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EAST LANSING- Following an impressive upset 1-0 win on Friday night against the No. 15 UCLA Bruins, the Michigan State men’s soccer team will play host to the Northwestern Wildcats on Tuesday at DeMartin Stadium.
In the win against the Bruins, junior midfielder Jonathan Stout led the way for the Spartans netting his fourth goal of the season. Stout will be a player to watch for MSU in this matchup against the Wildcats as he leads the Spartans in goals on the season. Other players who have been impactful this season for the Spartans include senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan and sophomore forward Richie Ludwig.
Junior goalkeeper Zac Kelly has been dominant in goal for the Spartans this season, collecting 28 saves in nine games played. Kelly is also only allowing on average 1.14 goals per game.
MSU enters this matchup with Northwestern with a 3-4-2 record on the season and a 2-1 record in conference play. The Spartans also enter this matchup as winners of two of their last three games outsourcing their opponents three to two.
The Wildcats come into East Lansing with a 5-4 record and an 0-3 record in Big Ten play. Northwestern also comes into this matchup with the Spartans on a three-game losing streak with losses to Maryland, Washington, and UCLA.
Players to watch for the Wildcats include sophomore forward Italo Addimandi and senior midfielder Collin McCamy, leading the Wildcats with one goal and four points on the season.
The Spartans will look to improve to 3-1 in conference play against Northwestern. Kickoff from DeMartin Stadium is set for 8 p.m
EAST LANSING- On Friday, Michigan State’s men’s soccer team goes to Los Angeles, California, to go up against the UCLA Bruins, which will be their first time playing each other as members of the Big Ten.
The Spartans go into the game 2-4-2 overall and a 1-1 record in Big Ten play. The Spartans look for some momentum after losing their last game to Penn State 2-1. If the Spartans win, they will improve their Big Ten record to above a 500 winning percentage.
This season, the Spartans have been led by junior midfielder Jonathan Stout, who not only leads the team in goals but points as well. Stout has scored a goal in two straight games and looks to carry that momentum into the matchup against UCLA. Sophomore forward Richie Ludwig has also done damage this season by scoring a goal and having two points.
Other Spartans to watch out for in this matchup are senior midfielder Sean Kerrigan, who has one goal so far for MSU this season, and senior midfielder Shion Soga, who has two assists on the season for the Spartans.
UCLA is coming in with a bit of momentum after beating Westmont 5-1 on Tuesday, improving their overall record to 4-2-3 and a Big Ten record of 1-1-1.
The Bruins are led by graduate student midfielder Edrey Caceres and junior forward Nikolai Rojel, who each have three goals and six points so far on the season. The Spartans will also need to watch out for graduate student midfielder Sveinn Hauksson, who has two goals so far on the season.
The Spartans look to improve their conference record to 2-1. Kickoff from Wallis Annenberg Stadium starts at 10 p.m. on Friday.
This week on Check the Net, Impact89’s College Basketball Podcast, join Colin, Kylee, and Eli as they preview 8 conferences and make predictions about who may be this year’s conference champions! This week’s episode features the Big 12, Mountain West, Horizon League, Missouri Valley, Big Sky, SWAC, Big West, and Southland conferences!
This show was a bit of a wildcard, going from Fleetwood Mac to Against All Logic and Philip Glass, and it was a blast!
Check out our show every Sunday from 10PM-12AM!
EAST LANSING- For the second time in her career, senior Nalani Iosia has been named Big Ten Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week.
The senior from Long Beach, California had herself a performance this past weekend at the Kathy DeBoer Invitational.
The Michigan State Spartans finished the tournament undefeated, and Iosia put up some impressive numbers defensively.
In Friday’s game against Western Kentucky, Iosia had an impressive 25 Digs, two less than her previous season high of 27 against Iowa. Iosia also racked up eight assists, leading to a Spartan victory.
In Saturday’s game against Marist, Iosia only had 13 Digs compared to her 25 the day prior, and racked up four Assists as well.
However, the Spartans remained undefeated and managed to sweep Marist in three sets.
In the last round of the invitational on Sunday, Michigan State would face Loyola Chicago, where Iosia put up 18 Digs and seven Assists.
Iosia was a huge factor in the success of MSU’s performance this past weekend, and her defensive ability helped the Spartans stay on top.
With Big Ten play approaching, and a current season record of 4-2, Iosia has more opportunities to showcase her defensive prowess.
Michigan State will take on Western Michigan at home this Wednesday, the game is slated for 6 p.m. at the Breslin Center.
EAST LANSING— With coming off a loss to No. 10 Florida, Michigan State looked to bounce back in its home opener and set the tone for the second annual Kathy DeBoer Invitational.
It took an extra set against a tough Western Kentucky squad, but MSU secured a 3-1 victory on the night. With MSU making its home debut for the season, the Spartans needed to come out of the tunnel with some fire.
WKU kept it close, 9-6, in the first set but MSU flexed its muscles with big-time middle and outside play. Junior outside hitter Taylor Preston made this a breakout performance, best exemplifying the MSU hitting power in the set, finishing with 14 kills for the match.
The Spartans also owned the Hilltoppers at the net in this set, as junior middle blocker Evie Doezema made a huge impact up front. She finished with three blocks for the match, while fellow sophomore middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig led the team with four. Fittingly, the set was capped off on a powerful block made by Doezema and Preston, making it a comfortable set victory at 25-15.
“When we were in Colorado, they [middle blockers] were dominant. They were leading us in kills, etcetera,” MSU head coach Leah Johnson said. “I think teams have scouted that so we went a little more pin-heavy tonight, but they managed to still do their job at a high clip.”
Entering the second set, a similar story to the first played out. WKU fought hard early on and tied it at 10. This sequence from the Hilltoppers saw senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox create a lot of their point production, as she finished the match with 12 kills.
Not to be outdone, junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson became a major component of an MSU 9-0 run. The Spartans’ kill leader on the season showed major strength along with graduate outside hitter Danyle Courtley. They finished the match with 14 and 9 kills respectively, as Anderson laid down the finishing blow to end the set at 25-17 for the Spartans.
“I’m so proud of that trio [Preston, Anderson, Courtley] in particular,” Johnson said. “I kind of threw some things at them late this week as to what I was expecting from that group. They raised their game.”
While MSU was looking to cruise to a match victory in the third window, WKU was intent on making MSU earn every point. Every time the Spartans made a potentially momentum-shifting play, like a monster block from Preston, the Hilltoppers would do more than answer, as the Spartans took a timeout down 15-11.
Initially, WKU held firm in its lead, until the Spartans tied it at 18 with the help of three massive Preston kills. From there, the two teams traded blows until they went even at 23. WKU then grinded out the set victory at 25-23.
“We knew their speed would hurt us, especially once they got into good passing rhythms,” Johnson said. “They were passing much better, they were tipping on us a lot, forcing us to the ground. They just find ways to score and they are very persistent, there’s no quit in that team.”
Heading into the fourth set, WKU looked to keep the momentum rolling after snatching the third set from the Spartans. MSU would suffer an important injury to start off the set. Courtley went down on the floor following a kill at the net and was later seen carried to the locker room.
“Really disappointed to see Danyle, I have no idea even what’s happening with her,” Johnson said.
The Spartans remained even to start the set, but the Hilltoppers capitalized on three straight attacking errors forced by junior defensive specialist Callahan Wiegandt to go up 10-6. Following this sequence, the Spartans made a run of their own featuring contributions from Kulig and senior outside hitter Grace Kelly to stay within two scores for much of the set.
That was the story of the contest until an Anderson kill knotted up the set at 18. From there, a massive second straight point from Anderson turned the tide in MSU’s favor. MSU rode that momentum and the crowd’s energy to a fourth-set victory and a gutsy match win at 25-23.
“There’s nothing like Breslin,” Johnson said. “It is a special place, special fans, special environment. What an awesome time to get our first win at home and kick off the season that way.”
MSU improves to .500 overall on the season, moving up to 2-2. The Spartans will continue their home stint against Marist College on Sept. 7, with game time set for 3 p.m.
With Oscar Henderson MIA, Joe Dez, Tim Marshall and Derrick Mitchell hop on the mics to preview Michigan State’s matchup against the Maryland Terrapins tomorrow at 3:30PM. Make sure to checkout our live broadcast from College Park, Maryland, starting tomorrow at 3PM!
The crew takes a look around the nation and gives their sleepers, disappointments and predictions for the upcoming college football season. Look out next week for the preview before Michigan State’s matchup vs Florida Atlantic.
The entire crew is here! Oscar Henderson, Joe Dez, Tim Marshall, Derrick Mitchell and Jacob Maurer sit down at the mics to breakdown Michigan State’s upcoming football season, previewing their off-season additions and subtractions. Checkout Part 2 for their predictions for the entire nation!
EAST LANSING- With NFL Training Camp in full effect, the favorite Sunday pastime of many will soon be upon us, with less than seven weeks until our first action of the 2024 season. All 32 teams have an array of intrigue for fans to follow ahead of the season opener on September 5 in what should be one of the most electrifying football seasons in recent memory. Will the Chiefs be able to pull off the three-peat? How will the 2024 NFL Draft class fare in their rookie campaigns? The storylines are never-ending, and with so much to dive into, let’s kick things off in the City of Brotherly Love.
Brotherly Bounce Back:
In the wake of a sensational regular season, the 2023 postseason was anything but spectacular for the Philadelphia Eagles. The 11-6 Eagles tush-pushed their way into a playoff duel on the road, facing Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that saw the Eagles fall 32-9 embarrassingly.
Just a season removed from a Super Bowl appearance, general manager Howie Roseman came out guns a-blazing to push Dallas for the division crown.
Roseman stayed in the NFC East for his splash signing of the offseason, signing explosive Giants superstar Saquon Barkley to a three-year 37.75 million dollar contract to replace the departed D’Andre Swift.
The two-time Pro Bowler will form a formidable rushing duo with Jalen Hurts in Philly, though the 27-year-old will not have the luxury of running behind All-Pro Jason Kelce, who announced his retirement from football.
Roseman continued his miraculous offseason, bolstering new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense that was porous a year ago, finishing 26th both in total defense and yards allowed per game. With the additions of Bryce Huff, and Devin White, and the return of CJ Gardner-Johnson after a season in Detroit, the defense in Philadelphia was primed to return to its elite form from 2022.
In addition to Gardner-Johnson, the Eagle’s secondary has also improved significantly during the NFL Draft weekend, with the additions of standout athletes Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean to complement Pro Bowler Darius Slay.
Jalen Hurts accrued career-highs in both passing yards and touchdowns in 2023, and the Eagles are right on the Cowboys’ tails. Another season under his belt with this elite group of weapons will prove fruitful with the addition of Barkley, as the NFC East is must-see TV, especially with Jayden Daniels entering the picture down in our nation’s capital.
Three-PAT?
The Kansas City Chiefs are becoming a dynasty before our eyes, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in each of the last two seasons, as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid aim to combat the iconic Patriots dynasty with Brady and Belichick.
Arrowhead Stadium is home to one of the most explosive offenses in the National Football League. Still, the Chiefs have not had a wide receiver rack up over 1,000 yards since Tyreek Hill was traded (in the 2022 offseason), so the Chiefs have had speedster-sized shoes to fill in their receiver room for a long time coming now.
Travis Kelce is still Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice had a breakout rookie campaign which saw the former second-round pick go for 938 yards and seven scores, but more is needed in KC, with both Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore having disappointed early in their Chief’s tenures.
However, there is a real chance Rice will face NFL discipline for his involvement in a hit-and-run in March and his assault on a photographer in May. However, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach did what he does best, and brought reinforcements to the Chiefs Kingdom.
The Chiefs signed former first-round pick Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to a one-year, $7 million contract, but the speedster is fresh off a career-worst season with the Cardinals. However, Brown has blazing speed and should fit seamlessly into Andy Reid’s system.
Veach was not done making additions at the position though, doubling down to add one of the NFL Draft’s most dynamic playmakers as the Chiefs traded up to land former Texas standout Xavier Worthy. With a stellar 4.21 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine, the 21-year-old phenom set a combined record and now heads to Kansas City to catch passes from the NFL’s best passer.
Speed has been lacking from the Chiefs offense in recent seasons, resulting in Mahomes displaying his worst numbers since 2019. The tides should turn in significant fashion in Kansas City, with a three-peat a legitimate possibility despite having to face the likes of the Texans, Bengals, and Ravens in the star-studded AFC.
Potential Brewing in H-Town:
Just four years ago, the Houston Texans were riding high with DeShaun Watson’s career-best season, until things came crashing down. Following his sexual misconduct charges and a long chunk of time off the field, Watson was traded to Cleveland and the Texans were back to square one of their rebuild.
Drafting C.J. Stroud at No. 2 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft brought Houston’s dormant offense back to life. Stroud was awarded Offensive Rookie of the Year honors for his standout season that saw the Ohio State product throw for 4108 yards and 23 touchdowns en route to leading Houston to a division title and the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
The Texans have Stroud on his rookie contract until 2028, so general manager Nick Caserio capitalized in major fashion.
The Texans struck deals for both Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs to aid young studs Nico Collins and Tank Dell for an ever-improving supporting cast for Stroud in H-Town.
Mixon solves the Texans’ long-standing running back woes, while Diggs will step in to give Stroud a legitimate WR1 and one of the NFL’s best pass catchers. Diggs is entering his age-30 season and will be the most prolific receiver playing in the red, white, and blue since DeAndre Hopkins was traded.
The Texans also made noticeable improvements on the defensive side of the football. While Jonathan Greenard jetted off to Minnesota, Caserio looked to Minnesota to find his replacement in four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter. The Texans also signed Jeff Okudah, Azeez Al-Shaair, and Denico Autry (who has been suspended six games for PEDs) to fortify DeMeco Ryans’ defense going into his second season at the helm.
With that being said, the path to success will be easier said than done for the Texans. All four teams in the AFC South have legitimate playoff aspirations, and all four young quarterbacks in the division should take a step forward this season.
In Tennessee, L’Jarius Sneed was acquired with Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard brought in to maximize Will Levis’ potential. Down in the Duval, Trevor Lawrence has a lot to prove on the heels of his recent payday, and in Indianapolis, Anthony Richardson looks to build on the promise shown before his season-ending injury to his rookie campaign, as the Colts solidified their offensive core with the selection of wideout Adonai Mitchell.
The Texans improved the most of any team in the AFC South this offseason, and expectations are high with many calling Stroud a dark-horse MVP candidate ahead of his sophomore campaign. Though the rest of the division will put up a valiant effort, it is Houston’s division to lose and an even deeper playoff run could be on the horizon.
Quick Hits:
- No. 6 overall pick Malik Nabers has been a standout at New York Giants training camp for a Giants team that is looking to replace the explosiveness of Barkley. Will the fearsome speed of Nabers, Jalin Hyatt, and WanDale Robinson unleash a career-best season for Daniel Jones in what could be his final as a Giant?
- In Pittsburgh, the starting quarterback duel is in full effect. By the looks of it, Russell Wilson is the current starter and Justin Fields the future, but could Fields pull off some magic and steal the future Hall-of-Famers job? How will both new Steelers fare in the Steel City?
- The Carolina Panthers made Bryce Young the priority this past offseason, drafting two skill position players with their first two picks in Xavier Legette and Jonathon Brooks, as well as trading for Diontae Johnson. Will the former Heisman Trophy winner and top pick break out in his sophomore season, especially with a new head coach?
- Camp holdouts are plentiful this offseason, with Brandon Aiyuk, CeeDee Lamb, and Ja’Marr Chase all away from their respective franchises in pursuit of their desired paydays. Dallas is in a particularly sticky situation, with fellow stars Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons chasing paychecks of their own. Will some of the NFL’s best get their money, and could these holdouts extend into the regular season?
- There are four rookie quarterbacks to keep a watchful eye on during training camp; Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and JJ McCarthy. Which of the rookie signal-callers will have the best rookie season, and how long will it take for Maye and McCarthy to make their first career starts?
EAST LANSING- Just over halfway throughout the 2024 MLB season, the pinnacle of the summer has finally come to fruition. With the All-Star break now in the books, the MLB Trade Deadline is now in striking distance, and some crucial trades could be in the works over the coming days ahead of the looming July 30 deadline. With less than two weeks to go, teams are doing their due diligence, with teams buying, squads selling, and a lot of pressing decisions to contemplate, so let’s dive right in.
(Note: All stats are as of the start of play on Friday, June 19)
Trade Flurries in Toronto?
The Toronto Blue Jays are 44-52 and are a feeble 14 games back in the stacked American League East race. While Toronto’s season has been disastrous, the Jays are home to a plethora of assets that could be on the move ahead of the deadline.
Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was crowned as the 2023 Home Run Derby champion and has hit 26 or more home runs in three straight seasons. The son of MLB Hall-of-Famer Vladimir Guerrero, “Vladdy” is boasting yet another spectacular year, slashing .288/.359/.456 with 14 long balls in his age-25 season.
With the Astros in close pursuit of the division crown, the AL West-leading Seattle Mariners are expected to be interested in trading for the four-time all-star. Up in the Pacific Northwest, the bats are as cold as can be. Despite being atop the division, the Mariners are dead last in the majors in team batting average, are 28th in team on-base plus slugging, and are 26th in team RBIs.
The M’s desperately need a middle-of-the-order bat to complement rising star Julio Rodriguez, who has endured struggles of his own in year three. Former All-Star first baseman Ty France, who is known for his contact skills, has been pitiful for the Mariners this season, hitting a feeble .228. Guerrero Jr would make his presence felt instantly at T-Mobile Park, where manager Scott Servais’ lineup desperately needs more production.
The Mariners have one of the best farm systems in baseball, so while Vlad would not be cheap, Seattle has the means to strike what would likely be the biggest trade made at the deadline if it went down.
Another Blue Jay who could be changing teams is another MLB legacy: star shortstop Bo Bichette.
In the wake of leading the AL in hits twice across his last three seasons, Bichette has had the worst season of his young career in 2024. Just a season removed from a .306 batting average and a .814 OPS, Bichette possesses a slash line of .222/.275/.321 at the break.
The 26-year-old also hit 20 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons but has only left the yard four times thus far this season.
Bichette, at his peak, is one of the most consistent players in Major League Baseball and has real aspirations of turning his lackluster season around. Contending teams in need of a shortstop include the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers, and both teams are home to some of the strongest hitting coaches in the league, which could be the key to unlocking Bichette’s prior successes.
The Braves lost reigning MVP Ronald Acuna Jr to a torn ACL earlier this season, so adding Bichette will keep Atlanta competitive and keep the Phillies on their toes. Orlando Arcia was an all-star a season ago but has a .211 batting average and a .577 OPS in 2024, so Bichette, despite his struggles, would be a significant improvement.
As for the Dodgers, adding Bichette would allow Mookie Betts to return to the outfield and solve the Dodgers shortstop woes that have reoccurred since Trea Turner jetted off to Philadelphia. Having Betts, Bichette, Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, and Teoscar Hernandez in the same lineup would make the scariest lineup in baseball even more fearsome, adding yet another all-star to manager Dave Roberts’ lineup.
The Blue Jays could embrace a full rebuild, with starters Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt being also potential trade candidates, with impending free agents such as Yusei Kikuchi and Justin Turner also potentially on the move.
The Jays have a chance to truly shake things up across the next 10 days, making for one of the biggest storylines across Major League Baseball.
To Buy or To Sell
In the wake of tossing the first pitch at Citi Field in mid-June, famed McDonald’s mascot Grimace has been the symbol of the New York Mets’ surging season. Since Grimace made his appearance in Queens the Mets are 21-9, including winning 12 of the last 16 and seven in a row in June. Carlos Mendoza’s squad has been blazing hot as of late, improving to 49-46 and holding the final wild-card berth in the National League.
After a 9-19 stretch in May, the expectation was that the Mets would be shipping off their talent at the deadline, which still could be the case with general manager David Stearns having a plethora of expiring deals to trade ahead of next Wednesday’s deadline.
The most impactful of them is All-Star slugger Pete Alonso, who is hitting .240 with 19 long balls on the year. Alonso wants top-flight money at first base while hitting the market, with the Houston Astros expected to be interested as their playoff push intensifies.
The Astros could add Alonso to a star-studded lineup that already includes Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker, and Alex Bregman. Signing Jose Abreu did not work for Houston, so bringing in Alonso could reap serious benefits.
Free agent acquisitions Luis Severino and Harrison Bader could be on the move as well, with Severino racking up a 3.78 earned run average in his opening season in Queens after spending the duration of his career in the Bronx with the Yankees. Severino has bounced back after a disastrous 2023 with the Yankees, and contending teams could have their eye on the Dominican flamethrower, while Bader has yielded a similar bounce-back season while playing at Citi Field.
Like Alonso, longtime Met and former batting champion Jeff McNeil could also be traded, as the Mets continue the youth culture in Queens.
Amidst the recent hot streak, Mets fans are clamoring for acquisitions to be made in the bullpen, with star closer Edwin Diaz receiving little help thus far in 2024, after Reed Garrett’s sizzling start to the season quickly fizzled out.
A name to watch for the Mets is White Sox reliever pitcher Michael Kopech. While the 28-year-old’s 5.05 ERA may not jump off the page, Kopech has a blazing fastball that can hit triple digits and can pitch multiple innings as a setup man for Diaz due to his history as a starter in Chi-Town.
Another possibility for New York is Houston’s Ryan Pressly. Pressly has a 3.68 ERA across 36.2 innings pitched in 2024, as the 35-year-old’s role as the Astros’ full-time closer was usurped by the offseason signing of Josh Hader. With the Astros and Mets both on the playoff borderline, Pressly could be the newest addition to the Mets’ disastrous bullpen.
With the Mets on the brink of the postseason, the direction Stearns and Mendoza choose to take the franchise will be crucial, especially with the Mets possessing one of the deepest farm systems in the MLB.
Quick Hits:
- Michael Kopech isn’t the only White Sox who could be dealt at the deadline. Outfielder Luis Robert Jr and rookie phenom Garrett Crochet could be on the move, as it has been reported that multiple contenders have shown interest in both Sox cornerstones. In under 200 at-bats, Robert has hit both 11 home runs and stolen bases, while Crochet has a 3.02 ERA with an immaculate 150 strikeouts across 107 and one-third innings as it would take a pretty penny to acquire either player.
- Just a season removed from reaching the postseason, the Miami Marlins are embracing the rebuild. Luis Arraez has already been traded to San Diego, and Jazz Chisholm Jr and Tanner Scott could be the next to depart to Miami.
- Staying in Florida, the Tampa Bay Rays have had conversations about moving a few of their impact bats. 29-year-old outfielder Randy Arozarena has been dangled in trade discussions for the Rays in the midst of a down season. Arozarena is hitting at a .202 clip with a .671 OPS in 2024, as the Rays could trade Arozarena, Yandy Diaz, or even Brandon Lowe.
- Like their Big Apple counterpart, the New York Yankees are in dire need of some bullpen help to relieve the struggling Clay Holmes, Tanner Scott, Hector Neris, and Paul Sewald are among the realistic options for the Bronx Bombers.
- A new chapter could be coming to Oakland. Both the slugging Brent Rooker and the dazzling Mason Miller could be donning new threads after July 30. The 29-year-old designated hitter is slashing .291/.369/.573 while Miller leads all relievers in strikeouts per nine innings.
- Last but finally not least, the local Detroit Tigers have a crucial deadline on their hands. Cy Young’s favorite Tarik Skubal has been heavily pursued by both the Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles, while Jack Flaherty and Gio Urshela are other trade candidates to depart Motor City.
When Mannequin Pussy announced a US tour for their album I Got Heaven in January, I knew I had to go. That became even clearer when I saw they were going to be playing in my hometown of Madison, Wisconsin–not just giving me an excuse to go home, but also to rope my indie-loving twin into it, too.
After using this show as fuel to keep trucking through my hellish spring semester, May 8 finally came. One awkward dinner at an eerily empty vegan restaurant later, we meandered from one end of downtown Madison to another to get in line an hour and a half before doors. This was to ensure that I had plenty of time to deal with credentials-related stress, but it turned out to be essential to gaining a prime location in general admission.
Once I got through the doors, I found Majestic Theatre to be beautiful but small. Those in general admission could stand right against the stage, no barricade. After tucking myself in a prime spot right in front of the stage, I looked up and saw a large seated balcony. As more attendees filed in, the venue bumped party music, including “Crazy Frog” by Axel F (reminding me of our March interview with Between Friends).
Soul Glo put on an opening-act masterclass. Frontman Pierce Jordan captivated the audience. Even if he wasn’t making eye contact with me, it felt as if he was speaking right to me. Jordan also jumped into the audience in the middle of the set, providing enough chaos to get the crowd on board.
I will say, Soul Glo appealed more to the tried-and-true punks in attendance. I could tell some audience members either weren’t acquainted with their work, or don’t like Mannequin Pussy for their hardcore influences. This was further demonstrated by the mostly white audience, which Jordan didn’t shy away from acknowledging. He went out of his way to shout out “the three n—” in attendance.
Either way, Soul Glo left an impact. Many, including my sibling, left their set saying “I need to listen to them.”
Gallery • 10 PhotosSoul Glo performs at the Majestic Theatre in Madison, WI on May 8th, 2024. Photo / Ana WagenMannequin Pussy had an I Got Heaven-heavy setlist, which made sense, but left me feeling like I should have studied before I came to the show. They set the tone with “I Don’t Know You,” then going straight into “Sometimes” and “Nothing Like” — 3 out of 4 singles right off the bat.
The opening riff of “Patience” sent a buzz through the crowd, and that energy was carried into “Drunk II” and “Control.” The audience screamed along to every word, all venting together.
Gallery • 8 PhotosMannequin Pussy performs at the Majestic Theatre in Madison, WI on May 8th, 2024. Photo / Ana WagenAs we got into the middle of the set, a couple observations came to mind. One, while my spot in the audience was great for taking photos, the audio mix I experienced left something to be desired. It was hard for me to make out any of the vocals unless Missy (AKA Marisa Dabice) was belting, making it difficult to follow along to the less-familiar songs.
Secondly, between songs, some audience members felt the need to shout “Missy, you’re so hot!” These interjections made me uncomfortable, as they miss the point of everything this band stands for. Cat-calling the woman who named her band Mannequin Pussy to confront how femininity has been sexualized to the point where it’s censored on just about every platform–including Impact’s catalog–is certainly a choice. It reminded me of when bedroom pop artist Clario heard similar remarks from the crowd while performing her song “Blouse,” which is, ironically, about being objectified.
Gallery • 11 PhotosMannequin Pussy performs at the Majestic Theatre in Madison, WI on May 8th, 2024. Photo / Ana WagenMissy’s speech before “I Got Heaven” foreshadowed a longer moment she took during the latter half of the set. She addressed the elephant in the room: these songs evoke discomfort in those who have become comfortable with oppression. Missy then asked the audience to join in a group scream, with the intention to help to remove the pit we all have in our stomachs from the current state of the world; the anger we’ve been forced to suppress. The point of coming to a Mannequin Pussy show, she expressed, is to experience a release. Having felt the energy of the crowd during their set–and seeing how this tour is now completely sold out–I wholeheartedly agree.
Bassist Bear then took the mic, switching places with Missy for the song “Pigs Is Pigs.” “Romantic” served as a great closer. Everyone knows it, so everyone sang along, but it’s not one of those tracks that’s so popular it’s lifeless. It injected early-in-the-set energy into the crowd and gave me a feeling I haven’t experienced from a concert before. Typically, shows have left me feeling drained, like I can’t listen to the genre for a few days after. Instead, Mannequin Pussy left me wanting more.
Gallery • 10 PhotosMannequin Pussy performs at the Majestic Theatre in Madison, WI on May 8th, 2024. Photo / Ana WagenIf given the chance, I would love to go to another concert for both Soul Glo and Mannequin Pussy. While my experience watching them at Majestic was extraordinary, I would love to get a second chance in a different part of the venue, so I can get an even fuller connection to the music.
HELLO DIVAS as you may have heard, pretty much all summer Cam has been staying online with the show while I (Jovana) am out and about. This is their message to all the divas out there: “One of the things that I always do when I need to feel better is an emergency dance party. Tonight, I give you my dance party on-air as this playlist is all about my breakup. To those in similar shoes, you’re not alone, so come and dance with me :-)”
Make sure to tune in every Sunday from 8-10 p.m. for Terminally Online
xoxo
For those unfamiliar, the Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash is an annual music festival co-created by Lyrical Lemonade and SPKRBX. What began as a small gathering of creatives and music enthusiasts has evolved into the world’s largest independent hip-hop festival, attracting over 120,000 attendees this year. Year after year, the festival pushes the boundaries, and this year was no exception.
Gallery • 5 PhotosAngelo SavinoBlack Kray performs at Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash 2024.This year’s festival will undoubtedly go down in history, not only for the festival itself but for the hip-hop industry as a whole. The return of Chief Keef to Chicago after over twelve years solidified its historical significance, but that was just one piece of the puzzle. The festival also featured the first collective performance of record label Cactus Jack, led by Travis Scott, and the beginning of a new era for Playboi Carti, among other notable moments.
The lineup boasted both familiar names to the festival like Playboi Carti, Ski Mask the Slump God, and Lucki, along with new additions such as Kodak Black, Big Sean, and That Mexican OT. The DJ lineup was also stacked with some of the best in the game, including F1lthy, DJ Scheme, Zack Bia, and Kerwin Frost, who all delivered equally iconic sets.
Gallery • 3 PhotosAngelo SavinoBig Sean performs at Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash 2024.This year’s festival also incorporated several unique elements. The NFL, in collaboration with the festival, hosted an on-site flag football tournament with prizes like Bears season tickets and exclusive branded merchandise. In addition to the festival merchandise, streetwear vendors and brands, including local favorites Half Evil, were on-site selling their own pieces along with artist and/or festival collaborations. Another unique opportunity the festival presented was the 730 Printing Tour, which featured live screen printing where attendees could print a unique Chicago-exclusive design on garments, creating one-of-a-kind festival souvenirs.
This year’s Summer Smash Restaurant also included a completely revamped food lineup featuring dishes celebrating several artists at the festival, like “The Lazer Dim Burger,” “Kodak Black Buffalo Wings,” and “That Mexican OT Elote Corn Dog,” led by Chef Brian Fisher, a James Beard-nominated Michelin Star recipient. These plates could be accompanied by actual Lyrical Lemonade, with some cans being in collaboration with the performing artists.
Gallery • 4 PhotosAngelo SavinoRobb Bank performs at Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash 2024.Although the festival didn’t start with F1lthy’s set, it truly kicked off the vibe of the weekend. YouTube personalities BadlandsChugs and Airsoftfatty made an appearance during the set for a hilarious lightsaber battle and a water chugging competition. The energy they brought, paired with the beat of F1lthy-produced classics like “Stop Breathing,” let attendees know they were at the Summer Smash.
Friday ended with Cactus Jack making their debut performance as a collective, exceeding the incredibly high expectations set for the label. SoFaygo started the set with a bang, and the energy built up after each song until the very end. Sheck Wes followed with an unreleased track that struck a chord with the crowd. Don Toliver delivered an angelic performance, harmonizing over tracks from “Hardstone Psycho” while covering his discography. Travis Scott then joined Don Toliver for “CAN’T SAY,” bringing unparalleled rage. Travis continued with hits like “Antidote,” “Goosebumps,” and “SICKO MODE.” In line with the Utopia Tour, he performed “FIEN” back-to-back five times, with Sheck Wes returning on the final playthrough to rap his unreleased verse, a true gift to hear live. Travis wrapped up the night by stating that he’s nothing without the rest of Cactus Jack and brought them out to perform “Gang Gang,” a perfect way to end the night before Don closed with “TORE UP.”
Travis Scott performs at Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash 2024. (Angelo Savino)Saturday night was spotlighted by Playboi Carti’s remarkable performance, featuring the entirety of 00pium on stage with him in addition to DJ Swamp Izzo, who acted as his hype man while also hitting the queue on his adlibs. Carti kicked off his set with “H00DBYAIR,” as 00pium members started to fill the front of the stage and get the crowd amped up. Fans were eager to hear these new tracks live, as this was his first performance since their release, and it didn’t disappoint. His love for Chicago was unmatched, and it was shown throughout the entire performance as he brought his all to the show and made sure to make it known that he is the music.
Gallery • 2 PhotosAngelo SavinoPlayboi Carti performs at Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash 2024.Then the moment everyone was waiting for came around on Sunday. Although there were some other great moments throughout the day, Chief Keef’s return was the real highlight. The city had been in a drought, not seeing him perform there for what felt like ages due to restrictions. Some doubted the return when they saw it, but no doubt it was here. The moment it really hit me was when Lil Yachty concluded his set by asking the fans to make sure they show Chief Keef the respect and love he deserves, and that they did. As soon as he touched the stage, the crowd went crazier than I had seen it the entire weekend, despite it being the final hours. The city welcomed him home and it was a miracle to see Chief Keef Sosa performing live in Chicago. His set was immaculate, performing several hits with friends and family on stage, notably his daughter, G Herbo, and Tadoe among others. If there was one moment from this festival to remember, it was most definitely this one, and attendees will be boasting about being in attendance for years to come.
Gallery • 2 PhotosAngelo SavinoChief Keef performs at Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash 2024.There were far too many highlights to cover them all, but these moments stood out as some of the most memorable of the weekend. Overall, the production and curation of the festival were impeccable, from the stellar artist lineup to the perfectly paired DJs and amenities throughout the festival. It welcomed all attendees to experience history and create lifelong memories, leaving everyone eagerly anticipating next year.
East Lansing- After taking a look at the top-10 hitters and starting pitchers in the league so far this season for the last few weeks, we’re switching it up this weekend and ranking the top-10 bullpens in baseball through this point in the season. (All stats used are recorded as of the end of play on June 20.)
- Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians have had the best bullpen in the league from top to bottom all season long. The First Palace team in the central has the highest bullpen WAR according to Fangraphs, and is the only team with a bullpen ERA less than 3.00, currently at 2.36. It all starts with Cleveland’s closer Emmanuel Clase, whose ERA is 0.96 and is leading the league in saves and games finished so far this season. Clase isn’t the only one having an amazing season, Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith, and Tim Herrin are all Cleveland relievers with an ERA sub 2.00, with Scott Barlow leading the bullpen in strikeouts with 41. Cleveland’s bullpen has been a difference-maker all season long and if they want to win the Central and make some noise in the playoffs this year, that will need to continue.
- Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies have the best record in the National League so far this season, and their bullpen has been a massive reason why. Highlighted by players like José Alvarado, Matt Strahm, and Jeff Hoffman, the Phillies bullpen currently ranks second in WAR according to Fangraphs, as well as second in FIP and K/9 as well. They are eighth in the league in bullpen ERA, helped by two guys in Strahm and Hoffman who are pitching to a sub-1.00 ERA this season, having pitched 30 games or more. The Phillies bullpen has pitched the second-least amount of innings of any team in the league this year, a testament to their starting pitching, but their back end has been incredibly solid and has made the Phillies even more balanced and dominant.
- Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers seem to find quality arms to pitch out of their bullpen year in and year out and this season has been no different thus far. Los Angeles is second in bullpen ERA so far this season, as well as first in BABIP, and second in FIP as well. Their primary closer for most of this season has been Evan Phillips, who has been great even though he’s only pitched 20 innings so far. They have gotten strong contributions from many pitchers including Alex Vesia, Daniel Hudson, Ryan Yarborough, Blake Treinin, and Yohan Ramírez. After losing a few regulars such as Joe Kelly and Ryan Brasier, the L.A. bullpen has not missed a beat and has been a major reason why the Dodgers are once again one of the best teams in the National League.
- Baltimore Orioles
Everyone knew the Orioles were going to be very good again this season, and to nobody’s surprise, they are. Their bullpen is probably the most underrated aspect of their stacked squad, as they rank top-five in the league in categories such as ERA, FIP, ground-ball percentage, and BABIP, and they rank seventh in WAR according to Fangraphs. Craig Kimbrel has been excellent for the Orioles as their closer, but they have had excellent contributions up and down the line, as Keegan Akin, Yennier Cano, Dillon Tate, and Jacob Webb have all had outstanding seasons as well. The Orioles have had a few injuries up and down their pitching staff so having a solid bullpen as they do has led them to the second-best record in the American League, and take two out of three from the Yankees in the Bronx earlier this week.
