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Team

BASKETBALL

Spartans hitting stride as tournament approaches

Dan Woike
February 28, 2002

Optimism and excitement have surrounded the Spartans’ late-season success. But a few months back, the MSU faithful could only look to what lay well ahead for excitement. The future seemed to be at least one year away for the Spartans (18-10 overall, 9-6 Big Ten) not too long ago. Opening the Big Ten season with three straight back-breaking losses, MSU’s youth and inexperience quickly became a stumbling block and postseason hopes seemed to spell NIT. The first was a 70-67 loss at Minnesota on Jan.

BASKETBALL

MSU mens basketball report card

Record: 18-10 overall, 9-6 Big Ten 2001-2002 Report Card: Shooting: B+ The Spartans have shot the ball especially well lately, most recently hitting 59 percent from the field in an 81-76 win at No.

BASKETBALL

First, but not last Big Ten Tournament not held in Chicago

Ryan Wallace
February 28, 2002

Goodbye Windy City. Hello Hoosier hospitality. The fifth annual men’s Big Ten Tournament will call Indianapolis its new home, after a four-year run in Chicago.However, the 11 teams that compete in the Big Ten shouldn’t make themselves comfortable.Scott Chipman, associate director of communications for the Big Ten, said the move this year is just the first in a series of moves between the two cities.“The tournament is going back to Chicago next year, then back to Indiana,” Chipman said.

SPORTS

Women ready for Big Ten Tournament

Chris Mackinder
February 28, 2002

The women’s basketball team enters tonight’s game against Ohio State with one thing on its mind - the NCAA Tournament.Knowing a run in the Big Ten Tournament is a must for a postseason berth, the Spartans (16-11 overall, 6-10 Big Ten) are looking to upset the Buckeyes (13-14, 8-8) and keep their season alive.Both teams are coming off huge wins to close the regular season.

BASKETBALL

Tournament time

Justin A. Rice
February 28, 2002

As the court inside Breslin Center was taken apart piece by piece, one couldn’t help but think of MSU’s 2000 National Championship won on that very floor. It stands as a foundation for the entire program - the NCAA title, the Big Ten championships, the 53-game home-court winning streak.

BASKETBALL

Freshman returns home for Big Ten Tournament

Justin A. Rice
February 28, 2002

Playing in front of the hometown fans is always difficult. The desire to rise to the challenge and represent is unavoidable, but so are the distractions.As an Indianapolis native, freshman guard Chris Hill has more to think about than just the Big Ten Tournament.

SPORTS

Parity fever strikes Big Ten basketball

I have a confession to make - I’ve had the tendency to jump on the occasional bandwagon. Yes, I “Blame(d) it on the rain” with Milli Vanilli, “Jump(ed)” with Kris Kross, and sang along to “YMCA” at sporting events.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans earn Player of the Week honors

James Jahnke
February 27, 2002

Maple leaf pride was burning within the 10 Canadians on the MSU hockey team after Canada beat the United States 5-2 for the Olympic ice hockey gold medal Sunday. All eight freshmen on MSU’s team - five Canadians and three Americans - watched the contest in the Wonders Hall dorm room shared by freshman left wing Kevin Estrada and freshman center Ash Goldie. The game was a tense, close battle until a decisive third period lifted the Canadians to victory - much to the delight of rookie left wing Brock Radunske, who’s from New Hamburg, Ontario.

BASKETBALL

Ganakas to be honored at bust

James Jahnke
February 27, 2002

Former Spartan head coach Gus Ganakas will receive the 2002 Men’s Basketball Distinguished Alumnus Award, the university announced Tuesday. Ganakas, who is currently the team’s color commentator on the Spartan Radio Network, is the sixth recipient of the award.

SPORTS

Us future looks fuzzy

Chris Mackinder
February 27, 2002

The women’s basketball team knows it needs a strong showing in the Big Ten Tournament to prolong the season.Winning it all in Indianapolis is probably the only way the Spartans (16-11 overall, 6-10 Big Ten) will earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

SPORTS

Softball team splits two weekend games

Chris Mackinder
February 26, 2002

The softball team split its two games at the Elon Tournament on Saturday. The Spartans (1-5) won the first game, their first victory of the season, 7-0 over Elon (0-8), but dropped the second 1-0 to UNC-Greensboro (9-2). In the first contest, senior pitcher Becky Gray set a MSU single-game strikeout record by ringing up 13 hitters.

SPORTS

Womens hoops should stick to defensive play

The MSU women’s basketball team has been flirting with disaster of late. Using their defensive strength early in the season, the Spartans (16-11 overall, 6-10 Big Ten) opened the Big Ten season at 9-1 and were receiving votes in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today coaches polls. Since then, the defense has been inconsistent and the Spartans fluttered down the stretch, with scrappy victories mixed in. Sunday is a key example.

BASKETBALL

U plays spoiler in Columbus

Dan Woike
February 26, 2002

The past four seasons head coach Tom Izzo and his Spartans have spent the last weeks of February fighting off opponents trying to spoil their Big Ten Championship dreams. But with conference title hopes gone, the MSU men’s basketball team (17-10 overall, 8-6 Big Ten) gets to play the spoiler tonight in Columbus, Ohio.

SPORTS

Womens track takes 10th at indoor championship

John Ostler
February 26, 2002

The women’s track and field team took 10th place in the 21st annual Big Ten Indoor Championship last weekend. The Spartans (0-2) traveled to University Park, Pa., where sophomore Jamie Krzyminski won first place in the 5,000-meter run.