SOCCER
Spartan soccer signs 7
The MSU men’s and women’s soccer teams signed seven new recruits. The women’s team signed four Tuesday.
SOCCER
NCAA considers overtime rule change
A new proposal by the NCAA may change the way overtime games in men’s and women’s soccer will be decided.During its annual meeting in February, the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Soccer Rules Committee proposed to eliminate ties by shortening the sudden-victory overtime periods and implementing penalty kicks if the game has not been decided.Currently, men and women play two 45-minute halves.
SPORTS
Spartans prove their versatility
With another high-scoring win against Alabama on Tuesday night, the Spartans continue to prove they can win playing both offensive and defensive styles of basketball.Early in the season, the MSU women’s basketball team (19-12) was known for shutting down its opponents defensively.
SPORTS
MHSAA plans released for new seasons
The first plans by the Michigan High School Athletics Association to realign high school sports seasons will be unveiled today at Breslin Center. As part of a December U.S.
SPORTS
Juniors look for title
One year ago, junior John Wechter made himself a promise - he would compete at the 2002 NCAA Wrestling Championships. In 2001, Wechter placed eighth at the Big Ten Championships, missing nationals by just one spot. “I just missed qualifying and I had to go watch all my teammates compete,” Wechter said.
BASKETBALL
Coaches plan to break down Torberts play
With another MSU recruit, Rochester High’s Paul Davis, becoming the latest Mr. Basketball award winner Monday, next year’s Spartan men’s basketball team will likely include the state’s past three winners - Davis, freshman guard Kelvin Torbert and sophomore guard Marcus Taylor. But the state’s highest prep accolade doesn’t guarantee instant success as a Spartan, and MSU head coach Tom Izzo said Torbert will spend the off-season working on returning his game to an elite level. “I think he’ll make some improvements and hopefully, they’ll be big improvements,” Izzo said.
FOOTBALL
U gets new uniforms
The Spartan chariot won’t be the only throwback to the days of ancient gladiators this fall at Spartan Stadium.The MSU football team unveiled its newly designed uniforms Tuesday, which are modeled after ancient Spartan gladiators.
BASKETBALL
New system draws criticism
When the Spartans first saw their NCAA Tournament seeding - No. 3 in the West Regional in Ann Arbor - they were pretty satisfied.
ICE HOCKEY
Line changes provide spark, but no title
MSU head coach Ron Mason tried just about every coaching ploy in his repertoire this weekend, but it still didn’t equate to a CCHA Tournament championship. Mason overhauled his forward lines right in the middle of MSU’s 2-1 win over Northern Michigan on Saturday and the Spartans’ 3-2 loss to archrival Michigan in Sunday’s title game. By the end of the Northern game, MSU’s top line had a 67 percent turnover, with senior right wing Adam Hall as the only constant.
SPORTS
WNIT title within sight
The MSU women’s basketball team has never made it to the semifinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. But a win tonight against Alabama (19-11) would send the Spartans (18-12) to the final four of the WNIT. Freshman guard Kristin Haynie said the chance to play for the tournament title would be exciting, adding playing the Crimson Tide at Breslin Center should help the Spartans achieve that goal. “It’s very exciting to play for any championship; it doesn’t matter if it’s the NIT, the Big Ten or the NCAA,” Haynie said.
BASKETBALL
U recruit named Mr. Basketball
Michigan’s Mr. Basketball will be a Spartan for the fourth straight year. Paul Davis, a member of the MSU’s 2002 recruiting class, follows in the footsteps of Jason Richardson, Marcus Taylor and Kelvin Torbert. The Basketball Coaches Association, in conjunction with the Detroit Free Press, named Davis the 22nd annual Hal Schram Mr. Basketball recipient Monday. Davis, a 6-foot-10 center from Rochester High, received 760 points, while Anthony Roberson of Saginaw High got 382 points and Lester Abram of Pontiac Northern High received 269. Davis won the award despite breaking his right ankle 16 games into his senior season.
SPORTS
Diver off to nationals
Senior Carly Weiden qualified for the NCAA Championships in the three-meter dive during the NCAA Diving Regionals, Zone C, in West Lafayette, Ind. Weiden qualified on the second day of competition with a fifth-place finish. She will make the trip to the 2002 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Austin, Texas, Thursday through Saturday, to compete in the 1- and 3-meter boards. Junior Stephanie Anisko and freshman Kelly Baldwin also competed during the weekend, but did not qualify.
BASKETBALL
Frustration peaks for U
Washington - Following a disappointing 69-58 loss to North Carolina State in Friday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament, MSU men’s basketball associate head coach Brian Gregory quietly sat in the corner of the Spartans’ locker room.With his head in his hands, suit jacket off and tie slightly loosened, Gregory searched for a reason why the Spartans were exiting the tournament after one game for the first time since 1995.“You start wondering, ‘Did we really just run out of gas?’ ” he said.The last time Gregory and the Spartans (19-12) were in the MCI Center locker room, the mood was much different.At halftime, MSU owned a 12-point lead at 30-18 after forcing the Wolfpack (23-11) offense to 6-of-24 shooting.Gregory said the defensive effort in the opening half made the loss even more disappointing.“Anytime you defend as well as you did in the first half and you go out and don’t defend as well in the second half, there’s going to be frustration,” he said.But the exhausted, disappointed, angry and frustrated looks on the faces of his players had to be there.“I think if you don’t see frustration, you have to worry about what kind of kids you have,” he said.One Spartan who had been in the locker room after numerous tournament wins, junior forward Al Anagonye, said he knows he won’t forget being ousted from the tournament this early.“If it doesn’t (bother you), you shouldn’t play at Michigan State,” Anagonye said.
BASKETBALL
Spartans close season
Washington - Despite a 69-58 loss to North Carolina State in Friday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament, Tom Izzo asked his players to savor the moment. With 44 seconds remaining and MSU trailing 67-55 at MCI Center, Izzo called a timeout.
ICE HOCKEY
Wolverines sweep CCHA honors
Detroit - The Spartans headed for their Joe Louis Arena locker room just seconds before being subjected to an unwelcome sight - archrival Michigan hoisting the Mason Cup, which is named after MSU’s longtime head coach Ron Mason. The trophy signified U-M’s CCHA Tournament Championship, which it won Sunday with an impressive 3-2 victory over MSU in front of 16,452 fans.
BASKETBALL
NBA offers little in development for Marcus Taylor
Dear Marcus Taylor, I know we’ve both heard speculation about your future at MSU. And while you might be considering leaving school early for the NBA, I ask you to stay put. This isn’t for my benefit, really - it’s for your own good. I understand why entering the NBA Draft might sound like a good idea to you.
BASKETBALL
Point guards looks to steal show
Washington - Midwestern basketball fans probably know who MSU sophomore guard Marcus Taylor is.
BASKETBALL
Huskies and Pirates possible second-round foes
If MSU is able to knock off North Carolina State today, it will face one of two formidable opponents. No.
SPORTS
Swimmer to nationals
MSU swimmer Kate Duncombe’s regular-season times have qualified her to compete in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke events in the 2002 NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships on March 28-30 in Athens, Ga.
SPORTS
Tennis stays home
The men’s tennis team (9-5 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) will host Bowling Green State (8-5) and Bradley (4-8) on Saturday. The women’s tennis team (8-6, 0-2) will host Minnesota (4-9, 0-3) on Saturday and Wisconsin (8-3, 3-0) on Sunday.