It hasn’t been the best offseason for Michigan State basketball. First the troubled Chris Allen, who had been in and out of Coach Tom Izzo‘s doghouse, was kicked off the team. And now backup point guard Korie Lucious, who became a star in his own right during March madness faces a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Kalin Lucas will be running the point again in East Lansing, but if he goes down with an injury again, Lucious will be a key player.
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If there’s one player Michigan State’s Greg Jones model his game on it’s former Spartan star Ike Reese. “Just natural ability, just seeing him play, he’s another Cincinnati guy like myself. I got to meet him at the Penn State game last year,” Jones said about Reese, who played in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons; earning a 2004 Pro Bowl slot on special teams. Today Reese hosts his own show, “Ike at Night” on 610 WIP AM in Philadelphia. But Jones himself probably a thing or two about the mainstream media, as he’s getting lots of love from it.
By Paul M. Banks
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I have to admit it, I’m drinking the green colored Kool-Aid being manufactured in East Lansing, Michigan this summer. I truly believe that Ohio State and Iowa are the class of the conference; but after that, Michigan State leads the way. I think they’re the most complete team of the nine which happen to be a peg or two below the big two, and if anyone’s going to contend for that Big Ten conference crown, and knock off the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes, it’ll be the MSU Spartans.
And on offense it all starts with their quarterback Kirk Cousins, a preseason all-conference pick who was rated the league’s “most accurate passer” by Lindy’s.
By Paul M. Banks
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Most college basketball experts have Michigan State has the the 1a. or 1b. team in the nation next year (sharing that distinction with Duke). When it comes to the Big Ten, most experts have them as #1 in the league, with Purdue nipping right at their heels. Well, Duke and Purdue gained some ground on the Spartans today in these imaginary, meaningless standings, as wing player Chris Allen was kicked off the team. What is FAR from imaginary and meaningless is the hit the Spartans depth took today.
By Paul M. Banks
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This happens every summer. NBA teams court Michigan State supercoach Tom Izzo, and NBA teams get turned down. But this time, the lure was much stronger. This time, the offer was $30 million to tutor LeBron James, the best player in the game. And again the offer was turned down.
Like I said a couple weeks ago, I knew “H to the Izzo” was staying, unless he had a guarantee that he could coach LeBron. Then there might have been a slight chance he would bolt for Cleveland. Well it still didn’t happen. It’s also been rumored (or reported- depending on your definition of news these days) that Izzo had previously turned down an offer to coach the Chicago Bulls this season as well.
By Paul M. Banks
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We’ve all heard the news and rumors about MSU’s head coach Tom Izzo: $30 million, 5 years from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Even though State’s A.D. says no official offer has even been made. However, don’t believe any of this hype- unless Izzo knows he has Lebron to work with.
Michigan State entered this past season ranked #2 in the AP poll. They had their struggles in midseason, but played up to the hype when it counted in March. Without top player Kalin Lucas, the Spartans still finished just one HORRIBLE non-call away from playing in the national title game.
Next year, they’ll likely be #2 again, or maybe #1. So Izzo has a title to win. And the only way he can do that in Cleveland, is if LeBron stays put.
By Paul M. Banks
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Duke, the 2010 National Champions, welcome Final Four participant Michigan State to Cameron Indoor Stadium on Dec. 1 in the premier matchup of the 12th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge Presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. The ACC/Big Ten Challenge will run from Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 with all 11 games being shown on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com
The Blue Devils return first team All-America candidates Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith along with seven other letterwinners, including Miles Plumlee, Mason Plumlee, Seth Curry, Ryan Kelly and Andre Dawkins, for the 2010-11 season. Duke also welcomes a top 5 recruiting class featuring Kyrie Irving, Josh Hairston, Carrick Felix and Tyler Thornton.
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By Paul M. Banks
Last year the Big Ten FINALLY won the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. The match-ups for next winter, when the Midwestern conference goes for consecutive victories, are now out of the bag. The official word on the lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but what can I say? I know a guy who knows a guy.