- Cincinnati Reds
The Reds are a team who have been up and down all season to this point, but the most consistent aspect of their team thus far has been their bullpen. The Reds have the fifth-best WAR of any bullpen according to Fangraphs, and rank top-10 in categories such as ERA, FIP, K/9, and Left on-base percentage. Fernando Cruz, Buck Farmer, and Brent Suter have all been solid pieces out of the bullpen for Cincy, and their most talented reliever has not even pitched to his full potential thus far. Reds closer Alexis Díaz has struggled at times so far this year, as his H/9, K/9, and walks-to-strikeout ratio are all higher than last season when he was an All-Star. If he can find more consistency, it makes an already dangerous bullpen even better.
- Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have had one of the best pitching staffs in the league for the better part of a decade now, and that is no different this year, especially in their bullpen. The Brewers are tied for fourth in bullpen WAR according to Fangraphs, and top-five in other categories such as ERA and left on-base percentage. An interesting note about the Brewers bullpen is that their average velocity on four-seam fastballs is lower than any other bullpen in the league despite their success this season. Trevor Megill, Bryan Hudson, and Elvis Peguero have all put together excellent campaigns so far, and have been a huge reason why the Brewers are in first place in the N.L. Central at this point in the season.
- Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves have had one of the best overall pitching staffs in the league for the past few years and that is no different this year, especially with their bullpen. Their relievers have had some ups and downs throughout the year but they still rank top-five in bullpen ERA and left on-base percentage, and top-10 in FIP and expected FIP. Despite an injury from AJ Minter, many guys have stepped up in the Atlanta bullpen such as Joe Jiménez, Aaron Bummer, Dylan Lee, and Jesse Chavez. Rasiel Iglesias has also been excellent as the closer role for the Braves, as the 34-year-old RHP has been as advertised in his second full season with Atlanta. Once the Braves get Minter back in the next month or so, expect them to take it to the next level and continue to trend up.
- Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox have been one of the more surprising teams so far this year, as they are currently five games over .500 and only one game out of the third American League Wild Card spot. Their bullpen has been one of the best parts of their team so far this season and it starts from the top down, as they have had a resurgent Kenley Jansen as their closer this year, who has put up impressive numbers that align with his career averages. They are also getting major contributions from unexpected pitchers such as Greg Weissert, Brennan Bernardino, and Justin Slater. The Sox rank third in bullpen WAR according to Fangraphs, and top-10 in ERA, and FIP, and perhaps most impressively they are eighth in innings pitched, so they are producing while getting more opportunities than most relievers.
- New York Yankees
The Yankees have been stumbling a bit more as of late and so has their bullpen, but they have been just good enough to be featured on the list this week. New York’s bullpen is still ranking top-10 in the league in left on-base percentage, ERA, and ground-ball percentage. They have been struggling much more as of late, starting from the top where closer Clay Holmes has given up runs in each of his last three outings, but when the Yankees have had a lead late in games this season the bullpen has gotten it done, as the Yankees have only lost two-games when leading after seven-innings. The Yankees are a team who will be looking to add bullpen arms during the trade deadline, as they look to gear up for another postseason run this year.
- Oakland Athletics
The Oakland A’s are once again having a disappointing season both on and off the field, but their bullpen has been one of their bright spots so far this year. Mason Miller has been one of the most electrifying pitchers in all of baseball so far this season in the closer role for the Athletics and is a guy that Oakland could part with at the deadline if they are blown away by a team’s offer. Miller hasn’t been the only bright spot for the Athletics bullpen, as Michael Kelly, T.J McFarland, and Austin Adams have all put together impressive numbers so far this season. The A’s rank top-10 in the league in left on-base percentage, ground-ball percentage, and ERA. Expect to see a few of the arms in this bullpen to be traded to contenders at the deadline.
East Lansing- As we close in on the midway point of the MLB season, we’re starting to get an idea of what guys are making a bid at heading to the mid-summer classic in Texas next month. There are a few new names on this week’s power rankings and some reshuffling in the order as well, so here are my updated power rankings of the top 15 hitters in the league through this point in the season. (All stats recorded are as of the end of play on June 10th.)
- Aaron Judge
AVG: .305 HR: 24 RBI: 59 OPS: 1.139
As I said two weeks ago, Aaron Judge is currently the best hitter in the world right now and has only gotten hotter as of late. Judge hit three home runs this weekend against the Dodgers to continue his torrid pace, and is currently leading all of baseball in Home Runs, doubles, extra-base hits, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, walks, and total bases. On May 4, the Yankee captain was ejected from a game for the first time in his career, and since then his numbers have been absurd: 33 G, 48-for-114 (.421), 14 1B, 15 2B, 1 3B, 18 HR, 31 BB, 1.588 OPS. Judge is the current front-runner for MVP in the American League and has played in every game so far this season for the Yankees, aside from last night in Kansas City. Judge is expected to return to the lineup tonight, and continue his red-hot start to his 2024 campaign.
- Juan Soto
AVG: .318 HR: 17 RBI: 53 OPS: 1.024
The only other player in the league right now with an OPS over 1.000 besides Aaron Judge is his teammate Juan Soto. Soto has been incredibly effective all year long in a top-heavy Yankees lineup slashing .385/.455/.769 with runners in scoring position this year, and has played a pivotal role batting in front of Judge in the Yankees lineup. Soto was out of the lineup for the three-game set this past weekend against the Dodgers and it became clear that the Yankees missed him, only scoring four runs in the first two games of the series. Soto returned to the lineup last night with a base hit and a walk and with him avoiding an IL stint, and will look to pick up right where he left off. Soto is second in all of baseball in on-base percentage and OPS, and he comes in at second in this week’s power rankings.
- Bobby Witt
AVG: .319 HR: 11 RBI: 48 OPS: .935
A young star is blossoming in Kansas City, as the Royals shortstop Bobby Witt has continued to take it to another level so far this season. Witt is leading all shortstops in doubles, stolen bases, RBI, and batting average, and is top 10 in the league in all of these categories. He’s also leading the American League in runs scored and hits, while hitting hot as of late, recording a hit in 20 of his last 21 games with an OPS of 1.045 in that period. The Royals are right in the thick of the American League playoff race, currently second in the Central and the Wild Card Standings, and the 23-year-old has played a major role in the turnaround and success of the Royals franchise. Witt is a five-tool player who will only get better and has earned recognition as third on the list this week.
- Shohei Ohtani
AVG: .310 HR: 15 RBI: 41 OPS: .947
Although he has been struggling as of late, it is hard to make a list of the top hitters in the league right now without including Ohtani. Despite cooling down from his hot start, Ohtani still leads the National League in total bases and is ranked within the top 10 in all of baseball in Home Runs, batting average, OPS, and doubles. Ohtani is only slashing .213/.272/.347 in his last 18 games and still ranks top 10 in that many categories in all of the MLB. Ohtani is an explosive player who only needs a couple of good games to get going, and is protected very well in a vaunted Dodgers lineup. But if he does not improve in the coming weeks, expect him to make another dip in the rankings in that time, although his cumulative stats and reputation earn him the fourth spot this week.
- Kyle Tucker
AVG: .266 HR: 19 RBI: 40 OPS: .979
Kyle Tucker is another guy who has cooled off at this point in the season as of late, but he has still been one of the best outfielders in baseball over the first 2+ months of the season. Tucker still ranks top five in all of baseball in Home Runs, OPS, walks, and slugging. He only has two home runs in his last 12 games and is slashing a measly .150/.255/.300 in that time. With the way Tucker has played most of the season, he is still on pace to start in the outfield for the American League in the All-Star game, but similarly to Ohtani, if he cannot get hot again soon he will likely take another drop in the rankings in the coming weeks. With the Astros already struggling as much as they have been this season, they desperately need Tucker to get going once again.
- Gunnar Henderson
AVG: .274 HR: 21 RBI: 46 OPS: .974
Gunnar Henderson is still raking for the Baltimore Orioles and is making a case for himself as the face of the franchise on a team full of young budding stars and an overall incredible offense. The 22-year-old shortstop is coming off his silver-r slugger campaign by ranking second in all of baseball in Home Runs, just behind Judge. Henderson also ranks top five in OPS, slugging, runs scored, and extra-base hits. Henderson recorded two homers and four RBI in a four-game sweep of the Rays at the Trop this past weekend, as he has remained consistent at the top of the Baltimore order all year long. More importantly, the American League standings will be influenced by a big matchup between the two teams next week at Yankee Stadium, as Henderson also tries to overtake Judge as the MVP front-runner.
- Jurickson Profar
AVG: .322 HR: 10 RBI: 43 OPS: .921
Jurickson Profar is another player who has come out of nowhere to become a top-10 hitter in the league so far this season. The former first-overall pick is leading the National League in games played as well as on-base percentage. Profar is second in the league in batting average, and top 10 in all of baseball in OPS, on-base percentage, and 11th in the league in hits with 76. His consistency is what has been the most impressive part of his season thus far, as his OPS has remained above .900 since the beginning of May, while slashing .338/.437/.511 since April 30. Profar has finally become the player many thought he would be when coming up through the minors, and is making an excellent bid for being one of the starting National League outfielders in the All-Star game.
- Mookie Betts
AVG: .309 HR: 10 RBI: 37 OPS: .914
Mookie Betts has not missed a beat offensively since permanently moving to shortstop to start this season, as he is still one of the best hitters in the whole league. Betts is currently top 10 in baseball in categories such as batting average, on-base percentage, and runs scored, and is one of just 11 players in all of baseball with an OPS above .900 at this point in the season. Mookie finished second in MVP voting last season and although his power has not been quite like it was last year, every other number is on par for Mookie Betts, a consensus top-five player in the league for the past six or seven years. The leadoff hitter for the Dodgers collected a hit in each of the three games he played in Yankee Stadium this weekend as he looks to get back on track, as his OPS. is only at .740 since May 1.
- Marcel Ozuna
AVG: .312 HR: 18 RBI: 55 OPS: .988
Marcel Ozuna has continued to mash for the Braves despite all of their offensive inconsistencies this year. The Braves slugger is currently leading the National League in Home Runs, RBI, slugging, and OPS. Ozuna’s batting average has not dipped below the .300 mark since May 4th and has recorded multi-hit games in five of his last 10 outings. Ozuna serves as Shohei Ohtani’s main competition for the starting spot as the Designated Hitter for the National League in the All-Star Game and will give him a serious run for his money if he can remain this consistent offensively for the next month. This will also be key for the Braves, as no one currently in their everyday lineup has an OPS above .800 besides Ozuna, as they dealt with a key injury offensively in last year’s NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr.
- Rafael Devers
AVG: .284 HR: 13 RBI: 32 OPS: .932
Rafael Devers has not gone longer than six games without recording an RBI for the Red Sox this season. He has been a constant and healthy option for a team that has suffered a lot of injuries and attempts to sustain any kind of consistency from top to bottom in the order. Devers has an OPS of 1.007 in his last 12 games including three-home runs and eight RBI in that span and is right in the thick of a two-man race with Jose Ramirez for the American League’s third basemen spot in the All-Star game. Devers’ OPS has been above .900 since May 15 and although the Red Sox have remained around .500 all season long after splitting four games with the league-worst White Sox, if they want to contend in the American League Wild Card race Devers will have to keep hitting.
- Brent Rooker
AVG: .269 HR: 13 RBI: 40 OPS: .884
Brent Rooker continues to put himself in the center of the conversation for the prized bat for contenders at the trade deadline in late July. Although the Oakland Designated Hitter has an OPS of .782 since the beginning of June, he is still top 10 in the American League in categories such as Home Runs, RBI, slugging percentage, and OPS. He has certainly cooled down as of late but his OPS has not dipped below the .800 mark since the beginning of May and has been the only bright spot in the Athletics offense that has been struggling a lot as of late. Rooker is also gaining a lot of traction for being the starting designated hitter for the American League in the All-Star game and looks to go to the Mid-Summer classic for the second-straight year. He hasn’t gone six games all season without recording an RBI.
- Bryce Harper
AVG: .277 HR: 15 RBI: 45 OPS: .920
Bryce Harper is 12th on this week’s list but he realistically could have been anywhere between the seventh spot and this spot right now. The Phillies are the best team in the National League so far this season and Bryce has been right at the center of it all. Harper’s OPS has not dipped below .800 since April 30 and went deep against the Mets in their first game in London this past Saturday. Harper ranks top 10 in all of the MLB in categories such as Home Runs, RBI, on-base percentage, and OPS, and has made the transition to playing first base for Philadelphia very easily. Harper’s consistency is a reason why he will likely move up on the list in the coming weeks.
- Jose Ramirez
AVG: .275 HR: 18 RBI: 62 OPS: .890
Jose Ramirez has been one of the best hitters in all of baseball for the last seven or eight seasons and that has been no different so far this year. The Guardian’s third-basemen is leading all of the MLB in RBI and is slashing .305/.384/.680 in his last thirty-four games and has recorded thirteen home runs and thirty-eight RBI in that span. Ramirez is leading a Cleveland team with the second-best record in the American League right now, and first place in the Central division. In a division with three teams currently in the playoff picture, Ramirez will need to remain a constant in the heart of the Guardians order if they want to stay in first place this season.
- Salvador Perez
AVG: .298 HR: 10 RBI: 42 OPS: .857
Salvador Perez has been the best offensive catcher in baseball for a decade now, and he is putting together another outstanding campaign in his age-34 season. Perez leads all catchers in MLB in OPS and is top five in all major offensive categories including Home Runs, RBI, walks, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging. Perez is a consistent veteran in the heart of the Royals order, a young team looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since their 2015 World Series team, a team that Perez was a part of. Although Perez has struggled since the start of June with an OPS of only .427, he still deserves his spot as the only catcher on the list is currently slotting in at the fourteen slot.
- Freddie Freeman
AVG: .290 HR: 8 RBI: 40 OPS: .879
Rounding out the list this week is Dodgers first-baseman Freddie Freeman. Freeman is slashing .321/.444/.714 so far in June and has contributed very nicely to the offensive three-headed monster in Los Angeles, between him, Betts, and Ohtani. Freeman ranks top three among first basemans in OPS, batting average, RBI, on-base percentage, slugging, and walks. It will certainly come down between him and Bryce Harper for the starting spot at first base in the National League. But from a team standpoint, if Freeman can’t take it to the next level offensively, it could be what pushes the Dodgers ahead of the Phillies in the National League standings.
EAST LANSING- With another month of the 2024 MLB season in the books, the bedlam surrounding all 30 Major League teams has only intensified after further action.
In May, teams and players alike seemed to hit their stride, as fans caught a glimpse of who the real contenders and pretenders may shake up to be and which players are cementing themselves as true stars in the making.
We are less than halfway through the season, so change can come quickly, but the return of America’s pastime has made for plenty of intrigues thus far.
Two Tales, One City:
So far in 2024, New York sports fans have seen two vastly different seasons transpiring in two different boroughs of the Big Apple.
In the Bronx, the Yankees are 45-20 and hold the best record in the American League. The driving factor behind the Yankees’ recent hot streak is Aaron Judge’s record-breaking May.
On April 30th, Judge was amidst a cold streak, hitting a measly .207, but his bat heated up in significant fashion once the calendar turned to May.
In 28 games in May, Judge, the 2022 AL MVP, batted .361 with 14 home runs and increased his on-base plus slugging to a league-leading 1.075 clip. In tandem with Judge, Juan Soto has only built on his sizzling start in Pinstripes.
Judge and Soto weren’t the only Yankees who saw success at the dish. Giancarlo Stanton has also had an incredible bounce-back season in 2024.
Anthony Volpe is in the midst of a breakout season that has seen the 23-year-old establish himself as the Yankees’ next franchise shortstop. The Bronx Bombers have lived up to the nickname, as the Yankees lead baseball in team OPS and are second only to the division-rival Orioles in homers.
The Yankees lineup was not the only contributor to the sustained success at Yankee Stadium, as the Yanks rotation dazzled in May. 25-year-old rookie Luis Gil’s 1.82 earned run average is second in the MLB, as the youngster cemented himself as one of the best young pitchers in baseball who will be a fixture in Aaron Boone’s rotation.
Behind the contributions of a bounce-back season in Pinstripes for Carlos Rodón, as well as strong starts from Nestor Cortes and free agent acquisition Marcus Stroman, the Yankees’ 2.80 ERA leads the MLB.
Reigning Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole has yet to pitch in 2024, but is ramping closer to a return which will make an already-frightening Yankees rotation even more terrifying for opposing hitters.
A short subway trip away at Citi Field, things didn’t go as swimmingly. After the Mets went 15-11 in April, real disaster began to strike in May.
The Mets went a disastrous 9-19 in May, as the bullpen could not keep a sustained lead. Since his knee injury in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Edwin Diaz has struggled to return to form. Diaz has a 5.40 ERA in 2024 thus far, his worst rate since his first season in Queens. Diaz’s four-blown saves tie him for third among all relievers (44% blown save rate), as the former All-Star’s confidence seems to have suffered early in 2024.
New Mets manager Carlos Mendoza surely did not expect this from a team that is just two years removed from a postseason appearance.
While the pair got off to a slow start to the 2024 season, superstars Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso have improved as of late. Despite their improvements, the Mets sit at 27-36 and 17 games behind the division-leading Phillies.
2022 National League batting champion Jeff McNeil is hitting a feeble .227 with a .616 OPS through 73 games in 2024, and is far from the biggest issue in the Queens.
The Mets were not limited to on-field issues though. The Mets clubhouse faced intense internal turmoil after reliever Jorge López was ejected from a game against the Dodgers and threw his glove into the Citi Field stands.
López was subsequently designated for assignment, as the Mets’ dysfunctional season only grew more tumultuous. The future in Queens might be bright due to prospects such as Mark Vientos and Christian Scott, but the present is anything but.
Rookie Report:
The youth movement across the MLB has only spread more rapidly in 2024, and there are already some youngsters turning heads in their inaugural campaigns in the majors.
Flame-throwing rookie phenom Paul Skenes was considered a generational talent at LSU and was drafted No. 1 overall by the Pirates last summer for good reason.
Skenes boasts a 3.00 ERA along with his masterful 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings, which would be first among all qualified starters. The 22-year-old has 38 strikeouts across 27 innings, which is no surprise to anybody aware of the damage Skenes’ fearsome fastball can do.
Staying in the NL Central, the St Louis Cardinals have a star in the making of their own. Shortstop Masyn Winn is reminding the Cardinal faithful that the future is bright at Busch Stadium.
After making the Opening Day roster, Winn quickly showed why, going on an impressive 18-game hitting streak at the end of May where the rookie phenom hit for an immaculate .368 batting average.
Winn is currently hitting a magnificent .303 on the young season, which slates the 22-year-old 11th among all qualified hitters. The most impressive aspect of Winn’s game thus far is his ability to hold his own at the dish, landing in the 91st percentile in whiff rate and the 77th percentile in strikeout rate.
Shifting back to the American League, Red Sox rookie outfielder Wilyer Abreu has been among the most under appreciated rookies across the league, establishing himself as one of the most reliable hitters in Boston so far in 2024.
Abreu is slashing .272/.344/.485 with the 24-year-old racking up a .829 OPS. Abreu, Rafael Devers, and David Hamilton are building a foundation as one of the most promising young cores in baseball while playing for the rebuilding Sox.
Abreu has not only made an impact at the plate, he has been just as impactful in the field. Abreu is in the 85th percentile for fielding run value and the 92nd percentile for arm value, showing off his true capabilities in every aspect at Fenway Park.
Quick Hits:
- All five teams in the NL Central are within seven-and-a-half games of each other, in what could be anybody’s race. The Brewers are the current division leaders, behind catcher William Contreras hitting .309 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs. However, the Reds have won seven games in a row and seem to be pushing Milwaukee behind the contributions of their young core.
- Corey Seager seemed to recover from his slow start, as the reigning World Series MVP hit eight homers in as many days. Seager’s batting average is up to .271, as the Rangers are gaining on the Mariners for the NL West lead.
- The White Sox lost 14 games in a row, dating back to May 22. Despite the recent return of star outfielder Luis Robert Jr, the White Sox are dead last in batting average and OPS, and second to last in team ERA while having a -142 run differential.
- Brent Rooker has been incredible for the Oakland A’s so far in 2024. Over his last 30 days, the 29-year-old hit for a slash line of .283/.367/.478 with the 26-40 A’s sitting at fourth in the AL West ahead of the Angels.
- The Los Angeles Dodgers have a new dynamic duo on their hands as they strengthen their grip on the NL West. Shohei Ohtani has gotten off to a blazing start as a Dodger, as both Ohtani and Mookie Betts are both hitting .311 with an OPS of over .920.
While the fifth calendar month was loaded with enticing storylines, there will only be more to come in June as the season continues to unfold.
MLB Pitcher Power Rankings
As the yearly calendar flips to June, it is officially baseball season and there’s no debate about that. But there is plenty of debate about who the top pitchers in the league are so far this year, with many familiar faces either injured or not pitching up to their luster. Here are my top 10 starting pitchers in the league through the first two months plus of the 2024 season. (All stats recorded used are recorded as of the end of play on June 2)
- Ranger Suarez (PHI)
ERA: 1.70 W-L: 9-1 SO: 79 WHIP: 0.80
It’s pretty difficult to make an argument against Ranger Suarez being the best-starting pitcher in baseball through the first two months this season. The 28-year-old lefty has broken out for the first-place team in the National League this season, as he currently leads all of baseball in ERA, WHIP, and Hits per 9, and is tied in the league-leading with nine wins. Suarez has been a monster at the top of the Philadelphia rotation, and it will be interesting to see how he continues into the second half, as a pitcher who has never thrown more than 155 innings in a Major League season. Suarez has been the best pitcher in the league so far, on the best starting roster in the National League.
- Tarik Skubal (DET)
ERA: 2.01 W-L: 7-1 SO: 80 WHIP: 0.82
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is everything and more that Detroit could have hoped for him so far. Skubal leads the American League in WHIP and FIP, while also ranking in the top 5 in Wins, ERA, strikeouts, and opponent Batting Average. He has been the most complete pitcher in the American League and has gone at least five innings in every start this season for the Tigers. The question for Skubal will be the same as it has been for the last two seasons, can he stay healthy? His production on the mound is unquestioned, but the next step for the 27-year-old lefty will be how he pitches in the second half and how he closes out the season.
- Seth Lugo (KCR)
ERA: 1.72 W-L: 9-1 SO: 66 WHIP: 1.01
Maybe one of the biggest surprises this season so far has been how well Seth Lugo has performed for the Royals as a starter this season. Lugo is the American League leader in ERA and innings pitched right now, being tied with Ranger Suarez for the most wins in the league. The 34-year-old is the first right-hander on the list and was not even a full-time starting pitcher until last season, but he is making a run at his first All-Star Team on a young Royals team that is having their best season in quite some time. Lugo has gone 6 innings or more with 2 earned runs or less in ten of his first twelve starts this year and will be a player to watch all season long.
- Luis Gil (NYY)
ERA: 1.99 W-L: 7-1 SO: 79 WHIP: 0.95
Luis Gil just won the American League Rookie and Pitcher of the Month and it was rightfully deserved. The 26-year-old flamethrower is coming off of a season where he rehabbed from Tommy John surgery, and has matched the production of injured Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in the first two months of the season. Leading the league in hits per 9 and opponent batting average, while also being top five in ERA, wins, and WHIP, he has been everything and more for a Yankees staff that did not expect him to be in the five-man rotation coming into the season. Yankees starting pitching has been the best in the American League from top to bottom, and Gil has headlined that, tallying 31 strikeouts in his last three outings for the first-place team in the MLB.
- Reynaldo Lopez (ATL)
ERA: 1.73 W-L: 3-2 SO: 55 WHIP: 1.08
Another surprise journeyman takes the fifth spot in this week’s power rankings as Reynaldo Lopez gets some recognition for the start to the season he’s had. Lopez ranks second in the National League in ERA and has allowed two earned runs or less in nine of his first ten starts, he allowed three in the other start. He has painted an excellent picture of consistency for the Braves so far this season and has used his contact managing style of pitching to gain success, only allowing two home runs on the year thus far. With Spencer Strider out for the season, guys like Lopez must continue to produce for Atlanta, if they plan on winning their division for the seventh consecutive season.
- Zack Wheeler (PHI)
ERA: 2.32 W-L: 6-3 SO: 85 WHIP: 0.95
Zack Wheeler has paired with Ranger Suarez as the best two-headed monster of any double-starting pitcher teammates so far this year. Wheeler ranks top five in the National League in nearly every relevant category, including ERA, strikeouts, WHIP, innings pitched, and opponent batting average. The veteran right-hander was undefeated in May and pitched into the seventh three times in the month. Wheeler placed second in Cy Young voting in the 2021 season, and sixth place last season, and if he stays healthy, he not only has a chance at winning his first Cy Young, but leading the Phillies back to the playoffs for the third straight year, and a division title for the first time since 2011.
- Corbin Burnes (BAL)
ERA: 2.35 W-L: 5-2 SO: 71 WHIP: 1.05
Corbin Burnes may have been the most talented starting pitcher in the league to switch teams this past off-season, and he has been everything the Baltimore Orioles hoped he’d be. Burnes ranks in the top 10 in the American League in ERA, opponent batting average, and innings pitched, and is eleventh in strikeouts. He’s been the ace that Orioles fans have been waiting for and has been a perfect addition to a team that wants to contend for a World Series right now. Burnes has pitched at least five innings in every start he’s made this season, including an active streak where he’s gone at least six innings in each of his last seven starts. The right-hander is making a great case for making the all-star team for the fourth straight season.
- Tanner Houck (BOS)
ERA: 1.85 W-L: 5-5 SO: 75 WHIP: 0.96
Tanner Houck has been one of the best pitchers in all of baseball for the Boston Red Sox so far this season. Houck is currently top five in the American League in a ton of categories, including ERA, WHIP, innings pitched, and top ten in stats such as opponent batting average and strikeouts. Houck has shown flashes for Boston since making his debut in 2020 but seems to have put it all together this year, and is making a case for making his first all-star team this season. Houck is one of six pitchers in the entire league with a complete game shutout this year and will need to continue to pitch excellently if the Red Sox want to have any chance at competing in the American League Wild Card race this season.
- Chris Sale (ATL)
ERA: 3.06 W-L: 8-1 SO: 82 WHIP: 0.95
What a bounce-back season this year has been for one of the best starting pitchers of the 2010s, Chris Sale. The 35-year-old lefty is leading all of Major League Baseball in FIP and Strikeout/Walk ratio so far this season and is tied for second in the league in wins, including a seven-game winning streak that lasted all of May. Sale had his worst start of the season by far this past weekend against Oakland but has been nails all year long for the Braves, and it will be interesting to see how he bounces back from his bad start if he can make the all-star team for the first time since the 2018 season. Sale has pitched seven full innings in six of the first eleven starts he has made this season and was recognized as the N.L. Pitcher-of-the-Month in May.
- Luis Castillo (SEA)
ERA: 2.99 W-L: 5-6 SO: 81 WHIP: 1.15
Rounding out this week’s list is a mainstay in starting pitcher conversations for the last five years, Luis Castillo. The three-time all-star is leading the American League in innings pitched so far this season and has not gone less than five innings in any of the games he’s started in this season, including at least six innings in nine of his last ten starts. Although Castillo has not shined in every way we’ve seen in the past, he has been incredibly solid for a first-place Mariners team and has provided them the consistency they’ve wanted from an ace ever since he was traded to Seattle at the 2022 trade deadline. If the Mariners want to hold onto first place and win the American League West for the first time since 2001, Castillo will have to be a major contributor all season long.
Some honorable mentions for this week’s power rankings include Max Fried, Marcus Stroman, Jordan Hicks, Tyler Anderson, Shota Imanaga, and Brady Singer.
EAST LANSING- After the Atlanta Hawks defied the odds and won the NBA Draft Lottery two weeks ago, an already unpredictable draft cycle seemed to only attract more madness. With the Draft Combine in the books, this draft class certainly has more long-term potential than people think. With many polarizing prospects and very little consensus, let’s get right into it.
1: Atlanta Hawks: Alexandre Sarr, C, Perth Wildcats
The Hawks nab the clear-cut best talent in this draft, who should fit seamlessly next to Trae Young (if he isn’t traded) and Dejounte Murray.
2: Washington Wizards: Zaccharie Risacher, SF, JL Bourg
After drafting another high-upside foreign forward a year ago, why not double down? With a new head coach coming to the nation’s capital, there are needs all over the roster, but Washington decides to grab the best available player to hopefully expedite their rebuild.
3: Houston Rockets: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn
The 7’2 Clingan was the best rim protector in college hoops a year ago. Pairing Clingan with Alperen Sengun in Space City could turn out to be one of the scariest big men duos in the NBA in a few seasons, as their styles of play perfectly complement one another.
4: San Antonio Spurs: Nikola Topic, PG, KK Crvena Zvezda
The Spurs have an exciting young nucleus in place centered around Victor Wembanyama but are planning to add to the roster with the addition of another foreigner in Topic. Gregg Popovich adds his playmaker for Wemby and one of the highest-ceiling players in this draft, but a raw one nonetheless.
5: Detroit Pistons: Stephon Castle, SG, UConn
There is a legitimate possibility that Jaden Ivey gets traded this offseason, as his fit alongside Cade Cunningham has not been what Pistons fans anticipated. There are concerns about Castle’s consistency as a shooter, but his size and defensive prowess will fit perfectly with a Pistons team looking to regain their identity.
6: Charlotte Hornets: Reed Sheppard, PG, Kentucky
In his lone season in Lexington, Sheppard showed potential as both a shooter and defender, and will quickly contribute alongside LaMelo Ball in Charlotte’s backcourt.
7: Portland Trail Blazers: Matas Buzelis, SF, G-League Ignite
With Portland having a surplus of young guards, the high ceiling of Buzelis is a strong match. Buzelis is athletic but he needs to grow as a shooter, and playing for a rebuilding Blazers team will help his development.
8: San Antonio Spurs: Ron Holland, F, G-League Ignite
Picking twice in the top ten, the Spurs have an opportunity to really add to a roster with an already bright future. Holland is an uber-athletic player who will create shockwaves in the Spurs frontcourt next to Wembanyama.
9: Memphis Grizzlies: Dalton Knecht, SG, Tennessee
The former Tennessee standout doesn’t have to move far to play his pro ball, as the Grizzlies add the most pro-ready prospect in the 2024 Draft to an already competitive roster. Knecht, the reigning SEC Player of the Year, is a lights-out scorer who can step in immediately and contribute to Memphis.
10: Utah Jazz: Tidjane Salaun, F, France
There was an extensive buzz about Salaun at the NBA Combine as a legitimate top-ten prospect, so Utah takes a chance on his potential as a three-point shooter after having shot 41.5% from deep a year ago.
11: Chicago Bulls: Ja’Kobe Walter, PG, Baylor
Walter shined in his only season at Baylor, proving why he deserved his five-star rating. Walter has the potential to be the Bulls’ point guard of the future with Lonzo Ball’s health still a massive red flag.
12: Oklahoma City Thunder: Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke
The Thunder were one of the worst teams in the NBA on the boards, so bringing the size and skillset of Filipowski next to Chet Holmgren should surely up the Oklahoma City frontcourt for years to come.
13: Sacramento Kings: Cody Williams, SF, Colorado
Williams has a lot of qualities that NBA teams will fall in love with, including shooting touch and positional versatility. The Kings add a player who has All-Star potential, though Williams’ stock has slipped a bit recently.
14: Portland Trail Blazers: Kyshawn George, SG, Miami (FL)
George is among the best players from beyond the arc in this draft, which is the catalyst behind his late rise. The former Hurricane joins Portland who is in desperate need of more shooting.
15: Miami Heat: Robert Dillingham, PG, Kentucky
Dillingham is undersized, but one of the best pure scorers in this draft. His ability to effortlessly generate offense sends him to Miami to play with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
16: Philadelphia 76ers: Jared McCain, PG, Duke
McCain absolutely lit up the NCAA Tournament and is one of the most gifted shotmakers in this draft at only 20 years old. The former Blue Devil goes to Philly to create a lethal backcourt next to Tyrese Maxey.
17: Los Angeles Lakers: Terrence Shannon Jr, PG, Illinois
Despite what you may think, the Lakers don’t draft Bronny James here. Shannon is a complete prospect and will make his presence felt quickly on both sides of the floor playing in the City of Angels.
18: Orlando Magic: Johnny Furphy, SG/SF, Kansas
Furphy has a lot of potential on the offensive end and will have ample time to develop on a Magic team with an abundance of both youth and talent.
19: Toronto Raptors: Isaiah Collier, PG, USC
A former five-star talent and once a lock to be selected in the top five, Isaiah Collier adds to the high-potential young nucleus Masai Ujiri is building in Toronto.
20: Cleveland Cavaliers: Tristan Da Silva, SF, Colorado
Another March Madness riser, Da Silva is a great shooter from deep who the Cavs call upon to quickly contribute on both ends of the floor.
21: New Orleans Pelicans: Yves Missi, C, Baylor
The Pelicans add Missi, an elite rim protector with sky-high upside, to play off of Zion Williamson in the frontcourt for Willie Green.
22: Phoenix Suns: Devin Carter, PG, Providence
Fresh off a first-round exit, the Suns have needs all over their roster. Devin Carter is an older guard prospect who dominated the Big East after leaving Kentucky, so his scoring prowess will make an instant impact in Phoenix.
23: Milwaukee Bucks: Kel’El Ware, C, Indiana
Brook Lopez is getting older, so the Bucks need their big man of the future. Kel’El Ware is great on the boards and has a blossoming jumper, so the former Hoosier fits seamlessly into this star-studded Bucks roster.
24: New York Knicks: Zach Edey, C, Purdue
Edey, one of the most polarizing prospects in this draft class, lands in the Big Apple where the Knicks desperately need some stability in their frontcourt.
25: New York Knicks: KJ Simpson, PG, Colorado
The Knicks could use a scoring punch off the bench, and Simpson fits that bill to perfection. Simpson is an older prospect but is a solid defender who will provide a spark off the bench for Tom Thibodeau’s unit.
26: Washington Wizards: DaRon Holmes II, PF, Dayton
The Wizards desperately need a multi-dimensional big man, and Holmes is that guy. He can space the floor and protect the paint for a Wizards team that the former Dayton star can see meaningful minutes off the bat.
27: Minnesota Timberwolves: Carlton Carrington, PG, Pittsburgh
As Minnesota’s point guard, Mike Conley trails towards the end of his career, they look to the future with the selection of the former Pitt standout. Only 18, Carrington will have time to develop as both a playmaker and scorer before playing in tandem with Anthony Edwards.
28: Denver Nuggets: Tyler Kolek, PG, Marquette
Kolek led the NCAA in assists a year ago, and now plays his NBA basketball alongside another big-time playmaker Nikola Jokic. Kolek is already 23, so his pro-readiness is imperative for the defending champs.
29: Utah Jazz: Dillon Jones, SF, Weber State
Yet another swing for the fences for the Jazz, as Jones is the type of versatile player that has NBA front offices salivating. Jones can contribute in a multitude of ways off the bench for Will Hardy’s squad, especially after four years at Weber State.
30: Boston Celtics: Justin Edwards, SF, Kentucky
Overshadowed by the likes of Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham at Kentucky, Edwards did not have the best year there, but he has the potential to be a crucial cog in the machine in Boston where he can develop into the player he has the potential to become.
EAST LANSING- The Michigan State Spartans baseball team closes out their regular season this weekend in a pivotal matchup against their in conference rival the Nebraska Cornhuskers, in a series that will decide Sparty’s postseason fate at McLane Stadium.
Michigan State enters the matchup coming off a 9-8 win against Eastern Michigan in a non conference game, gaining confidence back in Michigan State fashion after dropping two out of three in Minnesota last weekend and losing Sunday’s game in heartbreaking walk-off fashion.
Nebraska enters the weekend hot, having won their last four big ten series, including taking two out of three from Indiana at home last weekend. They’ve only lost one Big Ten series all season long.
Some players to watch for this weekend for MSU include freshman Ryan McKay, who followed up with Big Ten Freshman of the week honors last week, with two home runs in Minneapolis this past weekend, the first two of his collegiate career. McKay added another hit and RBI on Tuesday in the Spartans win over EMU.
