ICE HOCKEY
Icers get verbal commitment
The voice mail greeting on hockey recruit David Booth’s cell phone goes something like this: “Hey, what’s up?
SOFTBALL
Spartans hope to rebound after poor home opener
After opening the Big Ten season 1-3 at home, the MSU softball team will play three nonconference games this week to regroup.The Spartans (12-21 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) host Eastern Michigan (8-13, 3-3 Mid-American) 4 p.m.
BASKETBALL
Death of the 4-year superstar
Inside his office in the new Berkowitz Basketball Complex, MSU men’s basketball associate head coach Brian Gregory sat and listened to my questions about the state of college basketball. “Can you think of any recent superstar-type players who turned down the NBA and came back for their senior year?” I asked. “Here at Michigan State you have to look at Mateen (Cleaves) and Morris Peterson, because those two guys had the opportunity to leave early,” Gregory said.
BASKETBALL
Indiana represents Big Ten pride, but Terrapins will be champions
I have to admit, I am an Indiana Hoosier Basketball fan. For my money, it doesn’t get any better when Tom Coverdale hits a triple from the top of the arc and limps, on his bum ankle, to the other end of the court to play defense.
BASEBALL
Spartans split Big Ten opening series
After dropping its Big Ten opener, the MSU baseball team used the long ball to split a four-game series with Minnesota at Kobs Field this weekend.The Spartans (17-5 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) hit nine home runs in Saturday’s tripleheader to win two games.
SPORTS
U professor studies coaches
Tom Izzo has it. Ron Mason had it. Bobby Williams is developing it.It, is something coaches call the ability to positively affect the learning ability and performance of their athletes.Deb Feltz, director of MSU’ Department of Kinesiology, has been examining this philosophy not only on the athletic field, but also in the classroom.However, the idea of coaching efficacy, or coaching competence, was not the first thing that got her interested in this field of research.“My intents started with nonathletes attempting physical activities for the first time,” Feltz said.“I was interested in fear-invoking activities - like diving.”Feltz decided to take the role of confidence in a different direction.She looked at how teachers used their efficacy to motivate their students.
BASEBALL
Baseball team deserves more
This has not been the ideal March for MSU sports fans. After three consecutive Final Fours, you thought the men’s basketball team could pull it together and make another run at a title, but they bowed out in the first round. Then, the Spartan hockey team followed suit with a disappointing 2-0 loss to Colorado College in the NCAA Tournament ending the career of legendary coach Ron Mason. Then the women’s basketball team created some excitement on campus, advancing deep into the 2002 Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
SOFTBALL
Spartans go 3-1 in first Big Ten weekend
The MSU softball team battled bad weather and unsteady play to start the Big Ten season.MSU (12-21 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) dropped two games to No.
ICE HOCKEY
Freshman plans to stay with Spartans
When longtime MSU head coach Ron Mason announced that the recently concluded season was going to be his last behind the bench, freshman center Jim Slater started considering options.
BASEBALL
Sluggers hope strong start continues
Off to its best start in years, the MSU baseball team prepares for its opening series in Big Ten play this weekend. The Spartans (15-3) host Minnesota (8-12) in a four-game series this weekend starting with a 2 p.m.
SPORTS
Sports briefs
Junior guard named to WNIT All-Tournament Team Junior guard Vnemina Reese was named to the 2002 Women’s National Invitation Tournament All-Tournament Team on Thursday. Reese, who graduates in May, will not use her final year of eligibility next season. “I’m surprised,” she said.
