The 2008-09 college basketball season just ended, but it’s never too early to start looking ahead to next season. With that being said, here’s an early look at how the Big Ten should stack up next season. Disagree? Send me your predictions at altmanal@msu.edu.
One of the best things about sports is that there’s always next year (just ask Chicago Cubs fans). And while the MSU men’s basketball team had an unbelievable run to the national championship game, losing 89-72 to North Carolina on Monday night, it’s never too early to look ahead to the future.
MSU golfer Jack Newman fired an even-par 72 Thursday at the Masters tournament in Augusta, Ga., completing his opening round with four birdies in the final five holes.
The MSU vs. Michigan rivalry always brings out the best in both teams. But on Wednesday afternoon, the No. 49 Wolverines showed dominance on the tennis court as they defeated the Spartans 7-0 at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility.
After throwing the MSU baseball team’s first no-hitter in more than 16 years Saturday, MSU senior pitcher Nolan Moody was named Pro-Line Athletic Pitcher of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. He was also named to the Collegiate Baseball newspaper’s Louisville Slugger National Players of the Week list and the College Baseball Foundation’s National All-Star Lineup.
MSU junior golfer Jack Newman opens play in the first round of the Masters is in Augusta, Ga., which begins today. On Tuesday, the pairings were announced for the first two days of the tournament. Newman will be playing with PGA Tour veterans Rocco Mediate and Fred Couples.
After recent snow pushed the MSU softball team’s doubleheader with Purdue to today, the Spartans spent Wednesday’s practice catching up for lost time. Because of scheduling and bad weather, the team wasn’t able to practice on the field for nearly a week, something the team will try to counter as it prepares for one of the fastest teams in the Big Ten, head coach Jacquie Joseph said.
The MSU men’s basketball team ended its 2008-09 season in the national championship game Monday night, overcoming injuries, illnesses and naysayers throughout the season. With a final record of 31-7, this year’s team etched its name in the program record book with the third-most wins in program history.
MSU guards Chris Allen and Korie Lucious will undergo surgery Friday to repair broken bones in their right feet, according to an MSU Athletic Communications release.
The MSU men’s basketball team fell one game short of the mountaintop Monday, losing to North Carolina 89-72 in the National Championship at Ford Field. But don’t despair, Spartans fans, because MSU will be back on college basketball’s biggest stage next season. With a talented nucleus of players set to return, MSU should enter the 2009 campaign as a top-five team in the nation and a foolproof favorite (I’m looking at you, Digger Phelps) to return to the Final Four.
The MSU men’s basketball team finished the season at No. 2 in the final USA Today/ESPN poll released Tuesday. National champion North Carolina received all 31 first-place votes.
The MSU softball team’s doubleheader against Purdue, originally scheduled for today, has been moved to Thursday, according to MSU Athletic Communications.
The MSU baseball team has been perfect at home this season and nearly the complete opposite away from East Lansing. This week, the Spartans will have a chance to right that ship while also making a dent in the Big Ten standings early in the conference schedule.
Fans are encouraged to welcome the MSU men’s basketball team back to campus between 11-11:15 a.m. today at Breslin Center.
Detroit — Before the start of Monday’s game, North Carolina guard Wayne Ellington said he and MSU senior guard Travis Walton were immersed in some friendly trash talk. As soon as the ball was tipped, Ellington was anything but friendly.
Detroit — Travis Walton had it all figured out. The MSU senior guard was going to climb the ladder and cut down the Ford Field net with “One Shining Moment” playing in the background on Monday night, celebrating the 2009 NCAA national championship. Instead, it was North Carolina and Tyler Hansbrough who lived Walton’s dream, as the Tar Heels beat the MSU men’s basketball team 89-72.
As he trudged off the court for the final game of his sophomore season, Kalin Lucas looked ruefully into a colossal sea of green. His head bowed and shoulders slumped, the guard looked like he had done much more than lose a basketball game — he looked like he had just let down the world.
Same two teams. Same venue. Same sad story for the MSU men’s basketball team. Four months after thumping the Spartans by 35 points at Ford Field, North Carolina came back to the Motor City on Monday night and reaffirmed that it is the best team in the nation, as the Tar Heels throttled MSU 89-72 to claim the 2009 NCAA national championship.
Detroit – As the Spartans left halftime down more than 20 points, the mood outside Ford Field was somber and disappointing among fans. Compared to Saturday’s crowd of some 5,000 fans, not many fans were gathered outside the arena tonight. A couple dozen were seen leaving Ford Field at halftime, with about 100 people mingling outside.
A crowd of about 9,000 fans gathered at Breslin Center for a special viewing party tonight to watch the men’s basketball team vie for the national title against North Carolina via a video feed from Detroit.