FOOTBALL
Ohio-born Spartans embrace rivalry with Buckeyes
Like most Ohioans, Rocco Cironi grew up an Ohio State Buckeyes fan.
FOOTBALL
Breakdown: Stingy Buckeye defense looks to contain Ringer
The Buckeyes will start freshman quarterback Pryor for the fifth straight game. This season, Pryor has looked average compared to the larger-than-life character he was portrayed as during his recruitment.
FOOTBALL
'Four' your information: MSU vs Ohio State
Ohio State has won 11 straight road games against Big Ten opponents. The last time the Buckeyes lost on the road was Oct. 8, 2005, when they fell to No. 16 Penn State, 17-10. Six of those wins came against teams that were ranked at the time.
FOOTBALL
Three of a kind
It’s a mystery how Javon Ringer can be three different people on any given MSU football Saturday. First he’s a kid, waking up in a hotel room to watch Saturday morning cartoons before going out to play football with his friends.
SOCCER
Spartans look to defend Big Bear Trophy
The seniors on the MSU men’s soccer team have never lost to Michigan. In the past three seasons the Spartans are 3-0-1 and the Big Bear Trophy, awarded to the winner of each game between the two teams, has found a temporary hibernation home in the Spartans’ trophy case.
SPORTS
MSU battles quick turnaround
It seems easy enough: an advantage in players with time to set up a play, a little more than 15 yards away from your opponent’s goal. But in its 2-1 loss to No. 3 Wake Forest, the No. 4 MSU field hockey team struggled on penalty corners. The team was awarded 13 and didn’t score on any of them.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball team looks to take road experience to Minn., Iowa
When the MSU volleyball team went on its first Big Ten road trip, it felt a little overwhelmed.
BASKETBALL
Breslin hosts Midnight Madness tonight at 10:30
MSU’s annual Midnight Madness event will take place at 10:30 p.m. tonight at Breslin Center, with doors opening at 9:30 p.m. for autographs on the concourse. There also will be promotional giveaways and performances by the Spartan Marching Band, MSU cheerleaders, MSU Dance Team and Sparty throughout the night
SPORTS
Players seek Final Four spot in Detroit
There are two main strengths MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo has seen in the preseason thus far. Athletic ability and an improved depth. And at MSU’s men’s basketball Media Day on Wednesday, Izzo said his team will continue to use those strengths and fight hard in the weeks leading up to its first preseason game (Nov. 5 vs. Northern Michigan) in order to get to a specific point as a unit — confident to take on the Big Ten schedule.
SOCCER
DeMartin scores twice, MSU wins
The men’s soccer team didn’t have to reschedule its game against No.14 Illinois-Chicago after it was canceled on Sept. 14 due to the heavy rainstorm that caused DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field to resemble a lake more than a soccer field. But MSU head coach Joe Baum wanted to reschedule the game against the No. 14 ranked team in the country to help his team gain experience against yet another quality opponent.
BASKETBALL
Izzo introduces 2008-09 Spartans
For the first time since the spring, the MSU men’s basketball team — with the addition of three new faces — was fully dressed for Media Day at Breslin Center. Answering questions about the past, present and future, the Spartans were amped and ready to kick off the 2008-09 schedule Nov. 5 against Northern Michigan, head coach Tom Izzo’s alma mater.
ICE HOCKEY
Freshman Conboy making presence felt
Freshman forward Andrew Conboy didn’t just make an impression on MSU head coach Rick Comley this weekend — he made an impression on Massachusetts and Boston University players in the form of numerous bumps and bruises.
FOOTBALL
Spartans prepare for Saturday showdown
With a host of Ohio State playmakers making their way to Spartan Stadium on Saturday, the MSU defense is going to have its hands full in a showdown featuring two of the last three unbeaten Big Ten teams.
SOCCER
Handing out 'midseason' hardware
They’ve played through utter downpours, extreme 98-degree heat, adversity from losing a senior midfielder as well as the constant low expectations spewed their way about how the Spartans don’t have what it takes to be a Big Ten competitor.
SOCCER
Heyboer honored by Big Ten for third time
Freshman forward Laura Heyboer cannot only score three goals in a single game — she also can rack up three Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week awards in one season.
BASKETBALL
Many lessons learned at Izzo media practice
My inquiries on how MSU men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo works his magic to mold such quality athletes while keeping them so well-behaved have been wiped clean. I understand it now because my niche changed from reporter to athlete, even if it was short-lived.
VOLLEYBALL
King guiding young team through season
Going into this season, the MSU volleyball team knew it had two returning starters and a very young team.
SPORTS
Dantonios' key to success lies in team smarts
There’s a strange, almost subliminal, difference in labels tagged to new head coaches hired in college football: You’re either a program architect or a program builder. A program architect is a finessed, white-collar coach who talks loudly, works from his high-rise building and favors lower taxes. Think U-M’s Rich Rodriguez or Florida’s Urban Meyer.
VOLLEYBALL
Wisconsin sweeps MSU volleyball at Jenison Field House
The MSU volleyball team suffered its first home loss of the season on Saturday, getting swept 3-0 by No. 21 Wisconsin. “I thought we were playing fairly well at times but we didn’t kick it in at the right times,” head coach Cathy George said. “We have to learn how to close things out.”