MSU head coach Tom Izzo was worried going into Sunday’s season opener against Oakland University, a game which marked the unveiling of the team’s 2000 NCAA championship banner.
Jason Andreas?Adam Wolfe?That was the response given to the two freshmen ballers when they spoke to the more than 25,000 fans packed inside Spartan Stadium after winning the national championship.Perhaps it was being overshadowed by players like Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson and senior guard Charlie Bell.
Two things haven’t happened at MSU since the Earvin “Magic” Johnson era. The men’s basketball team hadn’t hung an NCAA national championship banner from the rafters, and no Spartan player had recorded a triple-double.Those both changed Sunday.The game against the Golden Grizzlies of Oakland began as the coaches, players and fans got to watch the green and white NCAA national championship banner drop from the ceiling.And MSU’s 97-61 victory ended when senior guard Charlie Bell became the second Spartan to ever tally a triple-double, recording 13 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Walking off the field after a 42-23 loss isn’t the way several seniors on MSU’s football team envisioned their college careers ending.The loss means no post-season bowl, a major difference from last year’s 10-2 season and Florida Citrus Bowl victory.Senior defensive lineman Jace Sayler, considered the consummate team player, said he’s going to look at the positive side of the situation.“There’s a side of me where I want to be selfish and say, ‘I wanted to get to a bowl game or I this and I that,’” Sayler said.
MSU had plenty of chances to beat Western Michigan at Munn Ice Arena Friday night, but it wound up having to settle for a 2-2 tie. The No.
A last-ditch effort by the MSU women’s basketball team Saturday was not enough to save it from a loss to Boston College during the MSU Chevrolet Classic championship game. After beating Arkansas State on Friday, the Spartans trailed Boston College the entire game, only to lose in the final moments 63-61.
The MSU volleyball team returned from its final road trip of the regular season with a renewed sense of confidence.The Spartans (16-11 overall, 9-9 in the Big Ten) entered the weekend unranked for the first time this season with their NCAA Tournament hopes still in limbo.After defeating Iowa (15-10, 18-16, 15-3) in straight games on Friday and giving No.
The MSU women’s basketball team will open the regular season today at 7 p.m. in the MSU Chevrolet Classic at Breslin Student Events Center.The Spartans face Arkansas State in the first game, while Tennessee Tech will play Boston College at 9 p.m.
If MSU defeats Penn State at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, something the Spartans haven’t done since 1965, they’ll be going somewhere warm for the holidays.The question is, where?The Aloha Bowl and the Oahu Bowl are both sponsored by Jeep and have a minimum $750,000 payout to each team.
The MSU men’s basketball team is like a bunch of kids on Halloween who are given apples at the beginning of trick-or-treating.The kids are glad it’s Halloween, but can’t wait to get the “real” candy in their bag.For the Spartans, the real candy is the regular season, and their two non conference games against Northern Michigan and the Harlem Globetrotters were the apples.
Something has to give.When No. 1 MSU and No. 7 Western Michigan square off in a CCHA showdown tonight at Munn Ice Arena, it will be a battle of two streaking hockey teams with contrasting styles of play.The defensive-minded Spartans, winners of six straight, will try to tame Western’s offensive juggernaut that has won seven consecutive games.Combined, the teams are 15-2-2 overall and are two of the hottest teams in college hockey.“I have a few buddies on their team and they were telling me all summer how good they were going to be,” MSU sophomore goaltender Ryan Miller said.
It’s the last road trip of the regular season for MSU volleyball, and how the Spartans fare will weigh heavily on their NCAA tournament hopes.MSU has failed to put together back-to-back wins since September and has consequently fallen out of the top 25 for the first time all season.Tied for fifth in the Big Ten with only four matches remaining, the Spartans (15-10 overall, 8-8 Big Ten) find themselves on the tournament bubble.MSU plays at Iowa (12-12, 8-8) tonight and at No.
When Jeff Smoker steps onto the Beaver Stadium field Saturday, he knows he’ll get a lot of attention.He just isn’t sure if it’ll be good or bad.
Oh what a time for the gurus to finish the season. It’s rivalry week and this weekend is chockfull of intriguing matchups. Records to date: Arthole 32-14, Special K 26-20 MSU (5-5) at Penn State (4-7) With its surprising victory over Purdue last week, MSU is back in the bowl hunt.
Batman and Robin had the Bat Cave to plan and plot their attacks against Gotham City’s most despicable criminals.
Riding on a six-game winning streak, the hockey team jumped from No. 4 to No. 1 in both the USA Today and U.S.
In the eyes of Spartan fans, Saturday’s win over Purdue was huge. But for head coach Bobby Williams, it was even bigger. At his Monday press conference, Williams said MSU’s 30-10 win over the Boilermakers was a win that should benefit the program in the future since the game was played on national television and in front of prospective recruits. “Winning that game really set the stage for the future of this program,” he said.
The road to college will be short for Williamston High School wrestler Nick Simmons. About nine miles to be exact.The three-time national champion, who has never lost a single match, announced Monday he will just hop on Grand River Avenue, head west and spend his college days at MSU.“I’ve been good friends with the other wrestlers and the coaches, and that helped me make my decision,” he said.
Swimming and divingThe men’s swimming and diving team beat Eastern Michigan on Friday in the teams’ second meeting of the year.First-place finishes in every event except the 50-meter freestyle gave the Spartans a 25-point lead over the Eagles.
The Harlem Globetrotters are accustomed to winning.And often.The fun-loving traveling squad has won 1,270 straight games, most recently a 76-69 win over Division II National Champion Metro State on Nov.