Dillon Kark stepped up big time in the mid-week matchup as well, picking up two hits and driving in three runs, in what would prove to be a pivotal one-run victory for MSU. Kark has picked up at least one hit in 13 of his last 16 games, and will need to be a key contributor for the Spartans if they want to pick up the series win.
Some players to watch-out for in Nebraska’s batting order include Junior catcher Josh Caron, who is pacing the Cornhuskers in home runs, RBIs, runs, hits, slugging percentage, and runs scored. Caron has picked up multi-hit games in seven of his last eleven starts, and will look to continue to do damage against Michigan State.
Case Sanderson is another star to watch in the Cornhusker lineup, as he paces the team in batting average, walks, and on base percentage. The Freshman infielder has provided consistency for Nebraska at the top of their lineup all season long, hoping to keep it going against the Spartans.
With the series starting Thursday instead of the usual Friday, Joseph Dzierwa and Nick Powers will make the starts in the second and third game of this series to keep them on their regular schedules. Senior Harrison Cook will get the nod for Jake Boss Jr on Thursday night, in what is likely to be a game where he relies heavily on his bullpen, and usual Sunday starter Nick Ferazzi.
The probables for Nebraska go as follows, the ace, Brett Sears will make the start Thursday, Sophomore Mason McConnaughey on Friday, and the southpaw, Jackson Brockett will take the mound in the series finale on Saturday.
These two teams last met in the Big Ten Tournament last season. A complete-game four-hit shutout in a 4-0 win for the Huskers knocked MSU out. Nebraska made its most recent trip to East Lansing since the 2021 campaign, where the Big Red took two of three games over the Spartans. MSU also lost two out of three in Lincoln back in 2022, making Michigan State just 2-5 (regular season and postseason) against Nebraska in the last three seasons.
With this being the regular season finale for both teams, there are a lot of stakes riding on this weekend in the Big Ten standings, especially for Michigan State. Nebraska is locked into the tournament, currently in 2nd, 14-. MSU is tied at 7th-9th with Maryland and Ohio State, with all three teams sharing a record of 10-11 in Big Ten play. Penn State and Minnesota trail closely at 9-12, with Ohio State playing Rutgers this weekend, and Maryland taking on the Nittany Lions. .
It is unclear whether or not the Spartans control their own destiny this weekend, but one thing is clear. They need to win as many games as possible to secure a top eight record in the standings and advance to the Big Ten tournament for the second consecutive year.
First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 6:05 P.M., with Friday’s game scheduled for 5 P.M. and Saturday’s game scheduled to start at noon. All games will be played at McLane Stadium in East Lansing, and all start times provided are Eastern standard time.
EAST LANSING – Longwood University transfer center Szymon Zapala committed to Michigan State University on May 14
Thrilled to announce my commitment to Michigan State University! Proud to be a Spartan! Let’s get to work! pic.twitter.com/LkRyAHw305
— Szymon Zapala (@szymon_zapala) May 14, 2024
The 7-foot 240-pound center averaged 9.8 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game and had 29 blocks in his one season at Longwood. Before his season at Longwood, Zapala played three seasons at Utah State University.
He appeared in a low number of games as an Aggie totaling 13 his freshman season, 21 his sophomore season and 11 his junior season. Despite the low number of appearances, while at Utah State, Zapala shot 75% from the field as a junior and as a sophomore, he grabbed 38 rebounds.
This past season, Longwood claimed its conference title, the Big South Conference, beating the University of North Carolina Asheville to punch its ticket for the NCAA Tournament to take on No.1 Houston. In the Lancer’s defeat of UNC Asheville, Zapala put up 17 points and 7 boards.
Before his collegiate campaign, Zapala played for the Polish national team at the 2019 U18 FIBA European Championships and the team finished second.
The Zaborze, Poland native will bring much-needed size to MSU’s men’s basketball adding to the current frontcourt. He joins the other transfer, Frankie Fiddler, and the three incoming freshmen, Jase Richardson, Kur Teng and Jesse McCulloch, to round out head coach Tom Izzo’s roster for the 2024-25 season.
With just a little over a month of the 2024 MLB season in the books, there have been surprises, disappointments, breakouts, and everything in between. With plenty more baseball left to be played, it is a bit of a mystery in terms of what production may or may not be sustainable, but regardless, it will be a sight to behold.
Rookie Revolution:
So far in 2024, some of the most impressive standouts come from the rookie pitchers. Chicago Cubs rookie Shota Imanaga has shined in his short MLB tenure, leading the league with a 0.78 ERA. The 30-year-old southpaw signed a four year, $53 million contract with the Cubs after spending the last seven years pitching in Japan. Imanaga also has a 5-0 record as a starter, clearly indicating his ability to get the job done for the first-place Cubbies.
However, Imanaga may not be the best rookie in the National League Central. Jared Jones’ high velocity and nasty pitch repertoire gives the Pirates a potential ace of the future. In Jones’ last outing on Saturday, the 22-year-old put on an astonishing performance at PNC Park, pitching seven innings while allowing only one hit and striking out ten Rockies hitters in a Pirates victory. Jones’ 52 punchouts are tied for second among all starters, and a scary one-two punch could be brewing in the Steel City once former No. 1 pick Paul Skenes gets the call to the majors.
The NL Central is not the only division with star-studded pitchers, as the NL West also has a youngster looking to join the ranks. After backing up the brinks truck to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12 year, $325 million contract, expectations were through the roof for the new Dodgers starter.
Yamamoto opened his rookie campaign with a disastrous first start in South Korea against the Padres, allowing five runs on four hits in only an inning of work. Since then, Yamamoto has been everything Dodger fans have expected, netting a 1.64 ERA since his inaugural start and a 2.92 ERA on the young season. The race for NL Rookie of the Year should be a tight one between these three highly impressive young arms.
Trouble in Texas:
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and it seems that still applies to postseason hangovers. Fresh off their first ever playoff meeting in the ALCS, the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros both got off to slow starts to open the 2024 slate. The Astros, coming off their World Series in 2022 and the retirement of Dusty Baker, were hit hard with regression.
The Astros opened up the season by going 10-19 in the month of April, including an opening series sweep at home at the hands of the new-look Yankees. Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker have been splendid for the struggling ‘Stros, but the real issue lies in the rotation. Injuries and struggles have depleted the Astros starters, contributing to a 4.75 ERA as a team, which is 26th in the MLB. The 12-22 record in Space City is tied with the Angels for last in the AL West and among the five worst records in all of baseball, only trailing the Rockies, Marlins, and White Sox.
As for the defending champion Rangers, their World Series hangover was less severe, but they still got off to a disappointing start due to their lofty expectations. Just a year ago, Corey Seager hit .327 with a 1.013 on base plus slugging OPS and finished in second place in AL MVP voting. To open the 2024 season, the two-time World Series MVP opened the season hitting .228 with a .594 OPS and a .138 batting average over the last 15 days.
Despite the slow start from Seager, the Rangers are still sitting at a 19-16 overall record and are half a game back in of the division from the leading Seattle Mariners. Like their Lone Star Series rivals, the Rangers have woes in the pitching rotation with both Max Scherzer and Nathan Eovaldi sidelined with injuries and Jacob DeGrom and Tyler Mahle both shut down until August at least. Despite subpar contributions from some of their most valuable contributors, the Rangers got off to a slower start than most expected. With both Texas teams suffering some early adversity, it will be interesting to see how they will rebound from this slow start, as we should expect to see both of these teams playing some October baseball yet again.
Stars Struggling:
Through the first month of the MLB Season, there have been a lot of bats who are red-hot, like Tyler O’Neill and Alec Bohm. On the other end of the spectrum, a lot of stars have gotten off to slow starts to open the 2024 season. Randy Arozarena is one of these players. The power has been there for the 29-year-old, but Arozarena is last among all qualified hitters with a .143 batting average on the new year. Arozarena’s struggles are a large factor as to why the Rays are 17-18 and fourth in the AL East.
Two other stars hitting below the Mendoza Line are Matt Olson and Bo Bichette. Olson is known for his light tower power, hitting 54 homers a year ago. However, Olson is hitting a measly .197 with only three homers in 2024. As for Bichette, he has never hit below .290 in a season, until now. Bichette can’t seem to put the bat on the ball with a .195 average thus far, despite three straight seasons of 175 or more hits. The 16-19 Blue Jays will need far more from their most consistent contact hitter if they want to escape the cellar of the loaded AL East.
Stars are struggling all across the MLB, but none are struggling more than in the Big Apple. Juan Soto has been masterful in his short tenure as a Yankee, but his lineup partner Aaron Judge is having a particularly slow start to 2024. Judge’s 44 strikeouts are tied for seventh in the MLB and is hitting .220 just two years removed from his historic 62-homer MVP season in 2022.
Taking the Subway to Citi Field, both Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor are off to slow starts of their own. Alonso is hitting .206 and Lindor is hitting .207 to start the year as the two most important bats in Carlos Mendoza’s lineup have been ice cold through a month of action. Alonso is hitting .038 over his last seven games and both Mets stars have an OBP lower than .300. It is a safe bet to assume that almost every struggling star will catch fire at some point, but it is definitely still concerning to see many of the household names slumping this early.
EAST LANSING- After picking up the series victory in Columbus to remain in the top 8 of the Big Ten standings, MSU will take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish tonight, to open up a five game home stand.
The Irish were also able to win their weekend series, taking two out of three from Wake Forest at home, in South Bend. This will be the first matchup of the season between the two schools, as the April 2nd matchup that was supposed to be played in South Bend was rained out.
The starter for MSU today is Tommy Szczepanski. For Szczepanski, it’ll be his first start of the season. The sophomore has picked up four saves on the year and been one of the best options for MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr out of the bullpen all season, but has struggled as of late, allowing runs in five of his last seven appearances.
Freshman DJ Helwig will get the start for Notre Dame, making his third straight mid-week game start. The starting pitchers for both have not pitched longer than three and a third innings in any of their outings this year, so expect a battle of the bullpens.
Jack Frank continues to be a player to watch for the Spartans all season long, as he continued his outstanding senior campaign, batting a slash line of .615 / .688 / 1.154 on the weekend against Ohio State which included a two home run performance on Saturday to get him to seven on the season.
Dillon Kark also stayed hot for the Spartans, picking up a team high seven RBI on the weekend, propelling the Spartans in their offensive outburst that would get them the series win. The Michigan State offense as a whole was able to drill eight homers this past weekend, their most in a three game series all season.
As for Notre Dame, they have plenty of offense to go around as well, including three batters with double digit home runs on the season already, including Estevan Moreno (12), Simon Baumgardt (11), and David Glancy (10).
The Fighting Irish’s most dangerous hitter is Senior outfielder TJ Willliams. Williams is pacing the Irish in average, on base percentage, hits, and stolen bases. Williams leads off for the Irish, and will be a key matchup for Szczepanksi and the MSU bullpen all game.
MSU and ND have matched up five times in the last two seasons, with MSU winning three of those games. The Spartans were able to take both games of the season series in 2023, sweeping it 2-0.
Following a key weekend series this past weekend against OSU, Michigan State will take on their instate rival UM, starting Friday for a three game set, continuing the homestand.
MSU will look to pick up the out of conference win tonight to gather some confidence going into the final stretch of the season. First pitch for tonight’s game is scheduled to be at 7:05 p.m.
Mari and Dimitri interview student researchers at the 16th annual Graduate Academic Conference (GAC), hosted by the Council of Graduate Students (COGS). The first episode of this four-part series features interviews with Sam Norcia and Char Dengler from the College of Nursing, and Bismarck Amaniampong from the Department of Chemistry.
If you’re interested in discussing your MSU research on the radio or nominating a student, please email Mari and Dimitri at thescifileswdbm@gmail.com. Check The Sci-Files out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!
This is it, the last mock draft before the 2024 NFL Draft. This is the fifth mock that has been published in this draft process, and it’s been an honor to share them with you all.
A lot has changed and nothing has changed at the same time. Some of these picks you’ll recognize, some may surprise you. And like before, there are some crazy trades as well.
Since this is the last mock for this year, I’ve decided to do three full rounds. That’s 100 NFL draft picks. Because of such length, I won’t waste anymore time and we’ll get into it.
ROUND ONE
- Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, USC, QB, Junior
I’ve done five mocks leading up to this years’ draft, all five of them had Williams going first to the Bears. There’s not much more to say about Williams as a prospect that hasn’t already been said. He’s an other-worldly prospect.
- Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, LSU, QB, Senior
Will the Commanders select Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels? It’s a coin-flip right now, but because of the hiring of OC Kliff Kingsbury, I lean towards Daniels.
- TRADE | Minnesota Vikings: Drake Maye, North Carolina, QB, Sophomore (RS)
With Maye now sitting here at pick three, the Vikings unload all their draft capital that they’re garnered over the months leading up to the draft and move up to take him.
- Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State, WR, Junior
His father, Marvin Harrison, is one of the greatest wide receivers to ever play the game. The fourth overall pick in his draft, his son Harrison Jr., has the chance to be an all-time type of receiver as well.
- TRADE | Denver Broncos: J.J. McCarthy, Michigan, QB, Junior
Another trade-up for a QB, this time it’s the Broncos moving up to pick five for 2024 National Champion, J.J. McCarthy. HC Sean Payton finally has his guy in Denver,
- New York Giants: Rome Odunze, Washington, WR, Senior
At pick six, it’s a choice between two of the best WR prospects in a decade. In 5.0, the Giants picked Odunze, a WR that I think is a better fit in New York than Malik Nabers.
- Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, Notre Dame, T, Junior
This pick makes all the sense in the world for the Titans. Alt is a top five prospect in this draft class and easily the best tackle prospect to boot. Tennessee, in need of their franchise LT, draft Alt to hopefully fill that need.
- TRADE | Indianapolis Colts: Malik Nabers, LSU, WR, Junior
With Nabers slightly slipping, the Colts pay to move up seven spots to grab another weapon for QB Anthony Richardson. Nabers, paired with WRs Michael Pittman and Josh Downs, creates a lethal WR room in Indy.
- Chicago Bears: Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois, DI, Senior
The first defensive player comes off the board when Chicago selects Jer’Zhan Newton. Newton, one of the more looked-over prospects in this class, gets his recognition via a top ten pick.
- New York Jets: Brock Bowers, Georgia, TE, Junior
After the Jets addressed their tackle problem in free agency with the signings of T’s Morgan Moses and Tyron Smith, they pivot and select the all-world TE talent, Brock Bowers.
- TRADE | New England Patriots: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State, T, Junior (RS)
After trading back with Minnesota, the Patriots select Fashanu. New England can really draft any position, so they look to upgrade their tackle position in their first draft pick in the post-Bill Belichick era.
- TRADE | Los Angeles Chargers: Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State, T, Junior (RS)
Back-to-back picks from a team that traded back from the top five. In the second one of those picks, the Chargers pick the mauling tackle from Oregon State, Taliese Fuaga.
- TRADE | Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo, CB, Senior
Three trades in a row! This time it’s Philly moving up nine spots with the Raiders to select the best CB prospect in this class, Quinyon Mitchell.
- New Orleans Saints: Troy Fautanu, Washington, T, Senior
The Saints are in desperate need of another tackle to add to their offensive line. Fautanu, the versatile tackle from Washington, heads to the Big Easy to fill their need.
- TRADE | Atlanta Falcons: Jared Verse, Florida State, ED, Senior
In a Falcons’ offseason shrouded with offensive moves, Atlanta moves back a few spots and takes the powerful edge from Florida State.
- Seattle Seahawks: Dallas Turner, Alabama, ED, Junior
Another edge comes off the board when the Seahawks take the high-ceiling Dallas Turner. A new piece for new HC Mike Macdonald’s defense.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Terrion Arnold, Alabama, CB, Sophomore (RS)
The Jags desperately need a CB1 to be a staple of their secondary. Terrion Arnold has the potential to be just that.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, Georgia, T, Junior
Bengals get a good one here with the selection of Amarius Mims. Mims, who has the potential to become a legitimate top five tackle in the league, joins fellow mountain-sized tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Trent Brown in Cincy.
- Los Angeles Rams: Byron Murphy II, Texas, DI, Junior
The headline of the Rams 2024 offseason was the retirement of soon-to-be hall of famer DT Aaron Donald. His retirement leaves a huge hole in the Rams defensive line, so the draft pick of Byron Murphy II should fill that hole back up.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Brian Thomas Jr., LSU, WR, Junior
Pittsburgh traded WR Diontae Johnson this offseason, which left just WR George Pickens as the only legitimate threat in their receiving core. Drafting Brian Thomas Jr. brings a second threat and a whole new, speedy dimension to the Steelers reciever room.
- Miami Dolphins: JC Latham, Alabama, T, Junior
Miami lost multiple offensive lineman this past free agency period. With the 21st pick, they select JC Latham and look to move him inside to guard to partially replace their losses.
- TRADE | Las Vegas Raiders: Michael Penix Jr., Washington, QB, Senior
QBs Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew make up the Raiders current quarterback room. Looking around the rest of the AFC West, you need a high-level quarterback to compete. Michael Penix Jr. has the chance to compete.
- TRADE | New England Patriots: Bo Nix, Oregon, QB, Senior
One of the Patriots most glaring needs is the most important one, quarterback. In their second of two picks that they received from trading back with the Vikings, they find their new quarterback.
- Dallas Cowboys: Graham Barton, Duke, OL, Senior
Graham Barton can play all five offensive lineman positions at a high level. Cowboys pick him here and will puzzle piece him into their own offensive line.
- Green Bay Packers: Cooper DeJean, Iowa, DB, Junior
It’s hard to pinpoint what Green Bay can do with their first pick. A fit I like for them is DeJean, who can play safety, slot CB, or outside CB for the Packers.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Laiatu Latu, UCLA, ED, Senior
Latu is a tough case to crack. As an edge, he’s beyond his years and incredibly polished, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that he medically-retired from the sport a few years ago before coming back with UCLA. If he stays healthy, this is a great steal for the Bucs.
- Arizona Cardinals: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon, C, Junior
Arizona is another team that can pick any position. With the 27th pick, the Cardinals get their new center in Jackson Powers-Johnson to spearhead their revamped offensive line.
- Buffalo Bills: Adonai Mitchell, Texas, WR, Junior
In a surprising move, the Bills traded star WR Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. This move leaves Buffalo in desperate need to give QB Josh Allen another star receiver. Lucky for them, this WR class has all-time type of potential and has one of my favorite players in AD Mitchell.
- Detroit Lions: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama, CB, Junior
The Lions don’t have a lot of needs on their team, but if you had to pick one, you’d probably pick cornerback. Everyone was drinking the Detroit kool-aid last year with their run to the NFC championship game, so why not draft Kool-Aid now?
- Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma, T, Junior (RS)
Baltimore take the raw Oklahoma tackle with their first pick. Guyton has all of the tools in the world to become a high-level tackle in the league, but he needs time to sit to reach this potential.
- San Francisco 49ers: Nate Wiggins, Clemson, CB, Junior
Wiggins may be the best pure lockdown corner in this draft class, but his downsides come in when you look at his size (6’2, 173 lbs) and his willingness to tackle opposing players. Regardless, Wiggins in San Fran has the chance to be dangerous.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Kingsley Suamataia, BYU, T, Sophomore (RS)
The champs end round and night one with the selection of another high-upside tackle. Suamataia, just like Guyton and Mims, has a plethora of physical tools to build upon.
ROUND TWO
- Carolina Panthers: Xavier Legette, South Carolina, WR, Senior
The Panthers start off night two with getting QB Bryce Young a new weapon in Xavier Legette.
- New England Patriots: Troy Franklin, Oregon, WR, Junior
New England took Nix with their second pick in the first round, so why not use your next pick on getting his college receiver? Franklin and Nix will have an immediate connection in the Patriots’ new offense.
- Arizona Cardinals: Chop Robinson, Penn State, ED, Junior
The Cardinals use the 36th pick on one of the more interesting prospects in this draft, Chop Robinson. The raw Robinson has much to learn, but sky is the limit if he properly develops in Arizona.
- Washington Commanders: Tyler Nubin, Minnesota, S, Senior
The first safety of the draft comes off the board when the Commanders take the Minnesota prospect, Tyler Nubin.
- Los Angeles Chargers: Braden Fiske, Florida State, DI, Senior
The Chargers go back to the trenches with their second pick, but this time, it’s on the other side of the ball. Fiske drips with athletic ability and looks to blow up opposing quarterbacks.
- Tennessee Titans: Chris Braswell, Alabama, ED, Senior
Braswell was lost in the shuffle in Tuscaloosa with the likes of Will Andersen Jr. and Dallas Turner in the same locker room, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve this selection. Braswell brings a blend of speed and power that could be dangerous in Tennessee.
- Carolina Panthers: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri, CB, Junior (RS)
Just six picks later, Carolina is back up on the clock. They go with Rakestraw Jr. to bring a physical presence to their cornerback room.
- Washington Commanders: Jordan Morgan, Arizona, T, Senior
Another team with two picks in the top ten of this round. After taking Nubin, Washington flips the side of the ball and adds Morgan to their offensive line.
- Green Bay Packers: Payton Wilson, NC State, LB, Senior
Pick 41 is where the first linebacker of the draft comes off the board. Wilson joins fellow LBs Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie in Wisconsin.
- Houston Texans: T.J. Tampa, Iowa State, CB, Senior
After an eventful offseason, the Texans are finally on the clock at pick 42. With his pick, they grab the lengthy cornerback from Iowa State to pair with CB Derek Stingley Jr.
- Atlanta Falcons: Ladd McConkey, Georgia, WR, Junior (RS)
New quarterback in town, Kirk Cousins, loves it when Atlanta takes the sure-handed, shifty receiver from Georgia, Ladd McConkey. McConkey with WR Drake London will be fun to watch.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Kamari Lassiter, Georgia, CB, Junior
Another Georgia player comes off the board when the Raiders selects Kamari Lassiter. He might not be the most physically dominant or fastest player, but his best attribute is his mind and football processor.
- New Orleans Saints: Kris Jenkins, Michigan, DI, Junior (RS)
Jenkins’ father played most of his career with the Panthers. In this mock, Jenkins will get to play for the Panthers’ division rival, the Saints.
- Indianapolis Colts: Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas, TE, Junior
Indy grab another weapon for Anthony Richardson, this time it’s ultra-athlete from Texas, Ja’Tavion Sanders
- New York Giants: Mike Sainristil, Michigan, CB, Senior
Giants use the 47th pick on the talented slot CB, Mike Sainristil. You might last remember Sainristil from nearly returning an interception for a touchdown in the title game against Washington.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Darius Robinson, Missouri, ED, Graduate
The Jags stick with defense with their second pick, but this time they target the defensive line with the selection of Darius Robinson. One of the draft process’ biggest risers lands in Jacksonville.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Roman Wilson, Michigan, WR, Senior
After applying the franchise tag on him, the future of WR Tee Higgins in Cincinnati is shrouded with questions. Because of this, the Bengals use their second pick on Roman Wilson.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington, WR, Junior (RS)
Another college QB and college WR pairing here with the 50th pick. This time, Vegas pairs first round pick Penix Jr. with one of his college WRs, Ja’Lynn Polk.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Zach Frazier, West Virginia, C, Senior
Pittsburgh, as of when this article is published, doesn’t not have a center on their roster. It is one of their biggest needs, so they fill that need with the experienced Zach Frazier.
- TRADE | Kansas City Chiefs: Keon Coleman, Florida State, WR, Junior
A champion trade! KC moves up over ten spots to grab the living highlight reel that is Keon Coleman. You may remember him from his time in East Lansing, where he spent two seasons at Michigan State
- Philadelphia Eagles: Ricky Pearsall, Florida, WR, Senior
Pearsall will slide right into the slot WR role in Philly and complete their dangerous-looking offense. Ricky’s hands are his best attribute, and if you want proof of this, look up his catch against Charlotte and tell me that it is not one of the best college catches in a decade.
- Cleveland Browns: Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M, LB, Senior
Another LB is off the board when the Browns take Edgerrin Cooper with their first pick. He’s lengthy, athletic, and brings a new dimension to Cleveland’s defense.
- Miami Dolphins: Xavier Worthy, Texas, WR, Junior
Speed, speed, speed. That’s the name of Miami’s offensive game. QB Tua Tagovailoa has a group of track-stars to throw to when the Dolphins pick Xavier Worthy.
- Dallas Cowboys: Jonathon Brooks, Texas, RB, Sophomore (RS)
The first RB is off the board when Dallas picks up the hometown RB, Jonathan Brooks. The Cowboys lost fellow RB Tony Pollard this offseason, so Brooks can come in and immediately be their bellcow back.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Haynes, Connecticut, G, Senior
Tamps gets another piece for their offensive line with the selection of Christian Haynes. The Connecticut product brings an immense amount of college experience with him.
58 Green Bay Packers: Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson, DI, Senior
Green Bay adds some more juice to their defensive line when they pick Ruke Orhorhoro. Orhorhoro has a high-floor and can come in and immediately make an impact.
- Houston Texans: Kiran Amegadije, Yale, T, Junior
Houston uses their second pick on the Yale product, Kiran Amegadije. It’s always hard to project FCS players to the NFL, but Amegadije is one of the best tackles to come out of the FCS in a while.
- Buffalo Bills: Cole Bishop, Utah, S, Junior
Because of cap concerns, Buffalo has had to let go of a few players that make up their secondary. Desperately needing to build that secondary back up, they go with Cole Bishop.
- Detroit Lions: Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan, ED, Senior
Yes, Detroit brought in ED Marcus Davenport this offseason, but he’s not your long-term option. I think Kneeland can come in and immediately make an impact and have a long career with the Lions.
- Baltimore Ravens: Jermaine Burton, Alabama, WR, Senior
If there’s a player-team fit that I like the most in this draft, it might be Jermaine Burton to the Ravens. The DMV team still needs another receiver, and Burton brings the physicality and feistiness of past Ravens and AFC North players.
- San Francisco 49ers: Mason McCormick, South Dakota State, G, Senior
McCormick is another high-riser in this draft process. This might be a tad light for him, but the 49ers need offensive line help and I think he fits what the 49ers look for.
- TRADE | Los Angeles Rams: Jonah Eliss, Utah, ED, Junior
After trading back with the Chiefs, the Rams are still able to grab Jonah Eliss with the last pick of the second round. He and Murphy II immediately make the Rams’ pass rush much more dangerous.
ROUND THREE
- Carolina Panthers: Adisa Isaac, Penn State, ED, Senior
Carolina starts off round three with the selection of Adisa Isaac. Isaac, maybe not as explosive as the other Penn State edge taken in this draft, still brings a high-level of explosiveness and power to Charlotte.
- Arizona Cardinals: Max Melton, Rutgers, CB, Senior
Melton is another high-riser in this draft process. He can play either inside or outside, so the Cards take him here and piece him into their defense.
- Washington Commanders: Bralen Trice, Washington, ED, Senior
Washington to Washington for Bralen Trice. Obviously not the same location, but Trice can bring serious power to our nation’s capital.
- New England Patriots: Junior Colson, Michigan, LB, Junior
Born in Haiti, Junior Colson has one heck of a ride to the NFL. Well he made it, and he brings great size to New England’s linebacking core.
- Los Angeles Chargers: Blake Corum, Michigan, RB, Senior
Another Michigan player is off the board when Blake Corum heads to LA. You think Jim Harbaugh won’t take one of his Michigan players? Coupled with the fact that RB Austin Ekeler is now in Washington, it’s easy to see this happening.
- New York Giants: Brandon Dorlus, Oregon, DI, Senior
The Giants add to their defensive interior with the selection of Brandon Dorlus from Oregon. To boot, he can also move out to a 4-3 edge if New York wants to as well.
- Arizona Cardinals: Javon Bullard, Georgia, S, Junior
Already back up on the clock, Arizona goes with the best-player-available and selects Javon Bullard from Georgia. He brings great versatility to the Cardinal’s secondary.
- New York Jets: Javon Baker, UCF, WR, Senior
Another weapon for QB Aaron Rodgers when the Jets take Javon Baker. He’s a great outside threat to pair with WRs Mike Williams and Garrett Wilson.
- Detroit Lions: Johnny Wilson, Florida State, WR, Junior (RS)
Another WR off the board when the Lions take the 6’7 receiver from Florida State. His size and length will undoubtedly be a problem near the endzone and Detroit doesn’t have a receiver in the build of Wilson.
- Atlanta Falcons: Khyree Jackson, Oregon, CB, Senior
Besides CB A.J. Terrell, the Falcons don’t have a legit second CB option. Khyree Jackson, with a compelling blend of speed and length, heads to the ATL to be that option.
- Chicago Bears: Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky, WR, Senior
The Bears WR core already looks dangerous already they added Keenan Allen, so when they add the nearly-impossible to take down Malachi Corley, the Windy City is going to be much-watch football this season.
- Denver Broncos: Devontez Walker, North Carolina, WR, Senior
This is the fourth WR taken in the last five picks. This time it’s Denver grabbing the high-upside prospect from North Carolina.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Andru Phillips, Kentucky, CB, Senior
Andru Phillips is a ultra-physical corner and plays with a type of tenacity that’s hard to find. He makes a good-fit in Vegas.
- TRADE | Los Angeles Rams: Spencer Rattler, QB, Senior (RS)
The Rams trade up a few spots here to draft Spencer Rattler from South Carolina. The former five star prospect coming out of high school has an opportunity to take over in LA whenever QB Matthew Stafford calls it a career.
- Atlanta Falcons: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson, LB, Junior
Atlanta goes back to their defense with their second of three third round picks, this time grabbing the high IQ Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Gabriel Murphy, UCLA, ED, Senior
Cincy adds another pass rusher to their defense when they select Gabriel Murphy from UCLA. Murphy is a crafty, technical pass rusher that has great hand-usage.
- Seattle Seahawks: Blake Fisher, Notre Dame, T, Sophomore (RS)
While Joe Alt is, rightfully, getting a lot of praise for this work, the other Notre Dame tackle, Blake Fisher, is a great prospect as well. He’s young and brings power to his pass and run blocking.
- TRADE | Atlanta Falcons: Jaden Hicks, Washington State, S, Sophomore (RS)
When the Falcons traded back with the Colts in the first round, they didn’t just get the 15th pick, they also received this pick as well. With this pick, they upgrade their secondary with the Wazzu product, Jaden Hicks.
- TRADE | Washington Commanders: Jalen McMillan, Washington, WR, Senior
After trading back with the Rams, the Commanders give new QB Jayden Daniels another weapon in Jalen McMillan. Now all three Washington WRs are gone.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Jarrian Jones, Florida State, CB, Senior
Since the departure of CB Mike Hilton in 2020, Pittsburgh has been looking for another slot CB of his caliber. They select Jarrian Jones with the 84th pick to possibly find the same-caliber slot CB.
- TRADE | Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jaylen Wright, Tennessee, RB, Junior
Tampa jumps up a few spots with Cleveland to snag the speedy RB from Tennessee, Jaylen Wright. Wright, paired with RB Rachaad White, creates a lethal 1-2 on the Bucs.
- Houston Texans: Cedric Gray, North Carolina, LB, Senior
The Texans improve their linebacking core with the selection of Cedric Gray from North Carolina. It will be fun to see what he can do with former LB himself, HC Demeco Ryans, in Houston.
- Dallas Cowboys: Brenden Rice, USC, WR, Senior
This is the second time this draft that a son of a hall-of-fame WR has been taken. First it was Marvin Harrison Jr., now it’s Brenden Rice, son of WR Jerry Rice, heading to Dallas.
- Green Bay Packers: Austin Booker, Kansas, ED, Sophomore (RS)
The Packers go four-for-four in taking defensive players in this draft when they pick Austin Booker out of Kansas. He joins Cooper DeJean, Payton Wilson, and Ruke Orhorhoro in Green Bay.
- TRADE | Cleveland Browns: Jamari Thrash, Louisville, QB, Senior
Cleveland are still able to grab a WR after moving back a few spots with Tampa. The WR they grab is Jamari Thrash from Louisville.
- Arizona Cardinals: Trey Benson, Florida State, RB, Senior
It’s hard to pick for Arizona, since they really need everything. With this pick, they pick Trey Benson to pair with RB James Conner to create a thunder and lighting sort of pairing.
- Green Bay Packers: Patrick Paul, Houston, T, Senior
The Packers are already back up on the clock, and this time they take an offensive player. With the 91st pick, Green Bay select the large and looming tackle from Houston, Patrick Paul.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Renardo Green, Florida State, CB, Senior
After trading Carlton Davis III to Detroit, Tampa needs a new corner for their roster. As such, they go and grab the physical outside corner, Renardo Green.
- Baltimore Ravens: Caelen Carson, Wake Forest, CB, Senior
Another corner is off the board when Baltimore takes Caelen Carson. He brings physicality, experience, and great tackling to the Ravens team.
- San Francisco 49ers: Bucky Irving, Oregon, RB, Junior
Death, taxes, and the 49ers selecting a RB in a NFL Draft. Bucky Irving joins RBs Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell in the Bay.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Texas Tech, S, Senior
This offseason, KC traded away CB L’Jarius Sneed to the Titans. While Texas Tech S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson doesn’t play exactly like Sneed, I think he fills a Chief need.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Christian Mahogany, Boston College, G, Senior
Jacksonville looks to upgrade their offensive line when they pick up Christian Mahogany from Boston College.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State, DI, Sophomore (RS)
Michael Hall Jr. stays in state when the Bengals take him with the 97th pick. Well not as big as maybe he should be, he wins with great speed and agility.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Jacob Cowing, Arizona, WR, Senior
The Steelers go back to the WR well and grab Jacob Cowing from Arizona. Cowing, with his shiftiness and short area speed, slots right into a slot WR role in Pittsburgh.
- Los Angeles Rams: Roger Rosengarten, Washington, T, Junior (RS)
LA gave Matthew Stafford some new found protection when they select Roger Rosengarten from Washington.
- Washington Commanders: Theo Johnson, Penn State, TE, Senior
100 picks later, the Commanders end night two and round three with the selection of super-athlete Theo Johnson.
Jack David and Matt Coury are back for another episode of Impact Sports Daily as they discuss the men’s and women’s national championship games, Tigers, Red Wings, the Masters, and more.
Grace Whipple started this semester off strong by training to become a DJ!! You can hear her as “DJ Cool Whip” on Saturdays 6-8 p.m.
Where are you from?
Mason, MI
What made you decide to join The IMPACT and become a DJ?
I grew up listening to a lot of radio with my family (so much “Who’s it by?” trivia and American Top 40 reruns with the goat Casey Kasem) and I remember thinking it would be so fun to be the one in the booth picking the tunes and talking on air, so I decided to become the one talking on air!
What has been your best on-air experience?
The number of friends/family who called or texted the request line during my first shift – I barely got to pick a song!
Favorite song/album of 2023-2024
Unreal Unearth – Hozier
What is the best concert experience you have had? Why?
Gordon Lightfoot at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids. I took myself on a date – had a nice dinner in downtown GR, sat in the second row next to some random middle-aged dudes, and did a lot more yelling and standing up than I thought I would. His opener and band were so fantastic and he sounded great! He has been such a huge part of my music journey and I felt so honored to be able to see him in the fall of 2022 before his passing.
Favorite Dining Hall?
Shaw (only because of Hunan Chicken – the best lunch on campus)
What is your comfort TV show?
House MD
If you were on a deserted island, what 3 albums would you bring?
Stop Making Sense (live) – Talking Heads, Wild Planet – The B-52s, The Dark Side of The Moon – Pink Floyd
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
The Bitch is Back – Elton John
EAST LANSING – Michigan State baseball was back in action at McLane Stadium for the first game of a weekend series against the Niagara Purple Eagles. The Spartans defeated Niagara 9-0 courtesy of a four-run fifth inning to improve to 13-14 on the season and earned their first shutout win since the 2022 season.
“I thought we played very well today, we played well defensively,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss. “Our pitching I thought was outstanding, really good outing by Joseph [Dzierwa], a lot of positives today.”
Entering the fifth inning, the Spartans led the Purple Eagles 2-0 after senior outfielder Greg Ziegler and freshman center fielder Landen Lozier were hit by pitches.
