MEN'S BASKETBALL
Spartans defeat Oakland 88-57
Outside, temperatures plummeted to the low teens and a bone-chilling wind chill was enough to keep anyone indoors.
FOOTBALL
Talented players dot squad
Even though the football team was up and down this decade, there were plenty of talented players to wear the Green and White.
ICE HOCKEY
Ryan Miller leads all-decade hockey team
The MSU hockey all-decade first and second teams have a nice blend of players from each era of the decade. The toughest choice in the selection process came between the pipes. Jeff Lerg had a tremendous career for MSU, but we had to give the nod to Ryan Miller, who was only the second Spartan win the Hobey Baker Award.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
04-05 team shines on decade squad
Four of the five players on the first team come from the program’s best team in 2004-05. Liz Shimek and Lindsey Bowen are the top two scorers in program history, and Kristen Haynie was the cornerstone of that team.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Starting 5 highlight unmatched decade
It’s only right that the decade’s best team is well-represented on the All-Decade team. Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson already have had their numbers retired, and Charlie Bell also might get that honor some day, but he gets knocked out of the starting lineup for Alan Anderson — just barely.
SPORTS
Best freshman performance
Our list of best freshman performances of the decade is higlighted by a group of athletes who not only had phenomenal breakout seasons, but went on to have illustrious careers.
FOOTBALL
Notre Dame game of 2006 unforgettable
I couldn’t speak. My eyes were sprung open wide as a garage door, my legs seemingly bolted to the ground beneath me and my breathing heavy and panicked.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Stats don't lie; Shimek best in 10 years at MSU
Throughout her college career, Liz Shimek kept getting better. Her success helped bring the MSU women’s basketball team to a level of national prominence previously unseen.
FOOTBALL
Football players highlight long list of choices
The most difficult thing about picking MSU’s male player of the decade is that there are many different ways to approach the question.
SPORTS
The best of the decade
Championships and All-Americans. Memorable moments and jaw-dropping plays. The 2000-09 decade has given MSU sports fans memories they will never forget. The next eight pages are filled with the best of the best in the last decade of MSU athletics.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Spartans dominate Xavier 66-53
Everything MSU was missing during its sluggish effort Sunday against Indiana was there — and more — Wednesday night against No. 8 Xavier. The Spartans brought the energy, excitement and enthusiasm that head coach Suzy Merchant thought was missing Sunday in a dominating 66-53 win against the Musketeers Wednesday night at Breslin Center.
SPORTS
Wrestlers aim to get healthy during break
The holidays will bring plenty of rest and relaxation to the MSU wrestling team, as several players will look to clear up minor injuries and prepare for final exams.
ICE HOCKEY
Spartans playing for sweep versus Falcons
MSU head coach Rick Comley won’t be satisfied with anything but a sweep this weekend.
FOOTBALL
On paper, this year's Spartans better than last
This year’s MSU football team would have beaten last year’s team. Now, obviously, you can look at the records and see that last year’s team won nine games, compared to six this season — but this year’s team was better in almost every statistic, and if a few breaks had gone the other way, the teams’ records could have flip-flopped.
BASEBALL
Report: Granderson to N.Y., Jackson to Ariz.
The Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks agreed in principle Tuesday to a three-team deal in which Detroit would send All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson to the Yankees and All-Star starting pitcher Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks, FoxSports.com reported Tuesday afternoon.
BASKETBALL
Spartans ready for another test
The MSU men’s basketball team’s past two games against mid-majors have been closer than expected for the No. 12 team in the country. Thursday’s game against Oakland will be no different.
ICE HOCKEY
Spartans already close to eclipsing last season's win mark
Last season, the MSU hockey team finished the year with a measly 10 wins. But Friday, this year’s Spartans earned their 10th win of the season just 18 games into the year, whereas it took last year’s team 33 games to reach the double-digit win mark.
BASKETBALL
MSU basketball defeats Citadel 69-56
The MSU men’s basketball team knew The Citadel’s 3-point shooting would give the Spartans fits Monday.
FOOTBALL
Players ready to forget past, look to future
As Sunday’s bowl game news conference commenced, there was one big elephant in the room that made its presence known from time to time.
FOOTBALL
Transition coming quickly in South Bend
Notre Dame already has been looking for a new football coach, and now the Fighting Irish also are looking for a new quarterback and wide receiver.