Latest news with #Sparty
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Spartan bus tour hits the road
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – A bus full of Michigan State University faculty and staff Spartans hit the road this morning just past 7 am on a whirlwind two-day trip throughout Metro Detroit. Kwesi Brookins, Vice Provost for Community Outreach and Engagement, says that part of the trip's goal is to 'bookend a lot of what we can learn about Detroit and…[what] our role as a University is in serving Michigan.' The tour will include stops at the Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills, the newly reopened Motown Museum, and the Detroit Institute of Arts. As MSU has provided decades of support to many of the locales, it's a chance for everyone to see the outcome of the University's efforts up close and in person. 'Hard choices' ahead as MSU President says 'we must adjust our financial path' Sparty, the MSU mascot, made an appearance to send the group off on their education adventure. Right before the Spartan-branded bus pulled away from the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, MSU president Kevin M. Guskiewicz gave all 50 faculty and staff aboard a speech which concluded with a rousing call and response — 'Go green' and 'Go white!' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
29-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tom Izzo's throwback Michigan State brings its Sparty fight, just the way he likes it
Tom Izzo's throwback Michigan State brings its Sparty fight, just the way he likes it Show Caption Hide Caption 1 seeds Florida & Duke prep for Elite 8 against Texas Tech & Alabama Mackenzie Salmon breaks down Elite 8 matchups, as No. 1 Florida will take on No. 3 Texas Tech and No. 1 Duke will verse No. 2 Alabama. Sports Seriously ATLANTA – Tom Izzo paced to the very end of the bench, almost to the tunnel at State Farm Arena, and drew a big breath as he watched Jaden Akins' first free throw splash through the net. Then he whipped back to the edge of the coaches box near midcourt, spreading his legs and getting into as much of a defensive stance as a 70-year-old man can, pumping his right fist as the second one went down. Michigan State, finally – and barely – was on the verge of another Elite Eight. And for Izzo, who hadn't taken a team there since 2019, it meant perhaps just a little bit more than you might think for a man who's been to the Final Four eight times. But not for his own sake. Izzo wants another national championship, sure. He lives for the thrill of being there on the final weekend of the college basketball season, something he calls 'one of the all-time great things in any basketball player's life.' But mostly, he just wants more time with this unique and resilient team. And after hanging on to beat No. 6 seed Ole Miss, 73-70, you can see why. When you've been somewhere as long as Izzo has been at Michigan State, it's dangerous to compare teams or players from different eras. As he joked Thursday, he'll have Mateen Cleaves or Draymond Green hunting him down if he talks too glowingly about how much he loves this particular group. Can you blame him, though? In a transactional college basketball era where no relationship seems permanent, where assistant coaches often make less money than players and where so many of the program-building skills that made Izzo a Hall of Famer aren't as relevant as they once were, this Michigan State team is a throwback. It's not overly athletic nor particularly skilled and not even as old as most college coaches want their teams to be constructed these days. Ole Miss had Michigan State beat on all three counts Friday. But not on the scoreboard. Because goodness, does Sparty fight – just the way Izzo likes it. 'We're not a team that can just go out and play and win,' Izzo said. 'And boy, we did a helluva job in the second half.' With 12 minutes left, it didn't look like it was going to happen. The Spartans were struggling to break the paint against an opponent that Izzo called 'the most physical defensive team we've played in years.' They were kind of getting bullied on the glass, too. Ole Miss had controlled the game from the opening tip and just looked like the more complete team, poised to make the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. And then? Well, in the complete absence of any other plan that was going to work, Michigan State's guards just put their heads down and attacked. If it wasn't Jeremy Fears it was Akins. And if it wasn't Akins it was freshman Jase Richardson, who showed on a very big stage why he's going to be a first-round NBA draft pick in a few months if he wants to be. Yes, Richardson was 4-of-6 from the 3-point line on a night when his teammates were 2-of-11. But for a 19-year-old who isn't even close to reaching his peak physical development to play as under-control with the ball, to be as fearless in traffic and to even come up with a couple of clutch rebounds late showed why this version of Michigan State has just a little more juice than recent Izzo teams. 'We weren't being as aggressive as we should have been,' said Richardson, whose father, Jason, played on Izzo's only national title team in 2000. 