BASKETBALL
Fighting Illini a top pick to win Big Ten crown
It's that magical time of year. It's the Big Ten basketball season once again. No.
BASKETBALL
Spartans look to net Big Ten title again
After loaning out the Big Ten Championship trophy for a season, the Spartans will face tough tests in their quest to bring the prize back to MSU for a fifth time in six seasons. From the top to bottom of the conference, there isn't a clear cut championship favorite.
ICE HOCKEY
Comical Clark makes position change for more playing time
By nature, Steve Clark is usually quick with a quip. And the talkative senior hockey player apparently amused head coach Rick Comley with a comment during a game this weekend at Lake Superior State. "We all laughed because he said he played more that particular night than he did his first three years here," Comley said with a chuckle. Of course, that's a huge hyperbole on Clark's part.
FOOTBALL
Officials deny athletes given extra breaks
Despite witholding information about run-ins with police officers, university officials denied reports Monday that embattled athletes receive special treatment. The State News reported Monday All-American wide receiver Charles Rogers allegedly pushed an MSU parking enforcer and had a verbal argument with the same officer last fall.
ICE HOCKEY
Fast: The caring defenseman
Senior defenseman Brad Fast is one of 15 finalists for the eighth annual Hockey Humanitarian Award, which will be awarded at an April 11 ceremony at the Frozen Four in Buffalo, N.Y. The award recognizes college hockey's "finest citizen" for his or her contributions to society.
BASKETBALL
Izzo still optimistic about Big Ten title
With the Big Ten season kicking off Thursday against Ohio State, men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo knows this year's Spartan squad has its work cut out for them.No.
SPORTS
High school phenom is worthy of attention
Cocky. adj. LeBron James sporting NBA logo sweatbands during his high school's nationally televised regular season game. Justified.
ICE HOCKEY
2 defensemen leave program
It's the new year, and as "Auld Lang Syne" says, it's time for old acquaintances to be forgotten.That motto rings especially true nowadays for the MSU hockey team, which saw two defensemen leave the team in December.
BASKETBALL
Spartans plagued by turnovers, sloppy play
Oklahoma City - The Big Ten season is three days from tipping off, but MSU still is dealing with a huge problem - leadership.Leadership, or the lack of it, was highly visible during the Spartans' 60-58 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday.
ICE HOCKEY
Comley's squad splits another weekend series
Sault Ste. Marie - The only constant with the MSU hockey team this year has been its inconsistency. The Spartans (9-9-1 overall, 5-6-0 CCHA) went 3-3 in their six games during semester break, including a split at woeful Lake Superior State (4-15-1, 1-13-0) this weekend.
BASKETBALL
Ager sparks Spartans off bench with points
Oklahoma City - At the men's basketball media day prior to the season, MSU head coach Tom Izzo joked about his freshman class being "fearless." Saturday night in a 60-58 road loss to No.
BASEBALL
Burrill, Day receive recognition
A pair of MSU baseball players have garnered preseason honors. Senior catcher Brady Burrill along with sophomore pitcher Tim Day became the Spartans first preseason All-Americans since Mark Mulder in 1998. Burrill was named a third-team All-American by Louisville Slugger, as selected by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, while Day earned third-team honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Although Burrill appeared in just 28 of the Spartans' 57 games last season, he still led the team with a .414 batting average.
SPORTS
Top 10 team invades Breslin Center today
The MSU women's basketball team has battled inconsistency throughout the season. The team has earned respect by hanging with top teams and has demolished weaker squads, but has followed up strong performances by dropping easy-win contests.On Dec.
FOOTBALL
'U' won't release athletes' discipline records
University officials refuse to release information regarding student athletes' encounters with the law, citing privacy concerns as local prosecutors say the lack of witness participation among victims in the cases is frustrating. That frustration includes an incident with All-American wide receiver Charles Rogers who allegedly pushed an MSU parking enforcer in October, Ingham County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Joyce Draganchuk told The State News. The incident also included a verbal argument between Rogers and the parking employee.
SPORTS
Spartans surprised by Golden Flashes
The No. 11 MSU wrestling team started off the new year on a sour note as the Spartans fell to 25th-ranked Kent State on Saturday. The loss to the Golden Flashes (7-0) brings MSU's record to 1-2 and is leaving the team searching for answers. "This team has got to figure out where it's going and we've got to figure it out in a hurry," MSU head coach Tom Minkel said.
BASKETBALL
Men's basketball team upset by Toledo
The MSU men's basketball team received a huge reality check Monday night from Toledo in a 81-76 loss. The No.
ICE HOCKEY
Hockey team bounces back with win over Michigan Tech
Detroit - Playing in its first Great Lakes Invitational consolation game in six years, the MSU hockey team salvaged some pride with a 6-2 win over Michigan Tech on Sunday afternoon at Joe Louis Arena.The Spartans didn't score a single 5-on-5 goal, but they scored twice 4-on-4, and also notched three power-play goals and a short-handed marker in defeating the Huskies.Freshman goaltender Justin Tobe made 29 saves for the Spartans (8-8-1 overall, 4-5-0 CCHA) on Sunday.
ICE HOCKEY
BU cools Spartan icers, 6-1
Detroit - In its first action since two defensemen left the team to further their careers in Canada, the MSU hockey team was rocked by Boston University in a Great Lakes Invitational semifinal Saturday afternoon.The 13th-ranked Terriers blitzed the Spartans with four goals in the first period and then coasted to an easy 6-1 win at Joe Louis Arena.MSU (7-8-1 overall, 4-5-0 CCHA) plays Michigan Tech in the consolation game at 1:35 p.m.
BASKETBALL
Win over South Florida shows Spartan flaws
Despite shooting just 38 percent from the field, the MSU men's basketball team defeated South Florida 65-56 on Saturday, Dec.
BASKETBALL
Men's hoops downs Jacksonville State, 76-52
If a technical foul, a six-game win streak and the return of junior forward Adam Wolfe were on men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo's Christmas list this year, he got everything he asked for.The No.