SPORTS

Victory at Minnesota key to Spartans' future

As MSU prepares for its pivotal matchup at Minnesota, one would think the Spartans are drawing up a detailed blueprint designed to stop the Golden Gophers' star freshman forward Kris Humphries, who is leading the Big Ten in scoring and rebounding. Actually, MSU coach Tom Izzo said the game's outcome would more likely hinge on the production of Minnesota's other players. "I think we have to contain Humphries, not stop him," Izzo said.

SPORTS

OT's verbal commitment makes 25 for Spartan recruiting class

Evan Rondeau

January 28, 2004

The Spartans' football recruiting class just got a little bit bigger - literally. On Monday, offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland received news of the Spartans' 25th commitment for the 2004 recruiting class: Offensive tackle Jesse Miller of Somerville High School in New Jersey. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound Miller was hosted by William Whitticker when he visited East Lansing last weekend.

SPORTS

Former fan wonders 'What's the big deal with sports anyway?'

A few days ago, I sat and watched a couple of my colleagues watching the MSU vs. Purdue men's basketball game.

SPORTS

Smoker selected for All-Star competition in Texas

Scott Bartosiewicz

January 28, 2004

Spartan quarterback Jeff Smoker will be one of eight college football standouts to compete in the Capital One College Football All-Star Challenge. Other contenders include U-M stars quarterback John Navarre and running back Chris Perry and Notre Dame running back Julius Jones. The challenge features a series of events where the players will compete in groups of two at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. FOX will air the special at 12:30 p.m.

SPORTS

Icers break back into polls

Esther Gim

January 28, 2004

For the first time since Nov. 17, the MSU hockey team is getting recognition from the national media.

SPORTS

Spartan football to host National Signing Day event

Evan Rondeau

January 28, 2004

MSU head football coach John L. Smith invites Spartans fans to join him and his coaching staff on Feb.

SPORTS

Team defense, rebounding tops in Big Ten

Megan Homanick

January 28, 2004

The No. 18 MSU women's basketball team wins with team defense and team rebounding. The numbers sometimes can be deceiving, but not so with the Spartans this season.

SPORTS

Team loses, still enjoys record-setting weekend

Scott Bartosiewicz

January 28, 2004

MSU gymnastics fell to Illinois Sunday afternoon but managed to tally the 13th-highest score in school history. The team captured the vault competition while sophomore Sarah Alexander won the overall title and took first in the floor exercise competition. The Spartans will compete next against Michigan at 7 p.m.

BASKETBALL

Despite record, Izzo happy with Hill, Spartans' performance

Chris Mackinder

January 27, 2004

This isn't where MSU head coach Tom Izzo saw his team 16 games into the season. The Spartans (8-8 overall, 3-2 Big Ten) are out of the rankings and have been since mid-December.

SPORTS

Iakounina earns 8th, leads Spartan squad

Sonia Khaleel

January 26, 2004

With an overall score of 194.474, the MSU gymnastics team took third on Friday at No. 3 Florida. Freshman Victoria Iakounina scored highest for MSU on both vault and bars.

SPORTS

Swingman's long shot ends in OT crumble

West Lafayette, Ind. - With the game at stake, MSU coach Tom Izzo said there's no player he'd rather have at the free-throw line than Alan Anderson. And why not?

SPORTS

Spartans upset No. 9 Gophers

Megan Homanick

January 26, 2004

The No. 20 MSU women's basketball team finally broke through against a top 10 team, beating No.

SPORTS

Team finds skill, depth in recruits

It's crunch time for next season's football recruitment, and the Spartans already have an impressive array of commitments.

ICE HOCKEY

Sweet sweep

Columbus, Ohio - Paced by freshman defenseman A.J. Thelen's 4-point weekend, the MSU hockey team swept No.

SPORTS

Freshman grappler continues to excel

Scott Bartosiewicz

January 26, 2004

MSU wrestling struggled again this weekend in its attempt to make a showing against additional ranked opponents. On Friday, the team dropped its first Big Ten competition, falling 22-16 to No.

SPORTS

Tennis teams sweep weekend tourneys

Scott Bartosiewicz

January 26, 2004

The MSU women's tennis team captured its first win of the season on Saturday and followed up with another victory on Sunday to bring its season record to 2-2. In the Spartans' home opener, the team defeated Bowling Green 6-1, taking all three doubles matches and five of the six singles matches.

SPORTS

Rzepka, Manz, Kus take top spots for 'U'

Sonia Khaleel

January 26, 2004

Three Spartans from the women's track and field team earned medals on Saturday at the Red Simmons Invite in Ann Arbor. Junior Mickie Rzepka captured the pole vault with a jump of 12-06, while freshman Cynetheia Rooks and senior Sarah Adelaine finished second and third in the 400-meter dash and the weight throw, respectively. The men's team enjoyed success at the meet as well, with senior team captain Steve Manz leading the pack with a first-place shot put throw of 59-00.

ICE HOCKEY

'U' looks to lose Ohio State woes

Esther Gim

January 23, 2004

Junior captain Jim Slater knows Ohio State has MSU's number. In their last six meetings with the Spartans, the Buckeyes hold a 4-0-2 advantage, including two wins earlier this season.

SPORTS

Roster depth, experience push Spartans to aspire tourney berth

Scott Bartosiewicz

January 23, 2004

Even after dropping its first two matches, the MSU women's tennis team remains confident about the remainder of its season. "My outlook is the best it's been since I arrived here," head coach Tim Bauer said.

SPORTS

Grapplers continue to battle ranked squads in home opener

Scott Bartosiewicz

January 22, 2004

After a weak start and a dual loss last weekend, the MSU wrestling team hopes to produce better results with the start of Big Ten action on Friday. The Spartans (1-4 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) already have faced No.