SPORTS
Seahawks among underdogs that could cause havoc in tournament
They're known as bracket-busters, dark horses and Cinderellas. They're often undersized, undermanned and under-hyped.
ICE HOCKEY
Migliaccio propels 'U'
To persevere through hockey playoffs, a team invariably needs its goaltending to be somewhere between good and great. MSU sophomore Matt Migliaccio knows that.
SPORTS
Cook shoots to extend banner year
Illinois forward Brian Cook gave the Fighting Illini a memorable season, but fell short of what he wanted most - a regular-season Big Ten title. Cook, who averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game - tops in scoring and third in rebounding in the conference - had his sights set on capturing Illinois' third consecutive Big Ten championship this season.
SPORTS
Back to basics
Some call it mathematical, others call it luck, but in the basketball world, March Madness is fun and enjoyable chaos - all starting with the 65-team bracket. The NCAA Committee ranks teams, and places them in four regions (East, South, West and Midwest). In each region, teams are given a seed from one-16, with one being the highest seed and 16 being the lowest. The team seeded one will play the No.
BASKETBALL
Spartans grab No. 7 seed in tournament
Grizzled hard court veterans like Aloysius Anagonye aren't giddy about scoring a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Like the senior forward says, "It's tournament time." MSU (19-12) will face No.
SPORTS
The great State
1. 1979 National Championship game MSU 75 Indiana State 64 The Spartans' first national championship remains the most watched college basketball game in TV history. It featured two of the best college basketball players ever in Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Larry Bird.
SPORTS
Conference has big presence during NCAA tourney time
Chicago - Year after year, the Big Ten is said to be having a down season, but in the last four seasons, a Big Ten team found itself in the Final Four. The recent success began with the top-seeded Spartans notching a spot in the 1999 Final Four, while fifth-seeded Indiana did it last season. Since 1999, six Big Ten teams have danced to the tournament's final weekend. The Atlantic Coast Conference, which includes Duke and Maryland, made five appearances.
SPORTS
Conference looks to talented freshmen for tourney impact
Chicago - Freshman standouts are common in most leagues, but the Big Ten has been flooded with rookie talent this year. All five of the conference's top teams have had freshmen play a significant role.
SPORTS
Illinois garners highest seed among Big Ten teams
The Fighting Illini earned an automatic bid into the tournament with their 72-59 win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament finals, however, the only thing Illinois was trying to improve on in the conference tournament was its NCAA Tournament seed. Fighting Illini guard Dee Brown said he thought winning the Big Ten Tournament could garner his team a No.
SPORTS
Gin Mill provides friendly atmosphere for former Spartans
Chicago - If any Spartans are ever feeling a little lonely in Chicago or miss East Lansing, then there's a perfect bar and grill for them to hang out at. Everyone won't know your name, but at the Gin Mill in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of the Windy City, they'll know what it's like to bleed green and white. The Gin Mill is best known for housing MSU fans during sporting events. And the "Welcome to East Lansing," in green lights and pictures of former Spartans Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson during the 2000 championship run can make any Spartan feel at home. "MSU fans gravitate toward Chicago," explained John McHugh, who has managed the bar for three years. Want to watch an MSU men's basketball game?
BASKETBALL
Spartans get No. 7 seed, face Colorado in Tampa
The road to the Final Four in New Orleans is under way for the MSU men's basketball team. The NCAA selection committee on Sunday night picked the Spartans (19-12) as the No.
ICE HOCKEY
Super 6 bound, hockey team defeats Nanooks
It wasn't as easy as Friday night, but the MSU hockey team locked up a trip to Detroit with a 3-1 win over Alaska-Fairbanks on Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena.The win gave No.
BASKETBALL
Comeback halted, Spartans fall to Buckeyes, 55-54
Chicago - After the first half, the Spartans were saying "ouch" and following the second half, they stood in disbelief. After being dismantled in the first half and trailing by as many as 19 points, the Spartans charged back and took their first lead of the game 3:43 left.
BASKETBALL
Teammates' birthday wish: A tourney bid
Julie Pagel knows exactly what she wants for her birthday - a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The junior forward's 21st birthday is today - two days before the March 16 committee selection date - but Pagel has already made plans to accept the belated present. "It's two days overdue, but nevertheless, it'd be a great gift," she said.
BASKETBALL
Men's basketball drops Purdue, 54-42 in Big Ten Tournament
Chicago- It was slow, sloppy, physical and lethargic, but above all else a win. MSU kept its Big Ten Tournament hopes alive Friday afternoon, knocking off fourth-seeded Purdue 54-42 in rough and tumble Big Ten fashion.
SPORTS
Sports briefs
Spartan trio looks for NCAA titles Three Spartans are set to participate in the 2003 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships this weekend at Randall Tyson Center in Fayetteville, Ark.
FOOTBALL
Fan section seeks identity
Student Alumni Foundation officials are looking at about a half dozen new names for the student spirit section at home football games. Members of the section, which was known as Bobby's World for the past three seasons, received an e-mail earlier this week asking for moniker suggestions.
BASKETBALL
Freshman forward sparks Spartans in tourney
Chicago - In one of MSU's best defensive performances of the season, it was a surprising player that helped the Spartans dispose of Purdue. Freshman forward Erazem Lorbek showed tremendous poise throughout the contest in leading the Spartans (19-11) to 54-42 victory Friday afternoon at the United Center. The 6-foot-10 Slovenia native grabbed eight rebounds, seven on the defensive end.
ICE HOCKEY
Icers try to hook Nanooks
For Brian Maloney, tonight's CCHA Tournament game against Alaska-Fairbanks can't come soon enough. Maloney, a senior left wing on the MSU hockey team, has been itching for some playoff action for almost two years now.
BASKETBALL
Spartans face Purdue in day 2 of Big Ten tourney
Chicago - It'll be the third time this season that MSU butts heads with Purdue - but never before today has the outcome held such importance. The "one and done" philosophy of NCAA postseason basketball will finally set in on the Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament.