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Sports | Hockey

BASKETBALL

Spartans show personality at 'Friday Night Flashback'

Chris Vannini
October 19, 2008

Disco music and short basketball shorts were all the rage Friday as the men’s and women’s basketball teams kicked off the season with Midnight Madness. A crowd that filled most of Breslin Center watched the “Friday Night Flashback,” which paid tribute to the 1979 men’s basketball national championship team. Greg Kelser, who was a key part of that ’79 team, hosted the night. It was the first time he had attended Midnight Madness, and he wore a jersey that resembled those worn by the 1979 team.

FOOTBALL

Pryor, Buckeyes storm past Spartans

Cash Kruth
October 18, 2008

The No. 20 MSU football team may be considered by some as a program on the rise, but if the Spartans’ 45-7 loss to No. 12 Ohio State proved anything Saturday, it’s that the Spartans have a long way to go before they’re on the same level as the Buckeyes.

FOOTBALL

'Four' your information: MSU vs Ohio State

Alex Altman
October 16, 2008

Ohio State has won 11 straight road games against Big Ten opponents. The last time the Buckeyes lost on the road was Oct. 8, 2005, when they fell to No. 16 Penn State, 17-10. Six of those wins came against teams that were ranked at the time.

FOOTBALL

Three of a kind

Jacob Carpenter
October 16, 2008

It’s a mystery how Javon Ringer can be three different people on any given MSU football Saturday. First he’s a kid, waking up in a hotel room to watch Saturday morning cartoons before going out to play football with his friends.

SOCCER

Spartans look to defend Big Bear Trophy

Alex DiFilippo
October 16, 2008

The seniors on the MSU men’s soccer team have never lost to Michigan. In the past three seasons the Spartans are 3-0-1 and the Big Bear Trophy, awarded to the winner of each game between the two teams, has found a temporary hibernation home in the Spartans’ trophy case.

SPORTS

MSU battles quick turnaround

It seems easy enough: an advantage in players with time to set up a play, a little more than 15 yards away from your opponent’s goal. But in its 2-1 loss to No. 3 Wake Forest, the No. 4 MSU field hockey team struggled on penalty corners. The team was awarded 13 and didn’t score on any of them.

BASKETBALL

Breslin hosts Midnight Madness tonight at 10:30

Cash Kruth
October 16, 2008

MSU’s annual Midnight Madness event will take place at 10:30 p.m. tonight at Breslin Center, with doors opening at 9:30 p.m. for autographs on the concourse. There also will be promotional giveaways and performances by the Spartan Marching Band, MSU cheerleaders, MSU Dance Team and Sparty throughout the night

SPORTS

Players seek Final Four spot in Detroit

Sean Ely
October 15, 2008

There are two main strengths MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo has seen in the preseason thus far. Athletic ability and an improved depth. And at MSU’s men’s basketball Media Day on Wednesday, Izzo said his team will continue to use those strengths and fight hard in the weeks leading up to its first preseason game (Nov. 5 vs. Northern Michigan) in order to get to a specific point as a unit — confident to take on the Big Ten schedule.

SOCCER

DeMartin scores twice, MSU wins

Alex DiFilippo
October 15, 2008

The men’s soccer team didn’t have to reschedule its game against No.14 Illinois-Chicago after it was canceled on Sept. 14 due to the heavy rainstorm that caused DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field to resemble a lake more than a soccer field. But MSU head coach Joe Baum wanted to reschedule the game against the No. 14 ranked team in the country to help his team gain experience against yet another quality opponent.

BASKETBALL

Izzo introduces 2008-09 Spartans

Sean Ely
October 15, 2008

For the first time since the spring, the MSU men’s basketball team — with the addition of three new faces — was fully dressed for Media Day at Breslin Center. Answering questions about the past, present and future, the Spartans were amped and ready to kick off the 2008-09 schedule Nov. 5 against Northern Michigan, head coach Tom Izzo’s alma mater.

ICE HOCKEY

Freshman Conboy making presence felt

Alex DiFilippo
October 14, 2008

Freshman forward Andrew Conboy didn’t just make an impression on MSU head coach Rick Comley this weekend — he made an impression on Massachusetts and Boston University players in the form of numerous bumps and bruises.

FOOTBALL

Spartans prepare for Saturday showdown

Cash Kruth
October 14, 2008

With a host of Ohio State playmakers making their way to Spartan Stadium on Saturday, the MSU defense is going to have its hands full in a showdown featuring two of the last three unbeaten Big Ten teams.

SOCCER

Handing out 'midseason' hardware

They’ve played through utter downpours, extreme 98-degree heat, adversity from losing a senior midfielder as well as the constant low expectations spewed their way about how the Spartans don’t have what it takes to be a Big Ten competitor.

BASKETBALL

Many lessons learned at Izzo media practice

My inquiries on how MSU men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo works his magic to mold such quality athletes while keeping them so well-behaved have been wiped clean. I understand it now because my niche changed from reporter to athlete, even if it was short-lived.