A double to right center by junior first baseman Nick Williams extended the Spartans’ lead to 3-0 with senior outfielder Jack Frank scoring the run
A wild pitch by graduate pitcher Liam Reynolds for the Purple Eagles also allowed Williams and freshman infielder Ryan McKay to score. Lozier singled to center to cap off a four-run bottom of the fifth for the Spartans, as they led 6-0 after five innings of play.
In the seventh inning, the Spartans’ success continued. Lozier delivered again with another single to center, and senior third baseman Dillon Kark also singled to extend the MSU lead to 9-0.
Sophomore pitcher Joseph Dzierwa shined in the win, allowing no runs, and five hits, and recorded nine strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
Offensively, MSU was led by Landen Lozier, who went 2 for 4 with four RBIs. Dillon Kark and Nick Williams also contributed with an RBI.
“I think it’s important to extend him a little bit more, he’s in good enough shape to do it,” said Boss. “It’s good to get to get him deep enough into the game with that amount of pitches.”
The Spartans have now extended their win streak to three and look to extend their streak in the second matchup against Niagara on Saturday. First pitch is set for 3:35 p.m.
“They’re [Niagara] tough, they’re hard nosed, they’re scrappy, we’re gonna get a good effort out of those guys tomorrow,” said Coach Boss. “We need to be ready to play tomorrow and I feel good that our guys will be ready to go.”
HEY DIVAS! Recently we had our first Terminally Online show (revival era edition) with us (aka your hosts) Jovana and Cam. So in case you missed our epic debut, here is the playlist with all the fabulous songs we played <3
See you next Sunday from 8-10 p.m. on 88.9 FM
xoxo
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo – For the sixth time this season, the No. 1 seed Michigan State hockey team faced off against Michigan, this time in the Maryland Heights regional final with a trip to the Frozen Four on the line. The No. 3 seeded Wolverines defeated the Spartans 5-2 with four third-period goals to advance to their third consecutive Frozen Four, bringing MSU’s historic season to a stunning close.
“We win with class and we lose with class, I thought our guys finished the game really well,” said MSU head coach Adam Nightingale. “That’s how we’re trying to lay the foundation for our program.”
In a tie game at 2-2 midway through the third period, twelve seconds was all it took for the Wolverines to pull away. Junior forward Dylan Duke, who has scored in every matchup this season against the Spartans, scored the game-deciding goal, with sophomore forward TJ Hughes picking up the assist.
Sophomore forward Gavin Brindley scored the second goal off a great between-the-legs pass from Frank Nazar to extend the Wolverine lead to 4-2.
“Give credit to them [Michigan], they’ve got some talent, some guys made big-time plays,” said Nightingale. “Frankie [Frank] Nazar made a special play.”
Duke scored his second goal of the game to put the finishing touches on the win for Michigan with two minutes to play.
Graduate goaltender Jake Barczewski shined in the win, recording 38 saves on the night. Graduate defenseman Marshall Warren and junior defenseman Ethan Edwards also recorded goals for the Wolverines.
Freshman forward Gavin O’Connell and sophomore forward Joey Larson both recorded power-play goals for MSU in the loss. Freshman goaltender Trey Augustine recorded 30 saves for MSU.
Despite the loss, the Spartans have much to be proud of this season, as the team won the Big Ten regular season and tournament title for the first time in program history.
“We were first place wire to wire and that’s not easy to do in our conference with the youngest team,” said Nightingale. “That’s why I respect our guys a ton, every night this year we played, the other team was coming in playing first-place Michigan State, and that’s pretty impressive.”
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo – For the sixth time this season, No. 1 seed Michigan State hockey will face off against No. 3 seed Michigan, this time in the NCAA tournament regional final with a trip to the Frozen Four on the line.
Both the Spartans and Wolverines had come from behind wins to advance to the final.
MSU advanced to the regional final after rallying from a 4-2 deficit to defeat Western Michigan 5-4 in overtime off a game-winning goal by senior forward Jeremy Davidson. Sophomore forward Karsen Dorwart and senior defenseman Nash Nienhuis also helped spark the rally for MSU with goals in the third period.
The Wolverines defeated North Dakota 4-3, rallying from a 2-1 deficit entering the third period to advance to the regional final. Junior forward Dylan Duke’s two goals in the third period led Michigan, while sophomore forwards Frank Nazar and TJ Hughes also recorded goals in the win.
The Spartans enter this game with a 4-1 record against Michigan on the season and have won the last four meetings against their rival. Their last win came just a week ago when they defeated the Wolverines 5-4 in overtime to capture the Big Ten Tournament Championship.
Michigan’s lone win against the Spartans came in the first game of the season series on Jan. 19 at Munn Ice Arena, in which the Wolverines won 7-1.
The key to a Spartan victory will be to control the Wolverines on the power play. Michigan is the number one team in the nation in power play percentage, while MSU ranks seventh.
The Wolverines will need to take advantage of their opportunities on the power play against Michigan State’s defense, which struggles to kill penalties.
The Spartans will look to advance to their first Frozen Four since winning the 2007 National Championship, while Michigan is looking to advance to their third straight Frozen Four. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. ET from Centene Community Ice Center.
EAST LANSING- After dropping the first game of their weekend set on Friday at McLane Stadium, MSU baseball looked to bounce back on Saturday afternoon in the middle game of the three game series.
Nick Powers took the bump for the Spartans, making his 7th start of the season.
Powers was excellent on the day going seven innings while only allowing two runs on seven hits.
He had two strikeouts and allowed one walk on the day as well, leading the Spartans to a 5-2 victory
“I thought Nick was great, really good,” head coach Jake Boss said after the game.
“He was in command of the strike zone all day long, he was throwing three pitches for strikes, and that’s what Nick does.”
Michigan State got the scoring going in the third inning off a long three run bomb into the Red Cedar River by Jack Frank, his third home run of the season, giving MSU an early 3-0 lead.
“Approaching every day or at bat the same way, whether it’s good or bad, can’t be result oriented,” Jack Frank said.
“Yesterday wasn’t as good of a day for me, but at the end of the day, that’s baseball . . . Just keep doing the same things day in and day out and I think good outcomes come to you.
Frank’s homer was his first since March 3rd against Western Michigan and he indeed to his team high 21 RBIs on the season.
Rutgers would strike back with runs in the fifth and sixth on a home run by Johnny Volpe and a sacrifice fly by Pete Durocher, cutting the Spartans lead down to 3-2.
MSU was able to get an insurance run back in the bottom half of the sixth, on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ryan Seymour.
The offense continued in the seventh as Sam Thompson led off with a double, and was eventually driven in by Frank on a single for his fourth RBI of the afternoon.
Ryan McKay would ground into a double play with the bases loaded to end the inning, holding the MSU lead at 5-2.
Aaron Mishoulam came on for the Spartans in relief of Powers, and would retire the Scarlet Knights in order in the top of the eighth.
Mishoulam faced some trouble in the ninth allowing an infield single, and another base runner on an error by Seymour at shortstop, but held onto the pick up the six out save, securing the victory for Michigan State, and earning Nick Powers his fourth win of the season.
“You know what you’re getting, he’s gonna show up, he’s gonna do his thing every time,” said Frank, reflecting on Powers’ start.
The Spartans evened up the series with the win, and improved their Big Ten record to 2-3, and overall record to 11-14.
Michigan State will go for the series win in the rubber match on Sunday, with Nick Ferazzi on the mound.
Zack Konstantinovsky will be making the start for Rutgers.
“Kinda the same approach as today, they’re good, that’s a good team over there,” Boss said.
“We need to take advantage of opportunities when we do get them.”
An Easter Sunday first pitch is set for 1:05 PM EST, as MSU will look to take the series against the Scarlet Knights.
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – For the first time since 2012, the Michigan State hockey team appeared in the NCAA Hockey Tournament against in-state foe Western Michigan in the Maryland Heights regional semifinal. The No. 1-seeded Spartans rallied from a 4-2 deficit to defeat the Broncos 5-4 in overtime, advancing to the regional final.
“Proud of our guys, that was a really special game for us, our goal is to come here and win two hockey games,” said MSU head coach Adam Nightingale. “Our group has done a good job of being even-keeled.”
Entering the third period, MSU trailed 4-2 after three unanswered goals in the second period for Western Michigan by freshman forward Alex Bump, senior forward Sam Colangelo, and graduate defenseman Zak Galambos.
Halfway through the third period, senior defenseman Nash Nienhuis scored to help spark the Spartan rally, cutting their deficit to one.
“It just comes down to our forwards and their ability to turn pucks over and make great plays,” said Nienhuis. “I got to compliment our forwards, they help make it easy for us.”
With under a minute to play, sophomore forward Karsen Dorwart received a great pass from freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov to even the contest up at four.
Nine minutes into overtime, senior forward Jeremy Davidson scored the game-winner to cap off a thrilling come-from-behind win for the Spartans.
“He’s been through a lot, thankful for him for buying in, it was good to see him get the goal,” said Nightingale.
Freshman goaltender Trey Augustine recorded 34 saves in the win. Sophomore forward Daniel Russell and junior defenseman David Gucciardi also recorded goals in the win.
The Spartans will face the winner of North Dakota and Michigan in the regional final. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.
EAST LANSING – Michigan State hockey will compete in the NCAA Hockey Tournament for the first time since 2012, fresh off of winning their first Big Ten Tournament title in program history.
The Spartans earned the fourth No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and will face off against Western Michigan in the Maryland Heights Regional Semifinal on Friday, March 29. North Dakota and Michigan also highlight the region.
“We’re focused on the first game, one game shot anything can happen, I’m excited for our guys to earn this opportunity and take advantage of it,” said MSU head coach Adam Nightingale.
Western Michigan enters the tournament with a 21-15-1 record on the season and finished sixth in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference with an 11-13-0 conference record.
The Broncos currently boast the 11th-best scoring defense, allowing 2.49 goals per game. The Spartans and Broncos rank among the best in the nation in scoring offense with MSU ranking seventh and Western Michigan ranking ninth.
“[Western Michigan] competitive, they score, they’re one of the highest scoring teams in the country, they play heavy, those are all qualities of a really good team. There’s a reason they’ve had the season they’ve had,” said Nightingale.
Western Michigan does an excellent job on the penalty kill. The Broncos are 12th in the country in penalty-kill percentage. This will be a key for the Broncos against the Spartans on power plays, as MSU ranks seventh in power play percentage.
Players to watch for Western Michigan include senior forward Sam Colangelo and junior forward Dylan Wendt, who lead the Broncos in goals with 23.
Key players to watch for MSU include freshman goaltender Trey Augustine, senior defenseman Nash Nienhuis, and sophomore forward Daniel Russell, who all had impactful performances in the Big Ten Tournament.
“It feels great, we put a ton of work in this year and to see how that played out is great,” said MSU senior defenseman Nash Nienhuis.
Senior forward Jeremy Davidson and sophomore defenseman Matt Basgall, who were both crucial down the stretch in the overtime win against Michigan, will also be players to watch.
The key for the Spartans will be to take advantage of power play opportunities against a Western Michigan unit that excels on the penalty kill.
The Spartans will look to capture their first NCAA Tournament win since 2008. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. at Centene Community Ice Center.
Amidst the suspension of Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker, who was accused of sexual harassment, now begs the question: How will Michigan State football move forward amongst all the chaos surrounding the program? MSU suspended Tucker on Sunday, Sept. 10 without pay as the university continues its investigation, leaving the fourth-year head coach’s...
EAST LANSING – On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the Michigan State women’s soccer team hosted the Dayton Flyers and the competition resulted in a tie, 2-2. The Spartans also honored alumni from the Spartan women’s soccer team at halftime of the match. The Spartans move to a 5-2-1 record overall with the draw, as Dayton...
EAST LANSING – Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker has been suspended without pay, the university announced in a press conference on Sunday afternoon.
The move, announced by MSU athletic director Alan Haller, comes after a report was published by USA Today just after midnight on Sunday morning, hours after Michigan State’s second game of the season against Richmond. The article detailed accusations of sexual harassment from Michigan-based Title IX attorney Rebecca Leitman Veidlinger, who began working on the case in January.
“This step to place Mel Tucker on an unpaid leave is equally necessary and appropriate for today’s circumstances,” MSU interim president Teresa K. Woodruff. “These actions are not taken lightly, and I know AD Haller is making them in support of the individuals impacted.”
Veidlinger completed and submitted her 106-page investigation on July 25.
An official hearing is set for the week of October 5, during MSU’s bye week. According to the article from USA Today, another Title IX attorney was hired by Michigan State to determine if Tucker violated university rules.
“I want to reinforce that these matters are unique and complex, and our investigations are designed to be comprehensive and fair,” said MSU interim president Teresa K. Woodruff. “Our guiding principles are equity and process and confidentiality for all involved, in order to protect the integrity of the investigation.”
Haller announced that secondary coach Harlon Barnett will coach the team on an interim basis. Former MSU head coach Mark Dantonio will serve as an associate head coach.
If you find yourself saying, “Wow, that’s literally me,” every time you watch a Ryan Gosling movie, every time you watch American Psycho, Donnie Darko or the Joker, we hope this playlist fuels your fantasy. Keep aspiring to be that cool guy. It’s okay to dream a little.
EAST LANSING – Michigan State football took care of business on Saturday afternoon in their second game on the season, pounding the Richmond Spiders 45-14 and improving to 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium.
With another slow start from the offense, MSU stepped on the gas with six straight drives resulting in points.
“We started fast on defense, we didn’t start as fast on offense but we were able to get going,” Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker said. “We just have to continue to get better, learn from our mistakes, and build on things we did well.”
After a muffed Richmond punt, the Spartans capitalized on the turnover with an 11-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior Noah Kim to redshirt senior Tre Mosley.
“I thought our performance was better. We showed some improvement, and that was one of the key things we focused on in practice this week,” MSU quarterback Noah Kim said. “I still think there is a lot to improve on, but overall I thought it was a good win.”
The second quarter of play began with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Noah Kim to Boise State transfer tight end Tyneil Hopper. The sixth-year transfer scored his first touchdown as a Spartan.
As MSU concluded play against two of its three non-conference opponents, the real test begins on Sept. 16, when the No. 8 Washington Huskies come into East Lansing.
We will quickly find out if MSU’s defense improved from a season ago, as Heisman Trophy candidate Michael Penix Jr. will provide the toughest test yet this season for MSU’s defense. Last season, Penix recorded 397 yards and four touchdowns against Michigan State.
“I see a lot of communication and a lot of guys that know how to work with each other,” said sophomore defensive back Dillon Tatum. “I think we’re going to do very well. We have a lot of confidence and a lot of young guys. We just have to keep working.”
Mel Tucker emphasized that his traditional 24-hour rule will not be in effect this week, as the team gets ready for Washington.
“The team celebrated in the locker room. Washington is on the clock,” Tucker said.
Connecticut transfer running back Nathan Carter showed more flashes of his potential, with three rushing touchdowns on the day, including a 44-yard touchdown run. Carter finished with 111 rushing yards on 11 carries.
Nathan Carter rushes towards the end zone en route to scoring a touchdown against Richmond at Spartan Stadium on September 9, 2023. (Jack Moreland)Richmond’s two touchdowns of the day came off of MSU turnovers. Running backs Jordan Simmons and Davion Primm each fumbled on their carries, leading to two scores from the Spiders.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Antonio Gates Jr. saw action late in the game, and caught his first touchdown in the green and white, with a 45-yard catch from Noah Kim, putting the Spartans up 38.
Redshirt junior Noah Kim made his second career start on Saturday, and it was a good one. Kim finished his day completing 18 for 22 passes, 292 yards, and three touchdowns. After a sluggish first half against Central Michigan, Kim has looked calm and collected in his first two games as a Spartan.
“He’s a good player. He’s got some talent. He can do a lot of things. We saw his ability to run the ball today, and he throws a really nice ball,” Tucker said.
Kim completed 15 straight throws in his outing, two of those going for touchdowns.
Michigan State will stay at home on Sept. 16, as the Spartans host No. 8 Washington for a 5:00 p.m kickoff at Spartan Stadium. You can listen to the game on 88.9 FM, with Zac Slowik and Matt Merrifield on the call.
EAST LANSING – For the first time in history, Michigan State and Richmond faced off on Saturday afternoon.
“Really proud of the way our team came out. We did not do these guys lightly,” said Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker in the post-game press conference.
Here are four takeaways from Saturday’s game:
The running game is making a comeback
“I think we can rely on every running back that we have,” said MSU redshirt junior quarterback Noah Kim.
Redshirt sophomore running back and transfer from the University of Connecticut, Nathan Carter had 111 rushing yards and got three touchdowns.
Kim had 21 rushing yards.
Redshirt junior running back Jalen Berger had seven rushing yards for the game. Berger limped off the field in the first quarter and was seen on the sidelines with a boot on his right foot during the second half.
Need for ball security and clean football
MSU struggled from fumbles and a dropped interception.
The Spartans fumbled the ball twice in the second half turning it over to the Spiders. The first fumble resulted in a Richmond recovery and a 47-yard touchdown.
“The ball security is job security,” said Tucker
Multiple holding calls were called against the Spartans. It hurt them most after the big 31-yard pass from Kim to Redshirt junior tight end Maliq Carr for a touchdown, and they got pushed back to first-and-20.
The offense needs to get into a rhythm quicker
Last week, MSU had a slow start against Central Michigan. It was the same story against Richmond. MSU started with only a 50-second possession before having to kick it back to Richmond.
“We could still come out a little faster,” said Kim. “We should look to start a little faster.”
The Spartans needed to make the big plays quicker, but there were some impressive plays once they got into their rhythm.
The 31-yard pass from Kim to redshirt freshman wide receiver Jaron Glover. Carter recorded a 44-yard rush touchdown. And Carr’s one-hander for a 22-yard gain.
Kim totaled 292 passing yards.
MSU needs a strong defense for next week against Washington
MSU sacked Richmond redshirt sophomore quarterback Kyle Wickersham three times. The first sack was in the first quarter by Brandon Wright and Simeon Barrow. Wickersham was sacked again in the first quarter by Derrick Harmon and Aaron Brule. Then in the second quarter, Wright sacked Wickersham again.
With Washington coming to East Lansing next week, the Spartans need to be ready to defend the Husky offense. Last season, MSU traveled to Husky Stadium and lost 39-28. Will the Spartans redeem themselves on their home field? We will see next week.
The Spartans will host the Huskies at Spartan Stadium on Sept. 16 at 5:00 p.m.
Since the mid 2010s, Bladee has been a staple of his genre, consistently creating music that’s unlike anything else out there and, for many, single-handedly defining the hyperpop-adjacent niche of electronic pop that he occupies. It seems with every new release — whether it be an album, single or ep — the rapper and Drain Gang co-founder manages to accomplish a sound entirely unique to him. The newest single he’s released, “Every Summer,” is, of course, no exception to the persistent quality he’s consistently set over the last nine years.
Being the first new song to release since his critically-acclaimed album Spiderr in 2022, “Every Summer” maintains a sense of euphoria throughout the track, employing a powerful electronic synth beat and layering vocals on top of that to create an all around incredibly atmospheric tune. Coming in at just under two minutes in length, the song does not overstay its welcome, instead allowing the listener to linger on every second of the melody as well as allowing for heavy listenability. Accompanying Bladee on the track is up-and-coming Drain Gang-affiliated artist Nation; their voices blend together to harmonize perfectly with one another throughout the verses.
“You are my only star /
You fall into my arms /
You burn a hole through all /
At last, starfall.”
As if the beat itself were not already top-tier, the lyrics to “Every Summer” are what really tie the song together. Repetitive yet catchy, Bladee sings of a love that’s doomed to fail, someone who he misses no matter how much time passes, perfectly encapsulating the feeling of a summertime “situationship” that’s ill-fated yet stays in the back of one’s mind for months or even years afterward. The theming Bladee employs here additionally ties back into what has become a very present subject matter in Bladee’s music over the past few years: ascending to a higher plane of existence, which only further emphasizes the euphoric atmosphere drawn about by the melody. As a whole, “Every Summer” perfectly encapsulates everything that makes Bladee not only who he is as a rapper, but as an artist.
EAST LANSING- Michigan State volleyball hosted Duke University on Friday evening. They recorded a 3-0 loss for their third of the season.
“We’re not a team that’s gonna dwell, I don’t dwell,” said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. “We say our peace, we watch our film, and we have the same kinda conversations if we win or lose.”
MSU entered Friday’s game on a four-game winning streak after facing Belmont and Syracuse in the Kathy DeBoer Invitational. The team recorded consecutive sweeps.
This was MSU’s first faceoff since Nalani Iosia was named B1G Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5, becoming the first Spartan to hold the title since Jamye Cox in 2019.
Duke’s Gacie Johnson served the first ball of the game. The rally resulted in a point for Duke, who maintained the lead the entire first set, maxing out at a seven point lead. The Blue Devils clinched the set 25-19. Freshman outside hitter Tylah Holdem recorded several rally-winning hits in the first period for the Spartans.
Duke opened the scoring in the second set. MSU maintained a much closer point differential, even gaining leading momentum and never trailing behind more than three points until Duke middle blocker Lizzie Fleming pulled the Blue Devils to 19-15 lead. The Spartans held themselves within four points until Duke closed the set 25-22 for their second of the game.
MSU gained new momentum, opening scoring in the third set. Sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur blocked several hits early in the third allowing the Spartans to stay within three points of the Blue Devils. Sophomore Aliyah Moore delivered several impressive spikes to regain Spartan possession, and tips from outside hitter Grace Kelly had Spartans leading 14-13.
Gracie Johnson continued to lead the Blue Devils offensively, but MSU pulled within two points before Duke took the third and final set of the match 25-23.
Johnson was particularly impressed with Moore’s performance tonight.
“She’s been out with injuries, so this is her first true weekend back,” said Johnson. “She hit .500, 10 kills on 18 swings which is phenomenal, so I was excited about that.”
MSU will face off at home against North Carolina at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
EAST LANSING – On a night when Michigan State men’s soccer honored America’s favorite soccer coach, Ted Lasso, the Spartans found a way to win, getting a late penalty kick from junior Sean Kerrigan to secure a 1-0 victory. While pitch conditions may not have been ideal to some, Kerrigan, an Ireland native, said the steady rain throughout was ideal for him.
“In this weather, there’s more chance of me scoring a goal than when the sun is out,” said Kerrigan. “This is perfect weather for playing football.”
The first half saw little action, with no shots on goal for the entirety of the first 45 minutes. While the field conditions were wet and that likely played a factor, the defense for both sides played exceptional.
Into the second half, MSU’s defense continued to play well, limiting the Dayton offense to forced, uneven shots on goal.
“To me, the whole key is the shutout,” said Michigan State head coach Damon Rensing. “If you don’t give up goals, you’ve got a chance to win.”
Barbecue Sauce!!
Highlights from tonight's 1-0 #VictoryForMSU over Dayton… it was a defensive battle in the rain, but the Spartans emerged victorious on #TedLassoNight at DeMartin!!#DeMartinDefended pic.twitter.com/6oiyvuPG8e
— MSU Men's Soccer (@MSU_MSoccer) September 8, 2023
Michigan State’s starting defensive backs of freshman Will Eby, senior Elijah Howe, and sophomore Jeremy Sharp made it very difficult for the Dayton offense to get good looks. Sharp made key plays throughout the game to continue his very strong start to the season.
“This is a complement to Jeremy, this was probably his weakest game…and he was still good,” said Rensing. “He’s been great for us, and arguably our most consistent player.”
With No. 20 Notre Dame up next, the Spartans will have some work to do to get the best of the Irish.
“Notre Dame is a very good team, we know them very well and they know us,” said Rensing. “Notre Dame will be a great test to prepare us, and get us ready for our first Big Ten game against Rutgers.”
Michigan State’s next contest will take place next Tuesday, Sept. 12 against Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Kickoff will be at 8 p.m. EST.
What I would consider to be the catchiest song ever written about crystal meth addiction came out 26 years ago as the first single of Third Eye Blind’s debut self-titled album. “Semi-Charmed Life” is absurdly catchy, opening with doo-doo-doo-doo’s in an almost One Direction-ish fashion. The upbeat pop-rock melody is juxtaposed with unexpectedly dark lyrics, telling the story of a relationship tainted by addiction.
“Semi-Charmed Life” was released in February 1997 and hit the Billboard Hot 100 in July of that year, debuting at 17. It peaked at number 4, spending a total of 43 weeks on the chart. The song had similar success on other charts, and it won a Billboard Music Award for Best Modern Rock Track. Notably, Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo-Fighters was once asked by Spin Magazine what ‘97 lyric he wished he had written, and he answered with the refrain of “Semi-Charmed Life.”
Despite the dark undertones, I firmly believe now is the time to listen to the alt-rock/power pop hits of the ‘90s and 2000s before summer is officially over. I’ll leave you with one of the few sweet lines in a song that is mostly a discussion of meth:
“I believe in the sand beneath my toes /
The beach gives a feeling, an earthy feeling /
I believe in the faith that grows.”
EAST LANSING – Michigan State women’s soccer’s late comeback against No. 15 Notre Dame fell short, as the Spartans were defeated by the Fighting Irish 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at DeMartin Stadium. Notre Dame’s stout backline was as good as advertised in the match. Led by ACC Defender of the Year Eva Gaetino, the Spartans...
EAST LANSING– Michigan State, for its second match of the Kathy DeBoer Invitational, hosted Syracuse.
MSU won the match 3-0. The win marked head coach Leah Johnson’s 200th career win.
In the first set, the Orange struggled to keep up with the fast-paced rallies. MSU took the set 25-12.
Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem was a prominent player and led the set with six kills.
Syracuse continued to trail behind MSU in the second set. MSU won the set 25-13.
Junior outside hitter Aliyah Moore made her season debut on the court this season. She recorded two kills for the Spartans.
The third and final set started with Syracuse taking a 2-0 lead after two attack errors from MSU. This gave the Orange new energy, and they kept the Spartans working for it till both teams were 24-24.
MSU outlasted Syracuse and closed out the match with a kill from sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur for a 26-24 win.
Up next, the Spartans will host Delaware State on Sept. 3, with game time set for 1:00 p.m.
We all know what time it is. Back to school and back to eating at the lovely MSU dining halls. Some of us may have missed the scrumptious black bean burgers from Akers or the crispy chicken tenders and french fries from Owen, but I think none of us missed the palpable stomach curdling growls that escape from our bodies trying to digest the secret laxatives that are cooked into the food. So, next time you’re running to your bathroom after eating at the dining hall, we hope this playlist brings you comfort and a sweet sense of release.
EAST LANSING — Michigan State football opened its 2023 season victorious on Friday evening, defeating the Central Michigan Chippewas 31-7 at Spartan Stadium.
After a first half filled with penalties and stalled drives, Michigan State was able to clean up its miscues, leading to a blowout win against its in-state opponent from Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
“I just thought we had some jitters out there,” said Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker. “We started slow, but we kept choppin’ and we were able to execute in all three phases and get the win.”
On the game’s first play, UConn transfer running back Nathan Carter came out of the gates with a 31-yard run.
The Michigan State offense went stagnant after Carter’s run, as the Spartans only put up six yards through the air in the first 20 minutes of action.
In the second quarter, the Chippewas scored the first touchdown of the contest, with a 12-yard pass to Chris Parker to go up 7-3.
The Spartans quickly responded with a 32-yard pass from quarterback Noah Kim to redshirt freshman wide receiver Jaron Glover to enter CMU territory. Shortly after, Nathan Carter ran up the middle for a two-yard touchdown to give the Spartans a four-point lead.
Kim, who was named the starter by head coach Mel Tucker on his pregame radio show, completed 10 of his first 21 passes in the first half but made second-half adjustments to improve his night. The redshirt junior finished the game with 279 yards and two touchdowns.
“Over the course of time, he won the job. This is his fourth season. He knows the offense. We feel like he can go and run the offense,” said Tucker.
“It’s the first game, mistakes are bound to happen,” said Kim. “We made some great plays out there, but we definitely left some out there.”
It was all Spartans in the second half, led by MSU’s defense that was flying around the field. Linebackers Cal Haladay and Jacoby Windmon combined for 18 tackles in the win. Halladay, a two-year letterwinner, also had an interception.
“In the first half, we had a little bit of a slow start,” said Haladay. “We got a lot of cleaning up to do.”
The second half featured a couple of highlight-reel moments. Redshirt junior wide receiver Christian Fitzpatrick hauled in a 72-yard reception to put MSU in the red zone, and sophomore wide receiver Tyrell Henry went up and caught a one-handed touchdown from Noah Kim to put the Spartans up 24-7 in the fourth quarter.
Tyrell Henry makes a catch in the end zone during the fourth quarter of Michigan State’s season opener vs. Central Michigan. Photo Credit: Jack Moreland/WDBM (Jack M)Four minutes later, Michigan State got possession and drove back down the field, with redshirt junior Maliq Carr catching an eight-yard touchdown pass.
Michigan State is now 9-0 in its traditional Friday night games at Spartan Stadium.
The Spartans start off their 2023 season 1-0 and will be back at home next Saturday for a date with the Richmond Spiders on Sept. 9 at 3:30 p.m. Zac Slowik and Matt Merrifield will be on the call from Spartan Stadium on Impact 89FM.
EAST LANSING — Football season is finally here. As Michigan State goes through its final preparations for game one, the Spartans are set to host the Central Michigan Chippewas at Spartan Stadium for its annual “Stripe the Stadium” game on Friday evening.
The Spartans are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2022 season, which ended with a 5-7 record and not reaching a bowl game for the third time in 16 seasons.
“No one can put more pressure on me than I put on myself,” said Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker.
Tucker has yet to announce who will be starting under center at quarterback for the season-opener, and likely will not reveal a starter until game time. With Payton Thorne transferring to Auburn, redshirt junior Noah Kim or redshirt freshman Katin Houser is in line for the starting job.
Kim appeared in four games in 2022 while serving as Thorne’s backup. He completed 14 of 19 throws for 174 yards and three touchdowns.
“We’ll see who runs out there first on Friday night and we’ll go from there,” Tucker said at his Monday press conference.
This is the second straight season where the Spartans will open up against a Mid-American Conference opponent. MSU kicked off 2022 against Western Michigan, defeating the Broncos 35-13.
Central Michigan comes off of a 4-8 campaign in 2022, while losing star running back Lew Nichols III to the NFL. However, the Chippewas do return a bulk of their starting defense, including consensus preseason All-Mid-American conference picks Jacques Bristol and Robi Stuart.
On the defensive side, Michigan State adds impactful talent through recruiting and the NCAA transfer portal. Coach Tucker bulked up his defensive line with the additions of Tunmise Adeleye, Dre Butler, and Jalen Sami. In recruiting, MSU lands four stars Bai Jobe, Andrew Depeape, Jordan Hall, and Jalen Thompson, who should all see game action Friday night.
Michigan State kicks off its 2023 season against Central Michigan at 7 p.m. You can listen to the broadcast on 88.9FM, with Zac Slowik and Matt Merrifield on the call.
EAST LANSING – On a night where students, children, and parents alike packed the stands of DeMartin Field, the Michigan State women’s soccer team delivered on all ends of the pitch and defeated Eastern Michigan University, 6-0. The Spartans played in front of hundreds of fans tonight, including a roaring student section. Michigan State head coach Jeff Hosler voiced his delight with the students being back on campus and showing up for his team.
“There’s no question that our group fuels off the momentum and energy that the crowd brings,” said Hosler. “It’s so great to have the students back to bring that initial energy to campus. I think that shows in the way we played.”
With two goals in two minutes from Mackenzie Anthony and Raegan Cox, respectively, MSU built up a lead inside the 15 minute mark of the match. Anthony connected on two more goals, for the first hat trick of her college career. After a career night, Anthony emphasized the energy that the DeMartin Field fans brought tonight.
“The amount of fans is incredible,” said Anthony. “I’ve never been able to play in front of that many fans. It definitely gets your adrenaline pumping.”
Senior forward Mackenzie Anthony interacts with the crowd at DeMartin Field on August 31st, 2023. Photo Credit: Jack Moreland/WDBMThe second half was stagnant, until the 79th minute when Bella Najera scored her first goal of the season. Only a few minutes later, Sophia Piotrowski would connect on a penalty kick, to solidify this win for the Spartans and move them to 4-1.
Michigan State will take on No. 15 Notre Dame on Sunday, marking a major test for the program this season against one of the best programs in the country.
“Each match is a big match…But it’s hard not to treat Notre Dame a little different. Tough competition,” said Anthony.
The Spartans will kickoff against the Fighting Irish at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3 at DeMartin Field celebrating Championship Sunday.
Welcome back! Zach Surdenik, Matt Merrifield and AJ Evans headline the newest season of the Green and White Report, joined by their producer Joe Dez. In this episode, the crew shares their favorite Michigan State sporting memories, highlights the men and women’s soccer teams, and explores the college football landscape. Whether you’re looking for updates...
EAST LANSING — As Michigan State women’s soccer goes through final preparations for the 2023 season, the Spartans look to continue their recent success under second-year head coach Jeff Hosler. The reigning Big Ten regular season champions have high expectations in 2023. The Spartans are ranked No. 17 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll,...
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this episode, we will be hearing from a few of our student staff members about their experiences at Michigan State University! This episode will contain all of the advice, information, and tips before you get started at MSU! For more information about New Student Orientation, you can...
EAST LANSING – Two former Michigan State men’s soccer players have announced their commitment to play for the Western Michigan University men’s soccer program, per WMU Athletics. Defenders Nick Stone and Will Perkins will head to Kalamazoo to play for head coach Chad Wiseman and the Broncos. Perkins and Stone are two out of the...
Welcome back, today we will be discussing the Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions (also known as OCAT) and the work they do at Michigan State. OCAT focuses on bringing students from all different backgrounds together and helping them engage with both their own and other cultures. They also collaborate extensively with multicultural student organizations...
Omaha, NE — On Tuesday evening, Michigan State baseball played in its first Big Ten Tournament game since 2018. The eighth-seeded Spartans took on the top-seeded Maryland Terrapins in game three of the Big Ten Tournament at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. Maryland won 3-2.
The Spartans scored one run early after freshman pitcher Kyle McCoy committed a throwing error. Junior infielder Trent Farquhar came around to score.
After only facing four batters and throwing 15 pitches, the Terrapins elected to make a pitching change in the first inning. Afterwards, Michigan State stranded runners at the corners, ending the inning.
It didn’t take long for Maryland to respond; in their half of the first, they had two runners in scoring position for senior third baseman Nick Lorusso. He sent a deep fly ball to center field, recording a nation-leading 97th RBI on the season. Immediately following, Maryland took the lead, making the score 2-1 on another sacrifice fly.
“Make no mistake, they’re (Maryland) really good over there,” MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.
Michigan State grounded into five double plays on the night, tying a Big Ten Tournament record. The Spartans also left ten runners on base. Maryland pitching, however, issued eight walks.
“We had a lot of traffic on the bases,” said Boss Jr. “I think five double plays can get a little frustrating at times. I thought our guys did a great job of not letting that get to them and not getting too frustrated and just continuing to come at them, one through nine.”
Nick Powers worked quickly after the first inning, allowing one double in the third. Shortly after, Powers retired ten straight batters, settling in for four 1-2-3 innings.
“Once I settled in there, I just really trusted my stuff,” Powers said. “My change-up felt really good today, and I was just pounding the zone with multiple pitches, and that’s the name of the game, that’s how you keep hitters off balance, and I feel like I did that really well today.”
Redshirt junior centerfielder Greg Ziegler led off the seventh inning by nailing a triple to left field. Junior first baseman Brock Vradenburg hit the ball through the hole on the third base side to tie the game at two for his 67th RBI of the season.
In the bottom of the eighth, Maryland junior catcher Luke Shliger hit his second double of the game, scoring left fielder Jacob Orr to break the knot, effectively ending Power’s Day. Senior RHP Wyatt Rush came into the game for the Spartans, stranding Shliger at third to end the inning.
Powers’ final line was 7.1 innings pitched, allowing five hits, three runs, and striking out six.
With Tuesday’s loss, Michigan State will await the loser of Nebraska/Rutgers in the elimination bracket. That game will be played on Thursday, May 25th, with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 a.m. EST.
