Following a four-game stretch in which its defense was superb, the MSU women’s basketball team couldn’t get stops when it mattered most Sunday, falling 77-66 to Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. The loss snaps MSU’s four-game winning streak.
The MSU wrestling team has been searching for a consistent effort throughout its entire lineup. The Spartans got it Sunday in a 20-13 upset of No. 24 Purdue that was highlighted by close matches and several dramatic finishes.
Champaign, Ill. — The MSU men’s basketball team couldn’t mount enough of a comeback against Illinois on Saturday night, falling 78-73 to the Illini in Champaign, Ill.
Ever since losing three straight, the MSU women’s basketball team has rededicated itself to its defense. That commitment has paid off in spades for the Spartans to the tune of four straight wins, none more impressive than Thursday’s 65-44 rout of Penn State at Breslin Center. The Spartans not only avenged a prior loss to the Lady Lions but held them to a season low on the offensive end.
The MSU men’s basketball team is hoping rapper Drake wasn’t a prophet in “Forever” when he said, “Like a sprained ankle, boy, I ain’t nothing to play with.”
Point guard is a position of leadership. It’s unavoidable.
Darlis Nix remembers her son’s trek to and from Detroit Pershing High School by the tears flowing from his eyes. An immensely talented basketball player and future high school state champion and Mr. Basketball winner, Derrick Nix also was the heftiest kid in his class growing up.
After an emotional weekend split against Michigan and a long voyage up to Alaska, the No. 12 MSU hockey team is ready to empty its tank this weekend against the Nanooks.
Kalisha Keane celebrated her 21st birthday Wednesday. Although the calendar says the junior forward officially is older, Keane’s most important growth has come on the court, where her ever-increasing maturity is paying dividends this season for the MSU women’s basketball team.
Speaking after Thursday’s practice, MSU head coach Tom Izzo called Kalin Lucas “very, very questionable” for Saturday’s 9 p.m. game at Illinois, but said because the junior guard’s playing is contingent mostly on how he feels, Izzo said it remains a possibility.
For MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio, becoming a consistent team in the Big Ten means adding top-tier talent throughout the course of several seasons. Dantonio introduced his second straight top-30 recruiting class Wednesday at National Signing Day and was excited about the potential of the 21 incoming players.
Anthony Jones Jr. has been a stable presence in the middle of the MSU wrestling team’s lineup. The 157-pound junior has fought in several close matches this season, defeating Minnesota’s Joe Grygelko, 3-1, and West Virginia’s Kyle Eason, 6-2.
Le’Veon Bell 2 stars out of 5 Running back 6-foot-2, 221 pounds Reynoldsburg, Ohio (Groveport Madison) Rushed for 1,333 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior; spring enrollee Joe Boisture 4 stars Quarterback 6-foot-5, 195 pounds Goodrich, Mich.
Don’t expect a week off to cool the MSU women’s basketball team. The Spartans, riding a three-game winning streak, appreciated their midseason break but are ready to resume play at 7 p.m. tonight against Penn State at Breslin Center.__
Lucas has sprained ankle after coming down on a Wisconsin player’s foot Tuesday night in MSU’s 67-49 loss.
Spartans will be looking for a leader if junior guard Kalin Lucas is out for multiple games with a sprained ankle.
No. 5 MSU loses first Big Ten game of the season to Wisconsin, 67-49, as junior guard Kalin Lucas suffers sprained ankle. The Spartans have not won in Madison since 2001.
Winning a close rivalry match and then getting dominated by the nation’s top team in the same weekend would be enough to drain the emotion of most teams. But despite coming off a loss to No. 1 Iowa in which no wrestler posted a victory, the MSU wrestling team (7-4-1 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) said it still is feeling confident entering this weekend’s duals against No. 11 Central Michigan and No. 25 Purdue.
Today is a long day for the MSU hockey team. The No. 12 Spartans were scheduled to board the bus at 5 a.m. and won’t arrive in Fairbanks, Alaska, until midnight Eastern Standard Time.