Saturday, May 4, 2024

Sports

BASKETBALL

March dreams

Aloysius Anagonye knows this is his last hurrah. The senior forward, better known as "Big Al," is heading into the NCAA Tournament with a dark reality - his basketball career may soon be over. "It does hit home," he said.

BASKETBALL

Spartans rev up offense in NCAA tourney

Tampa, Fla. - It took the Spartans five months, but they finally granted their head coach his preseason wish Friday evening. In October, MSU head coach Tom Izzo preached that, while he wanted to continue reeking havoc on defense, he wanted to be a more offensive-minded team. MSU did just that with a 79-64 win over Colorado in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the St.

FOOTBALL

Stanton, Dowdell No. 1 at QB for spring practice

As the MSU football team starts spring practice Saturday, head coach John L. Smith has two priorities: Sort out the quarterback position and repair a tarnished program. The Spartans, coming off a 4-8 season, will have four signal-callers competing for a starting job - one of which includes embattled senior Jeff Smoker.

SPORTS

Senior ready for first, last dance

Now that tournament time is here, every game is do-or-die. The threat of elimination rings especially true to Syreeta Bromfield. Every game might be the senior forward's last. "I hear it all the time, it's kind of rough being a senior, but you get used to it," she said.

SPORTS

Sports help 'U' in tough times

I remember a frantic call from my boyfriend at 9 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001 telling me to get off the highway and turn on the TV. I remember sitting alone in my apartment, stunned while the images of death and destruction flashed before my eyes. An hour later, I rushed to the newsroom where I worked with colleagues to get the news out.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Gymnasts approach double sweep at home The MSU gymnastics team will culminate its successful season with a trimeet against Michigan and Pitt this weekend. The Spartans (14-6, 2-2 Big Ten) are looking to complete season sweeps of both teams as they defeated the Wolverines in February and bested the Panthers last weekend. The meet will mark the final home competition for seniors Ilene Cohen, Diana Crea, Julie Devaty, Christy Linder, Kristina Petersen, Lindsay Trainham and Maurella Walls. MSU's home finale kicks off at 7 p.m.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans seek to slay 'Cats, stretch season

Every once in a while, the thought creeps into Troy Ferguson's mind. He always pushes the notion out of his consciousness as quickly as possible, but he knows it's the truth: His career as an MSU hockey player could end in Detroit this weekend. Especially if the fourth-seeded Spartans stumble tonight against No.

SPORTS

2 grapplers make NCAA debuts

In any sport many rookies hope just to come in and contribute. They rarely expect to make an immediate impact and perform as if they are seasoned veterans.Freshman Nick Simmons and junior college transfer Ryan L'Amoreaux are excellent examples of the latter.

SPORTS

Spartans 1 of 6 Big Ten teams in tourney

The NCAA Tournament is once again crowded with Big Ten contenders as more than half of the conference received invitations to the Big Dance. For the second straight year, six squads - Purdue, Ohio State, Penn State, Minnesota, Illinois and MSU - found themselves on the board as the NCAA selection committee unveiled brackets on Sunday.

SPORTS

Rogers runs a 4.26 40-yard dash for NFL scouts

With his blazing speed, wide receiver Charles Rogers more than likely cemented his place as a top-three pick in next month's NFL Draft.The Saginaw native was clocked at 4.26 in the 40-yard-dash, and registered a 37" vertical leap."I felt like it was another Saturday afternoon in Spartan Stadium," Rogers said.

ICE HOCKEY

Radunske gets passing grade; Lalonde out 4 weeks

After sophomore forward Brock Radunske scored his first career hat trick Friday night, he jokingly said he had the puck on his stick so much because his linemates had owed him a couple passes. It was a valid point. Radunske, a 6-foot-4, 203-pounder, has been the MSU hockey team's most dangerous play-maker during the last month.

FOOTBALL

Rogers, Lovett, other Spartan players to workout for NFL coaches, scouts

While it's almost etched in stone that wide receiver Charles Rogers will be a top-five pick in next month's NFL Draft, other Spartans' fates remain uncertain. For some players with dreams of playing on Sundays, today's MSU Pro Day at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building will give them a chance to showcase their skills to many pro teams for the April 26 draft. Scouts will be in attendance to watch Rogers and other Spartans while they run the 40-yard dash and perform other drills. "I just want a little exposure," wide receiver BJ Lovett said.

ICE HOCKEY

Fast has excelled as team leader

Brad Fast was groomed to become a captain of the MSU hockey team since the first day he stepped on campus.A quiet guy hailing from eight hours north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Fast had all the makings of a leader.