BASKETBALL

Spartans prepare for another 3-point shooting team in U-M

Matt Bishop

February 10, 2010

There’s nothing like a rivalry game to get a team going after a tough loss. Following Sunday’s disappointing loss at Iowa, the MSU women’s basketball team will be anxious to get back at it tonight when they head to Crisler Arena to play Michigan at 7 p.m. Four days after the team struggled defensively against the Hawkeyes, MSU goes into Ann Arbor against a team that will play a very similar style — drive to the basket and either put up a shot or kick out for a 3-point attempt.

SPORTS

Klages hopes gymnasts 'take it to next level' Sunday vs. Illinois

Jeff Kanan

February 10, 2010

Despite coming off its two highest-scoring performances of the season, the No. 22 MSU gymnastics team only is thinking about scoring higher as it prepares for this weekend’s meet at Illinois. The Spartans scored a 194.550 in a second-place finish at Western Michigan last weekend after pulling together a season-best 194.875 the previous weekend against Ohio State.

SPORTS

Teike impressive in rookie campaign

Jeff Kanan

February 10, 2010

After competing strongly in a national tournament as a 12-year-old, Shanthi Teike knew gymnastics was the right path for her. What she might not have expected was finding a lot of success this early in her collegiate career. Teike, a freshman MSU gymnast, has been one of the Spartans’ most consistent performers this season, regularly finishing in the top five and proving to be a nice complement to the team’s juniors and seniors.

BASKETBALL

Lucas shows grit, heart in loss

Funny, the effect ankle injuries have on star MSU point guards. Kalin Lucas’ performance on a bum ankle Tuesday night against Purdue brought back memories of Mateen Cleaves’ 2000 championship game effort.

BASKETBALL

Ball screens, communication give Spartans fits

Chris Vannini

February 10, 2010

The MSU men’s basketball team struggled defensively off ball screens and it cost them another game Tuesday, as the No. 10 Spartans lost to No. 6 Purdue, 76-64, at Breslin Center.

SPORTS

Hinton having successful season against ranked foes

Jeff Kanan

February 9, 2010

In a tough Big Ten wrestling schedule, nobody’s been more embattled than 174-pound sophomore Ian Hinton. Hinton has faced six straight ranked opponents in a stacked conference, holding up well despite the strength of the competition.

SPORTS

MSU looks to even Big Ten record vs. Penn State

Jeff Kanan

February 9, 2010

The MSU wrestling team returned to business Sunday, posting an impressive 20-13 victory against Purdue to improve to 2-3 in the Big Ten. The team’s reward? Road dates with No. 11 Penn State and No. 3 Ohio State this weekend.

BASKETBALL

Record or not, DeHaan true all-time best

Chances are senior center Allyssa DeHaan only will hold the NCAA blocks record for about three hours. And that’s a shame.

BASKETBALL

Snow to sign book today

Jeff Kanan

February 8, 2010

Former MSU and NBA point guard Eric Snow will be on campus today to sign his newly released book.

BASKETBALL

Lucas questionable tonight vs. Purdue

Joey Nowak

February 8, 2010

Kalin Lucas might not have played for the MSU men’s basketball team Saturday night against Illinois, but he wasn’t out of the game.

BASKETBALL

Izzone: Prove Breslin Center rep holds true

The gap that Breslin Center had on the rest of the Big Ten is slimming, and something that hasn’t escaped men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo.

BASKETBALL

Merchant disappointed in MSU's defensive effort against Iowa

Matt Bishop

February 8, 2010

If the MSU women’s basketball team showed anything during its four-game winning streak, it was that good defense led to good transition offense.

BASKETBALL

Green finds heart, mid-range jumper

Joey Nowak

February 7, 2010

For the past two weeks, Draymond Green has shown that he’s starting to find his lethal mid-range jump shot. On Saturday — more importantly, he says — he found his heart.

BASKETBALL

The race is on

Remember when you joked that the MSU men’s basketball would go 18-0 in the Big Ten? Remember when a little part of you actually thought the Spartans could go 18-0? Welcome back to reality. MSU’s 78-73 loss at Illinois on Saturday has slimmed MSU’s lead in the Big Ten to just one game with No. 8 Purdue coming into East Lansing.

BASKETBALL

Spartans' winning streak snapped with loss to Iowa

Matt Bishop

February 7, 2010

Following a four-game stretch in which its defense was superb, the MSU women’s basketball team couldn’t get stops when it mattered most Sunday, falling 77-66 to Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. The loss snaps MSU’s four-game winning streak.

SPORTS

Spartans upset No. 24 Boilermakers

Jeff Kanan

February 7, 2010

The MSU wrestling team has been searching for a consistent effort throughout its entire lineup. The Spartans got it Sunday in a 20-13 upset of No. 24 Purdue that was highlighted by close matches and several dramatic finishes.

BASKETBALL

Illini drop Spartans, 78-73

Chris Vannini

February 6, 2010

Champaign, Ill. — The MSU men’s basketball team couldn’t mount enough of a comeback against Illinois on Saturday night, falling 78-73 to the Illini in Champaign, Ill.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Spartans, fighting IllinI prepare for even battle

Chris Vannini

February 4, 2010

The MSU men’s basketball team is hoping rapper Drake wasn’t a prophet in “Forever” when he said, “Like a sprained ankle, boy, I ain’t nothing to play with.”

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Izzo confident in Lucious at PG

Chris Vannini

February 4, 2010

Point guard is a position of leadership. It’s unavoidable.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Work in progress

Joey Nowak

February 4, 2010

Darlis Nix remembers her son’s trek to and from Detroit Pershing High School by the tears flowing from his eyes. An immensely talented basketball player and future high school state champion and Mr. Basketball winner, Derrick Nix also was the heftiest kid in his class growing up.