'I feel like they were kind of just punking us in the beginning. We couldn't get to the paint. Shooting decent shots, but not great shots. I think second half it really opened up for us. We were being more aggressive, getting downhill and getting driving kicks. I felt like we were at our best in that second half.' And little by little, Michigan State reeled Ole Miss in, got back on even terms and then made every key play down the stretch. Whether it was Izzo getting great looks for his guys out of timeouts, nailing every clutch free throw and then getting the toughest bucket of the night from Akins off a broken play with 1:23 remaining to break a 63-all tie, it was vintage Sparty. 'I love these guys because they kept grinding,' Izzo said. 'They kept grinding. I'm proud and happy for them. They've earned it. They deserved it. They did it.' There's no reason to believe Izzo is walking away anytime soon, but he may never get another chance like this to reach the Final Four. He hates the transfer portal, loathes what the business of college basketball has become and isn't going to compromise what's important just to get a player. He's coached long enough now that more sons of Spartan greats may be in the pipeline, but that's probably not a great recruiting strategy. For Michigan State to get Izzo to one more Final Four, it's going to have to be like this, wringing every ounce of ability out of a roster nobody else could coach this well. But now they're just 40 minutes from going back. And betting against Izzo when he's got this kind of opportunity in his sights rarely works out well.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New bobblehead will feature Michigan State's Sparty kissing the court
EAST LANSING — A new licensed, limited edition bobblehead has Michigan State's Sparty 'kissing the court,' just in time for the Spartans' March Madness debut. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum is unveiling its latest bobblehead Wednesday, two days before the Spartans' first 2025 tournament game against the Bryant Bulldogs of Bryant University in Rhode Island. The bobbleheads now available will be individually numbered to 2,025 and will ship out in September. They will run for $40 and there's an $8 flat-rate shipping charge per order. 'We're excited to unveil the first bobblehead featuring Sparty kissing center court at the Breslin Center – a well-honored Michigan State tradition,' National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said in a press release. 'The 30-year tradition is one of the best in college sports and is special for the seniors who have worn the green and white. 'This bobblehead will be a must-have for all fans of Michigan State!' As a bobblehead, Sparty wears a signature outfit while positioned on a rectangular, hardwood-textured base, ready to kiss the Spartan logo at Breslin Center's center court. The front and back of the base read 'Michigan State' and 'Spartans.' Legendary Spartan Shawn Respert began the kiss-the-court tradition at his final victorious 1995 home game against Wisconsin. After scoring 31 points, the senior kissed the Spartan 'S' at center court to show gratitude to MSU, the coaching staff and his teammates. Spartan basketball players – both men and women – have continued the tradition that has spread across campus. Spartan hockey players kiss the ice and the school's football players are known to huddle to kiss a helmet. Earlier this month, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum released a licensed, limited edition Tom Izzo Win Counter Bobblehead to honor the MSU basketball coach's 354th Big Ten Conference victory, which surpassed former Indiana coach Bob Knight for the most conference wins in league history. More: Michigan State's Tom Izzo gets bobblehead honoring milestone win ahead of March Madness More: Celebrate Tom Izzo's historic Big Ten wins mark with this awesome commemorative poster Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@ or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: New bobblehead will feature Michigan State's Sparty kissing the court
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michigan & Michigan State square off Friday in battle for Great Lakes supremacy
Caroline Fenton, Jason Fitz & Isis Young discuss this Friday's matchup between the #12 Michigan Wolverines and #14 Michigan State Spartans in men's basketball. With the Spartans just a game back in the Big Ten standings, Fitz worries that their inconsistent 3-point shooting could be their biggest weakness heading into the home stretch of the season. Hear the full conversation on the 'College Basketball Power Hour' podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen. View more And then I get Michigan State at Michigan on Friday night in the men's game. Michigan State just, uh, as I referenced earlier, Izzo just set the all-time winning record. Michigan State's interesting to me, guys, because for years, my argument against Michigan State in the tournament particularly has been they don't have, like, ever since they didn't have Cassius Winston, they haven't had that guy that's like, hey, I need a bucket, I get a bucket. This Michigan State team is interesting to me cause they got a couple of guys that I think can do that. But my God, they can't shoot from the outside. Like this is just a wildly inconsistent