March Madness
Following MSU’s basketball and hockey teams through postseason play.
Check out the Monday Madness Podcast from the State News Sports staff every Monday during post season play.
Recent posts
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In the end: WNIT quarterfinal match vs. U-M
It was as even as a matchup as the MSU women’s basketball team could have asked for.
The Spartans defeated their cross-state rivals in overtime, 45-40, ending Michigan’s season in the fourth round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
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Countdown to faceoff: MSU vs. Notre Dame
Colorado Springs, Colo. — As someone who’s seen all but six of MSU’s 40 hockey games this season, I can tell you that the two games against Notre Dame in January were two of the most intense, competitive games I watched this season.
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Silver lining in loss
Izzo gets playbook pointers from Saunders
When you have the best college basketball program in the state, you might happen to borrow some advice from the best pro basketball team in the state.
And that’s what MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo does, on occasion, from Pistons’ coach Flip Saunders.
At his weekly news conference on Monday, Izzo said he’s had the chance to discuss expanding MSU’s playbook with Saunders — not just adding more in quantity, but boosting the quality of current plays by opening up more options when an opponent takes away a certain component.
“I think that has helped us in building our playbook,” Izzo said.
But there is one ex-Pistons trait that Izzo wants certain members of his team to stray away from — fouling on unnecessary shots down low, especially to keep guys such as sophomore forward Raymar Morgan on the floor and off the bench.
“I can’t afford him to take a swipe like in the Bad Boys’ days where you don’t give up a layup,” Izzo said. “He’s gotta give up a layup.”
And although Memphis is known for poor free-throw shooting, Izzo doesn’t want to rely on fouling, simply to take away some type of rhythm.
After all, it could end up turning around and biting MSU in the rear — such as Morgan, junior center Goran Suton or senior center Drew Naymick getting into foul trouble rather than normal bench players.
“I’d rather still contain them,” Izzo said. “Our defense has been at its best.”
Comments
LosAngeles_Sparty
03/25/08 @ 1:10pm
It’s ok if Izzo takes a few things from Flip Saunders but i’d say stay away from that guy. Tom is a winner and the jury is still out on Flip. But any help we can get is great i guess. Izzo’s team is playing with the hunger that it takes to advance in march. People out here on the west coast don’t know how good MSU is.. I hope we keep winning so i can keep talking smack! GO STATE!!
Pat
03/25/08 @ 9:44pm
Has everyone seen the “Who will win it” poll on ESPN that got hacked and is blowing up w/ MSU fans? 200,000 + votes and we are heavily favored to win the whole thing, as well as Drew being MVP so far. That is funny as hell. It’s really pissing some people off, especially UNC fans. We started this season as a championship contender and are finally starting to really look like one. Go Green!!!!!!!
TOM THE TIGER
03/26/08 @ 10:54am
WHO IS THIS GUY ??
Posted by SpartyOn on March 26, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don’t fool yourselves Memphis fans, this MSU squad is a little rougher than those last chumps you squeaked by. Come Friday, get ready to swallow one more loss this season and see how the Big 10 plays ball. Izzo is, right now, breaking down the path to victory to his team and when they take the court its going to be a battle. I don’t know about all of you in Memphis, but I’m pumped up for this and can’t wait to see Sparty humble the first top seed and send you guys packing.
YOU’RE GETTING CRUSHED FRI. NIGHT.