Senior 1B Sam Busch named Spartan baseball's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient
Senior 1B Sam Busch named Spartan baseball's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient
Michigan State baseball made the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2023, having a successful season in regards to team success, earning several postseason awards.
Joseph Dzierwa was named as the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, as well as being named to the Big Ten's first team All-Big Ten. Following that announcement, Ryan McKay was named to the Big Ten's second team. Now, a third Spartan, senior infielder Sam Busch was recognized by the Big Ten.
Busch was named as the Big Ten's Sportsmanship Award recipient. The senior co-captain was given the award during the Big Ten's award reveal.
In the 2025 season, Busch had a .289 batting average to go along with a team high 15 home runs. He had a .383 on base percentage to go along with a .588 slugging percentage.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
American Press
3 hours ago
- American Press
Cowboys learn tourney schedule
Last November, the Cowboys used a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands to help build the camaraderie that led to a historic season. McNeese State hopes to do that again this year. The Cowboys will be the headline act at the four-team field for the 2025 Cayman Islands Classic, which runs November 23-25. 'We're thrilled to participate in such a prestigious event, set in one of the most beautiful locations in the world,' said McNeese head coach Bill Armstrong. 'Competing against three programs with strong traditions of postseason success will be a significant early test for our team. Each matchup will present unique challenges and provide a valuable gauge of our current standing. 'It's a great opportunity to learn, grow, and identify the areas we need to improve as we prepare for conference play.' McNeese is coming off a 28-7 campaign that saw the Cowboys win their second straight Southland Conference championship, marking the first time in program history. The Cowboys also won their first NCAA Tournament game ever, upsetting Clemson 69-67 in the opening round of the Midwest Regional in Providence, Rhode Island. McNeese would lose its second-round match against Big Ten powerhouse Purdue. Armstrong takes over the Cowboys following Will Wade's departure for North Carolina State last March. He was able to retain four key members from last year's team, including starters Javohn Garcia and sharpshooter DJ Richards. Garcia was the Southland Conference's Player of the Year last season. With eight or nine new players on the roster, Armstrong will use this trip to continue building the Cowboys' team unity. 'It is important that we use trips like this to come together as a team,' Armstrong said. 'It will be great for an educational experience and a chance for us to bond as a group. 'We will also get a chance to play some good teams at a time when we are still trying to figure things out. I would rather play a tournament setting because there is a prize, but getting these three games against like competition will be big for us.' McNeese will be joined by George Washington, Murray State and Middle Tennessee State in the round-robin event. 'We're excited to welcome these outstanding programs to this year's Cayman Islands Classic,' said Joe Wright, owner and chief executive officer of Caymax Sports Ltd. 'They're in for a first-class experience — both on the court and in the beautiful Cayman Islands. It's going to be a special week of competition, camaraderie, and unforgettable memories for teams and fans alike.' The Cowboys will open the tourney, which is in its seventh year, against George Washington on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 4 p.m., Lake Charles time. Middle Tennessee State and Murray State will play the night's second game. The following night, the Cowboys will play Murray State in the late game, roughly 6:30 p.m., with Middle Tennessee and GW in the opener. McNeese will open the final night with a 4 p.m. game against Middle Tennessee in John Gray Gymnasium in George Town, Grand Cayman. Middle Tennessee State went 22–12 in 2024-25, advancing to the National Invitation Tournament under head coach Nick McDevitt. Chris Caputo returns for his third year as head coach at George Washington, which plays in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Ryan Miller enters his first year as head coach at the Missouri Valley Conference's Murray State, looking to improve on the team's 16–17 record from last year. The Cowboys are still looking to fill the final two games of their schedule in hopes of finding a pair of Power 4 opponents. Tournament Schedule (all times central) Sunday, Nov. 23 McNeese vs. George Washington, 4 p.m. Middle Tennessee vs. Murray State, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24 Middle Tennessee vs. George Washington, 4 p.m. McNeese vs. Murray State, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25 Murray State vs. George Washington, 4 p.m. McNeese vs. Middle Tennessee, 6:30 p.m.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
MSU target, 3-star RB Nelsyn Wheeler commits to Illinois following official visit