Coury: Michigan State Baseball looks to build upon strong season with postseason successMSU baseball sweeps Northwestern, moves to second in B1G standingsMSU baseball sweeps Northwestern in Saturday doubleheader
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State Spartans wrapped up their weekend on Sunday afternoon with a three game sweep of the Northwestern Wildcats. Coming off of a Saturday doubleheader in which the Spartans outscored the Wildcats 14-6, Michigan State looked to continue its strong offense to finish off the series.
A double by infielder Casey Mayes sparked the scoring for Michigan State. This was the senior’s twenty third RBI to knock in Dillon Kark, and put MSU up by one run early on.
The score remained 1-0 until the fifth inning when Northwestern thought they had the lead off of a two run home run but it was then reviewed and determined to be a foul ball. The Wildcats stranded the runner and left the inning scoreless in the top of the fifth.
A big bottom half of the fifth inning started with a Brock Vradenburg double and Bryan Broecker tripled after clearing the bases and plating two pivotal runs for the Spartans. Dillon Kark followed with another two-run triple to extend their lead to five runs.
Northwestern’s bats came to life in the sixth inning, plating two runs on a sacrifice fly and an RBI double by senior Kevin Ferrer. These would be the only runs they were able to score for the game.
Left-handed pitcher Nick Powers had a strong outing Sunday, propelling him to a 5-0 record on the season. In six innings of work he only allowed two runs on five hits complemented by six strikeouts.
The seventh inning started with a pair of walks early that became costly as Dillon Kark got a hold of a pitch left high in the zone for a three run home run. This was Kark’s fifth home run of the season and extended the Michigan State lead to six runs. A costly overthrow by Northwestern allowed Greg Zeigler to score the ninth and final Michigan State run as they would go on to win by a final of 9-2.
Junior Dillon Kark had an outstanding day with two triples and a home run. Kark was responsible for five of the team’s nine runs.
“There’s still a bunch of guys that love to compete down toward the middle and the bottom of the order too, and it can really be somebody different any day,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss in regards to the team’ s top down confidence for players such as Kark.
This Big Ten series sweep puts Michigan State in sole possession of second place in the Big Ten with a 10-5 conference record. “Don’t write us off. We’re gonna play hard whether we win or lose,” said Boss Jr. “I don’t know that our guys are too hung up on it either.”
With a few Big Ten matchups looming the Spartans look to take their games one day at a time and see where it takes them. “We’re gonna do what we can do to try to win all of them,” said Boss Jr.
With Sunday’s game in the books, the Spartans improve to 28-13 overall and extend their win streak to five straight games. The Wildcats fall to 7-31. Michigan State will travel to Champaign for an important three game series against Illinois. Game one is slated for Friday, May 5 at 7 P.M.
MSU baseball sweeps Northwestern in Saturday doubleheaderMichigan State returns to McLane Stadium, defeats Notre Dame 12-5Michigan State falls to Michigan in second game of series
EAST LANSING – Michigan State football got hit with some abrupt news on Sunday afternoon, as redshirt senior quarterback Payton Thorne and junior wide receiver Keon Coleman are entering the NCAA transfer portal, according to reports.
Thorne threw for 6,494 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions during his time in East Lansing. In 2021, he broke the school record for most touchdown passes thrown in a single season with 26.
In 2022, Thorne finished the year throwing for 2,679 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Thorne’s departure signals a two-quarterback competition for MSU, as redshirt junior Noah Kim and redshirt freshman Katin Houser will most likely be battling for the No. 1 spot.
Coleman led all Michigan State wide receivers in 2022, with 58 receptions, 798 yards and seven touchdowns. The 6-foot-4 wideout became the focal point in the Spartans’ offense in 2022, and will likely draw significant interest from other schools.
Coleman also appeared on the basketball court at Michigan State, playing in six games during the 2021-22 season.
Takeaways from Michigan State’s spring gameSpartans look to impress as spring practice comes to a closeKeon Coleman will not play basketball this season, will focus on football
Finals season also means “SIRS season.” MSU students know that the SIRS form is where honest thoughts can be given about professors and courses, and sometimes we have a lot to say. So, when a semester’s worth of rage boils to the top, the SIRS form feels the heat. This week’s playlist is for those furious fingers that can’t wait to type out essays loaded with grievances.
Courtside Convo returns for the final episode of the semester! The crew discusses the playoffs, updates around the NBA, along with live reactions from the NFL Draft. All that and more on this episode of Courtside!
EAST LANSING – Michigan State returned home Tuesday following a series against Michigan in which they lost two out of three, but finished strong with a 14-2 win against the Wolverines. The Spartan bats stayed hot Tuesday’s game, winning 12-5 in their last regular season matchup against Notre Dame.
Freshman pitcher Robert Klann made his first career start for the Spartans. The Fighting Irish jumped on Klann early in the first, as he gave up two hits, including an RBI double that was smoked into center field by Irish first baseman Carter Putz.
Klann struggled with his command in the first and was unable to find the strike zone, resulting in two walks. The freshman recorded just one out before he was pulled from the game, leaving the bases loaded. He would get bailed out by Harrison Cook, who needed just one pitch to end the inning with a double play.
The Spartans faced an early 3-0 deficit, but as they have done all season, fought back. Good, patient at bats were key for them in the second inning. The Spartans drew three walks, along with good situational hitting by Mitch Jebb, who went the opposite way to bring in a run.
The Spartans recorded their second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Trent Farquhar. Along with Klann, it was no different for Irish starter David Lally Jr. Lally Jr. failed to make it out of the second, as walks and pitch count were a problem.
Pitching on both sides took control of the game. Both teams went down 1-2-3 in innings three and four. Irish pitcher Ricky Reeth got himself in a jam in the fifth inning, walking two and throwing two wild pitches, putting runners at the corners. Reeth fell behind 2-0 in the count to Spartan designated hitter Sam Busch, triggering a mound visit from pitching coach Chuck Ristano. On the very next pitch, Busch crushed a deep three-run home run to right field, marking his sixth homer of the season.
The Busch home run appeared to be the turning point in the game for the Spartans, but the Irish continued to go back and forth with MSU. Notre Dame responded with a pair of runs.
There were several long, tiring innings on Spartan and Irish pitching. Both sides combined for a total of 16 walks this game. The Spartans used six pitchers throughout the game, with head coach Jake Boss Jr. relying on his bullpen to record outs in high leverage situations.
MSU loaded the bases in the seventh against pitcher Ryan Lynch. The Spartans cleared the bases on a wild pitch and a single by Frank. The Spartans didn’t stop there, putting the game away with six runs in the inning.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 25-13, while Notre Dame falls to 23-16. The Spartans will open up a weekend series on Friday, April 28, as they host Northwestern for a three game set from McLane Stadium. First pitch Friday will be at 6:05 p.m.
Michigan State falls to Michigan in second game of seriesMSU baseball defeated by Michigan, 5-3Michigan State baseball falls to Purdue Fort Wayne
ANN ARBOR, MI – Michigan State baseball faced off against Michigan Saturday afternoon for game two of the three game series. After winning Friday, U of M continued the momentum to earn an 8-3 win Saturday.
“It was disappointing today. I think we need to be ready right from the get-go, and it was a tough start for us,” MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.
For the second time in two days, Michigan found their bats in the first inning bringing all nine batters to the plate. Following two walks and a single, senior Joey Velazquez hit one up the middle scoring two runs. In what seemed like a replay of the first one, Jack Van Remortel hit a two-run RBI single of his own bringing the total to four runs.
MSU right-hander Ryan Sczcepaniak entered the game halfway through the first, striking out two and getting out of the inning.
“I thought Ryan Sczcepaniak did a nice job, keeping it there and giving our offense a chance,” said Boss Jr.
The Spartans fought back in the third with a two-out rally. Trent Farquhar started the streak with a single, before crossing the plate on behalf of a Mitch Jebb RBI double. Brock Vradenburg followed that up with an RBI single of his own, scoring Jebb. Vradenburg and Jebb each have had back-to-back games with at least one run batted in.
The lead was cut to one in the fifth when Farquhar lined out, scoring Casey Mayes on the sacrifice.
Sczcepaniak pitched four and a third scoreless innings before a Van Remortel solo-homer ended that streak in the sixth. The sophomore struck out five in his five innings of action.
Michigan added two more runs in the sixth with shortstop Cody Jefferis and senior Ted Burton batting in the runs. One more in the eighth made the lead five headed into the last inning.
Michigan’s pitching was stellar again, with starter Connor O’Halloran throwing a complete game with five K’s and three runs against. The lefty continued his strong season, getting the win today and bringing his record to 7-2.
“We had a couple opportunities and couldn’t come through. Overall, a disappointing day, but we’ll be back and ready to play tomorrow,” said Boss Jr.
The final game of the series will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. at Fisher Stadium in Ann Arbor.
MSU baseball defeated by Michigan, 5-3Michigan State baseball falls to Purdue Fort WayneMSU baseball defeats Western Illinois in series opener
ANN ARBOR, MI – Michigan State traveled to Ann Arbor on Friday for game one of their three game series with the Wolverines. The Spartans won the first matchup of the season between their in-state rivals in the 2023 MLB Desert Invitational in February, but Michigan got the job done with a 5-3 win.
“I thought it was a pretty good baseball game,” MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. “I thought we hit some balls hard, I’m pleased with our guys’ effort and it’s kind of one of those nights I guess.”
Michigan started the game strong on offense, with four runs in the first two innings. Cody Jefferis and outfielder Jonathan Kim each batted in a run in the second, but MSU starting pitcher Joseph Dzierwa limited the damage, stranding three baserunners. Dzierwa struck out three in his four innings of action.
The Spartans battled back to score two in the second through a Casey Mayes sacrifice fly and Mitch Jebb RBI single. This was the 19th RBI of the season for Jebb, who began the season on the list of the MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Draft Prospects.
Each side added one run to their total, with U of M’s Ted Burton homering and Brock Vradenburg adding another RBI to get him to 44 on the season, tying him for fifth in the Big Ten.
Michigan lefty Jacob Denner and MSU redshirt sophomore Noah Matheny each put together multiple scoreless innings on the mound. Matheny escaped a bases loaded jam in the seventh, forcing a lineout by former Spartan Gabe Sotres and getting out of the inning unscathed.
MSU got runners aboard early in the seventh, but were unable to capitalize.
“We had a chance in the seventh inning and hit a ball hard, and I thought we got a little bit unlucky and hit it right at the second baseman and got doubled off and I guess that’s how the game goes sometimes,” said Boss Jr.
Between Denner and Mitch Voit, the Wolverines slammed the door closed and finished the game with a 5-3 win. Pitching was the star for Michigan, allowing no runs after the fifth inning. Denner pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and allowed just one hit.
The Spartans have failed to score more than three runs in back-to-back games, but will look to heat back up and hit like they have been most of the season, ranking second in the conference in batting average..
“I’m pleased with our effort today,” said Boss Jr. “We’ll be back at them tomorrow and we still have a chance to win the series, and that’s the goal every weekend. It’s hard to sweep anybody, so we’re a little bit behind the eight ball right now, but we’ll have a good effort tomorrow and be ready to go,” Boss Jr. said.
Game two of the series will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Michigan State baseball falls to Purdue Fort WayneMichigan State sweeps Western Illinois in Saturday doubleheaderMSU baseball defeats Western Illinois in series opener
EAST LANSING – On Friday afternoon, sophomore guard Jaden Akins declared for the 2023 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility.
The Farmington, Mich. native averaged 9.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and led the Spartans in steals with 1.2 per game. Akins shot 42% from the field and 42.2% from the three-point line.
Akins posted to his Instagram account to announce his decision.
The sophomore guard will look to receive NBA feedback from scouts and insight during the draft process, and maintain eligibility to return to MSU next season if he chooses.
MSU basketball head coach Tom Izzo released a statement shortly after Akins declared.
“Jaden Akins has grown immensely in two short years, and has worked hard to put himself in this position. It’s no secret that he has dreams of playing in the NBA, and so in our discussions after the end of the season, we’ve discussed him entering the draft,” said Izzo.
“I’ve been gathering information for him already, and we will continue to support him however possible.”
“If after the process, he’s in a position to be drafted in a spot that’s best for him, we will celebrate his accomplishment. And if he decides that returning is best for his long-term career, we will immediately get to work for next season,” said Izzo.
“We will take the information he gathers and use it to his advantage as he continues to develop. I’ve been incredibly pleased by what Jaden has done already, but I’ve got much larger goals for him. And I know there’s much more he’d like to accomplish as well,” Izzo said.
The NBA Draft will take place on June 22 at the Barclays Center in New York City.
Michigan State falls short against Kansas State in Sweet SixteenBack in his home ground, Tyson Walker is “back to his old self”“We’ve still got some dancing to do.” Spartans defeat Marquette, clinch their bid to Sweet Sixteen
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State Spartans hosted the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons for one game on Wednesday night in search of their seventh consecutive win. The Spartans fell short by a score of 3-2.
The first inning started off well for both teams, as the Spartans and the Mastodons exchanged singular runs in the first inning.
Michigan State’s starter Nolan Higgins only allowed a single run and had two strikeouts before being taken out of the game. Purdue Fort Wayne’s starter Brendan Reid threw a strong four innings, with three strikeouts and only one run allowed.
Both teams exchanged single runs in the first inning, and there were fourteen straight batters retired between the two teams. The Mastodons regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning, with a solo home run by outfielder Grant Thoroman, which was his fifth home run of the season.
“We hit some balls hard at guys but just didn’t stick to our approach today and kind of got away from it and kind of got ourselves out and executed,” said MSU second baseman Trent Farquhar. “They played clean baseball, give them credit.”
The lead was extended in the fifth inning, with Purdue Fort Wayne’s second solo home run of the night by catcher Cade Fitzpatrick extending their lead to 3-1. This was Fitzpatrick’s first home run this season.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, junior infielder Mitch Jebb scored on a fielder’s choice to pull MSU within one.
MSU threatened to score with two in scoring position in the ninth inning but ultimately fell short.
The Mastodons recorded two home runs and a double off the top of the right field wall to score their runs. MSU struggled at the plate, managing only six hits, four of which came in the first.
After the first inning, the Spartans went five innings without a hit, before Jack Frank singled in the sixth. The sole other hit belonged to Gregg Ziegler to start the ninth. Despite having some scoring opportunities, MSU left nine men on base throughout the game.
“We talked about doing several things before the game,” said Boss Jr. “We talked about a consistent offensive approach. We had four hits in the first inning and finished with six. We talked about consistent energy throughout the game. Half the time of the play, we didn’t want to be there.”
After the loss, Boss Jr. addressed the upcoming matchup against rival Michigan.
“It doesn’t matter who we play next,” Boss Jr said. “We can’t put this [game] away. We need to get better.”
“Beautiful thing about baseball is you get another opportunity to show that we can overcome adversity,” said Farquhar. “Obviously not the best game for us, but we just got to bounce back.”
As the rain poured down, the Spartans (23-11) fell to the Mastodons (10-28), snapping Michigan State’s season-high six game winning streak.
MSU will now travel to Ann Arbor for a rivalry series against Michigan starting April 21 at 4 p.m.
Michigan State sweeps Western Illinois in Saturday doubleheaderMSU baseball defeats Western Illinois in series openerMichigan State defeats Oakland in front of packed McLane Stadium
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State football team had its spring game on Saturday, April 15 at Spartan Stadium.
The game featured a 15-period practice session, with scrimmage periods in the second half.
Here are three takeaways from the game.
The quarterback competition isn’t over yet
This spring, there has been an ongoing quarterback competition for who will be QB1. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson revealed at the beginning of spring football that fifth-year senior Payton Thorne, redshirt sophomore Katin Houser, and senior Noah Kim were the top three prospects.
MSU head coach Mel Tucker discussed the competition happening throughout the spring that will continue through the summer and fall, when looking at what was laid out on the field at the spring game.
“Today was very different from what we’ve seen on those guys throughout the spring,” said Tucker.
Payton Thorne celebrates with a teammate after a touchdown during Michigan State’s Spring Game on April 14, 2023. Photo Credit: Jack Moreland/WDBMThe running game is a must
MSU has five returning running backs, two transfers and one incoming freshman. It was tough for MSU to lose Elijah Collins, but Tucker is confident in transfers Nathan Carter and fifth-year Jaren Mangham.
“Both of those players are going to help us win,” said Tucker.
Mangham is a transfer from the University of Southern Florida. He had previously trained with Tucker at Colorado as a true freshman.
“He’s a smart player, really good ball skills, catching the ball out of the backfield and he understands pass protection as well,” said Tucker.
Carter is a junior transfer from the University of Connecticut.
“He’s got really good explosiveness, good vision, and he runs with a lot of toughness. He also has really good ball skills,” said Tucker.
Every position is up for grabs
Head Coach Mel Tucker during Michigan State’s Spring Game on April 14, 2023. Photo Credit: Jack Moreland/WDBMWith every player on the field receiving reps, players who weren’t quite yet on anyone’s radar had breakout plays.
Tucker discussed that he and the coaching staff feel every player understands the expectations and standards they are putting forward.
“I think every position has had a really good competition,” said Tucker.
In the final seconds of the spring game, Kim completed a stellar pass to redshirt sophomore Anotonio Gates Jr. Additionally, junior kicker Stephen Rusnak completed a 43-yard field goal attempt.
“We’re just going to focus on getting better every single day,” said Tucker. “We have quite a few workouts and practices before our first game, so we’ve got a lot of opportunities to improve.
Spartans look to impress as spring practice comes to a closeKeon Coleman will not play basketball this season, will focus on footballJayden Reed declares for 2023 NFL Draft
EAST LANSING – Michigan State and Western Illinois played a doubleheader Saturday due to impending weather Sunday. The Spartans won both games, sweeping the series.
Harrison Cook started on the mound for the Spartans in game one. Besides allowing six hits, he was very efficient, allowing just two runs, compared to his ERA of 5.58. From the third through the sixth, Cook retired eight straight batters. His day concluded with two outs in the seventh.
After a scoreless first two innings, MSU catcher Sam Thompson lined one to left field over the wall and into the pine trees for his second home run of the year.
The Spartans rallied in the fourth, piling four runs on four hits led by a Jack Frank two-run shot. MSU batted around the entire order, bringing nine to the plate and expanding the score to 5-0.
Frank once again opened the scoring in the fifth, totaling his fourth RBI of the game and 30th of the season. Senior Casey Mayes followed with a single up the middle, scoring two more to set the game at 8-0. In game one, the Spartans knocked 12 hits.
“He’s pretty locked in right now as are a couple other guys, but Jack’s got a lot of power,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. “That’s what he’s capable of. I thought he put together a couple of really good at-bats, and stayed under control mechanically.”
In the seventh, Western Illinois loaded the bases with two outs, walking in a run for the Leathernecks to cut the deficit to six. Redshirt sophomore Noah Matheny was able to get out of the jam.
The Spartans added their ninth run of the game after centerfielder Gregg Ziegler stole second, allowing designated hitter Sam Busch to steal home. MSU connected to add three more runs, forcing the doubleheader run rule to be implemented at a score of 12-2.
Unlike the first game of the day, Western Illinois scored first. After a leadoff double, right fielder Rickey Pospisil roped a ball down the third baseline for his seventh RBI of the season.
However, the lead didn’t last long, as the Spartans responded with another set of back-to-back home runs, just like Friday. These came from Bryan Broecker and Frank to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead.Frank went 6-8 at bat in the two games and Broecker went 4/4 in the second game.
After a difficult second inning, Nick Powers settled in nicely after giving out the solo run. Powers pitched into the eighth, before the weather delay, throwing 7.2 innings and allowing three hits, two walks and striking out four, while only giving up one run.
“I thought we pitched extremely well today, and I’m really pleased with the effort out of both starters,” said Boss Jr. “Defensively we were clean, we didn’t make an error all day long, and we put up two big numbers, and so that’s a good recipe for a doubleheader sweep.”
The Spartans extended their lead to two in the third inning after a groundout from Brock Vradenburg, scoring Farquhar for his 41st RBI this season.
In the sixth, Vradenburg and Broecker got aboard early and scored off a Frank RBI double for his seventh RBI of the day. Afterward, a balk scored Broecker, and Frank later came around to make the score 6-1.
Rain showers delayed the conclusion of the game, but Michigan State ended up taking six more runs after the sixth inning to win all five of their games this week, bringing their season record to 23-10.
“We just played five games in five days,” said Boss Jr. “You try to play 56 games and sometimes, you get back-to-back midweek games, but credit our guys. I thought they handled five games in five days pretty well.”
Michigan State will play against Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday, April 19 at McLane Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
MSU baseball defeats Western Illinois in series openerMichigan State defeats Oakland in front of packed McLane StadiumSpartans split Saturday doubleheader against Buckeyes
EAST LANSING – Michigan State continued its homestand at McLane Stadium on Friday, defeating Western Illinois in a comeback effort, 10-9. It was a hot one in East Lansing, with a temperature of 83 degrees and sunny at first pitch. The heat didn’t stop the Spartan fans from coming out, and there was another great crowd in attendance.
“It doesn’t have to be pretty but you know, everyone had a good time, and so we’ll take it,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr.
Pitcher Joseph Dzierwa started his eighth game of the season for the Spartans, and struggled early. The 4-23 Leathernecks of Western Illinois jumped out of the gates, putting two runs on the board in the first inning. The Leathernecks made some hard contact in the first inning, with the Spartans defense making a few misplays.
The first inning wouldn’t be the end of the Western Illinois attack. The Leathernecks continued putting up patient and smart at-bats against Spartan pitching.
Western Illinois starter Jake Armstrong, who entered the game with 21 walks in seven starts, walked four hitters, but escaped trouble numerous times. His luck ran out in the fourth inning, on a mistake pitch to catcher Bryan Broecker, who slugged his fifth home run of the season. Armstrong finished with six innings pitched, allowing four walks, striking out three, and giving up five earned runs.
The Spartans made critical baserunning mistakes, and played sloppy defense throughout. MSU finished the game with six errors, and a crucial one in the first inning that allowed a single by left fielder Casey Mayes, allowing Nick Mitchell to get to third base. Mitchell scored on the very next pitch, as shortstop Derek Botaletto drove him in on a single to shortstop.
“The defense tonight was extremely disappointing, very uncharacteristic of us,” said Boss Jr. “But again, at the end of the day, we got a big hit when we needed it. We took what we were given and found a way to win again.”
The sixth inning is when the Spartans made their surge against Western Illinois starter Jack Armstrong. The inning began with back-to-back home runs from redshirt sophomore Sam Busch and Broecker, who hit his second homer off the game.
“Yeah, not a pretty game to say the least,” said Broecker. “However, there’s no quit in our dugout ever. There was encouragement regardless of some of the mistakes that we were making early on. And we stayed excited. We stayed pulling for each other and luckily we were able to pull it out.”
The Spartans then played long ball again in the seventh, as Greg Ziegler hit a ball out of the park in left for his second home run of the season. The Spartans took a 10-8 lead in the seventh, plating five runs on three hits and four walks.
There was one final comeback attempt in the ninth inning for Western Illinois, as Adam Juran hit a solo shot to left, recording the last run for Western Illinois.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 21-10, while Western Illinois falls to 4-24. The Spartans will wrap up their series with the Leathernecks on April 15, playing a doubleheader. Game 1 from McLane Stadium will start at 11:35 a.m. followed by game two at 3:35 p.m.
Michigan State defeats Oakland in front of packed McLane StadiumSpartans split Saturday doubleheader against BuckeyesMichigan State baseball defeats Ohio State 7-1 at Jackson Field
MSU softball attempted to end its three game losing streak, facing off against the Fighting Irish on Tuesday afternoon. In six innings, the Spartans were defeated 8-0.
“I thought today was a good moment for our bats,” said MSU head coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley. “They got going a little bit better than I’ve seen them. It didn’t really show much on the scoreboard, but I think it’s really something that we can build on.”
Notre Dame got off to a strong start, obtaining a three-run lead in just the first inning. Carlli Kloss and Joley Michell stole second base in the first, placing themselves in scoring position. Both players capitalized, scoring the first two runs of the game for the Fighting Irish, with graduate student Lexi Orozco running in the final score of the inning on a single from Macie Eck.
The second inning served as a slight bright spot for the Spartans, who held Notre Dame to a 1-2-3 inning.
Notre Dame brought out the theatrics for the third inning, with junior Karina Gaskins sending a home run out of Secchia Stadium in the first at-bat of the inning. The Spartans appeared to mitigate the damage, sitting on two outs with Leea Hanks on first after a fielder’s choice. Anna Holloway hit the second home run of the inning for Notre Dame, and her second of the season.
After a scoreless fourth inning from both sides, Jane Kronenberger added another run to Notre Dame’s total, stretching the lead to seven going into the bottom of the fifth.
Leea Hanks scored the final run of the game for Notre Dame at the top of the sixth, stretching their lead to eight and ending the inning with a double play, causing the mercy rule to come into play to secure the Fighting Irish victory. The victory was the 849th win for head coach Deanna Gumpf, setting a new record for wins by a Notre Dame softball head coach.
Michigan State will return to Secchia Stadium on Wednesday, April 12th at 5:00 p.m. to face off against in-state rival, the Michigan Wolverines.
“We think this Michigan team is a team that we matchup well against, but you kinda throw all of the records…all of the things out the door when it comes to rivalries…so we’re just excited to go play it,” said MSU’s head coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley.
MSU softball returns to Secchia Stadium, defeats Oakland 4-3Michigan State softball splits doubleheader against WisconsinMichigan State softball triumphant in home opener against Central Michigan
EAST LANSING – After flooding from the Red Cedar River this week, Michigan State announced that its scheduled series against the Ohio State Buckeyes would take place at Jackson Field. MSU won game one, 7-1.
Spartan bats connected early against Ohio State’s left-handed pitcher Isaiah Coupet. Bryan Broecker’s single drove in Mitch Jebb and Brock Vradenburg for the first runs of the game. Broecker had three RBIs in the game.
“He’s (Broecker) a pretty mature player,” said head coach Jake Boss Jr. “He’s gotten a lot better and came up with a big spot today, early in the first inning, that was really maybe the biggest at-bat of the game. So yeah, it was good to see him get the barrel to the ball there.”’
Before Coupet was taken out, he threw a wild pitch allowing redshirt freshman Jacob Anderson to score.
After an injury-related pitching change, Buckeye pitcher George Eisenhardt walked three straight Spartan batters, allowing one more run.
The Buckeyes used six pitchers in the series’ first game ahead of Saturday’s doubleheader.
“We put up seven runs, we found a lot of different ways to score and our guys didn’t expand the strike zone too much at the plate which is fun to watch. We are seeing the ball well right now,” Boss Jr. said.
Spartan starter Joseph Dzierwa came out of the gates firing for MSU. The freshman threw six innings, allowing only two hits and four walks while striking out four and giving up one run, including a lot of soft contact with eight flyouts and four groundouts.
Out of the bullpen for the Spartans, Andrew Carson threw up zeros through three innings, facing 11 batters.
“We needed a great effort on the mound tonight from Joseph and Andrew,” said Boss Jr.
MSU tacked on two more runs in the eighth to win the ballgame 7-1. However it wasn’t just an ordinary victory; it was Boss Jr’s 400th win. Boss Jr. is just the third MSU coach to get to 400 wins.
“That’s so awesome for coach,” said junior Trent Farquhar. “He’s working day in and day out. He deserves this, and it’s just awesome to play for a guy like Coach Boss Jr and to see him get his 400th win, especially here in the city of Lansing, is just awesome.”
“It means a lot,” said Boss Jr. “We’ve had a lot of good players here. I’ve been here for a while and had a lot of good coaches and I think this was the dream job for me a long time ago. So yeah, I think they all mean something. 400 is fantastic, but looking for 401 tomorrow.”
Michigan State took game one of the three-game set against the Buckeyes on Friday, improving to 17-9. They will conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1:05 p.m.
MSU baseball returns to Jackson Field for weekend series against Ohio StateLugnuts snatch 12-3 win over Spartans in 15th Crosstown ShowdownMichigan State, Lansing Lugnuts set for 15th Crosstown Showdown
EAST LANSING – Michigan State baseball is set to return to Jackson Field for a three game, two day series against Ohio State in an important Big Ten mid-season series.
Last season the two teams met for a three game set in two days due to poor weather conditions. Ohio State took the high scoring series win over the Spartans and won their last meeting by a score of 7-8.
The Buckeyes are still above .500 but have struggled in Big Ten play thus far with a record of 1-5. With conference play having just started this series feels like a must win for them in the Big Ten race, as they currently stand at the bottom of the conference.
OSU has an offense that has shown great scoring abilities at times.. The team consists of five players with batting averages above .300 on the season, led by catcher Cole Andrews who is batting a strong .338 and a team leading 20 RBIs. The Buckeyes will need a big series offensively against a tough Spartan team that has shown an ability to out-score opposing teams in high scoring games.
The Spartans are coming off of the Crosstown Showdown against the Lansing Lugnuts and look to use that exhibition game as a springboard for their upcoming series. In the postgame interview head coach Jake Boss said: “I thought we did some good things. I thought we could take away a lot of things from just kind of paying attention to how the Lugnuts did some things.”
The Spartans had a very strong inning against a professional baseball team in the third, scoring three runs. They are hoping this game was a good learning experience all around as they saw what it takes to compete at such a high level. Second baseman Trent Farquhar reflected on the game in an interview.
“It shows a lot,” said Farquhar. “It showed us tonight that we can compete with some pro guys. I think it’s just a confidence booster for us.”
As MSU looks to continue to improve as the season progresses, they’ll put their skills to the test against a resilient Buckeyes team. This series is important for the Spartans, who are 4-2 in conference play with only Indiana and Michigan ahead of them with records of 5-1.
Michigan State’s offense has shown no signs of slowing down, as infielders Brock Vradenburg and Trent Farquhar are both in the top ten for batting averages in the conference. Vradenburg sits in second with an outstanding .442 average in 104 at bats, second to Jonathan Kim of Michigan who is batting .456 in only 57 at bats. Farquhar sits at number seven, batting .389 in 108 at bats and is a real threat on the base paths.
Both have been huge contributors to a strong offense this season for the Spartans. They’ll look to continue this momentum as the season goes along.
The games will be played at Jackson Field on Friday April 7 at 6:05 pm and April 8 with a doubleheader slated for 1:05 and 4:35 pm.
Lugnuts snatch 12-3 win over Spartans in 15th Crosstown ShowdownMichigan State, Lansing Lugnuts set for 15th Crosstown ShowdownPREVIEW: Michigan State baseball heads to Western Michigan
EAST LANSING – After a weekend that Michigan State softball would like to forget against Maryland, the Spartans got back in the win column, winning a tight contest with Oakland University, 4-3.
The Spartans entered this standalone matchup sitting at 10-17 overall, with Oakland holding a 7-10 record. MSU is coming off a three game road trip in which they were outscored 22-0 to Maryland. Oakland came to Secchia Stadium after splitting a pair of games with Youngstown State.
It was a big day for one Spartan in particular, as freshman Hailey Bila recorded her first at bat in collegiate softball, and the first hit of her young career. After the game, Bila was all smiles.
“Honestly, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a really long time now,” said Bila. “I’ve had a lot of support from my teammates. As soon as my name got called to be in the lineup, they (teammates) were cheering for me.”
The first inning saw most of the scoring, as Oakland opened with an RBI single. The Spartans scored all four of their runs in the opening inning, starting with a leadoff homer from senior Jessica Mabrey. Junior Jenae Wash and Colette Allen, and senior Anna Fox all followed with RBI’s, stretching the Spartans lead.
Oakland pitcher Sydney Campbell came in to pitch in relief for starter Mia Konyvka in the first inning, and was dealing for the rest of the game against the Spartans. Campbell finished with just over five innings pitched, only allowing three hits while striking out two.
Pitcher Madison Taylor threw six full innings for the Spartans, only giving up three runs and tying her career high in strikeouts with four. Postgame, Taylor described how she was able to stay composed after giving up runs.
“Just trusting my teammates and working through it…staying confident,” said Taylor.
First year head coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley spoke on how the team bounced back after struggling the previous weekend.
“Anytime you can get a win on the ballfield, it’s huge. We just take each piece that we liked, build on it and move forward.”
With the win, Michigan State moved to 11-17 on the season, with Oakland falling to 7-11.
The Spartans’ showdown with Michigan on Wednesday is canceled due to inclement weather. MSU will face Iowa in a three game series this weekend, beginning with a 5:00 pm first pitch at Secchia Stadium on Friday.
Michigan State softball splits doubleheader against WisconsinMichigan State softball triumphant in home opener against Central MichiganMichigan State softball head coach Jacquie Joseph steps down after 29 seasons
EAST LANSING – Just as Michigan State’s basketball season comes to a close, the buzz for the football season is just beginning. Michigan State football held a press conference on March 30 to talk about offseason work, what to expect heading into the season, and how the team looks to improve from a disappointing 2022 campaign.
With Tuesday’s press conference focusing mainly on offense, the talking point shifted to the defensive side of the ball on Thursday.
New Michigan State cornerbacks coach Jim Salgado spoke to the media again and was asked about the transition from the NFL to college football, and how the coaching style may be different.
“I’m still going to be the same person that I am. I’m going to coach [players] to the best of my ability to help them succeed,” Salgado said. “Whether I was coaching on Sundays or Saturdays…[players] want to be coached. At the end of the day, [players] want to know one. You care about them. Two. You’re there to help them succeed.”
Young players in the secondary said that there was a focus this offseason on building chemistry with each other both on and off the field. Sophomore cornerback Dillon Tatum spoke highly of his roommate Jaden Mangham and the other sophomores in his class.
“Last year, there was a couple older guys that were playing, so now that they’re gone, it’s the young 2022 class,” Tatum said. “You got myself, Jaden, and Malik Spencer here…I think as a group, we’re going to be tight.”
The 2022 class is full of raw talent, and there is no exception with Jaden Mangham. Mangham showed promise last season as a freshman, before a scary head and neck injury in MSU’s loss to Ohio State derailed his season; however, he is not letting an injury get in the way of him making an impact for Michigan State this season.
“It definitely made me better,” said Mangham. “Injuries will always happen, so once that happened to me, I just basically found that as I got that out of the way. So now I can actually take it to the next level, and I know what I have to do…I know what I should do to avoid what happened.”
The young class of 2022 has many bright spots and the players are ready for the bright lights. As the spring game approaches, many Michigan State fans will be intrigued to see who is producing on the defensive side of the ball and what the lineup is going to look like. If you ask Tatum what the secondary is going to do, his answer is quite clear.
“I feel like we’re going to replicate the No Fly Zone,” said Tatum.
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EAST LANSING — After a rainout on Saturday forced Michigan State and Purdue to play a doubleheader Sunday, the Spartans swept the double header, taking two out of three from the Boilermakers in the opening Big Ten series of the season.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Purdue took advantage of the shift in the first inning. Michigan State shifted twice to the left side, where a double play could have been turned to end the inning. Purdue ended up scoring two in the first two innings.
Ryan Szczepaniak came in for relief for Nolan Higgens in the fifth, keeping Purdue at bay pitching four innings, only allowing two hits and striking out five, allowing zero runs.
“I think Ryan’s a guy that has a chance to be special on the mound for us here,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. “It’s been kind of an up-and-down season so far for him and a couple of other guys, and so, I guess, the challenge is to repeat, to follow up a good performance with another good performance.”
After the seventh-inning stretch, Sam Busch pinch-hit for Jacob Anderson. Busch doubled to right field, and Bryan Broecker scored to put the score at 3-2 Purdue.
“That’s what he’s capable of; he’s a big strong kid who is starting to get regular at-bats this year, and he’s really taken advantage of his opportunity, which is what we challenged our guys to do at the beginning of the year in September,” said Boss Jr.
In the eighth, Purdue pitcher Aaron Suval came into the game and pitched for the third time this week. Unlike Friday’s game, his command wasn’t firing on all cylinders, walking two and allowing two runs putting the Spartans ahead 5-3. Purdue got one run in the ninth, but it was not enough.
“It was huge to bounce back the way we did,” said Busch. “Getting the first one, tough pitching at the end really sealed the deal for us; coming to the next one, we had a lot of momentum and put together a lot of good at-bats, and the scoreboard said it all.”
Game two was the same story for Purdue, scoring two runs in the first.
