There could have been a number of things to come off of the tip of Tom Anastos’ tongue when asked about his greatest weakness. But being the polished delegate he is, he was ready for the question but paused before answering.
Three games ago, the MSU men’s basketball team surpassed last season’s win total — and still have at least six games to play. Head coach Tom Izzo spent much of his weekly press conference Monday discussing this season’s 22-5 No. 6 Spartans compared to last year’s 19-15 team.
A lot has changed in one week, as the MSU women’s basketball team (17-10 overall, 9-5 Big Ten) enters the final week of the regular season tied for third place in the conference after beating No. 17 Purdue on Sunday, 67-52.
As each successive shot fell through the net, Becca Mills’ smile got bigger and bigger.
For their final series at Munn Ice Arena this season, the No. 16 Spartans accomplished what they set out to do, walking away with two wins and six points in the CCHA standings and sending the senior class off on a high note.
For the nine MSU hockey seniors, the largest class since 1977-78, it was important they left a mark for their final series at Munn Ice Arena.
For a moment on Friday night, the MSU gymnastics team had upset the No. 18 Illinois Fighting Illini in Champaign, Ill. However, after a brief inquiry, the official score gave the Fighting Illini an extra .025 points; thus, the teams tied at 195.175, and neither team left Huff Hall with the Victory Plank.
Not too long ago, beating a top-25 team on opening day before losing the next two games of the weekend by a combined two runs might have been OK with MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. But after winning the program’s first Big Ten title since 1979 last year, Boss said expectations are higher.
Despite a team loss, individual accomplishments highlight the performances of the MSU women’s swimming and diving team at the Big Ten championship meet this weekend. During the four-day competition in Iowa City, Iowa, the Spartans took 12th place overall and scored 55 points.
It wasn’t easy, but the MSU women’s basketball team (17-10 overall, 9-5 Big Ten) earned a hard fought victory over No. 17 Purdue (19-8, 9-5), 67-52 in overtime Sunday.
Led by another 20-point and 10-rebound performance by senior forward Draymond Green, the No. 7 MSU men’s basketball team beat Purdue 76-62 Sunday in West Lafayette, Ind. The win puts the Spartans (22-5 overall, 11-3 Big Ten) at the top of the conference and one game ahead of Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten standings.
In his final game at Munn Ice Arena, Drew Palmisano could not have asked for a better send-off. In front of a sellout crowd of 6,960, the senior goaltender deflected anything that came his way and recorded his sixth career shutout as he led No. 16 MSU to a 3-0 victory over Alaska.
In a weekend set aside to honor the seniors of the No. 16 MSU hockey team, it’s only a fitting that a senior would get the job done on Friday at Munn Ice Arena. Senior forward Brett Perlini scored three minutes into overtime to go along with freshman forward Brent Darnell’s two goals in the first period to give the Spartans the 3-2 win against Alaska.
In a weekend set aside to honor the seniors of the No. 16 MSU hockey team, it’s only a fitting that a senior would get the job done on Friday at Munn Ice Arena. Senior forward Brett Perlini scored three minutes into overtime to go along with freshman forward Brent Darnell’s two goals in the first period to give the Spartans the 3-2 win against Alaska.
Coming off two wins against No. 6 Ohio State and No. 15 Wisconsin, No. 7 MSU now holds the longest winning streak in the Big Ten.
After struggling with slow starts for much of the season, the MSU women’s basketball team (16-10 overall, 8-5 Big Ten) got off to a hot start on Thursday, before cruising to a 62-46 victory over Wisconsin (8-17, 4-9) on the road.
After holding then No. 3 Ohio State to a season-low 48 points in an upset win Saturday, the Spartans’ defense was showered with love. And deservedly so.
In its final dual of the season, the MSU wrestling team suffered a 21-12 loss at the hands of head coach Tom Minkel’s alma mater, Central Michigan. The Spartans finish the regular season with a 3-11 overall record (1-7 Big Ten) and will have a two week layover before the Big Ten Championships begin on March 3. The dual began with the 184-pounders when senior Ian Hinton dropped a 14-1 major decision to No.
Riding a hot streak that includes three wins in its last four games against Ohio State and Michigan, the No. 16 MSU hockey team will look to take care of business this weekend against Alaska.
More than ever before, junior center fielder Torsten Boss and the MSU baseball team know how important every game can be.