Entering the Big Ten Tournament, the MSU men’s basketball team dropped two in a row and a chance at an outright Big Ten regular-season title,but the Spartans (27-7) bounced back and won their outright title on Sunday and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
When the MSU men’s basketball program won its last national championship in 2000, the current Spartans were in grade school, still familiarizing themselves with the game of basketball.
The MSU men’s basketball team got its outright conference championship in the Big Ten Tournament title game, where the Spartans bested Ohio State, 68-64. Just as head coach Tom Izzo promised last week at Senior Day, after a loss to Ohio State, they won their title back.
For much of the season, the No. 15 MSU hockey team has been waiting patiently to procure its first playoff win in more than four years. After dropping two games and being eliminated from the CCHA Tournament this weekend, that wait might be a little longer.
Following the trend of the season, the MSU wrestling team saw some impressive individual performances at the Big Ten Tournament last weekend, but finished near the bottom as a team.
One week removed from its final meet at Jenison Field House, the MSU gymnastics team swept Alaska-Anchorage in a weekend series that saw the Spartans make the 3,795 mile hike to Wells Fargo Sports Complex in Anchorage.
Oxford, Ohio – His scowl was louder than his voice. It was evident in the gritting of his teeth between polite but bitter words about coming up short in the CCHA Tournament.
Oxford, Ohio – Even with the stakes raised for the playoffs, the No. 15 MSU hockey team still had plenty to play for on Saturday night. The Spartans needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive in the best-of-three series with Miami (Ohio) in the quarterfinals of the CCHA Tournament.
Only one thing will be on the minds of the Spartans on Sunday, and it won’t have anything to do with payback or seeds.
Scoring nine straight points, Austin Thornton’s three consecutive 3-pointers sparked a 26-5 MSU run that changed the complexion of the game and led to the Spartans’ 65-52 win over the Badgers.
Oxford, Ohio – It could have been the physical dominance at both ends of the ice. It could have been the four goals in the second period that effectively ended sophomore goalie Will Yanakeff’s night.
Oxford, Ohio – From the first day of his hire in March, Tom Anastos has put a magnifying glass on MSU’s stagnant playoff record and made it the goal of the team to turn the corner by securing the program’s first playoff win since 2008. The goal will have to be put on hold for another night as the No. 5-seed Spartans couldn’t stave off the potent No. 4-seed Miami (Ohio) scoring attack led by forward Jimmy Mullin to fall, 6-0, in the first game of the series in the quarterfinals of the CCHA Tournament at Steve Cady Arena in Oxford, Ohio.
Not only was Trice able to play Friday in MSU’s 92-75 win over Iowa, he logged 24 minutes — the second most he’s played all season — and knocked down three 3-pointers on his way to nine points.
Indianapolis — Adreian Payne had a focus he’s never had before during the No. 8 men’s basketball team’s 92-75 win against Iowa.
_Indianapolis —_ It wasn’t quite the 34-point beat down that the No. 8 MSU men’s basketball team gave Iowa when the Hawkeyes came to Breslin Center Jan. 10, but the 92-75 win in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament gave the Spartans plenty to be happy about.
After the MSU men’s basketball team lost its final two games of the regular season, the Spartans felt like they let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers. MSU (24-7 overall, 13-5 Big Ten) could have won an outright Big Ten Championship with a win against either Indiana or Ohio State last week.
It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Sunday was destined to be a Hollywood-esque sendoff for forward Draymond Green, and the stage had been set perfectly. Green and his fellow seniors were supposed to lead the No.
After Saturday’s strong showing in the Big Ten Championships — in which five MSU wrestlers secured spots in the NCAA tournament — only junior 149-pounder Dan Osterman was left competing for a tournament berth.
Midway through the Big Ten Championships hosted in West Lafayette, Ind., five Spartan wrestlers already have punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament, while one more still is scrapping to make it in.
Indianapolis – As Kiana Johnson walked toward the bench, she pulled her headband down to cover her eyes. At some point, you’ve just seen enough.