BASKETBALL
Spartan coaches recruited by top programs
While this year’s Spartan men’s basketball team didn’t achieve the same success as its predecessors, who earned trips to three consecutive Final Fours, faces from the program’s recent history still are making noise in March. Former MSU assistant coach Stan Heath announced his resignation as the head coach at Kent State on Thursday to take the helm as head coach at Arkansas. That decision came as other current Spartan assistant coaches discuss their potential futures as leaders of other programs. Associate head coach Brian Gregory has spoken with DePaul and Bradley about their coaching vacancies, athletics department spokesman John Lewandowski said. Neither Bradley nor DePaul spokespersons could be reached for comment. Many major universities have turned to the MSU pedigree possessed by current and former assistant coaches. Nabbing Heath to be the Razorback coach spawned Arkansas Chancellor John White to excitedly pass out Heath candy bars to everyone attending the news conference. Heath, 37, got the 10th-seeded Golden Flashes within one game of the Final Four, losing 81-69 to the Indiana Hoosiers last Saturday in the South Regional final. “It’s been a whirlwind,” Heath said Thursday at a Fayetteville, Ark., press conference.
BASEBALL
Spartans blank Saints in home opener
The Spartans’ home opener treated fans to the baseball team’s first shutout of the season.MSU (15-3) defeated Siena Heights (4-19) 6-0 at Kobs Field on Wednesday afternoon.“Our team is definitely really confident, there’s no question about that,” Spartan manager Ted Mahan said.
ICE HOCKEY
No chance for Miller to claim second Hobey Baker
MSU suffered a disheartening loss to North Dakota in last year’s Frozen Four, but Ryan Miller won the 2001 Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s outstanding player the very next day.This year, the Spartans’ season ended earlier - with a first-round NCAA Tournament loss Friday - and so did the junior goaltender’s Hobey Baker pursuit.Miller, one of 10 semifinalists for the 2002 Hobey, didn’t make the cut of three finalists announced Wednesday by the Hobey Baker Award Selection Committee.St.
FOOTBALL
Pretrial for defensive end postponed
The pretrial hearing Wednesday for Spartan defensive end Clifford Dukes was adjourned. Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor Joyce Draganchuck said the reason for the adjournment was so that Dukes’ attorney, Brian Jeffries of ASMSU’s legal services, could have access to all the information. “He just had to sort through all of the police report,” Draganchuck said.
BASEBALL
Sluggers ready for home-opener
The MSU baseball team will attempt to bring its winning ways to Kobs Field.After opening the season with 17 straight road games, the Spartans will host Siena Heights 3 p.m.
BASKETBALL
Spartan considers going professional
In what seems to be becoming an annual event, another member of the Spartan men’s basketball team will leave MSU early and enter his name into the NBA Draft. But unlike when ex-Spartans Jason Richardson and Zach Randolph declared for the NBA Draft at the end of the 2000-2001 season, sophomore guard Marcus Taylor’s announcement on Tuesday to declare for the draft is anything but definite. “Becoming an NBA player has been one of my goals for a long time,” Taylor said in a written statement.
SPORTS
WNIT run suggests bright future for Spartans
After making the Women’s National Invitation Tournament final four, the MSU women’s basketball team has Spartan faithful excited for next season.Recent WNIT history may prove to be a blessing for the Spartans (19-13). Of the previous 16 WNIT final four teams, seven made the NCAA Tournament the following year and only two of those teams failed to win a tournament game.“Ultimately, we’re going to pursue the same goal we pursued this year - to be one of 64 and to make a run and pursue championships,” Spartan head coach Joanne P.
FOOTBALL
No more to be charged for fight
After reviewing testimony involving an October fight that included football players and fraternity members, the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office says it will only charge a sophomore defensive end, citing lack of evidence to pursue others. Clifford Dukes, 20, is scheduled to have a pretrial hearing today in 54-B District Court on four counts of assault and battery and two counts of aggravated assault. The charges, issued on March 20, involve an Oct.
ICE HOCKEY
Comley era begins; changes expected
Some fans were grinding their teeth just as hard as the MSU hockey team was trying to grind out a goal during the NCAA Tournament West Regional on Friday in Ann Arbor. In the end, the toil didn’t pay off for the Spartans - who wrapped up their season with a 2-0 loss to Colorado College that day.