They scrapped and they clawed, they punched and they kicked and somehow, someway, the MSU men’s basketball team cut North Carolina’s lead to four. The fans were buzzing, the stadium was rocking, and the big vein in ESPN announcer Dick Vitale’s forehead appeared to be pulsating.
In a game viewed by many as a potential Final Four preview, No. 1 North Carolina came to the site of the 2009 Final Four and showed why it has been unanimously tabbed as the best team in the country.
The MSU Athletics Department knew if it didn’t establish a sleek, sexy, yet innovative Web site approach, it’d be left in the dust in the ever-changing technological world. And when the staff realized they weren’t deep enough to do so, they brought in the necessary forces to reach the level they aspired to be at in the spring.
Both MSU and No. 14 Michigan struggled early this season and are looking to head in the right direction before winter break in their first two of four meetings. Hockey reporter Alex DiFilippo discusses some of the big questions surrounding the home-and-home series against the Wolverines this weekend.
The No. 21 MSU women’s basketball team dropped its second game of the season Wednesday, losing 70-57 at Georgia Tech in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Spartans started the game fast, jumping out to an early 8-0 lead with a three-pointer by senior guard Mia Johnson.
Both MSU and No. 14 Michigan have 17 players from the state of Michigan on their respective rosters. With such a strong recruiting base for both teams in Michigan, it’s no surprise that many players on both sides are familiar with each other.
As a freshman last season, MSU men’s basketball guard Kalin Lucas had the game of his life on the biggest stage of his life. Playing No. 7 Texas at the Palace of Auburn Hills, the Orchard Lake St. Mary’s product poured in a career-high 18 points, six rebounds and six assists to help the Spartans upend the Longhorns, 78-72.
After facing two tough pressing teams last week, the No. 21 MSU women’s basketball team will have to face another fast defense Wednesday at Georgia Tech.
After two successful 2008 soccer seasons for MSU, it’s only right to give credit where credit is due. The men’s team finished 13-5-2 and was eliminated in its first NCAA Tournament game, yet the team played a lot harder and looked even better than those statistics showed all year long. The Spartans won the Big Ten regular-season title for the first time in program history and also won the Big Ten Tournament.
A raging storm and flurry of 3-point baskets threatened to shock the No. 5 MSU men’s basketball team Sunday afternoon. But once the weather passed and rain was cleared off the floor of the Milk House, the Spartans left Wichita State reeling in a cloud of dust.
Despite having a young team this season, the MSU volleyball team will be stacked with talent next season, as it will return its top eight point-scorers while losing only one senior. “Losing Heather (McDaniel) is really hard — just because she’s such a great leader and she has a lot of heart and she’s so inspiring to all of us, but we’re going to come on strong next year,” sophomore libero Allyson Karaba said.
There was an outside shot at getting into the NCAA Tournament when the MSU volleyball team began play Saturday against No. 12 Minnesota. Halfway through the fourth set it looked almost possible. The Spartans needed to win both of this weekend’s matches and have Indiana lose both of its matches to slide into the sixth spot in the Big Ten and have a shot at getting into the NCAA Tournament.
For the first time this season, the MSU hockey team scored four goals in a game. But the end to the Spartans’ scoring drought only resulted in a 4-4 tie Saturday with No. 1 Minnesota in the second game of the College Hockey Showcase at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.
Raymar Morgan scored a season-high 29 points off the bench and three other Spartans scored in double figures, as the No. 5 MSU men’s basketball team defeated Oklahoma State 94-79 Friday at the Old Spice Classic at the Milk House in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
With a six-game losing streak looming over the MSU hockey team’s head, the Spartans are heading into what might be the toughest four-game stretch on the schedule.
First came the turkey. Then came the stuffing. The Maryland men’s basketball team feasted on MSU like a three-course Thanksgiving meal Thursday, upsetting the No. 5 Spartans 80-62 at The Milk House in Orlando, Fla.
In its first big test of the season, the No. 24 MSU women’s basketball team looked impressive in its 74-48 victory over No. 23 Old Dominion.
With the lack of offensive production this season for the MSU hockey team, head coach Rick Comley said it’s going to be vital to bring players to MSU who bring offensive power and physical strength to the table.
Illinois-Chicago was the 5 a.m. alarm clock that awoke the fourth-seeded MSU men’s soccer team from the most vivid of dreams. And it came in the worst and most abrupt way possible.
MSU head coach Mark Dantonio and senior running back Javon Ringer failed to garner the Big Ten’s top honors — but Ringer, senior strong safety Otis Wiley and sophomore linebacker Greg Jones were all selected to the 2008 All-Big Ten coaches’ first team Monday.