After only bringing 10 men to the plate against Purdue pitcher Kyle Iwinski in the first three innings, the Spartans hit two deep balls to right center field. Their four-run inning was highlighted by Busch’s two-run homer, scoring Brock Vradenburg.
“It’s a pretty cool feeling,” said Busch. “I knew I got it pretty well, but I put my head down and ran, and I was just trying to get a fastball over the plate I can handle and I did.”
In the bottom of the fifth, Bryan Broecker singled on a bunt and got to second base after the catcher’s error; Busch and Vradenburg came around to score after the overthrow. After the three-run inning, the Spartans led 7-2.
The Spartans sent 27 combined batters to the plate in the fourth, fifth and sixth, scoring all 12 in the middle frames. Batting around leads to a lot of confidence among teammates.
“That makes my job a lot easier when they are on base,” said Vradenburg. “It also creates a lot of havoc for their pitchers if they’re gonna worry about them stealing or something. So kind of like gives me a sense of relaxation, and they’re always probably going to be on base for me. So it just makes me excited to go ahead.”
Purdue brought the game within six but ended up on the wrong side of the doubleheader sweep by MSU, losing the second game 12-6.
“We can do a lot of damage here,” said Vradenburg. “We’re kind of playing with that chip on our shoulder like no one really cares about us. So we want to make people realize that we’re no slouch and definitely want to get back to the tournament.”
Michigan State (13-8) will play Western Michigan in Kalamazoo on Tuesday, March 28, starting at 3:05 p.m.
Purdue defeats MSU 5-4 in B1G openerMichigan State baseball hosts Purdue in B1G season openerFINAL: Michigan State 8, Western Michigan 3
EAST LANSING – After rain forecasted for Saturday altered some plans, Michigan State faced a double-header to begin conference play, going against a strong Wisconsin team in Secchia Stadium.
The Spartans entered the matchup with a record of 9-12 after defeating Central Michigan to begin the homestand. The Badgers began the day with a record of 13-8, coming into the double-header following an impressive win over No. 13 ranked Alabama. Wisconsin’s record could be deemed as deceiving, as they are 13-4 in their last 17 games, starting the year slow with an 0-4 skid.
Michigan State’s defense fought against some adversity in the first inning. Sitting with players on second and third base, the Spartans secured three straight outs to end the top of the first, including their rejection of Skylar Sirdashney’s attempt to steal home. They would carry this momentum into the bottom of the first, striking first blood with an early run from Jessica Mabrey.
After an unremarkable second inning, Wisconsin utilized some theatrics to get on the board. Skylar Sirdashney advanced from second to third base off of a wild pitch, then secured a run for the Badgers off of a double steal.
The bottom of the third and the entirety of the fourth consisted of 1-2-3 innings, but all of the waiting paid off in the fifth. Sirdashney got her revenge for her failed attempt to steal home earlier in the game, hitting the first opposing home run in Secchia Stadium this season and recording an additional RBI with Brooke Kuffel scoring as a result.
The top of the fifth would cap off with Crane recording two RBI’s after hitting a ground ball that just barely stayed inside the field of play, which allowed both Ellie Hubbard and Katie Keller to score. The Spartans decided to employ a similar strategy during their turn at bat, with AJ Militello recording a run after Jessica Mabrey hit a ground ball that rode the foul line to stay inbounds.
The final two innings would result in no score change, with Wisconsin winning 5-3.
In the second matchup of the day, the Spartans came out scorching hot. During a near home run from Mandy Esman that bounced off the top of the wall, Macy Lee used the situation to her advantage to score the first run of the match. Esman would get retribution for the missed home run, scoring during Barroso’s single hit.
MSU continued their domination in the second inning, adding two more runs from Esman and Barroso to extend their lead to four.
“I just tried to relax, stick with my plan, and not get too much in my head and then just do my thing,” said Esman. Wisconsin cut into the four point deficit at the top of the fourth, with Konwent hitting a home run to start the inning. Schlossler and Kuffel scored two more runs for the Badgers, cutting the lead to only one for the Spartans.
The Spartans would add some separation in the bottom of the fourth, with a run coming from Militello. After a strong defensive effort to begin the fifth, Barroso hit a home run to extend the lead to three.
The sixth inning began with a quick possession by the Badgers that didn’t result in any changes. On the other side, the bottom of the sixth included the Spartans putting the final nail in the coffin, with runs scored by Mabrey and Militello after Macy Lee used the left foul line to her advantage.
Michigan State defeated Wisconsin 8-4 after a scoreless seventh inning, splitting the double header 1-1 between both teams.
The Spartans will face the Badgers on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Secchia Stadium to finish their three game series.
Michigan State softball triumphant in home opener against Central MichiganSpartan softball goes 2-1 in weekend matchup against PurdueSpartan bats silenced by Michigan ace Alexis Storako, fall 3-0
EAST LANSING– Michigan State baseball (11-7) looks to make a statement in its Big Ten opening series against Purdue University (9-10). After a comeback win in their home opener against Western Michigan, the Spartans look to continue their winning ways during Fan Appreciation Weekend in a three-game series against a resilient Boilermakers side.
The Boilermakers have won the last three games against the Spartans with an all time record of 30-25 in the history of these Big Ten rivals.
Purdue’s last seven games have been uncharacteristic as they have struggled to plate as many runs as they had early on. They started their first twelve games of the season with an average of 9.5 runs per game in that span. They have since then lost six of their last seven games while averaging just above 4.14 runs per game.
The Boilermakers hope to get back on track this weekend after a very tough out of conference schedule by reigniting their very high scoring offense.
“Purdue is very well-coached and has played a good schedule,” MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.
The Spartans are looking to start conference play on the right foot this weekend and hope to get an early jump in the Big Ten standings after a disappointing result last season.
Let's get this Big Ten season started.@MSUBaseball is home tonight against Purdue at 4:05 pm! pic.twitter.com/29FH3YOUMc
— Michigan State Athletics (@MSU_Athletics) March 24, 2023
“The Big Ten opener is obviously very important. We were very disappointed in the way we finished last year and the goal is to win the series,” Boss Jr. said.
Michigan State has had some very solid pitching in their last few outings but a 6.21 ERA as a team this year will not be able to contain a strong hitting team such as Purdue. On the offensive side of the ball, Michigan State has a team batting average of .314, ranking them 27th in the country.While it may be early in the season, this series will not be taken lightly and will be a very good indicator of both of these teams trying to find their footing going into a long season.
Game one on Friday, March 24 is slated for 4:05 p.m. while Saturday’s game will be at 3:55 pm. The series finale will start on Sunday, March 26 at 1:05 p.m. at McLane Stadium.
MSU Baseball falls to Gardner-Webb, 7-3MSU baseball looks to extend win streak against Western MichiganMichigan State baseball splits doubleheader in MLB Desert Invite
NEW YORK CITY – On Tuesday night, Tom Izzo received a delivery.
The boxes of a New York City staple, Denino’s pizza, quietly arrived at Michigan State’s team dinner, in the hands of New York native Tyson Walker.
Walker’s delivery fulfilled an ongoing joke of the guard buying Izzo a “New York slice” upon the team’s arrival to the city. The exchange was caught on camera, and quickly went viral within MSU circles.
“He got me my pizza last night, and I’m looking for the cab ride today,” said Izzo.
Special delivery pic.twitter.com/C0ql8TebZi
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) March 22, 2023
On Thursday, Michigan State (21-12, 11-8) will take on Kansas State (25-9, 11-7) to open the slate of games in the Sweet Sixteen in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Walker, who hails from Westbury, New York isn’t a prototypical New York City guard. And this isn’t a grand homecoming for a guy that was billed as the city’s next great guard the way Stephon Marbury, Kemba Walker and Cole Anthony were.
“I didn’t model my game after anybody. I kinda just played. Watched my brother going up, so I kinda played like him,” said Walker. “You do have a swagger, just a different type of swag about playing out here.”
Tyson Walker shoots the ball during Michigan State’s practice on March 22, 2023 ahead of the Spartans’ Sweet Sixteen matchup against Kansas State. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith)Walker’s return to New York is the culmination of a player who has evolved into one of the best guards in college basketball, and whose dominance has propelled an MSU team to its first Sweet Sixteen in four years, in the city he calls home.
After transitioning into high-major college basketball last season, Walker has emerged as the undisputed leader for MSU’s offense this year, leading the team in scoring with 14.8 points per game and setting the tone on both ends of the floor.
“He’s the best two-way player I’ve had since Gary (Harris), where he can do it on both ends,” said Izzo. “That’s so valuable to a team, and so good to be able to tell other scorers that he can get you 30 on some nights and guard other players.”
Walker’s emergence was never centered around becoming a different player, or taking things to another level; it was about becoming the player he had always been at the highest level of college basketball after transferring from Northeastern University.
“The transition definitely started off rough,” said Walker. “The beginning of the season last year I was kind of struggling. I kind of figured it out as the season went on. And now, you know, I’m just getting back to my old self.”
In addition to being MSU’s leading scorer, Walker is shooting over 40% from the three-point line this season, and 46.7% from the field, all while doubling his shot attempts from last season. Walker is currently 12 points away from scoring 500 total points on the year.
Earlier this season, Walker recorded his 1,000th career collegiate point against Kentucky at the Champions Classic.
Tyson Walker fights through a defender during Michigan State’s double overtime victory over 4th ranked Kentucky on November 15, 2022. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM“He’s back to his old self,” said teammate AJ Hoggard. “He’s back to Northeastern Tyson, he’s back to the Tyson that I’ve known forever. And now he’s just more comfortable, and he’s got one job out there: make shots and score the ball.”
That scoring was on full display in MSU’s last game where Walker torched Marquette’s defense scoring 23 points and shooting 8-17 from the field.
Walker’s performance against Marquette encapsulated his role this season. In the last seven minutes, the guard scored 12 points, lifting the Spartans to victory and sending them to the next round of the tournament.
“He’s not from the heart of the city, but he does have that swagger about him,” said Izzo. “He’s got enough cockiness to be confident, yet he’s an unbelievable kid. At his size he wants to guard you, but he also wants to take big shots.”
As MSU inches closer to its eleventh Final Four appearance in school history, the Spartans will look for Walker to be the player he’s been all season, in the city that raised him and on arguably the biggest stage in basketball.
“This year the stage is even bigger, because it’s Madison Square Garden, it is his home ground, and it is the Sweet Sixteen,” said Izzo.
“We’ve still got some dancing to do.” Spartans defeat Marquette, clinch their bid to Sweet Sixteen“We’re not dodging anybody.” Battle-tested Spartans set to face MarquetteMSU advances to Second Round with 72-62 win over USC
EAST LANSING – Michigan State University announced on Monday that the women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant is stepping down effective immediately after 16 seasons with the program, according to an official statement. This was a mutual decision coming from Merchant, Athletic Director Alan Haller and the Michigan State University Vice President
Associate head coach Dean Lockwood will serve as interim head coach as the university conducts a search for the vacant head coach position.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce I am stepping down from Michigan State University due to health reasons,” Merchant said. “After much consideration and consultation with my healthcare providers, I have come to the difficult decision that it is in my best interest. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the entire Michigan State community, including the administration, faculty, and staff.”
Thank you for everything, Coach Merchant!
: https://t.co/74ElZ0pSEO pic.twitter.com/YWIwGRj8tg
— Michigan State Athletics (@MSU_Athletics) March 13, 2023
Merchant finishes her time at MSU with a 327-186 record, leading the team to two Big Ten titles and 10 NCAA tournament appearances. During her 2021-2022 season, she reached 500 career wins and just one game later her 300th win as the head coach of the Spartans.
“We are grateful to Coach Suzy Merchant for her contributions to Michigan State women’s basketball and Spartan Athletics over the last 16 seasons,” Haller said. “Beyond the team’s on-court success, she invested considerable time and energy into our local community as a leader and a role model for young people.”
Women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant releases statementKamaria McDaniel leads MSU in upset win over No. 4 Indiana
EAST LANSING – Michigan State hosted Long Island and Bowling Green in a multi-record-breaking tri-meet for their annual Jan Howard Breast Cancer Awareness Meet.
MSU set five program records, recorded two perfect 10.0s, and set multiple new career highs.
“Hey, these fans are waiting to see what all the chatter has been about. Let’s just give it a show,” said MSU head coach Mike Rowe. “And it was that easy. That’s all I had to say, and then just step back and watch what happens.”
Right up front Jenison was beaming with energy between what the gymnasts brought to the competition floor and the crowd. The Spartans dominated on vault with a new program high of 49.575, and freshman Nikki Smith earned a perfect 10.0. BGSU and LIU both had rocky starts, but that didn’t stop either from pushing through. The Falcons ended with a 48.850 and the Sharks ended with a 49.000.
“I’m feeling super excited especially because it’s my first 10.0 in college.” said Smith. “My expectations for the rest of the year is to keep going up from here.”
The Spartans went into rotation two on fire. They earned their first 10.0 on bars in program history from senior Jori Jackard. “When her dismount dropped in front of me, I was like, there it is,” said Rowe.
“It feels so amazing just to have my team behind my back and supporting me,” said Jackard.
MSU broke their bars record for the second time this season, with a score of 49.550. Although, the Falcons and Sharks struggled to keep up. LIU fell behind MSU by 1.200 points and BGSU fell behind by 1.225 points.
Rotation three was solid for MSU, and they broke yet another record to set their new beam record to be 49.600. BGSU was on floor, and earned a 48.075 and LIU earned a 49.175 on vault. There was little progress made by the Falcons and Sharks on catching up to the Spartans. MSU stood at 148.725, LIU at 147.100, and BGSU at 146.975.
The fourth and final rotation sealed the deal for MSU. Anchored by a stellar performance from sophomore Skyla Schulte, the Spartans swept the competition to set a new school record of 198.225.
Despite MSU taking the competition as a team, for all-around LIU and BGSU got up on the scoreboard. Third place went to sophomore Kathryn Weilbacher from BGSU, and the second place went to freshman Syd Morris from LIU. Smith took first place and set a new school record for all-around with a score of 39.775.
Rowe is proud of this team’s cohesion.
“They help each other, they have each other’s backs, ” said Rowe. “They give each other good advice. They stick together and basically, that’s the message we were trying to send as that’s how we would be successful.”
Up next, the Spartans will host Northern Illinois on March 11 at 7 p.m. for their senior night.
No. 13 MSU wins first B1G Regular Season Championship in program historyPREVIEW: No. 12 Michigan State gymnastics visits No. 17 IowaNo. 13 Spartans defeat Penn State with fourth-highest score in program history
SOUTH BEND, IN — In a hard fought game, the No. 5 seed Michigan State Spartans fell to the No. 4 seed Notre Dame 1-0 in the first game of the best of three Big Ten Tournament series.
Although the Spartans did not see the outcome they wanted, they played an incredibly strong game, leading the shot margin 36-21.
“It’s part of the foundation we are trying to build. It’s not about what happens or if the puck goes in, it’s about your next shift. ” said head coach Adam Nightingale. “They’ve done a great job buying into that and knowing things won’t always go your way.”
Ryan Bischel played an unbelievable game for the Fighting Irish with a total 36 saves, shutting out the Spartans. This was his fifth shutout of the season and his second against MSU.
In the regular season, the Spartans came out on top with a 2-1-1 margin over the Fighting Irish. The last time these two teams played, Michigan State swept Notre Dame with 3-0 and 3-2 victories in East Lansing.
Michigan State was 0-13 in the Big Ten Conference’s postseason tournament coming into this matchup. They now add to that streak, being 0-14 in conference post season games.
The first period came with a lot of fast paced play from both teams, the way they have played all season. Michigan State took early advantage of getting in the offensive zone and applying pressure on Bischel. After having a bye week in the last week of regular play, it was clear the Spartans were hungry to be back on the ice.
With 5:48 left in the first period, senior forward Jagger Joshua was whistled for interference, giving Notre Dame the first power play of the night. Although the Spartans were able to kill the penalty, the Irish found their momentum in the final five minutes and did not slow down, getting some good looks at the net, but Dylan St. Cyr denied his former teammates any chance to get the puck behind him. MSU led the shot margin 10-9 by the end of the first period.
The second period started fairly similar to the first. Both teams saw multiple good looks at the net. The Spartan defense did a great job of blocking shots and shutting down the Irish attack. Michigan State saw a good offensive push once again, and successfully set up many opportunities, but couldn’t quite get their sticks on the puck in front of the net.
With 3:47 left in the second period, senior forward Trevor Janicke got a pass from on the left circle to the front of the net, where junior Grant Silianoff snuck it straight past St. Cyr. Jack Adams also had an assist on the goal, giving Notre Dame a 1-0 lead going into the final period. Notre Dame led the shot margin 19-18.
“We are playing our game and they were just able to capitalize with that one goal,” said freshman forward Tiernan Shoudy. “They are just really well coached and play their style and it’s hard to create offense off of it.”
In the first two minutes of play in the third, freshman Tiernan Shoudy had a big rush to the net, but Bischel denied his shot and Mucha’s rebound attempt.
Five minutes into the period, MSU sophomore forward Tanner Kelly and Notre Dame graduate defenseman Chase Blackmun were called for roughing, sending the game to a 4 v 4 matchup. Throughout the 4 v 4, the Spartans kept the majority of the puck control. This led to many good chances, but still no goal for MSU.
“We just have to find another level of work and get on the inside,” Nightingale. “We created quite a bit of chaos and we have to be ready to go tomorrow.”
The Spartans saw their golden opportunity halfway through the period when Irish sophomore Jake Boltmann was sent to the box for roughing. However, the Irish penalty kill stopped the Spartans from getting many looks on net. Notre Dame’s penalty kill for the regular season was .752.
With 7:30 to play the Irish almost saw a chance to tally another point on a 2 v 1 rush, but St. Cyr made a crucial diving save to block the shot. St Cyr had 20 saves on the night.
Michigan State got one more chance at the power play after senior Jesse Lansdell received a penalty for tripping. Daniel Russell saw his best chance of the night and got the puck right behind Bischel’s pads, but the puck hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced back out.
In the final 1:30 of the game St. Cyr headed off the ice to give the Spartans the extra skater. Tiernan Shoudy saw a good chance at the corner of the net, but it was knocked out by an Irish defensemans stick. The Spartans may not have been able to get past Bischel, but had a lot of positives coming out of tonight.
“I think we outplayed them, especially in the first and the third,” said St. Cyr. “I think we just have to continue to stick with the chances and get guys in front of Bischel.”
Puck drop for the second game of the series is Saturday at 4:30 at Compton Family Ice Arena.
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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — With a bye to end the regular season, Michigan State spent the final weekend as fans, hoping that the chips fell in a way that would bring home-ice advantage in the Big Ten tournament.
It led Jagger Joshua to do something he never had before.
“It definitely wasn’t the best feeling, especially rooting for Michigan,” he said. “That’s not something I really enjoyed.”
Joshua and the Spartans needed their rivals to beat Notre Dame once that weekend, which, coupled with Penn State’s loss to Wisconsin — would bring postseason hockey to Munn Ice Arena for the first time since Big Ten hockey began in 2013-14.
That didn’t happen, so now MSU heads to Notre Dame.
The 2023 #B1GHockey Tournament bracket is set!
: https://t.co/6mugCYQbFr pic.twitter.com/JVYog4PuZW
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) February 26, 2023
“It would have been nice to get home ice,” Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale said. “You know, I think we’re so thankful for the crowds we’ve had, the support and all this excitement with the program.”
However, he urged his players to keep perspective. The Spartans were projected to finish last in the Big Ten’s preseason coaches’ poll. Despite that, their fifth-place finish is tied for the second-best in program history and best since the conference expanded to seven teams.
“Coming into the season, we talked a lot about trying to earn some respect, and I think we have done that in college hockey, but we’re still not to the level we want to get to,” Nightingale said.
He said that this weekend presents another opportunity to take a step forward. The Spartans have never won a Big Ten tournament game before, but goalie Dylan St. Cyr is confident that his team can do it against the Fighting Irish.
“I think it’s a mindset,” St. Cyr said. “That’s the biggest thing. I think that’s the change in the culture that’s having to come now is having the mindset to expect to win rather than going there and hoping to win.”
Michigan State returns to South Bend for the first time since Oct. 28-29, the opening weekend of conference play. That weekend, following a 5-0 blowout, MSU responded with a 1-1 tie and the shootout win.
If anything, that shootout win proved to the Spartans they can beat the Irish, which they kept in mind for the Feb. 3-4 series in East Lansing. There, the Spartans swept Notre Dame for the first time since 2006, giving them confidence they can do the same in the tournament.
A hard-fought win was the perfect tribute to this senior class! pic.twitter.com/i0mRXN2cRL
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 5, 2023
“Our record against them this year I would say gives us confidence,” Joshua said. “We’ve obviously seen them a couple times now, and we’ve had some success against them and their system.”
Since that sweep, however, the Irish have won four straight on the back of an outstanding stretch from goalie Ryan Bischel. Boasting the second-highest save percentage in college hockey (.932), Bischel ended the season stopping 174 of 181 shots against two top-10 teams.
St. Cyr, who played two seasons with Bischel at Notre Dame, recognized the chance to beat his former teammates again, but he remained focused on the game in front of him.
“It’s always a fun little rivalry,” he said. “You get to go back and play against your buddies…but once you kind of get on the ice, it’s back to that game mode, and we have a job to do.”
Per 3 | Our jaws – DROPPED.
https://t.co/HtoiQMJWc2
https://t.co/dhUJa1nPQr
@BigTenNetwork#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/cPDSL702wC— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) February 26, 2023
Despite the recent success against the Irish, the Spartans know that winning a playoff series on the road won’t be easy.
“It’s very rare to sweep Notre Dame,” Nightingale said. “Historically, it doesn’t happen very often. Their ability to bounce back, and I think their coaches do a great job of focusing on the right things and the way their team plays.”
If they pull it off, however, Michigan State is back in contention for the NCAA Tournament. The Irish are No. 14 in PairWise, while the Spartans are No. 19. A win (plus some losses from the other bubble teams) would put them back in line for a berth.
“We’d love an opportunity to play in the tournament,” Nightingale said. “But those are all things that we got to take care of today to make sure that happens.”
The road ahead won’t be easy for the Spartans. If they win this weekend, they likely face either Minnesota or Michigan in the semifinals. However, it all starts in South Bend.
While, like Nightingale said, Notre Dame is a well-coached team, St. Cyr believes Michigan State can use that to its advantage.
“They’re a really structured and well-coached team,” said St. Cyr. So I think we kind of have to exploit that knowing that their game is predictable in ways that we can try to exploit.”
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EAST LANSING– No. 13 Michigan State won its first Big Ten Regular Season Championship in program history on Feb. 25. MSU is doing exactly what they said they would do. Change everyone’s minds.
“We knew they could do it and are so proud of how they didn’t give up and pulled it all off,” said head coach Mike Rowe.
The Spartans hold a 9-2 overall record, and share the regular season title with rival No. 4 Michigan.
MSU will compete during the evening session of the Big Ten Gymnastics Championships on March 18 as the No. 1 seed. The session consists of the top four seeds, who will compete at 5:30 p.m. E.T.
The Spartans earned the top seed with their dual meet win against the Wolverines on Jan. 27, marking the first time in program history that MSU will compete as the No. 1 seed.
The 2023 Big Ten Championships will take place at the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, and will be broadcasted on Big Ten Network.
EAST LANSING — The Michigan State men’s basketball team returns to the Breslin Center Tuesday night as the Spartans host No. 17 Indiana. This will be the first time that MSU plays on its home court since the deadly mass shooting that occurred in East Lansing on Feb. 13.
“It’s our first game back on campus with our fans,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “Make no mistake about it, this [feeling] will never go away. Time heals everything.”
The Spartans fell short against Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 18, when they lost 84-72 at the Crisler Center. A strong and determined finish by the Wolverines in the last 1:10 of the game sprang them past the Spartans in the Big Ten standings.
Joey Hauser led the game in Ann Arbor with 20 points and while the Spartans had the game within reach, the Wolverines made the right plays down the stretch to earn another rivalry win at home.
Hauser became the first Spartan since Cassius Winston to score 20 points in three straight games.
“I thought we put ourselves in a position to win the game,” Izzo said. “We had opportunities, we just didn’t get it done.”
The University of Michigan honored the tragic event that claimed the lives of three MSU students and injured five others before tipoff. The UM Maize Rage student section wore shirts reading “Michigan Basketball stands with MSU” and the entire Crisler crowd was supportive of the Spartan community throughout the night.
“It meant a lot,” senior guard Tyson Walker said after the game. “They put pride aside and they did something for the greater purpose.”
Despite the loss, Izzo said he was proud of his team.
Tonight’s game against Indiana is at 9 PM ET at the Breslin Center and will be broadcast on ESPN.
We encourage everyone to wear white in unity. pic.twitter.com/GyWtIHUcbD
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) February 21, 2023
The Spartans sit in ninth place in the standings while their upcoming opponents, Indiana, are in third place behind Northwestern. The Hoosiers are 10-6 in the Big Ten and 19-8 overall this season.
Hoosier senior Trayce Jackson-Davis leads his team in scoring with 20.5 ppg and posted a 26-point double-double in Indiana’s latest win over Illinois.
“He’s [Jackson-Davis] has really improved his game with his ball handling. He’s improved his game with his strength and passing ability,” Izzo said. “He’s a load.”
In the last matchup against the Hoosiers, the Spartans suffered a 69-82 loss at Assembly Hall. In that game, Jackson-Davis recorded one of his best stat lines of the season, recording 31 points and 15 rebounds.
“We’re going to have to mix some things up,” Izzo said. “Our game plan can’t be just to stop Trayce [Jackson-Davis]. We got beat last time because [Tamar] Bates hit five out of six threes and I’m not sure he’s hit that many since.”
With four games remaining in the regular season, the Spartans look to jumpstart a winning run in front of a Breslin crowd that seeks comfort after an emotionally difficult week in East Lansing.
The game against the No. 17 Indiana Hoosiers is scheduled for a 9 p.m. tip-off from the Breslin Center.
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EAST LANSING— The Michigan State baseball team played a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 19 against Fresno State University and the University of Arizona. In the first game, the Spartans defeated Fresno State 7-4, in their first matchup since 2018. In the nightcap, MSU fell to Arizona 7-1.
Fresno State started the game firing on all cylinders on the offensive side, driving in two runs in the first and ending Spartan starter Adam Berghorst’s day after two outs. Fresno State had eight batters come to the plate in the inning.
Momentum shifted when reliever Dominic Pianto entered the game, shutting the door and pitching 8.1 innings through the end of the game. He allowed three hits on the day, two runs, with only one being earned. He had four strikeouts on 107 pitches.
“Dominic Pianto was just outstanding. For him to do what he did today was a huge boost for our team. He never was really in trouble, he was in command the whole way,” said head coach Jake Boss. “He did a really nice job of getting us out of the first inning and the plan was to at least get us into the fifth or the sixth, but he was just extremely efficient, got outs early in the count and was just in control the whole way.”
The Spartans came back in the third getting three runs on the board. The inning started with a single by Trent Farquhar, who was three for five on the day. Farquhar stole second, bringing him into scoring position for Mitch Jebb, who brought him home.
After two walks to Brock Vrandenburg and Jack Frank, Casey Mayes brought them in on an RBI triple. Mayes finished the game with three runs batted in.
The spartan offense kept clicking throughout the game totaling 15 hits. In the five-inning, the lead was extended to three, making the score 5-2 with RBIs from Frank and Kark.
In the sixth inning, Fresno State made things close. A triple from Bobby Blandford scored Tyler Davis. Blandford later scored off a throwing error made by Jebb.
The Spartans would win 7-4 after Vradenburg, and Bryan Broecker in the ninth scored insurance runs.
Michigan State faced Arizona in game two of Sunday’s doubleheader, but the perfect start to the season would not continue.
“In game two, we ran into a really good arm, the left-hander pitcher from Arizona (Bradon) Zastrow was outstanding. The velocity was good, the breaking ball was good; I think he was as good of an arm as we’ll see all year long,” said Boss. “I don’t think we played poorly today, I just think we got beat by a very good team.”
MSU starting pitcher Noah Matheny struck out the side in his first inning with the Spartans and got out of a jam in the second.
Arizona outfielder Chase Davis’ two-run-homer got the scoring going early in the third inning. Michigan State evened it up in the bottom of the third with a Broecker sacrifice fly, scoring Sam Thompson.
The Wildcats regained the lead and didn’t look back. Davis hit a second home run and tallied an RBI double, totalling the junior with four RBI’s in the game.
Kiko Romero, Tommy Splaine and Tyler Casagrande also batted in one run each for Arizona.
Arizona left-hander Bradon Zastrow struck out five and allowed just one run in his 5.1 innings on the mound. Following two electric games for the Spartans on the offensive side, they could not get much going, totaling just fives hits in the game.
Dawson Netz and Chris Barraza entered in relief for the ‘Cats and sealed the win.
Max Chapman, Nolan Higgins, Gavin Sitarz and Brian Martin joined Matheny as Spartans on the mound on the night. Greg Ziegler lead the green and white with two hits in his three appearances at the plate.
“We’ll regroup and be ready to go for tomorrow,” said Boss.
Michigan State’s next game will be Monday afternoon against Grand Canyon at 1 p.m., a short turnaround following an emotional week for all in the MSU community. Right-hander Andrew Carson is expected to take the mound for MSU.
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EAST LANSING – Michigan State wrestling head coach Roger Chandler earned his 50th career win on Friday, Feb. 10, as No. 24 Michigan State notched a victory in the last home event of the season. The Spartans secured their first ranked win of the season against No. 22 Indiana, 20-16.
“My name is on it [the wins] as head coach, but these are their wins that they earned, and I couldn’t be more proud of a group of guys,” Chandler said.
As the night got started, the Jenison crowd had some honoring to do. Eight seniors were honored for their dedication to the program.
Graduates Cameron Caffey, Rayvon Foley, Benny Gomez, and Ryan Vasbinder said goodbye to Jenison as they walked the mat with their families. The Spartans also bid farewell to Peyton Omania, Skyler Crespo, Cameron Monzadeh, and Miles Hoey.
“To be honest, I didn’t know it was going to be my 50th [win],” Chandler said. “Obviously, it’s bittersweet. Guys like Cam Caffey and Rayvon Foley, they’ve been here six of my seven years here as head coach, and those guys earned most of those wins.”
Leading the match was junior Tristan Lujan, who made his return to the lineup after not competing in the last dual.
After a scoreless first period, Lujan elected to start down to begin the second period, where he mustered an escape. That would prove to be the match-winner, as the rest of the match was scoreless and the Spartans would head into the second bout with a three-point lead.
Up next, No. 29 Henry Porter for the Hoosiers took on No. 17 Rayvon Foley for the Spartans. Porter managed some early takedowns to go up 6-2 at the end of the first period. Foley cut the deficit to 6-5 with just over a minute left in the second, but a pair of escapes and a late takedown would earn Porter the upset decision, 10-5.
Jordan Hamden for Michigan State came into the 141-bout trying to regain the lead for the Spartans, but Cayden Rooks for Indiana had other plans. Rooks collected four takedowns in the match, with Hamden only able to come up with five escapes. The Hoosiers were ahead for the first time, leading 6-3.
In the 149-pound weight class, Omania for the Spartans looked to take down Indiana’s active career leader in wins for the program, Graham Rooks. The match was physical out of the gate, but Omania struggled to get many offensive attacks going against Rooks. Heading into the second period, Omania only had a two-point deficit, but Rooks handled the California native throughout the rest of the match, winning 13-4.
Coming off a huge tech fall in his last match, Caleb Fish looked to keep the momentum going in the 165-bout against Hoosier Nick South. Fish got a takedown within the first minute of the match, with no real action occurring until the final stanza when South would get an escape with under a minute to go. Fish managed to fend off South for the rest of the match, also tallying a point for riding time to earn the decision 4-2.
A ranked dual win at Home to close out the B1G season! #GoGreen | #SpartanStrong pic.twitter.com/1328W1BREw
— Spartan Wrestling (@MSU_Wrestling) February 11, 2023
The 13th-ranked Spartan Layne Malczewski would take on Clayton Fielden, in hopes of keeping Michigan States’ dual chances alive. Malczewski would take 1:37 of riding time into the second period, and he controlled Fielden throughout. Fielden eventually got some riding time himself, but a flashy turnaround and thrilling pin by Malczewski put Michigan State back on top, 15-13.
Cam Caffey strolled onto the mat to take on Indiana’s Drayton Harris to attempt to extend the Spartans lead. A 22-4 tech fall win would seal the deal for Michigan State before the final match even takes place.
Already leading 20-13, Ryan Vasbinder was only wrestling for individual achievement here, as he stepped out to take on Indiana’s No. 26 Jacob Bullock. Vasbinder scored first on an escape, but two third-period escapes for Bullock would notch the win for him.
“Last year they had great regular seasons and didn’t have great postseasons,” Chandler said. “We’ve changed some things in the approach and you can see they are starting to bubble to the top.”
Michigan State will end its regular season in Mount Pleasant against Central Michigan University on Feb. 17, starting at 7 p.m.
A.J. Evans, Josh Gutbrod, Jack Moreland, Nick Lundberg, and Tim Marshall gather for another episode of Courtside Convo! The crew recaps LeBron James becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, the trades that shook up the NBA, new title favorites, and where the league stands with several stars on the move. Listen for all of this and more on the latest episode of Courtside Convo!
EAST LANSING — Michigan State forward Erik Middendorf has never been fond of the University of Michigan.
“Growing up playing at the U.S. (National Team Development) Program,” he said. “All those guys growing up wanted to go to Michigan, and that was never the case for me.”
Middendorf spent two seasons with the USNTDP. Five of his ex-teammates became Wolverines, but Middendorf said he was always partial to the Spartans.
“I was always kind of a Michigan State fan even though I wasn’t committed here,” he said. “Just because of the blue-collar and underdog mentality, and just how those Michigan guys treat Michigan State.”
If Middendorf is any indication, there’s still no love lost between the in-state foes. That rivalry, the most-played in college hockey, resumes this weekend for the 341st and 342nd time.
The second game is the annual Duel in the D, a neutral-site game played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Starting in 2016, both teams compete for the “Iron D” trophy. While the Spartans won it the first time, Michigan has won all five since.
Puck drop for the first game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET Friday in East Lansing. The Duel in the D will begin at 8 p.m. ET Saturday.
Unlike previous years, this series has major Big Ten implications on the line. Last year, Michigan State entered the series with eight consecutive losses. This year, the Spartans are in a four-way tie for second place in the conference.
“The standings weren’t really close last year,” sophomore defenseman David Gucciardi said. “This year they are. We’re excited, just more going into the game, more energy for us, more fuel to our fire.”
For the Spartans, this series is one of two left before the regular season ends. Wisconsin remains, but they will need to win at least one this weekend if they want to host a Big Ten tournament series or qualify for the NCAA playoffs.
MSU Hockey is set to face rival Michigan this weekend in a two-game series. Here’s a breakdown of what needs to happen for MSU to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.
: @jacobfstinson
: @smith25_sarah
https://t.co/5EyvAEhm39— Impact 89FM Sports (@WDBMSports) February 9, 2023
After sputtering over the holidays, Michigan State has rediscovered its offense, scoring three or more goals in five of its last six. That matches up well against goalie Erik Portillo, who has the second-lowest save percentage among Big Ten starters (.908).
For the Wolverines, this is not only a chance to avenge December’s loss at Munn Ice Arena but also an opportunity to help its seeding in the NCAA Tournament. They’re currently No. 4 overall in PairWise rankings, so a win could help boost their rank and draw an easier first-round opponent.
Michigan’s offense revolves around its top line of Gavin Brindley, Adam Fantilli and Rutger McGroarty. All three are elite players who played in the IIHF World Junior Championship in December. The trio has combined for 36 goals and 90 points.
Fantilli leads the charge on offense. He missed four games — including the December series with MSU — for training camp with Canada’s World Juniors team. Regardless, the freshman still leads the nation in points (45), and he’s expected to make an impact this weekend.
Brindley breakaway and Fantilli finish! It’s 2-1 Michigan #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/GLI6iOE9W2
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) February 4, 2023
Middendorf played junior hockey with both Fantilli and McGroarty on the Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League. As a 16-year-old, Fantilli won the MVP of the USHL playoffs.
