25, 2004

These aren't typical high school practices, where everyone else is smaller and you're the best player on the team. The four freshmen on the MSU men's basketball team found that out last week. "Practice has been tough - very tough.

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Young backups ready to play alongside Davis

Each new basketball season is an opportunity for unproven players - young and old - to rise up, play more minutes and have a greater impact. This season, sophomore power forward Delco Rowley and sophomore center Drew Naymick are prime candidates to fill that role in the Spartans' frontcourt. And with an eager, talented batch of freshmen big men new on campus this season, Rowley and Naymick must step up while the opening is there. "I'm looking forward to those two coming in and stepping up and playing in these games because I've told them that this is the time to do it," junior center Paul Davis said.

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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.

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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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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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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.