WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Spartans drop to 0-2 in Big Ten after loss
The MSU women’s basketball team has a big hole to climb out of if it hopes to win the Big Ten title.
ICE HOCKEY
No. 13 Spartans hit ice, prepare for GLI
After a week and a half off to enjoy the holidays, the No. 13 MSU hockey team was mentally ready to get back on the ice.
BASKETBALL
No. 2 Texas pulls away from MSU
In a flash Tuesday night, a series of plays epitomized the MSU men’s basketball team’s outing against Texas in Austin — its strengths muted while the Longhorns’ strong points flexed their muscles.
BASKETBALL
MSU's defense steps up in 67-59 win against St. Bonaventure
Suzy Merchant believes no Big Ten team has been tested like hers in the nonconference season. Monday’s game with St. Bonaventure was just another reason why. On the cusp of the top-25, the Bonnies came into Breslin Center unbeaten at 11-0 with several quality wins, so it was no surprise to anyone when they kept fighting back.
BASKETBALL
Spartans prepare to face No. 2 Texas
Kalin Lucas has never lost to Texas — and he doesn’t plan on starting this season. MSU’s junior guard has been a key cog in MSU’s two neutral site victories against the Longhorns the last two seasons. This season, however, the stakes are higher, as the Spartans have the opportunity to make a splash on the national scene by beating the No. 2 Longhorns on Tuesday in Austin, Texas.
BASKETBALL
Strong start leads MSU to victory against Washington
It’s safe to say a tape of Saturday’s game between the MSU women’s basketball team and Washington won’t ever be heading to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The two teams combined to shoot 31.1 percent, commit 36 turnovers and 48 personal fouls, but the No. 16 Spartans were much more efficient on both ends of the floor, knocking off the Huskies 69-52 at Breslin Center.
BASKETBALL
"Locked in" Morgan leads MSU to 80-58 win against IPFW
The MSU men’s basketball team stuck with what has worked for most of the season in its 80-58 win Saturday against IPFW at Breslin Center — stumble into halftime with a marginal lead and gradually pull away in the later moments of the second half.
BASKETBALL
Exams hinder practice time, but Spartans pull through against IPFW
Although final exams come every year, dealing with them this season was a much different story for MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo.
BASKETBALL
Spartans' 3-point barrage leads to win
Florida Gulf Coast head coach Karl Smesko came into Sunday’s game with MSU looking to make the Spartans’ offensively-passive guards hit outside shots by packing in the paint. He came to regret that decision less than three minutes into the game.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Spartans defeat Oakland 88-57
Outside, temperatures plummeted to the low teens and a bone-chilling wind chill was enough to keep anyone indoors.
FOOTBALL
Talented players dot squad
Even though the football team was up and down this decade, there were plenty of talented players to wear the Green and White.
ICE HOCKEY
Ryan Miller leads all-decade hockey team
The MSU hockey all-decade first and second teams have a nice blend of players from each era of the decade. The toughest choice in the selection process came between the pipes. Jeff Lerg had a tremendous career for MSU, but we had to give the nod to Ryan Miller, who was only the second Spartan win the Hobey Baker Award.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
04-05 team shines on decade squad
Four of the five players on the first team come from the program’s best team in 2004-05. Liz Shimek and Lindsey Bowen are the top two scorers in program history, and Kristen Haynie was the cornerstone of that team.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Starting 5 highlight unmatched decade
It’s only right that the decade’s best team is well-represented on the All-Decade team. Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson already have had their numbers retired, and Charlie Bell also might get that honor some day, but he gets knocked out of the starting lineup for Alan Anderson — just barely.
SPORTS
Best freshman performance
Our list of best freshman performances of the decade is higlighted by a group of athletes who not only had phenomenal breakout seasons, but went on to have illustrious careers.
FOOTBALL
Notre Dame game of 2006 unforgettable
I couldn’t speak. My eyes were sprung open wide as a garage door, my legs seemingly bolted to the ground beneath me and my breathing heavy and panicked.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Stats don't lie; Shimek best in 10 years at MSU
Throughout her college career, Liz Shimek kept getting better. Her success helped bring the MSU women’s basketball team to a level of national prominence previously unseen.
FOOTBALL
Football players highlight long list of choices
The most difficult thing about picking MSU’s male player of the decade is that there are many different ways to approach the question.
SPORTS
The best of the decade
Championships and All-Americans. Memorable moments and jaw-dropping plays. The 2000-09 decade has given MSU sports fans memories they will never forget. The next eight pages are filled with the best of the best in the last decade of MSU athletics.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Spartans dominate Xavier 66-53
Everything MSU was missing during its sluggish effort Sunday against Indiana was there — and more — Wednesday night against No. 8 Xavier. The Spartans brought the energy, excitement and enthusiasm that head coach Suzy Merchant thought was missing Sunday in a dominating 66-53 win against the Musketeers Wednesday night at Breslin Center.