“He’s a generational player,” Middendorf said. “He had a full beard when he was 16 and I was a 20-year-old in Chicago. He’s just a mature player. He plays the game really well. He’s really fast.”
Middendorf knows that the key to beating the Wolverines starts with locking up his former teammates.
“I think getting into [Fantilli],” he said. “Bumping him, staying on top of him, making the game hard for him…It could slow their offense down and their top line. I think we match up really well.”
Impact staff predictions
Stinson: Both teams split. The Wolverines are incredibly talented, but they’re inconsistent, especially on defense. Fantilli will give Michigan a boost, but I don’t trust Portillo and the defense to win U-M two games.
Jacob Phillips, Hockey Beat Reporter: A split is the best anyone can hope for. Last time U-M traveled to Munn, the Spartans skated away with a one-goal victory. When MSU traveled to Yost, it was the Wolverines with the one-goal W. Expect the same from a nearly identical series.
Ryan Radosevich, Hockey Beat Reporter: Split. I’d expect Fantilli to win at least one game for the Wolverines, but Munn Ice Arena has been an incredibly tough road location for any team not named Minnesota. The Spartans need points this series, and they can definitely take them in a win at Munn.
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We’ve reached the point of the college hockey season where we can start talking about the postseason. For the first time in a long time, Michigan State fans have a reason to pay attention. The Spartans haven’t qualified for the NCAA men’s hockey tournament since 2012.
While it’s nowhere near a guarantee that the Spartans will qualify, they have a good chance. They control their own destiny, but the path to get them to the postseason is complicated.
That being said, let’s look at how the NCAA Tournament works, how teams are selected and what needs to happen for Michigan State to make its first postseason appearance in over a decade.
What are PairWise rankings?
PairWise is the most important factor in determining who makes the NCAA Tournament.
In short, PairWise is an advanced metric that objectively compares every team in Division I to one another. The higher a team is ranked, the more comparisons it wins. Teams are compared in three categories. For each category it wins, teams are given a “point.” If a team has more points, it wins the comparison. Those categories are:
- Head-to-head record.
- Records against common opponents.
- Rating percentage index (RPI). This measures a team’s strength of schedule by averaging a team’s record, its opponents’ records and its opponents’ opponents’ records. This is also the tiebreaker if two teams each finish with one point.
That can be a bit confusing, so let’s use an example. Michigan State is No. 14 in PairWise, one spot ahead of No. 15 Connecticut. The Spartans and Huskies haven’t played each other this season, so the head-to-head record doesn’t matter.
On the other hand, both schools have played Ohio State, Long Island and UMass-Lowell. The Spartans are 5-3-0 in those games, while the Huskies are 4-1-1, which gives Connecticut the better winning percentage (.750). One point for UConn.
However, RPI is where Michigan State wins the overall comparison. While Connecticut has the better record (17-8-3), the Spartans’ tougher schedule gives them the slight edge. Despite each team winning one point, MSU wins the comparison for having the higher RPI.
The process is repeated for all 61 teams. The team that wins the most comparisons is ranked first, and the team that wins the least is ranked last.
How does the NCAA determine seeding?
The NCAA Tournament features 16 teams. The first six bids automatically go to the winners of each major conference tournament. The remaining 10 spots are at-large bids given to the teams with the highest PairWise rating.
It’s rare a team outside the top 16 in PairWise wins its conference tournament. However, this season will be an outlier. The Atlantic Hockey Association has no teams in playoff position, and its leader, RIT, is No. 19. If the season ended today, then Omaha and Northeastern, both tied at No. 16, would miss the tournament, and RIT would get the final spot.
Once the teams are selected, they’re divided into four groups. The top four teams are given No. 1 seeds, the next four are given No. 2 seeds, and so on.
The regional rounds of the tournament are held at four neutral sites. Each No. 1 seed is placed in the region closest to its home school. For example, if Minnesota finishes as a No. 1 seed, it should begin at the West Regional in Fargo, North Dakota. After the top seeds are placed, the remaining teams are seeded in a serpentine order. Minnesota would get the No. 16 overall seed, currently RIT.
Michigan State, as the No. 14 seed, would get the No. 3 seed, Boston University.
How does this affect Michigan State?
Let’s tie this all back to the Big Ten. Five of the seven teams are in a playoff spot. Each team has either four or six games left, so there’s still plenty of time for movement in the standings.
*Series will feature at least one neutral-site game. Michigan-Michigan State will have one game at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, and Michigan-Ohio State will play one game at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
Notre Dame and Michigan State switched spots after the Spartans swept the Fighting Irish last weekend. Notre Dame is now on the outside looking in, and with star forward Ryder Rolston out for the season, its tournament hopes are dwindling.
For Michigan State, its postseason case hinges on the upcoming series with Michigan. Beating a struggling Wisconsin team won’t provide much boost, so the rivalry series will be the last chance to take points against a good team.
Michigan State doesn’t need to sweep Michigan to stay alive, but it needs to walk away with points. If the Spartans splits with the Wolverines, sweeps Wisconsin and wins the first round of the Big Ten tournament, then they should be considered locks for the tournament.
However, it all starts with Michigan.
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Second Stage Productions, the fully student-run theatre company, is bringing the classic American drama, “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams to the MSU Arena Theatre every day Feb. 10-12.
Second Stage Productions is a production company created and run by MSU undergraduate theatre students. The club provides opportunities for students to gain experience in all aspects of the theatre, whether it is acting, directing, stage managing, designing or promoting. SSP provides students with a space to develop their skills as theatre artists and to build a show completely from the ground up.
Senior Bachelor of Arts theatre major and President of SSP, Lane Straub, is directing “The Glass Menagerie.” Straub stated in an interview on Impact’s clubs and organizations podcast, Exposure, that this is her first time directing a play.
Straub said that directing is an incredibly fulfilling process. SSP allows theatrical opportunities for students who do not typically receive them, “whether it’s because they aren’t in the theatre major or because they don’t feel like they’re represented enough on the main stages of MSU’s department of theatre.”
If you have not already read it in school, “The Glass Menagerie” is a memory play written by the famous playwright, Tennessee Williams. The play is set in 1935 and follows the Wingfield family, which is composed of a frustrated mother, a daughter lost in her imagination and a rebellious son, who are all cramped in a St. Louis apartment.
Anna Yarnal and Camden Ferguson rehearsingStraub describes the play as one of the best pieces of dramatic literature. “This play has been around for ages and there’s a reason why,” she said. “There are a lot of parts of it that are pretty outdated but the main part of family and reflection at its core is a theme that I think transcends time.”
Anna Yarnal, Josh Denver and Kamryn Sarratt during the first dress rehearsalStraub is approaching “The Glass Menagerie” by “taking it back to its original roots and using the idea of plastic theatre rather than the resort to realism, in this case.” Straub describes plastic theatre as an abstract version of realism that exaggeratedly highlights the truth.
Straub also refers to plastic theatre as “anti-realism because it’s more exaggerated compared to realism.” Using design elements such as lighting, sound, props and set, as well as a unique acting style, Straub is reinventing the play and connecting it to the 21st century.
Photo by Lane Straub: Anna Yarnal and Jordan Ivesaj rehearsingStraub’s favorite part about the experience “is the cast and crew bond that we’ve created. I feel like the environment is ideal to me. It seems very collaborative and also positive. I am really proud of everyone on my team.” The special familial bond that has been established among the cast and crew shines through in the production of “The Glass Menagerie” intriguingly and uniquely.
Photo by Lane Straub: Josh Denver rehearsing his monologueThe cast features Tim Hackbarth (Bachelor of Fine Arts acting major) as Tom, Anna Yarnal (Bachelor of Fine Arts acting and broadcast journalism double major) as Laura, Kamryn Sarratt (Bachelor of Arts theatre and physiology double major) as Amanda, Josh Denver (Bachelor of Fine Arts acting senior) as the older Tom, Camden Ferguson (marketing major) as Jim and Jordan Ivesaj (communications major) as an understudy for Laura and Amanda.
As a club, SSP not only produces plays, musicals and student-written work, but also consists of two other groups. These groups are After School Special and Second Stage Musical Theatre.
To find out more about Second Stage Productions, listen to the most recent episode of Exposure, a podcast that offers insight into student clubs and organizations.
“The Glass Menagerie” will premiere on Friday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. in the Arena Theatre in the basement of the Auditorium. You can purchase tickets at the door for $10 apiece. Straub says, “If you want to support us, this is a great way to do it.”
You can find more information on Instagram @SecondStageMSU
Michigan State women’s basketball coach Suzy Merchant released a statement on Tuesday evening for the first time after being involved in a minor single-car accident on Jan. 28.
Merchant stated that she wished to focus on her health and well-being for the time being. Merchant is committed to getting her health back to 100% and is looking forward to returning to the team.
Merchant showed gratitude for the support and well wishes that have been sent her way while she has been recovering at home.
Statement from Head Coach @SuzyMerchant.#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/B5PzotEpxA
— Michigan State Women's Basketball (@MSU_WBasketball) February 8, 2023
The Spartans have now played three games without Merchant, and with Associate Head Coach, Dean Lockwood serving as interim coach.
After Sunday’s 77-67 loss to in-state rivals, Michigan, the team heads to Wisconsin this week for a Wednesday night matchup against the Badgers, with Lockwood still leading the Spartans.
MSU women’s basketball falls to No. 18 Michigan, 77-67MSU women’s basketball set to face Nebraska in Big Ten matchupMSU women’s basketball loses close game in Big Ten/ACC challenge
EAST LANSING – In the latest chapter of the Michigan State versus Michigan rivalry, the Michigan State women’s basketball team (11-12) came up short, in a 77-67 loss to the No. 18 ranked Michigan Wolverines (19-5) on Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center.
MSU started off the contest red hot, with a 10-0 run highlighted by 3-pointers from senior guard Moira Joiner and sophomore guard Matilda Ekh.
“Our first quarter was exactly the way we wanted to play that game,” said MSU interim head coach Dean Lockwood. “We wanted to pressure, we wanted to move the ball, and we got great looks.”
The Wolverines would battle back and cut the lead to 21-15 by the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Michigan State struggled to find points, as the Wolverines went on a 6-0 run to tie the game for the first time. The Spartans started to regain momentum, with a couple of threes made by Julia Ayrault and Matilda Ekh. MSU went into the locker room up 40-33 at halftime.
Michigan started the second half by scoring eight of the first nine points to tie the game. Graduate guard Leigha Brown hit a 3-pointer to give the Wolverines their first lead of the contest.
Brown finished the game with a double-double of 29 points and 12 rebounds.
“She [Leigha Brown] thrives in these moments and she wants the ball in her hands in these moments,” said Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico. “She does a great job of drawing fouls and making everyone else on our team feel extremely confident.”
Michigan also got contributions from senior guard Maddie Nolan, who had 22 points.
Despite being outscored 23-15 in the third quarter, MSU only trailed 56-55 heading into the fourth quarter. A highlight reel moment came at the end of the period when sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann hit a half-court buzzer-beater.
Hagemann played all 40 minutes of regulation in the loss, finishing with 11 points and 9 assists.
The fourth quarter featured a dominant Michigan performance. The Wolverines’ defense began to take control, with the Spartans only going 5-for-23 from the field. The Michigan lead swelled to as much as 13 in the late stages of the game.
“We were missing shots and we were struggling, and rather than getting back to who we were, we deviated from that,” Lockwood said.
Michigan State will be on the road against Wisconsin on Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
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EAST LANSING– No. 13 Michigan State competed against Penn State in an exhilarating meet on Saturday night. The Spartans recorded a season-high score, and the fourth-highest in program history of 197.450. MSU head coach Mike Rowe was thrilled with the results of the meet.
“It feels amazing, especially only going into week five,” Rowe said.
Rowe expressed he was happy with the team’s progress, and said he understands the team’s mindset. “They felt like they had unfinished business from last year and they mean it,” Rowe said.
The competition started with MSU on vault and PSU on uneven parallel bars. The Spartans dominated on vault, led by sophomore Gabrielle Stephen, who scored a 9.925.
The Nittany Lions had a slow start on bars. Sophomore Jessica Johanson had a fall but still managed a 9.675. Their highest score on bars was a 9.850 from senior Cassidy Rushlow.
Going into the second rotation MSU held the lead, 49.350-48.875. The Spartans had a fall on bars from senior Jori Jackard, but were able to still remain in control of the event and meet. PSU also made a little bit of groundwork with a 9.925 on vault from freshman Ava Piedrahita.
The second rotation ended with MSU holding a .750 lead. Vault concluded with Stephen and Piedrahita tied for the event. For bars, freshman Nikki Smith secured the event with a score of 9.925.
Next up, the Spartans went to the balance beam and the Nittany Lions went to the floor. MSU had a few bobbles on beam and a fall from freshman Olivia Zsarmani.
“If Olivia wasn’t nursing a wounded ankle right now, she’d have been all around and in the hunt with the rest of them, ” Rowe said.
Despite Zsarmani’s injury, junior Baliegh Garcia scored a 9.925 in the event and the Spartans walked away with a 49.275 on beam. The Nittany Lions had a few step-outs and mistakes that hindered the rest of the lineup. Their highest score for the event was a 9.825 from Piedrahita and sophomore Isabella Salcedo.
Entering the final rotation, MSU held a 1.325 on PSU. 148.025-146.700. The Nittany Lions picked up a little slack on beam, but it still wasn’t enough to close the gap the Spartans had created. PSU walked away with a score of 48.775 on beam.
The Spartans were electric on floor. The lowest recorded score, excluding Delanie Harkness’ 9.500, was a 9.850 from Smith. Skyla Shulte scored a 9.925 to clench the event and for beam, Garcia took the event with her 9.925.
The meet closed out with the Spartans winning by 1.975. The final score was 197.450-195.475.
For all-around, fourth place was Piedrahita with a score of 39.350. Third place was Smith with a score of 39.450. Second place was Schulte with a score of 39.475. And the first-place title went to Stephen with a score of 39.575.
Stephen was excited about being able to take first place all around.
“We’ve been working out a lot of small details on all of my routines,” Stephen said. “And so seeing those come out in my routines today was so amazing and so exciting.”
“I think the team has worked a lot to separate ourselves from what other people think and what the media thinks we’re going to do,” Stephen said, “and focus on what we know we can do, and not letting that influence how we practice and how we compete.”
Up next, MSU will travel to Iowa City to compete against Iowa on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. ET.
Nikki Smith named B1G Gymnast of the Week and Freshman of the WeekNo. 14 MSU defeats in-state rival No. 3 Michigan for the first time since 2007Spartan gymnastics travel to Big Five Meet this weekend
EAST LANSING — The 10 seniors on Michigan State’s roster have been through it all. Some of them have spent four or five years with the Spartans. They’ve had seasons cut short, played in empty arenas, gone on historic losing streaks and endured coaching changes, all in the last four years.
Others only came to East Lansing for one season, but they’ve made the most of it. They joined a group that changed the fortunes of a hockey program that’s on pace for its first winning season since 2014-15.
After a 3-2 win and series sweep of No. 20 Notre Dame on Saturday, Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale reflected on what his first senior class meant to him. Only three seniors — goalie Dylan St. Cyr, captain Miroslav Mucha and forward Ryan Nolan — had committed to MSU after Nightingale became head coach, so he thanked the group for believing in him and being great teammates.
“I think change isn’t easy,” Nightingale said. “A lot of these guys were already here or already committed to (Michigan State) coming in, and to have a new coach and to trust our staff, you know, it’s not an easy thing to do.”
St. Cyr is one of the five who transferred for their final season. After spending four years at Notre Dame and one at Quinnipiac, the Northville native came back to play his last season in his home state. For St. Cyr, playing his senior night against the school where he began his college career, made the game extra special.
“Even just to see some of those guys,” St. Cyr said, “even when we were doing the senior night ceremony, but they’re coming up on the bench to say hi. I still know about half that team and the support staff and coaching staff as well.”
St. Cyr’s play was critical in the Spartans’ sweep of the Fighting Irish. He stopped 65 of 67 shots on the weekend and made a few highlight-reel saves along the way.
This save from @dylanstcyr was filthy. @MSU_Hockey x @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/Ql6u5bnHTv
— Michigan State on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) February 4, 2023
Those saves create a synergy between St. Cyr and his teammates. He said that the confidence he gets from making the saves helps the players in front of him be their best.
“I think that’s something you want to portray to your team,” he said, “obviously so they have confidence in you, and you show confidence in your team…gives me confidence with the way our team played this weekend.”
Despite his performance, St. Cyr was still quick to recognize those who had put in more time in a green and white sweater than him.
“Obviously here on senior night,” St. Cyr said, “for the guys who put in four years and even the grad transfers who’ve come in, it’s obviously really special. And then to do it against a team like Notre Dame in an important time of the year, it’s all awesome.”
One of those seniors is forward Nicolas Müller, who had a sensational two-goal, two-assist weekend. He teamed up with fellow senior Erik Middendorf and junior Jeremy Davidson for the Spartans’ second goal of the game.
Nico Muller with the go-ahead goal! His second of the weekend and fifth of the season (Extended cut with all the replays, because you need to see them.) pic.twitter.com/o96olxARSn
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 4, 2023
“Middy made a nice play,” Davidson said, “dropped it through his legs, and I kind of picked it up. I knew I had a guy on my back, and I just kind of tried to get it to the front of the net. Nico (Müller) happened to be there, and it was right on his tape, so it’s pretty fortunate.”
Müller is now tied with Karsen Dorwart for the team lead in points (25), but, like the rest of the team, he tries not to concern himself with statistics.
“I definitely get a lot of opportunities that I’m really thankful for,” Müller said after Friday’s 3-0 win, “but I think it’s just fun playing with the team and adding the wins. I think individually, it’s always also nice, but it’s a lot of fun playing with the team and (to) get those wins.”
Most importantly, Nightingale is thankful for how his seniors have impacted the underclassmen. According to him, seniors like Müller and St. Cyr have helped establish the culture that the new coach wants for his program.
“We’re judging them on effort,” Nightingale said, “we’re judging them on attitude, judging them on being a great teammate, and those guys have done it every day for us.”
That culture allows Nightingale to develop the underclassmen, who he says have stepped up in a big way down the stretch.
“I think they’re playing their best hockey right now,” he said, “and it’s a great sign for our program…once you get a group of people like that, that are motivated and self-driven, that’s a good sign for your program.”
A prime example of that development is sophomore defenseman David Gucciardi. Gucciardi blasted a puck from the blue line past Notre Dame goalie Ryan Bischel, which eventually became the game-winner.
Gucciardi's one-timer gives MSU back the lead. Absolute laser. pic.twitter.com/DLeDGCiUQx
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 4, 2023
Entering the series, Gucciardi had recorded one point since Nov. 26. Despite the lack of production on the scoresheet, Nightingale praised Gucciardi for his overall improvement away from the puck.
“He’s a young defenseman,” Nightingale said, “ and I think (he’s) learning what a real defenseman looks like. He’s an elite skater, and to use his skating to defend and close and eliminate time and space, and then be able to make quick decisions offensively…less focus on points and more being a real, world-class defenseman.”
Michigan State still has four regular season games left, including two against rival Michigan. In a tight race in the Big Ten standings, the Spartans will continue to lean on their seniors for leadership.
However, their legacy goes beyond the box scores of this season.
“We’re not done yet here this year,” Nightingale said, “and I think we’ll continue to get better, but they’re laying the foundation for what I think is the greatest program in college hockey, and we’re trying to build it back.”
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EAST LANSING — Michigan State goalie Dylan St. Cyr isn’t one to brag about his accomplishments. After a 3-0 shutout win on Friday over Notre Dame, St. Cyr’s former school, he was quick to deflect the attention away from himself and towards his teammates.
“Our team played really well (Friday),” St. Cyr said. “Penalty kill was awesome. So they kind of made it easy kind of getting into the game, and I think that led me to find my groove better.”
His teammates would disagree with him.
“He always tells (us) that it doesn’t really matter for him,” senior forward Nicolas Müller said, “but deep inside of him, I think it matters a little bit, and it’s pretty cool for him. We’re just glad that we’re able to get him the shutout.”
St. Cyr said he still knows about half of the Fighting Irish roster from his time there, which he said gave him extra motivation heading into the contest.
“Obviously it’s a fun night to see those guys,” he said. “Any time I get to see those guys, they’re still friends, but when you kind of get in the ice, it’s an extra fire that’s lit under (you).”
St. Cyr made 32 saves en route to his third shutout of the season. It was a much-needed redemption after a weekend where he allowed 11 goals in five periods at Minnesota. He was pulled after the two periods in the first game in that series, so he was happy to find his rhythm again.
“I think it’s just with kind of getting back into it,” St. Cyr said, “after a weekend like last weekend and finding comfort playing in front of our fans at home.”
While the Spartans struggled to defend against a high-powered Minnesota team, they were able to limit chances and frustrate the Fighting Irish for much of the game. Notre Dame took five penalties, one of which led to a Jagger Joshua deflection that broke the scoreless tie.
This Jagger Joshua PPG gets MSU on the board early in the second period. pic.twitter.com/50f1IfoLYK
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 4, 2023
The Spartans never looked back. While a goal from senior Erik Middendorf gave them the insurance they needed, St. Cyr shut the door on the other end. While he was never forced to make the sprawling, highlight-reel saves that fans have become accustomed to, he stepped up when necessary.
Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale prefers it that way.
“His rebound control was really good,” Nightingale said of his goalie. “So it seemed like, any time they got any type of pressure, he was able to kind of calm it down, and that’s when Dylan’s playing his best.”
The most pressure St. Cyr faced came right at the end, when Notre Dame pulled goalie Ryan Bischel with over five minutes left, meaning the Fighting Irish would throw all the pressure it could at Michigan State with the remaining time.
“Usually,” St. Cyr said, “that’s something they would do thinking they didn’t have any five-on-five chances as much. So obviously, that speaks to the way our team was playing.”
While the Spartans stood tall on defense, Müller was able to put away the game with a heave from the red line, and so the Spartans would walk out with a much-needed three points in the Big Ten.
With five games left in the regular season, the race for playoffs is heating up. The second-place team, Penn State, is only four points ahead of Notre Dame, who’s in sixth. The Spartans, currently fifth, will need to finish fourth or better if they want home-ice advantage in the Big Ten tournament.
With only two more home games left, wins like Friday’s are critical in making that happen. Michigan State is now 10-4-1 at home, so it will look to make the most of the home ice it has left.
“Down the stretch, that’s going to be an important (five) games,” St. Cyr said. “I think to play in front of our home crowd in that environment was definitely something special.”
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EAST LANSING — The Michigan State women’s basketball team will end its two-game road trip at the home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Thursday, Feb. 2. The Spartans look to get back to winning ways after suffering an 86-76 loss against No. 22 Illinois over the weekend.
The Spartans will play their second straight game without head coach Suzy Merchant on the bench. Merchant suffered a medical incident on Jan. 28 that kept her from traveling with the team during its road stretch.
Assistant coach Dean Lockwood will act as the interim head coach until further notice.
The Cornhuskers lead the series history 9-5 against the Spartans, and are undefeated in Pinnacle Bank Arena. The last matchup at Nebraska was on Dec. 31, 2019, with the Cornhuskers claiming an 82-71 victory.
The Spartans enter this matchup 11-10 on the season and 3-7 in Big Ten play. Michigan State is 1-5 in their last six matchups, a drastic fall compared to their 6-0 start to the season.
MSU is third in the Big Ten in assists per game (18.1) and ninth nationally. They are also ranked third in the Big Ten in steals per game (11.0).
Some Spartans enter this matchup on a hot streak, including Moira Joiner, who has recorded at least 10 points in each of her last three games. Taiyier Parks scored in double figures the last two games, and Kamaria McDaniel recorded 23 points in MSU’s last outing against No. 22 Illinois.
The Cornhuskers come into this game with a 12-9 record overall and 4-6 in the conference after an 80-76 loss to No. 6 Iowa. While Sam Haiby missed 10 out of Nebraska’s first 11 games due to injury, she has started to catch fire, averaging 12.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and two steals over the last five games.
Haiby is also 15 points away from becoming the 13th player in Nebraska’s history to score 1,500 career points.
The 6-foot 3 sophomore Alexis Markowski grabbed her ninth double-double of the season, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds against the Hawkeyes.
Tip-off from Lincoln, Nebraska is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and the game will stream on Big Ten Network. The Spartans return to the Breslin Center on Sunday, Feb. 5 when they host Michigan at 3 p.m.
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EAST LANSING – Tyson Walker was the inbounder. And then he wasn’t. After a horizontal pass along the baseline to A.J. Hoggard, Walker caught the ball streaking in the open floor. With the clock dwindling down, Walker found Malik Hall on the left wing. Pass fake, drive, dunk. Hall scored with 1.4 seconds left to tie Michigan State and Kentucky at 71.
Hall’s tomahawk stuff would give MSU the momentum boost it needed to edge out the Wildcats in overtime of the Champions Classic, 86-77.
As the Spartans celebrated in the locker room postgame, media members and players spilled in and out of the Gainbridge Fieldhouse doors. Written on the whiteboard in the locker room was one word: “TRENCH.”
Hall said it served as a reminder that MSU is, “in the thick of it.”
The whiteboard message reads “TRENCH” in the conclusion of Michigan State’s 86-77 win over Kentucky in the State Farm Champions Classic. // Photo Credit: Luca MelloniThat was Nov. 15. Now it’s almost February and MSU is quite literally in the thick of it.
The Spartans sit at 14-7 on the season and 6-4 in the Big Ten. 10 league games played, 10 left. Smack dab in the middle.
After a 63-61 scare against Iowa on Jan. 26, MSU head coach Tom Izzo said the most important thing for his team to focus on moving forward is the offense.
“Our offense. I’m not very pleased with our offense right now. There’s a lot of standing around,” said Izzo.
Michigan State currently holds the No. 59 offensive efficiency rating in the country, according to KenPom. In conference play, the Spartans are ninth in the Big Ten in that category.
Perhaps no one embodies the mentality of being in the trenches more than Hoggard.
“We’re in the trenches of the Big Ten right now. You gotta bring your hard hat to the trenches,” said Hoggard.
Hoggard is midway through his best season in East Lansing in three years. Averaging 12.4 points, 5.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds, he’s been the leader that Izzo has been begging for since the summer. Leading on the court with his play style and mentality.
“The trenches is just a mindset of just fighting through adversity,” said Hoggard. “Just something we go by as a team, we just said it one day and just kind of carried on with it and that’s where we are with it right now.”
Despite a winning record and a fourth-place standing in the Big Ten, MSU still has a lot of work to do.
The goal is another NCAA Tournament berth coupled with a top-4 seed and win in the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans are so close yet so far from those goals it seems. Teetering on the brink of a multi-game run and a disastrous midseason skid.
Whether MSU likes it or not, they have no choice but to focus on the future.
“We’re in the trenches, this is kind of the dog days of January, early February,” said Joey Hauser. “That’s not the most fun time of the year but you just got to kind of grind it out. I mean, I guess it’s all kind of coming full circle.”
It’s already been a season of much turmoil and difficulty for MSU. The injuries have been particularly gut-wrenching. Hall has missed a total of 11 games for Michigan State and at this point in the season is in a different spot than the rest of his teammates.
The Spartans are 8-2 this season when Hall plays and 6-5 when he doesn’t.
Malik Hall stares at Michigan defenders after a basket during Michigan State’s 59-53 victory over Michigan on January 7, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith)“It definitely feels different, for sure. I’m just trying to do the best I can since I have more energy,” said Hall. “I’m just trying to bring more and help everybody through it because I know what it’s like to play all those games and then you reach February and you’re getting tired.”
With a road trip to West Lafayette on the docket, MSU will have to face an AP No. 1 team for the first time since 2019 when the Spartans took down Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
Mackey Arena is billed as one of the most difficult places to play in the entire country. It’s loud and hostile. You can find yourself scrambling in circles trying to find an answer.
Kind of like in the trenches.
EAST LANSING – On any given Friday night in January, Munn Ice Arena is typically filled with 6,000 or more hockey fans settling in to watch the Spartans. However, on this past Friday night, the Spartans’ home rink was filled with over 100 people who are usually covering those games; student journalists.
A group of four student organizations gathered Friday night to face off in Impact’s third annual broomball match. The groups included host Impact 89FM, MSU’s student radio station, the State News, Spartan Sports Report and MSU Telecasters.
The contest has historically just been a competition between Impact and the State News but with a mismatch in manpower in recent years, the decision was made to extend an invitation to other student organizations.
The goal was to make the game more competitive as Impact has handily won every meeting. Some goals aren’t always met.
Impact dominated the game and took home its third consecutive victory, 5-2.
Sam Kurtzman, Zac Slowik and Brendan Schabath pose for the most menacing picture of the night. // Photo Credit: Delaney RogersWith a new challenge in front of them, an invigorated group of Impacters were well prepared to take down their opponents. As WDBM garnered nearly 50 players on its squad, the game was billed as “Impact vs. Everybody.”
With music blaring and cheers from the bench ringing through Munn Ice Arena, Impact got off to a hot start. The game was played in five-minute shifts in which play was then stopped for substitutions. Impact scored before the first switch.
Impact’s executive board celebrates with the trophy. Left to right: Operations Manager Sam Kurtzman, Marketing Director Ashley Land, News Director Zac Slowik, Sports Director Brendan Schabath, Programming Director Mckenna Lounds, Station Manager Delaney Rogers. // Photo Credit: Adam SteinhauerOffensive zone pressure and a “boots on the ground” game plan led to an early goal for the red and black. Hockey beat reporter Ryan Radosevich showcased his skills all night for Impact. Radosevich, a former hockey player himself, proved that despite the obvious differences between broomball and traditional hockey, experience on the ice pays off.
It started early with a loose-ball collection on the near-side boards in the attacking zone. Radosevich collected himself, dangled a defender and found Impact News Director, Zac Slowik in front of the crease. After a short scramble, Slowik punched the ball into the back of the net and Impact was off and running.
It was a big night for Slowik as he finished with two goals, two assists and was +4 while on the ice.
The Impact bench cheers on their teammates on the ice. // Photo Credit: Jeremy WhitingImpact would score four unanswered goals from a flurry of players. Men’s basketball beat reporter Michael Markoch connected with Sports Director Brendan Schabath for an assist as Schabath tipped the ball just in time to find women’s basketball beat reporter Matt Merrifield for a second goal.
Schabath completed the night with two assists while contributing a +4 mark during his ice time.
Hockey beat reporter Jacob Stinson also notched a tally on the scoresheet for Impact as he netted the third goal of the night. Stinson collaborated with women’s basketball beat reporter Allie Cohen for the goal. Cohen was a star all night for Impact.
Cohen was celebrating a birthday as she took the ice Friday night. Perhaps no one, herself included, expected she would be celebrating by taking home the MVP honors for WDBM. Cohen surprised many with a standout performance for her ability to gain possession of the ball in the neutral zone and push it forward for offensive opportunities. She was constantly in the mix of Impact’s 45 total shots on goal and was an easy choice as the MVP.
Maggie Heflin, Paige Drob and Matt Anikiej brave the slippery conditions of the ice for a serious winners photo after the game.The State News put forth a quality effort in a comeback attempt in the second half of the game.
Despite minimal offensive chances due to Impact’s suffocating backline defense, MSU Telecasters sideshow producer Danny Zivian was heavily involved in any chances that did come about. He made a crisp pass to State News men’s basketball beat reporter Melanie Soverinsky who smacked the ball past goalkeeper Zach Surdenik for the team’s first goal of the game.
The squad would get one more after Spartan Sports Report director Ethan Hunter found a streaking Alex Walters for their second goal. Walters, an environment reporter for the State News, would score the final goal of the night for his team.
Some Impact team members pose for a victorious picture with the trophy. Left to Right: Nick Sanchez, Emma Frank, Adam Steinhauer, Sophie Scureman-Stoops, Sav Hamed, Ashley Land, Paige Drob.As the clock ticked ever so close to zero, Impact held a decisive 4-2 lead. Yet, the radio broadcasters were not satisfied. Specialty show host of The Vibe, Matt Anikiej, was the benefactor of a mad dash in front of the goal as he scored WDBM’s fifth and final goal of the contest. A goal that would send Impact into a frenzy of excitement and celebration as the result was imminent.
The horn sounded and a swarm of Impacters donning all-black attire gathered around the shiny gold trophy at center ice. Hugs, high fives, screams of excitement and joyous laughter were abundant in the post-game celebration.
Impact’s office team poses for a photo with the trophy. Left to Right: Sarah Laughner, Jake Rhodes, Sam Kurtzman, Matt Cruz, Adam Steinhauer, Ashley Land, Zac Slowik.The 5-2 final score mirrors the exact same score from the previous year. Three years ago (the 2020 contest was canceled due to COVID) Impact routed the State News to the tune of a 15-1 victory. The blowout inflated the odds of this year’s contest as the spread closed at 3.5 goals (Merrifield Sportsbook). With back-to-back 5-2 victories, Impact is 1-2 ATS in the last three contests.
Impact would like to thank MSU Athletics and Munn Ice Arena for the use of the facilities during the game. They would also like to thank faculty members Jon Whiting (MSU Telecasters), Chris Richert, Kim Margolis, Wesley Herold (State News), Lori Ann Dickerson and Dan Dickerson (Spartan Sports Report) for their participation in the event.
Impact can relish in the win for now, but next year’s game is already fresh on the mind of those returning to continue Impact’s dominant legacy.
The Zac(h)s! News Director Zac Slowik and Sports Broadcast Director Zach Surdenik gather on the boards for a celebratory picture after the game. // Photo Credit: Brendan SchabathGoal Scorers
Impact 89FM:
Zac Slowik (2)
Matt Merrifield (1)
Jacob Stinson (1)
Matt Anikiej (1)
State News/Spartan Sports Report/MSU Telecasters:
Melanie Soverinsky (1)
Alex Walters (1)
Playlist | Songs for sending your broomball enemies to the hospital
MINNEAPOLIS — After taking four of six points against Penn State, Michigan State has proven that it can hang with the best teams in the Big Ten. However, the Spartans get their biggest test yet. Following a bye week, they take on Minnesota, the No. 2 team in the USCHO poll and one of the premier teams in college hockey.
Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET Friday from 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis. Saturday’s rematch will begin at 5 p.m. ET.
The Golden Gophers traveled to East Lansing for a series in early December, and they won two lopsided games, 5-0 and 6-3. That extended Minnesota’s win streak over the Spartans to 11, dating back to the 2019-20 season. Only four current Spartans — including senior Nicolas Müller — were on that team.
“I remember freshman year,” Müller said, “it was a little bit more evened-out talent, I think…Our team has been not really good the last couple of years, but I think this year we have a pretty good group.”
The Golden Gophers are led by one of the most dangerous lines in all of college hockey, featuring Logan Cooley, Matthew Knies and Jimmy Snuggerud. In last weekend’s split with Michigan, the trio combined for three goals and four assists.
On the other end, junior Brock Faber and senior Jackson LaCombe anchor the defense. Faber is a premier shutdown defenseman, the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the team captain. LaCombe is an excellent playmaker with 25 points in 26 games. Faber, LaCombe and Knies all were nominated for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to the best overall player in college hockey.
“Obviously they’re a very good team,” Michigan State captain Miroslav Mucha said. “They’re a top team in the country, so we’ve got to treat it that way…They have a lot of skill on their team. They play with a ton of pace.”
So what will it take for Michigan State to break the losing streak? How does this series impact the playoffs? Here’s the breakdown:
Back on the ice tonight in Minneapolis! We start a two-game set with league-leading No. 2 Minnesota.
Want to watch/listen/follow? Head here: https://t.co/ntijbndsl3 pic.twitter.com/92BuuhQllj
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 27, 2023
What does this series mean for the postseason?
For Minnesota: The Gophers have a commanding lead on the Big Ten. Mathematically speaking, they can finish as low as sixth, but let’s be realistic. They have a 10-point lead on the teams in second place. They’re 12-3-1 in the conference. They have NHL prospects up and down the roster. Winning this weekend only increases the odds that Minnesota secures a bye in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.
We’re also at the point in the season where PairWise rankings are starting to matter. In short, PairWise is an advanced metric that combines record, strength of schedule and head-to-head records to rank every team in college hockey. The NCAA gives six automatic bids to the winner of each conference tournament. After that, the 10 remaining spots go to the schools with the highest PairWise rating.