MSU target, 3-star RB Nelsyn Wheeler commits to Illinois following official visit For a second straight day, a Michigan State running back target has announced he's heading elsewhere. Nelsyn Wheeler of Omaha, Neb. announced his commitment to Illinois on Tuesday. The commitment comes after Wheeler took an official visit to Illinois this past weekend, and one day after he announced he would be cancelling his upcoming official visit Michigan State. Wheeler is a three-star prospect in the 2026 class, and holds a recruiting rating of 85 on 247Sports. He ranks as the No. 75 running back in 247Sports' composite rankings. Michigan State was one of a few schools in pursuit for Wheeler. Kansas, Wisconsin, Cincinnati and Northwestern were a few of the other big-time programs after Wheeler before he committed to Illinois. Wheeler is the latest Michigan State running back target to commit elsewhere -- four-star running back Damon Ferguson of Baltimore committed to Pitt on Monday, three-star running back Michael Dukes of Detroit committed to Rutgers last week, and Kory Amachree of Haslett, Mich. committed to Kansas last month. So Michigan State is back to the drawing board when it comes to a running back in the 2026 class. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
NCAA issues notice of violations for Michigan State football from Mel Tucker era
The NCAA has issued a notice of allegations to Michigan State University's football program during Mel Tucker's time as coach. Matt Larson, MSU's executive senior associate athletic director for communications, confirmed the university is aware of the NCAA's notice but has not yet received a copy. Per NCAA rules, the school has 90 days to respond once it receives the Notice of Allegations, though extensions can be provided. Advertisement According to the NCAA's infractions tracker dashboard, which charts the most serious Level I and II violations, MSU self-reported the matter on Aug. 29, 2023. The nature of the allegations is unclear, and the university has not yet responded to Freedom of Information Act requests from the Free Press. The NCAA's allegation review board took up the matter Nov. 6, 2024, with all participating parties having a Jan. 21 status conference with Committee on Infractions chair Kay Norton to 'discuss resolution paths for the parties.' Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker walks off the field after warmups before the game against Central Michigan at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. BLAST FROM THE PAST: Michigan State football targets return to Mark Dantonio man-to-man 'No-Fly Zone' days Advertisement The NCAA's enforcement branch submitted "a new resolution selection request to (the committee) based on parties' participation and additional allegation' on April 14. The final Notice of Allegations is dated April 29, according to the NCAA dashboard. Previously, Emily Gerkin-Guerrant, the school's vice president and chief of communications, confirmed that MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz acknowledged the probe into Tucker's tenure from 2020-23. 'Michigan State Athletics has cooperated with the NCAA to review a potential matter concerning the football program under the former staff and will continue to do so for the duration of the process,' the school's athletic department said in a statement. 'NCAA rules do not permit the University to provide any additional details at this time. According to NCAA bylaws, Level I violations are those which 'seriously undermine or threaten the integrity of college sports;' 'provide or are intended to provide a substantial or extensive recruiting, competitive or other advantage;' or 'are a substantial or extensive impermissible benefit.' Advertisement Level II violations can 'provide or are intended to provide more than a minimal but less than a substantial or extensive recruiting, competitive or other advantage;' 'include more than a minimal but less than a substantial or extensive impermissible benefit;' or 'involve conduct that may compromise the integrity of college sports.' One of the triggers for either a Level I or II infraction can be a 'violation of head coach responsibility rules.' Tucker was 20-14 overall and 12-13 in Big Ten play during his three-plus seasons as MSU's head coach before being fired two games into the 2023 camapgin. After the Spartans' winningest coach in school history Mark Dantonio abruptly retired Feb. 4, 2020, then-MSU athletic director Bill Beekman hired Tucker 12 days later. Tucker signed a 10-year, $95 million extension that did not include a buyout clause on Nov. 24, 2021, but he was suspended two games into the 2023 season for alleged sexual improprieties during a spring 2022 phone call with prominent rape survivor and women's rights activist Brenda Tracy. Tracy filed a Title IX violation with the university in December 2022. Advertisement The school fired Tucker with cause for violating the moral turpitude clause in his contract on Sept. 27, 2023. He was due roughly $75 million through 2032 before being fired for violating that clause in his contract. The university, in an October 2023 decision, determined Tucker sexually harassed Tracy, a violation of school policy. Tucker filed a wrongful termination suit against MSU in July 2024 that remains ongoing. Guskiewicz, who was named MSU's president two months after Tucker's termination, told the Detroit News editorial board in April that he was aware of the NCAA's inquiry, Gerkin Guerrant said. The university also dismissed athletic director Alan Haller on May 1 after less than five years. The national search for his replacement remains ongoing. Advertisement Contact Chris Solari: csolari@ Follow him @chrissolari. Subscribe to the "Spartan Speak" podcast for new episodes weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football: NCAA issues Notice of Allegations