three-point shooting team. So to me, one of the nice things that we start to get over the next few weeks is a real indication of who a team is in the tournament. So now you've got Michigan State, Michigan taking each other on, and I've got to see a better, like, I think Michigan State, if they could shoot the ball consistent from the outside, could be a dangerous Final Four type team in this year's tournament. But The problem is, we saw a little bit of that. They got hot in December, January, didn't lose. Everybody's like, yes, this is it. And then we hit February and it's like, oh yeah, they can't shoot. I, I, these are the games that just to me are so proven and important to Michigan State's ability to in offensive sets, generate points. Not talking about transition basketball. I'm talking about like, everybody knows what's coming. Can you generate a basket when you need it? I'm, I'm worried about that for Sparty, so I think this is a big game ice for Sparty to prove themselves. Uh, I totally agree with you. First, rivalry games. I mean, it just means something different too when you've got Michigan and Michigan State on the floor together. So I, I think it says a lot about their pride going into this game and your point about, you know, their offense scoring, not just. In transition is really just what's necessary when you're preparing for the tournament. Like I feel like you can't stress it enough just winning in different ways. Um, I also think though that that's where coaching is really challenged. Like if you know your team can't score in the half court consistently. You have to have the best quick hitter package I've ever seen in my life. Like you need to be running all the miss decoys, all the staggers, all the backdoors, all the lob options, because you know that naturally that's not what your team excels in. And so I also think it's a challenge on the coaching staff to be prepared to have some quick hitters to go when they need it down the stretch. Close
USA Today
08-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oregon at Michigan State odds, picks and predictions
The Oregon Ducks (16-7, 5-7 Big Ten) visit the No. 9 Michigan State Spartans (18-4, 9-2) Saturday at Breslin Center in East Lansing. Tip-off is scheduled for noon ET (FOX). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's college basketball odds around the Oregon vs. Michigan State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions. The Ducks lost 80-76 at Michigan to open the 2-game Great Lake States road trip, but Oregon was able to cover as a 7.5-point underdog to halt a 6-game non-cover skid. The Over (152) cashed, and the total has now gone high in 4 of the past 5 outings. The Spartans had a rough ride in Southern California, losing to USC and UCLA Feb. 1-4, although the average margin of defeat was just 4.0 points per game (PPG). After an 8-1 against-the-spread (ATS) run from Nov. 27-Jan. 12, Sparty is just 2-3-1 ATS in the past 6 games. The Under has cashed in 3 in a row and 8 of the past 11 outings. These teams met in a non-conference game at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Ore., on Nov. 26, 2022. Sparty won 74-70 while cashing as a 3.5-point favorite while the Over (134) hit. – Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+ Oregon at Michigan State odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:23 a.m. ET. Moneyline (ML) : Oregon +290 (bet $100 to win $290) | Michigan State -375 (bet $375 to win $100) : Oregon +290 (bet $100 to win $290) | Michigan State -375 (bet $375 to win $100) Against the spread : Oregon +8.5 (-110) | Michigan State -8.5 (-110) : Oregon +8.5 (-110) | Michigan State -8.5 (-110) Over/Under (O/U): 146.5 (O: -115 | U: -105) Oregon at Michigan State picks and predictions Prediction Michigan State 76, Oregon 67 Michigan State (-375) costs more than 3½ times the potential return, and that's way too much risk for not nearly enough reward. For the Spartans, they are risky because they've suffered losses in the past 2 games, too. However, Oregon (+290) has dropped 4 in a row, and it cannot be trusted, too. AVOID. Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! BACK MICHIGAN STATE -8.5 (-110) lightly. Oregon +8.5 (-115) is just 1-6 ATS in the past 7 games, while going 4-10 ATS in the previous 14 outings. For Michigan State, it is just 2-3-1 ATS in the previous 6 contests, so neither of these teams is killing it from a cover perspective. UNDER 146.5 (-105) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at best. The Under has cashed in 3 consecutive outings for Michigan State, while going 4-1 in the previous 5 contests. In addition, Sparty has cashed low on the total in each of the past 2 games at home, while going 7-1 in the past 8 outings at Breslin Center. For Oregon, though, the Over is 4-1 in the past 5 games, so proceed with caution. The Under is 3-3 in 6 road conference games to date. Want to play some games of your own? Play for free at the best social casinos and enjoy lots of slots, blackjack, video poker, roulette and more. You can even earn real prizes! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group: Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / Recruiting / Transfer portal / College Football Playoffs / College Sports Wire / High School
