On the banks of the Red Cedar there's a school that's known to sports fans. Their specialty is college basketball, and the Spartans also play great hockey. Excuse me for taking the Michigan State fight song, and changing the lyrics. But when people think about MSU sports, Tom Izzo's hoops program comes to mind first. Six Final Fours in 11 years will do that. Spartan … [Read more...] about Michigan St. Wins 20+ in 2 years; Not bad for a “Basketball School”
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Michigan State Blows Out #9 Purdue, Secures NCAA Tournament Bid
I guess MSU Coach Tom Izzo finally got his Michigan State Spartans to realize that March is here? In their 74-56 rout over the #6 Purdue Boilermakers, State finally played like a preseason #2 team in national college basketball. And of course they did it in March, a month in which they're known to be at their best. It took all the way to the Big Ten Tournament … [Read more...] about Michigan State Blows Out #9 Purdue, Secures NCAA Tournament Bid
Michigan State Stays on NCAA Bubble with Narrow Victory over Iowa Hawkeyes
In our latest, most up-to-date NCAA Tournament bracket projection, (or college basketball "bracketology" if you will, we have the Michigan State Spartans as a #11 seed. Although the chances of them falling into that final #12 seed line (and perhaps playing within that "First Four") are still high, even with their 66-61 narrow escape over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round … [Read more...] about Michigan State Stays on NCAA Bubble with Narrow Victory over Iowa Hawkeyes
Big 10 Tournament Preview and Predictions
As mediocre as the Big Ten has looked this season (and a major reason why it looks so mediocre is because expectations were sky-high in October) that big muddled middle mush should make for an exciting conference tournament. There really is very little difference between seeds 4-7. And the league is indicative of college basketball at large this season. When the brackets are … [Read more...] about Big 10 Tournament Preview and Predictions
Is Michigan State Going to be Left out of the NCAA Dance?
Only one team from last year’s Final Four looks to be in serious danger of missing this year’s NCAA Tournament. That college basketball team was also the national runner-up in 2009, and ranked #2 in preseason polls this year. They are the Big ten and the nation’s biggest let-down, the Michigan State Spartans (17-13, 9-9). North Carolina and Kansas State also had massive … [Read more...] about Is Michigan State Going to be Left out of the NCAA Dance?
Michigan State is a Program in Severe Crisis, but What’s Next?
As I articulated in the first part of this feature, the Michigan State college basketball season is ostensibly over. (Follow that link for more detail, but if your only colors are green and white I’m warning you now: “there’s no comfort in the truth, pain is all you’ll find,” as George Michael told us in the 1980s) State's packing it in is no longer news to anyone close the … [Read more...] about Michigan State is a Program in Severe Crisis, but What’s Next?
Michigan State: Season is Essentially Over, Program in Crisis?
Is it all downhill for the Michigan State Spartans? Clearly, this season is over, and State has packed it in. If losing to Michigan for the first time in 1,100+ days didn’t convince you, then maybe the requirement of overtime to achieve 3/5 of their conference wins did. No? Then last night’s phantasmagoric performance in Iowa City certainly does. The Iowa Hawkeyes are … [Read more...] about Michigan State: Season is Essentially Over, Program in Crisis?
Relationship Between Michigan State’s Leading Scorer and Head Coach Getting Frosty?
Last March, Michigan State Spartans star Durrell Summers saw a breakout NCAA Tournament propel his NBA Draft stock. A probable second round pick, Summers instead came back to school, and now sees his stock falling. The primary questions that surround his potential -defense and heart- are now flaring up again. And Summers isn't getting any help from his own Head Coach Tom … [Read more...] about Relationship Between Michigan State’s Leading Scorer and Head Coach Getting Frosty?
Michigan State Loses 71-62 in Champaign, Blows Chance at Road Win
A big reason Michigan State won back to back Big Ten titles in '09-'10 is their superior road record. The last two years MSU is 16-5 away from home. They had a school record 8 road wins in 2009, and followed it up with a 7-2 mark the following season. However, this year outside of the Breslin Center has been a totally different story. The Spartans fell to the Illini in … [Read more...] about Michigan State Loses 71-62 in Champaign, Blows Chance at Road Win
Michigan State Has Found Their Legitimate Starting Five Now
Following Michigan State's narrow escape over Oakland on December 11th, I tweeted to my followers what I believed MSU's starting lineup should be: a three guard cadre of Durrell Summers, Kalin Lucas, Keith Appling with Delvon Roe and Draymond Green up front. I then tweeted an abbreviated/condensed version of why I felt this would work. First, having two true point guards … [Read more...] about Michigan State Has Found Their Legitimate Starting Five Now