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Sports

SPORTS

Gymnasts stay determined for Big Ten Championships despite low ranking

Jesse O'Brien
March 21, 2012

After falling to No. 31 in the regional qualifying score, or RQS, rankings, the MSU gymnasts should be on their heels as they head into the Big Ten Championship in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday. The Spartans (7-3-1) are coming off a tough 196.025-192.700 road loss to No. 21 Michigan, and their score of 192.700 allowed a couple of teams to jump ahead of them in the rankings, dropping three spots from No. 28 and potentially putting them in the hot seat to be one of the teams left out of the top 36 that qualify for regionals.

ICE HOCKEY

Perlini, Sorenson hope to lead MSU in 1st NCAA Tournament

Dillon Davis
March 21, 2012

Brett Perlini and Tanner Sorenson are at the opposite ends of their career at MSU. Both forwards for the Spartan hockey program, one’s a senior, one’s a freshman. One is headed to the NHL after this season, the other more than likely back to his dorm room. One represents the wave of the past, one is a major part of the arc of the future.

BASEBALL

Baseball anticipates home opener this weekend

Dillon Davis
March 21, 2012

About a year ago at this time, the MSU baseball team returned home to a frozen baseball field and the bitter chill of March. This year has been a much different story. Having won six of their last seven games to cap a 17-game road trip, the Spartans (10-7) return home to host Oakland in the first series of the year at McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field.

Josh Mansour ·
BASKETBALL

Williams maintains focus after 2nd ACL tear

Josh Mansour
March 20, 2012

Madison Williams stood in the locker room, bracing herself to tell her teammates the news she heard only hours earlier. As the three simple letters “A-C-L” left her mouth, the room froze, and she left in tears after coming face to face with the looks of pity and sadness she spent the previous year fighting to move past.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans see no pressure in underdog role

The future of the MSU hockey team’s season was in the hands of Union last weekend. The team was on the bubble for a bid to the NCAA Tournament, but thanks to No. 1-seed Union’s 3-1 win Saturday against Harvard, MSU will travel to Bridgeport, Conn., this weekend to compete against the same team they were rooting for just a few days ago.

ICE HOCKEY

Column: Tournament victory could save season

Dillon Davis
March 20, 2012

Ah yes, an underdog story. Players own the distinction of it. Fans thrive on it. Members of the media write and rewrite their stories to determine if it’s too cheesy — it almost always is. With the NCAA Tournament just days away, the MSU hockey team is about to embark on an underdog story of its own, and the narrative is its for the taking.

BASKETBALL

Spartans view Sweet 16 as stepping stone

Jeremy Warnemuende
March 19, 2012

With the MSU men’s basketball team locking up its fourth trip to the Sweet 16 in the last five years, the Spartans continue to establish themselves as one of the best tournament programs in the country. And although that’s all fine and good, senior forward Draymond Green said players and teams aren’t remembered for making the Sweet 16.

SPORTS

Column: MSU’s season summed up in shortcomings

Jesse O'Brien
March 19, 2012

Curran Jacobs was 60 seconds away from his first All-American honors. Competing for a top-eight spot in the NCAA Tournament this weekend — where the top eight finishers are named All-Americans — the senior 174-pounder was the remaining Spartan participating.

BASKETBALL

Spartans find success with versatility

Pat Evans
March 18, 2012

Columbus, Ohio — The MSU men’s basketball team gained a lot in identity this weekend after earning a trip to Phoenix and the Sweet 16 on Thursday. Three days ago, the media heard a lot of talk from LIU Brooklyn about how slow-paced the Spartans are.

SPORTS

Wrestlers come up short of All-American honors at NCAAs

Jesse O'Brien
March 18, 2012

Before six members of the MSU wrestling team left for St. Louis to participate in the NCAA Tournament beginning on Thursday, competing junior heavyweight Steve Andrus said he felt there was no reason all six wrestlers couldn’t come back with All-American status. However, by Friday night, each of the Spartan wrestlers had been eliminated from the tournament with senior 174-pounder Curran Jacobs coming within an overtime 3-1 decision of his first All-American honors.

BASKETBALL

Appling benefits from Billikens' sag defense

Pat Evans
March 18, 2012

Coming into the game against Saint Louis, the MSU men’s basketball team knew it would be well defended against. The Billikens are praised for their defense and were extremely physical and abusive to the Spartans. At least all the Spartans not named Keith Appling. The Billikens sagged of the sophomore guard and dared him to shoot. Appling has struggled with his shot all season, but he can still find the bucket when needed.

ICE HOCKEY

Hockey earns No. 4 seed in NCAA Tournament

Dillon Davis
March 18, 2012

The NCAA unveiled its 2012 tournament field on Sunday, and the MSU hockey team has a new lease on life. The Spartans (19-15-4 overall, 14-11-3-2 CCHA) earned a bid as the No. seed in the East Region in the 2012 NCAA Tournament and will open against Eastern College Athletic Conference champion and No. 1-seed Union on Friday in Bridgeport, Conn. With the bid, the Spartans rank fourth in all-time tournament appearances with 27 and are in the tournament for the first time since 2008.

BASKETBALL

Coming out clean

Jeremy Warnemuende
March 18, 2012

Columbus, Ohio — Nothing about the MSU men’s basketball team’s game against Saint Louis in the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament surprised head coach Tom Izzo.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Column: Seniors united through careers, tournament losses

Josh Mansour
March 17, 2012

After answering questions at the podium, Taylor Alton, with tears in her eyes, returned to the locker room and sat next to fellow senior forward Lykendra Johnson. It was the final time the duo would wear their MSU jerseys, and as Alton sat in her chair, emotionally drained from the afternoon, her fellow captain put her arm around her and the two rocked back and forth, talking of their time at MSU.