Michigan State will travel to Duke and face the defending national champions in what could be the most hyped match-up of the season. The two Final Four teams from last month will no doubt he considered 1a. and 1b. when the season opens up next November.
Read more after the jump to see what else has been announced.
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Great video here! Blackhawks and Michigan State icon Duncan Keith getting harassed by a stupid Trashville Predators fan. His response is adequately measured. Not too much, no too light.
Enjoy!
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By Paul M. Banks
Michigan State entered this past season ranked #2 in the AP poll. They had their struggles in midseason, but played up to the hype when it counted in March. Without top player Kalin Lucas, the Spartans still finished just one HORRIBLE non-call away from playing in the national title game.
Butler star forward Gordon Hayward even admitted it himself, telling CBS’ Seth Davis that he legitimately hacked MSU’s Draymond Green on Green’s potential game-tying shot in the final seconds of the national semi-final game.
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By Paul M. Banks
CHICAGO- 2010 has been perhaps the most exciting NCAA Tournament in recent memory. This March Madness is yet another example of why the college hoops postseason is the best postseason around. It doesn’t need fixing; college football’s pathetic excuse for a postseason does.
The run up to this Final Four featured comebacks, upsets and many incredibly close games. And the title game may have been the grandest of all!
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By Paul M. Banks
INDIANAPOLIS- Signs inside, outside and all over downtown Indy read “the road ends here.” Indeed it did, my four venue, three city college basketball tour ended on this night. As did the championship aspirations of the 64th and final team. I literally teared up as Duke cut down the nets and hoisted the championship trophy because for me, the “Midwest Swing” that began nearly a month ago in Indy, ends in Indy. I came full circle in the “circle city.”
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By Paul M. Banks
INDIANAPOLIS- The brightest lights and the biggest stars come for college basketball’s biggest stage. But the biggest and best photo opp? Blue II, Butler’s bulldog mascot. He came into the media room and everyone swooned over him. He’s adorable! And the paparazzi were hounding him like 12 year old girls swooning over the Jonas Brothers. And by everyone I include media members, who all wanted their photo with the little bulldog.
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By Paul M. Banks
In the first national semifinal game, last year’s “home team” in the Final Four takes on this year’s “home team” in the Final Four. Although to be fair, Butler will have an advantage of being much closer to a true “home-court advantage” than State did in Detroit.
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By Paul M. Banks
As Kermit the frog once taught us, “it’s not easy being green.” To wear the green and white of Michigan State, a player must be tough, tenacious, defend like his hair is on fire and be almost willing to give his life for a defensive rebound. Kind of sounds like sophomore forward Draymond Green.
Like the narrator said in “300,” “Only the hard can be Spartans, only the strong.”
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By Paul M. Banks
INDIANAPOLIS- What are the benchmarks, numbers, standards for entry into the same class as the four (Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, UCLA) most historically elite programs?
Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, whose program has been in the national conversation for the last 10 years or so, offered a couple definitions.
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By Paul M. Banks
INDIANAPOLIS- Remember back to 1999, a time when Ricky Martin and really annoying “boy bands” were oppressively popular? Back then Michigan St. had a star point guard who had a monster junior season in leading his team to the Final Four. Mateen Cleaves, remember him? The guy who wore ugly Bill Cosby sweaters when injured on the bench, pondered jumping to the NBA before returning to East Lansing, and leading the Spartans to the Final Four. This year, another junior point guard is facing the same question.
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By Paul M. Banks
With six Final Fours and two national title game appearances in the last 12 years, the 2000s have been without a doubt the most fruitful period in Michigan State basketball history. The decade kicked off with the 2000 National title, and every player to stay all four years at State has been to at least one Final Four since Tom Izzo took over the program in 1995.
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Paul M. Banks
ST LOUIS-I got one of the best compliments ever following the taking of the picture you see above. Some random dude said something that made me think, “this must be what Justin Timberlake feels like every day.”
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