Right now, Minnesota has the No. 1 spot. If the Gophers finish there and win the Big Ten tournament, then they would get the top overall seed, giving them the easiest path back to the Frozen Four.
For Michigan State: On the other hand, Michigan State’s fate is very much in limbo. Realistically, the Spartans can finish anywhere between third and sixth in the Big Ten. If they finish fourth or better, however, then Munn Ice Arena will host postseason hockey for the first time since Big Ten hockey began in 2013-14.
For the first time in a long time, MSU also has reason to pay attention to the PairWise rankings. The Spartans sit at No. 13 right now, putting them on the bubble. If they don’t win the conference tournament, then they will need an at-large bid to make it. Pulling off an upset against the top team would give a big boost to Michigan State’s tournament odds.
What’s one storyline from each team to pay attention to?
For Minnesota: Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale pointed to Minnesota’s defense as a key reason why his team struggled in the first series. However, last weekend against Michigan, the Gophers allowed eight goals over two games, which is tied for the most they’ve allowed this season. While it shouldn’t be much reason to panic — it was Michigan, after all — the Gophers will need to tighten up on defense to be successful.
For Michigan State: Junior defenseman Nash Nienhuis has been out of the lineup since he sustained an injury against Ferris State on Dec. 27. With an extra week’s worth of rest for the team, there’s a chance he could come back this weekend. Nightingale hasn’t given confirmation on Nienhuis’ status, but getting back one of the team’s best two-way players would give a big boost to the defense. He has 13 points this season, which, despite missing five games, is the most by any MSU defenseman.
Who’s one player to watch, beyond the obvious stars?
For Minnesota: Freshman defenseman Ryan Chesley has been an underrated part of the Gophers’ blue line. While he gets overshadowed by Faber and LaCombe, Chesley is a strong two-way player. He’s both a Washington Capitals prospect and represented the United States in the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. His season numbers don’t jump off the page, but he’s got two assists in his last three games, and he’s starting to find his footing on the ice.
For Michigan State: It’s worth paying attention to junior Erik Middendorf. He was recently moved up to the second line with Müller and Jeremy Davidson, and he’s looked solid in that role. He started the comeback with a goal in the first game against Penn State, and he’s worked his way back onto the power play as well. He’ll be getting more opportunities, so expect Middendorf to make more of an impact on the score sheet.
Impact staff predictions
Stinson: Minnesota sweeps. Michigan State played well against Penn State, but the Gophers are on a different level. The Spartans simply don’t have the personnel to match up with Minnesota. In order to win, MSU will need to play almost entirely mistake-free, and I don’t think that’s realistic.
Jacob Phillips, Hockey Beat Reporter: At best, expect a split. Michigan State looked much better hosting Penn State than they did before the semester began. Couple that with a few Gopher missteps over the last few weeks, and the Spartans could take one win back to East Lansing.
Ryan Radosevich, Hockey Beat Reporter: Both teams split. It will be a hard-fought series but MSU will eke out a win and earn the split they desperately need if they want to host a Big Ten tournament series. When these two teams matched up in December, Minnesota seemed to want it more. They were faster and played a nearly perfect series. That’s exactly what MSU has to do if they want to earn a split.
Three takeaways from weekend series against No. 5 Penn StateMichigan State’s top line continues to impress: ‘We seem to gel together really well’‘He’s been incredible for us’: Cole Krygier overcomes tumultuous start with overtime winner
EAST LANSING – Michigan State escaped from the Breslin Center with a 63-61 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday evening. Despite trailing 10-0 after the first media timeout, the Spartans prevailed and improved to 14-7 overall and 6-4 in the Big Ten. Iowa couldn’t go in front after two missed game-winning three-pointers from sophomore forward Payton Sandfort.
The Spartans responded in a game they needed to have, especially due to their next opponent, which will be No. 1 Purdue in West Lafayette on Sunday.
Here are some takeaways from the Thursday night win.
Mady Sissoko showed promise
Undoubtedly, it’s been a rocky season for the junior big man. After showing some flashes against Gonzaga and Kentucky back in November, Mady Sissoko has been inconsistent for a team that needs his contributions at the center position.
Sissoko recorded his first double-double of the season, with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Additionally, Sissoko came up with some big offensive rebounds when the team needed it, including a put-back dunk after a missed layup from Tyson Walker.
Sissoko has faced some of the best big men in college basketball this season, from Drew Timme, Oscar Tshiebwe, Zach Edey, and other high-level centers in the Big Ten. Sissoko’s presence will certainly be needed on the glass heading into February and March.
Malik Hall is back
When senior forward Malik Hall checked into the game at the 16:21 mark of the first half, the Breslin Center crowd gave him a loud round of applause. Once Hall got going on the floor, it looked like he was fully recovered from the stress reaction in his foot that he suffered in the 75-66 loss at Illinois.
“It is more comforting when he’s out there,” said head coach Tom Izzo. “He knows where to be, he knows what to do. I was surprised he moved as well as he did.”
Hall finished the game with 11 points while shooting 50% (4-8) from the field, along with playing a surprising 24 minutes after missing two weeks, and only practicing twice this week.
As we’ve seen, Michigan State is a better basketball team when Malik Hall is on the floor. The offense is more in-sync, there is better communication on defense, and Hall delivers that leadership they don’t get as much of without him. As the Spartans get set to hit the road against No. 1 Purdue and Rutgers, Malik Hall should still be playing significant minutes, which will give the Spartans a better chance against two of the top Big Ten teams.
The guard play was underwhelming
This Michigan State team is known for having some of the best guard play in the Big Ten, with A.J. Hoggard and Tyson Walker at the helm. While Hoggard and Walker have been impressive, they struggled against the Hawkeyes. Hoggard went 3-12 from the field, with seven points and three turnovers. Tyson Walker finished with 10 points on 4-14 shooting. The senior guard from Westbury, New York, hit the go-ahead jumper to put MSU up 61-59 with a minute to go.
“I would say I played ok, but I didn’t play an A.J. Hoggard type of game tonight if you want me to be completely honest,” said junior guard A.J. Hoggard. “They [Iowa] did a good job of denying and covering our sets, and making us do a lot of one-on-one matchups.”
With two tough road games ahead, it is important that Michigan State continues to get reliable guard play like they’ve had all season. With how deep the Big Ten is, the Spartans will have to continue to rely on Hoggard and Walker if they want to make some noise come tournament time.
Spartans edge out Hawkeyes in another close contest, 63-61Izzo: I’m proud of the way we competed under the circumstancesJaxon Kohler sets four career highs in 70-57 win over No. 23 Rutgers
EAST LANSING- Michigan State infielder Mitch Jebb was named to the Perfect Game Preseason All-Big Ten Team on Friday, Jan. 20.
In 2022, Jebb led the Spartans with a .356 batting average, ranking top ten in the conference. He also ranked first for MSU in hits with 78, stolen bases with 20, and walks with 38.
Perfect Game described Jebb as a “speedy high-contact hitter with elite approach and solid power, great athlete in middle infield.”
Jebb was the toughest player to strike out in the Big Ten, with just 16 K’s in 209 at-bats. This ranked 17th in the entire NCAA. He also hit 6 home runs and tallied 46 RBIs in 2022.
He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2022 and found his name on the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Midwest All-Region Second Team. The Saginaw native was the first ABCA All-Region awardee since 2016.
He also is on the list of MLB Pipeline Top 100 Draft prospects and d1baseball.com’s College Top 100 Prospects ahead of the 2023 season.
MSU Baseball’s Jebb Tabbed To @PerfectGameUSA's Preseason All-B1G List
: https://t.co/0ztWpLjJHw#GoGreen | @jebb_mitch pic.twitter.com/2tKSEaxJrS
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) January 23, 2023
The junior spent his summer in the Cape Cod League, where he was selected to the West Division All-Star Team and finished the season ranked third on Baseball America’s Top 50 Cape Cod League Prospects list.
The Spartans kick off the season in the 2023 Major League Baseball Desert Invitational, taking place in ballparks in the Phoenix area. First on the schedule is a matchup against the Michigan Wolverines on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. ET at Sloan Park.
MSU will then play a split doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 19, with both games being played at SRF at Talking Stick. The first matchup is with Fresno State at 3 p.m. ET and then the Spartans take on Arizona at 8 p.m. ET.
The first home game of the season is scheduled for March 24 against Purdue.
Michigan State baseball announces 2023 scheduleMSU baseball concludes weekend series against Minnesota with a 9-7 winPREVIEW: MSU baseball heads to Ohio State for weekend series
EAST LANSING – No. 14 Michigan State defeated No. 3 Michigan in its home and conference opener on Sunday, Jan. 22. The Spartans closed the meet with a score of 197.200, and the Wolverines ended with a score of 196.975. MSU hasn’t been able to shake Michigan since 2007, but that changed in this meet.
The Jenison Field House was packed with fans. “I haven’t seen this since I’ve been here,” said Michigan State head coach Mike Rowe. “So that was very exciting to see that many fans in the stands, and getting up on their feet and doing the fight song and the ‘Go Green Go White.’ It was just electric.”
The Spartans started the competition off strong with the vault. Freshman Nikki Smith scored a 9.950 on her vault. “She’s technically great,” said Rowe. Michigan started with bars, and graduate student Abby Heiskell was in a three-way tie for first with freshman Olivia Zsarmani, and junior Delanie Harkness of MSU, with a score of 9.875 after the second rotation.
Going into the third rotation, MSU held a 0.150 lead over Michigan. While on the floor, Michigan was able to pull ahead by the end of the third rotation. Senior Wolverine Sierra Brooks scored a 9.950. The lowest score put up by the Wolverines on floor was a 9.825. On beam, MSU’s lowest score was a 9.825. Michigan took the lead after the third rotation with a score of 148.050 and MSU at 147.925.
MSU closed out the meet with floor, and Michigan closed out on beam. While on beam, Michigan graduate student Natalie Wojcik tied with MSU sophomore Gabrielle Stephen for first in the event with a score of 9.900. Smith’s floor routine scored a 9.900 for the Spartans, sealing the victory for MSU.
For all-around, Smith placed first with 39.525. Senior Wolverine Gabby Wilson came in second with 39.450. Then in third, Stephen with a score of 39.425.
Rowe was emotional after the meet. “Knowing the tradition of that program and where they’ve been, where they’ve come from…what they’ve done in so many years,” said Rowe. To know that we did that tonight is I’m so proud of the girls, my staff, everybody.”
The Spartans will travel to College Park for their 1 p.m. meet on Sunday, Jan. 29 against Maryland.
Spartan gymnastics travel to Big Five Meet this weekendWeekend Recap: Spartan gymnastics makes historyPreviewing No. 15 Michigan State gymnastics vs. Maryland
EAST LANSING — The Michigan State men’s basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak after defeating No. 23 Rutgers on Thursday night. MSU freshman Jaxon Kohler set four career highs and helped the Spartans earn a 70-57 win over the Scarlet Knights.
Kohler recorded career-high numbers in points (12), rebounds (11), minutes (23) and blocks (3).
“He [Kohler] rebounded the ball well,” head coach Tom Izzo said after the game. “He is good on the block and good on the ball. I think we did a better job of getting him the ball.”
A.J. Hoggard once again took control of the floor as he ended the night with a game-high 16 points and seven assists. He’s recorded 50 points in the past five games.
Just the beginning for @jaxonkohler pic.twitter.com/tn4JOsqI1g
— Michigan State on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) January 20, 2023
After another sluggish start to a game, Michigan State rallied back to earn a first-half lead over Rutgers. The Scarlett Knights led by as much as eight points early in the game. Despite struggling early in the game, Michigan State’s sharpshooters put on one of their better performances of the season.
The Spartans shot 54.5% (12-22) from three-point range and shot 47% (26-55) overall.
“We said we would get in the paint and pick out some open looks and we did,” Izzo said. “I was really pleased with getting 19 assists against a team that is so good defensively.”
Similar to the game against No. 3 Purdue on Jan. 16, the Spartans missed a heavy volume of shots until they finally started to go inside the basket in the latter part of the first half.
The eye-opening fact of the first half is that Rutgers out-rebounded Michigan State 21-11. Izzo was not thrilled by the rebound comparison.
“When they get 18 offensive boards, you usually don’t win games,” Izzo said. “We got 19 assists against a great offensive team and that’s hard to do.”
The Scarlet Knights would end the night with 42 rebounds, 18 of them being offensive boards. In comparison, the Spartans rebounded the ball six times on offense throughout the game.
Rutgers center Clifford Omoyuri played a crucial part in that.
He finished the night with 12 points and 12 rebounds, his second straight double-double. Against Ohio State on Jan. 15, Omoyuri recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds.
“We got thrown around tonight if you ask me,” Izzo said. “I love the way they [Rutgers] play.”
The positive note was that the Spartans’ shot selection improved against the Scarlet Knights compared to recent games.
“We said it was going to be a rock fight. It was a rock fight against Purdue, meaning that it was very physical,” Izzo said. “They are tough games, grinding games. We’re getting a little better.”
Sophomore Jaden Akins’ dunk midway through the second half had the Izzone on its feet. Since Malik Hall’s injury, Akins has taken a larger role in the starting lineup. He credits his increased game time to his recent changes in the way he prepares for games.
The roof at Breslin might explode after this @JadenAkins3 dunk. @MSU_Basketball x @B1GMBBall pic.twitter.com/PSug8YnQBb
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) January 20, 2023
“With my mental approach to things, I feel like I changed that a little bit,” Akins said. “I know I’m approaching the game the right way.”
Michigan State will move on to a road game against Indiana this weekend. The matchup against the Hoosiers on Sunday, Jan. 22 is a noon tip-off from Bloomington.
Keon Coleman will not play basketball this season, will focus on footballZach Edey and No. 3 Purdue earn hard-fought win over Michigan StateFINAL: Michigan State 55, No. 17 Michigan 70
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State women’s basketball team came out big against No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes on Wednesday night, but fell in a heartbreaking fashion 84-81 in overtime.
“I don’t think our effort was bad, and I thought we fought the battle,” said MSU head coach Suzy Merchant. “Our problem is down the stretch we have opportunities to seal things and we don’t hit them.”
In the first quarter, the Spartans did a good job creating a high-pressure defense to slow the Hawkeyes down, but did not shut them down completely. Both teams were aggressive and put up a fight from the first tipoff, but the shooting issues that have plagued the Spartans all season, kept them behind the Hawkeyes. The Spartans started out the night shooting 27% inside the paint and 17% outside. However, the team’s strong defense kept the margin small with the Hawkeyes only leading by five at the end of the first quarter.
MSU had a total of 10 steals, 26 defensive rebounds, and forced 20 turnovers. The Spartans’ effort on defense was crucial, holding off the aggressive Hawkeyes long enough for the Green and White to gain their footing offensively.
Junior guard Moira Joiner, who was charged with guarding Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, stepped up in a big way. Joiner stayed right on Clark, helping keep the Hawkeyes’ points down. Clark averages 26.8 points a game, and Joiner did a great job of shutting down Iowa’s star. Clark totaled 26 points, with 12 coming from free throws.
At the start of the second quarter it looked like the Hawkeyes would pull away, but after a three-pointer from freshman guard Abbey Kimball ended a two minute scoring drought, the Spartans flipped a switch and found some offensive momentum. Kimball, who has not seen much time on the court this season, tied her season high of seven points at halftime.
“She’s a shooter that comes in with a lot of confidence,” said Merchant. “She knocked some shots down that got us ahead and helped get some confidence offensively.”
MSU continued to work hard and shut down the Hawkeyes, forcing a three minute scoring drought to end the half. The Spartans left the court with enthusiasm, after a half-court buzzer beater by senior guard Kamaria McDaniel put the team up 32-31.
A few minutes into the second half, sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann left the court with an injury on her right leg. While it looked like Hagemann may have been done for the night, or even longer, she returned to the court just 20 minutes after heading into the tunnel.
The third quarter started with instant offensive momentum from MSU. Matilda Ekh sank two back-to-back shots from outside the arc. The Hawkeyes, however, were not silenced easily, and kept the margin close throughout the quarter. The lead changed 10 times throughout the 10 minutes of play. MSU remained on top heading into the fourth, leading 58-54.
In the final quarter of the game, the Spartans started off on another offensive run, but the Hawkeyes responded quickly, closing the gap and bringing the game down to the wire. In the last few minutes, senior forward Monika Czinano, one of the Hawkeyes’ top scorers with 22 points, fouled out of the game. MSU’s fouls sent Iowa to the line, bringing the score to a tie at 70 with 30 seconds left to play. Both teams got stops on defense, forcing the game to overtime.
In overtime, Michigan State’s foul trouble continued to be an issue. Clark was sent to the line three times in overtime, and gave the Hawkeyes a three point lead with 17 seconds to go. Iowa led 82-79 with 5 seconds left, but an intentional foul called on Clark sent MSU guard McDaniel to the line, and the game came down to the Spartans’ last possession. McDaniel drained both free throws, and the Spartans trailed 81-82. In the end, a foul called on Hagemann sent Iowa back to the line. Iowa senior Molly Davis sank both free throws with two seconds left, sealing an 84-81 victory for the Hawkeyes.
MSU has now lost four straight games in Big Ten play. The Spartans will look to get back into the win column on Sunday afternoon, where they’ll take on Rutgers at the Breslin Center.
FINAL: Michigan State 55, No. 17 Michigan 70MSU’s late comeback falls short in OT against WisconsinMichigan State survives late Northwestern comeback, 71-64
EAST LANSING — Entering his fifth year, few expected Cole Krygier to contribute much on offense. With only 10 goals to his name over 122 career games, that was a fair assumption.
“I haven’t scored too many goals in my career,” Krygier said. “So this year has been a different one for me.”
Now he has eight on the season and is tied with Jagger Joshua for the team lead. Both Joshua and Krygier, who have been putting up career numbers, scored Friday night to complete the comeback against No. 5 Penn State, with the latter scoring the overtime winner.
“Jags put his work in in the weight room, in practice, and his habits are getting better, and he’s getting rewarded with it on the ice,” Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale said. “And then Cole’s had a really good year. He’s done a really good job of being a leader for our team.”
Penalty trouble doomed the Spartans for much of the game. Penn State jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of 5-on-3 goals. The Spartans would take 39 total penalty minutes. Krygier accounted for 12 of those, earning a 10-minute misconduct to pair with a holding minor for abuse of an official.
“That’s kind of how it goes sometimes,” Krygier said. “Obviously, the penalty I thought was a little soft. I just told him to put the whistle away and he didn’t like that.”
With only about a half of a period left, the clock was ticking for a comeback, and with the amount of penalties the Spartans had been taking, there wasn’t much reason for optimism. MSU, who normally dresses seven defensemen, was down to only four after both Krygier’s penalty and sophomore David Gucciardi getting ejected for a cross check. Junior Nash Nienhuis had also missed the game with an injury he sustained Dec. 27 against Ferris State.
The Nittany Lions had generated plenty of chances against the depleted blue line, but a stellar game from goalie Dylan St. Cyr — who finished with 42 saves — kept it within reach.
Dylan St. Cyr, man.
Just … Dylan St. Cyr. pic.twitter.com/qjCA0wwrj2
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 14, 2023
“Dylan’s just unbelievable,” senior forward Erik Middendorf said. “He makes those saves every day in practice, too. You just question it. Like, how is he doing this? How is he moving like that?”
After serving his misconduct, Krygier made his return to the bench and the comeback began. He assisted on a Middendorf goal that got the Spartans on the board with 11:22 left. From there on, it wasn’t always pretty, but Michigan State got the bounces it desperately needed. From Middendorf’s goal to the end of regulation, Penn State outshot the Spartans 10-5. However, Joshua tied the game after getting his own rebound, and the Spartans would skate into overtime with the momentum.
“Go out and enjoy it,” Nightingale said to his team heading into the overtime period. “You guys have gotten back in this game. Heck of a job staying with it, but we’re not done.”
Then it was Krygier’s time to shine. With the clock winding down in overtime, he would collect the puck, and fire a wrist shot from a tough angle below the face-off dot and over the near shoulder of Penn State’s Liam Souliere to secure the win.
“I just figured (Penn State forward Danny Dzhaniyev) was kind of flat footed,” Krygier said. “I just got his feet to turn and went around him. I’ve been trying to go upstairs there all year, so it was lucky to go in.”
COLE KRYGIER WINS IT IN OT! pic.twitter.com/Oe6macFEjo
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 14, 2023
“We were joking with him about sitting for 12 minutes and coming out and being the best player on the ice,” Middendorf said. “So I think it was a strategy in a way for him, coming out like that. He’s incredible for us.”
For Krygier, however, moments like these were a long time coming. While he credited Nightingale for the system that gets him more involved, Krygier knew he had spent the time to prepare himself for when the opportunity came.
“I’ve done a lot of work in the offseason,” Krygier said. “I’ve gotten stronger. I’ve been shooting a lot of pucks in the shooting room. Little things like that where you don’t think they’re going to pay off right away. But then as you go on, they start to stack, and you end up having a really good time.”
The other half of Krygier’s preparation, the mental side of the game, turned out to be as important as the physical.
“As you go through it, obviously you’ve got to handle your emotions,” he said. “I could have gotten pissed off and threw myself out of the game, but I just stayed calm and focused on it.”
Krygier’s overtime heroics led Nightingale to define Friday’s game as a “character win” for his team, highlighting their mental toughness. He noted that all of the Spartans’ remaining home games are standing room only, which he says is a result of fans noticing what they have accomplished through these culture-defining wins.
“I think Michigan State people…they’re proud people who really respect work ethic and team play,” Nightingale said. “So to see our guys get rewarded and have that energy in Munn, I thought it was awesome and honestly probably made the difference in that game.”
Back on home ice, No. 17 Spartans hope to return to ‘the best version of us’ vs. No. 5 Penn StateWith Sadlocha’s return possible, No. 14 Spartans focused on moving forward at No. 12 Ohio State“We’re really here to make it a real rivalry”: Spartans make a statement in win over Michigan
EAST LANSING — In a recent interview with the Pucks In Deep podcast, Penn State junior defenseman Jimmy Dowd Jr. was asked about the strength of the Big Ten, and he responded with a question of his own.
“Can I get a hot take here?” Dowd said. “I think Michigan State’s the best team we’ve played in the Big Ten so far.”
The podcast episode aired Monday, so it’s easy to laugh at Dowd for putting Michigan State, who have now lost seven of its last eight games, ahead of top-ten teams like Minnesota, Michigan or Ohio State.
Naturally, the hosts pressed him on what made Michigan State better than the rest.
“Everything,” Dowd said. “Their forecheck, their discipline defensively, and then just their ability to create on the line rush. At least that weekend, they were on.”
If his answer alone didn’t prove that his interview was dated, Dowd went on to mention an upcoming series with RIT. That series was played Dec. 30-31, meaning that Dowd hadn’t gotten to see MSU since then.
From the time that interview was recorded, the Spartans went on a lengthy road trip, and the results weren’t great. After two losses in the Great Lakes Invitational, they resumed their conference schedule traveling to Ohio State, where they were humbled with 3-1 and 6-0 defeats.
The latter was Michigan State’s most lopsided loss of the season. The things that Dowd highlighted as strengths — forechecking, discipline and breakouts — all became weaknesses the Buckeyes exploited.
Spartans coach Adam Nightingale attributed the performance to his team straying from its identity.
“It was the first time I really felt like we got away from being us,” he said. “And that’s our focus now. We’ve got to go and continue to be us and be the best version of us.”
Nightingale described that “best version” similarly to Dowd, focusing on his team’s high-tempo, aggressive style of play.
“We play fast, we play physical, we play in teams’ faces,” Nightingale said. “When we have the puck, we’re fast and attacking, and when we don’t have it, we’re closing and playing fast.”
Following a five-game road trip, the Spartans hope they can rediscover that identity on home ice. This weekend marks the first game at Munn Ice Arena since Dec. 9, a win over in-state rival Michigan. With another sold-out crowd, the team is hoping for a similar energy level in the rink this weekend.
Current student section line to get into @MSU_Hockey vs. Michigan tonight: pic.twitter.com/ch4ZK3FGCS
— Jacob Stinson (@jacobfstinson) December 9, 2022
“It’s always a little difficult playing on the road,” sophomore forward Jesse Tucker said. “Playing on our home turf here is obviously something that we always want to do. It’s going to be special to come back and get all the Munnsters riled up.”
Michigan State will need all the support it can get with Penn State in town. The Nittany Lions possess the most aggressive offense in the country, averaging the most shots on goal (39.9) and shot attempts (73.3) per game in the NCAA. With that pace of play, opponents cannot afford to get trapped in the defensive zone for long, which the Spartans have taken to heart.
“We know that they like taking a lot of pucks to the net,” freshman defenseman Viktor Hurtig said. “We’ve got…three good goalies, so we’ve just got to help them do their job.”
Michigan State played a series at Penn State in November, where the road team took one of two contests. After a last-minute goal gave the Nittany Lions a 4-3 win, MSU responded with a dominant 7-3 victory the following night. After only scoring 1.4 goals per game since the start of December, the Spartans believe this matchup is just what they need to get back on track.
“We want to sweep again,” Hurtig said. “We played good against them when we were on the road. We could have won both games…I think we’ve got a lot of revenge on our team from the last couple of games we played.”
For Hurtig’s wish to come true, both him and Tucker emphasized the need to play smart team defense. They said that the team had been practicing defensive angling and stick work — things that were issues in Columbus.
“We’ve faced the problem,” Tucker said. “Obviously, we figured it out, and that’s why we’re practicing so hard to get back after figuring things out. Hopefully that kinda gets us out of that slump that we had in the past.”
Despite the recent struggles, the Spartans aren’t worried that it will become a trend.
“I feel like all teams have a dip sometime,” Hurtig said. “I guess ours is right now, which I feel like could be pretty good so we can get back up on a winning streak when we get to the playoffs later this year.”
Players to watch
Karsen Dorwart, F, Michigan State: Dorwart, much like the rest of Michigan State’s offense, has gone quiet, with only three points in his last eight games. For him to return to form, Penn State would be a great team to do it against. Last time in State College, Dorwart posted two goals and two assists, earning him Big Ten’s Second Star of the Week.
Dylan St. Cyr, G, Michigan State: St. Cyr got pulled for junior backup Pierce Charleson for the first time this season at Ohio State. Although he’s been remarkably consistent all year, a three-goal first period landed him a seat on the bench Saturday. Expect him to be eager to bounce back, but he’ll have his work cut out for him against Penn State’s uptempo offense.
Kevin Wall, F, Penn State: Wall leads the charge for Penn State on both sides of the puck. He leads the team in goals (11), points (20), plus/minus rating (+18), and he has blocked the most shots of any PSU forward (21). No matter where he’s at on the ice, count on Wall to make his presence felt.
Impact staff predictions
Stinson: Both teams split. Home ice advantage is critical this weekend with Michigan State coming off a five-game road trip. I think that a full Munn will give the Spartans the jolt they need, but Penn State is too good to drop both games on the road. Expect another high-scoring series.
Jacob Phillips, Hockey Beat Reporter: Both teams split. Penn State has been on a roll the entire season, and don’t expect that to change this weekend. But even with MSU losing their momentum from November, their first series back at home in a month will make a big difference. If they can clean up the mistakes seen against Ohio State, expect a one-goal win late on Saturday to split the series.
Ryan Radosevich, Hockey Beat Reporter: Penn State sweeps. It’s hard to imagine MSU will lose seven in a row, but with how solid PSU has looked over the course of the season paired with MSU’s shaky team defense and lack of goal scoring, the Spartans would need to play a nearly flawless game to pull out some wins. It’s the first time MSU has played on home ice since Dec. 9, and that will help, but will it be enough? I’m not convinced. This series will be a battle in both games for the full 60 minutes.
With Sadlocha’s return possible, No. 14 Spartans focused on moving forward at No. 12 Ohio State“We’re really here to make it a real rivalry”: Spartans make a statement in win over MichiganNo. 12 Michigan State set to host No. 6 Michigan
EAST LANSING – Michigan State women’s soccer stars Lauren DeBeau and Lauren Kozal were drafted to the Portland Thorns FC in the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League Draft in the second and third rounds, respectively.
DeBeau and Kozal will be teammates in the Pacific Northwest in the upcoming 2023 NWSL season after completing a historic run for MSU where they won the 2022 Big Ten conference and were runners-up in the conference championship.
The pair will become the third Spartan to join the NWSL in the last three years after forward Ava Cook was drafted to the Chicago Red Stars in 2022.
Despite being registered for the 2023 NWSL Draft, defenders Ruby Diodati and Samantha White went undrafted. They could still join an NWSL side as an undrafted player.
MSU forward Lauren Debeau in the Spartans’ 1-0 home loss to Wisconsin on Sept. 23, 2021/ Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBMLauren DeBeau F (Portland Thorns FC/2nd Round, 24th pick)
DeBeau transferred to Michigan State in 2021 after spending two seasons at Central Michigan University where she earned Mid-American Conference All-Freshman Team honors in her first season.
After a successful debut season under newly-appointed MSU head coach Jeff Hosler, DeBeau quickly became a fan favorite with her natural goal-scoring ability and technical excellence. The native of Shelby Township, Michigan won the Big Ten Forward of the Year after leading the Spartans with 11 goals and four assists in 2022.
“Being drafted by Portland Thorns FC absolutely means the world to me,” DeBeau said. “If I could tell my 7-year-old self that I would get the opportunity to play professional soccer, she would be screaming with joy.”
The versatile forward led the Big Ten Conference with five game-winning goals in 2022.
“Dreams truly can become reality through hard work,” DeBeau said. “I am forever grateful to my teammates, coaches, friends and family that helped me make this dream come true.”
DeBeau will have the opportunity to learn from NWSL veteran and Portland Thorns FC captain Christine Sinclair.
“Lauren made a huge statement in the way she performed this season,” Hosler said. “She embraced a new role in going from playmaker to goal scorer and was every bit the difference-maker in the attack for us. The big plays she made in key moments attribute to her competitive nature and mentality.”
MSU goaltender Lauren Kozal winds up for a goal kick in the Spartans’ 1-0 home loss to Wisconsin on Sept. 24, 2021/ Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBMLauren Kozal GK (Portland Thorns FC/3rd Round, 32nd pick)
The Portland Thorns drafted Lauren Kozal with the 32nd pick of the NWSL draft on Thursday night, after a trade with the Houston Dash to acquire the rights to draft Kozal.
She is the first Spartan in program history to be named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy– the most prestigious award in collegiate soccer.
Kozal, a former back-to-back All-American and two-time Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year appeared in all 23 games for the Spartans in 2022. The star goalkeeper led the Big Ten with 10 clean sheets and had a goals-against average of 0.808. She also notched 63 saves on the year.
“I am so thankful for the opportunity to compete at the highest level alongside some of the best athletes in the world,” said Kozal. “I am so thankful to everyone involved in helping me become who I am today.”
Hailing from Ada, Michigan, Kozal played for Michigan State for four seasons after redshirting her freshman year. She played every game for MSU since then and became a champion in her final season in East Lansing.
“It’s been such a pleasure watching the way Lauren has grown under Megan Link’s leadership into the nation’s very best player at her position,” Hosler said. “Lauren has not only embraced every challenge given to her but excelled and done it in very big championship moments. She is a shining example of leaving a place better than the way she found it.”
The Spartan duo will suit up for the reigning NWSL champions in the 2023 season.
Michigan State women’s soccer begins the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament against No. 17 TCURanya Senhaji leads MSU women’s soccer to a 4-1 win over DartmouthJustina Gaynor earns TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week honors
EAST LANSING – Michigan State women’s basketball (10-6) returned to the Breslin Center Wednesday night to take on the Wisconsin Badgers (5-11). Despite making an 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, the Spartans fell to the Badgers 84-80.
Inconsistency was the downfall of MSU. In the first half, the Spartans shot 1-10 on 3-pointers. However, MSU turned it around in the fourth quarter, shooting 5-8 from behind the arc to help force overtime.
MSU head coach Suzy Merchant wasn’t pleased with the team’s performance and said there needs to be consistency from everyone.
“The problem is we don’t have players right now that are playing full games,” Merchant said. “I’m just really disappointed in how we played the first half and how slow and through the motions that we went.”
Wisconsin freshman Serah Williams made her presence known early for the Badgers. She opened the game with 11 points in the first quarter and finished the night with a career-high 31 points and 13 rebounds. Wisconsin led the Spartans 16-13 at the end of the first.
Offensive woes continued for MSU into the second quarter as the team went 5-13 from the field, including graduate senior guard Kamaria McDaniel, who went 1-6. The Spartans leading scorer at halftime was sophomore guard Dee Dee Hagemann with five points, as MSU trailed 32-25.
With seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Badgers lead stretched to 11 points, but the Spartans answered with an 8-2 run over the next two minutes. MSU went on an 8-0 run later in the quarter, which included two clutch free throws from senior forward Taiyier Parks to tie the game at 66 with 1:43 remaining.
Parks stepped up big a minute later, going 2-2 at the line again to tie the game again at 0:43. Parks came into Wednesday night shooting 45 percent from the free throw line, but finished the game 7-8 from the line, along with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
With 23 seconds left, Parks gave MSU its first lead of the game with a layup, but the lead would only last for 14 seconds. Williams answered with a layup of her own to even the score, and send the game to overtime.
Hagemann stepped up for the Spartans in overtime with seven points, but it wasn’t enough as the Badgers pulled out an 84-80 win.
Despite the disappointing loss, senior Moira Joiner scored a season-high 20 points and played a big part in the Spartans’ comeback. Joiner scored 16 of her points in the second half, and was a perfect 6-6 from the field and 4-4 from beyond the arc.
“I’ve really been impressed with how she’s been playing on both sides of the ball,” said coach Merchant. “I wish everybody on my team played as hard as Mo Joiner.”
The Spartans will have to bounce back quickly. MSU will take on in-state rival No. 17 Michigan on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Kamaria McDaniel leads MSU in upset win over No. 4 IndianaMichigan State survives late Northwestern comeback, 71-64FINAL: Michigan State 98, Prairie View A&M 50
EAST LANSING — The Michigan State men’s basketball team begins a two-game road trip starting Tuesday, Jan. 10 against the Wisconsin Badgers followed by Illinois on Jan. 13. After successfully defeating Michigan and extending the win streak to six, the Spartans continue to play one of the most strenuous weeks in their schedule.
Tuesday’s game will be the 153rd all-time meeting between Michigan State and Wisconsin. The Spartans lead the all-time series 85-67 over the Badgers.
“This will be our first time on the road in more than a month,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “They [Wisconsin] are always very experienced though they do have one freshman that’s playing well for them. They are always very tough, solid and fundamental. They never turn the ball over– it’s illegal in the cheese state.”
The Badgers (11-3) return to the Kohl Center after suffering a 69-79 defeat against Illinois on Jan. 7. Sophomore guard Chucky Hepburn led the Badgers with 22 points, seven assists and four steals but were unable to flip the score against Illinois in Champaign.
The loss against Illinois was Wisconsin’s first conference defeat of the season.
Wisconsin senior Tyler Wahl will be a game-time decision if he plays against the Spartans on Tuesday. The 6-foot-9 sharpshooter has not practiced all week and did not play against Illinois after suffering an ankle injury.
“They [Wisconsin] have some other guys that have really stepped up,” Izzo said. “[Chucky] Hepburn is one of the most improved players in the league by far.”
With the Badgers likely to have Wahl sidelined again, they will look to Hepburn and the 7-foot junior Steven Crowl to put up important numbers on the board.
During its six-game win streak, Michigan State is scoring 70.7 points per game while holding opponents to 56.5 points per game. The Spartans are first in the Big Ten conference field goal defense (38.3%).
Izzo gave positive comments on Malik Hall’s status after he rolled his ankle against Michigan on Jan. 7. Hall previously missed eight games due to a foot injury in November and returned to action against Buffalo on Dec. 30.
“The outside of his [Hall] ankle was almost on the floor but he’s doing pretty good,” Izzo said. “He practiced yesterday, and there’s no damage to his foot, now it’s the ankle a little bit. Getting him back to full [fitness] in the next two weeks is going to be the biggest part because he’s just so versatile.”
Hall recorded 15 points in the win over the Wolverines and was instrumental in keeping the scoreboard on the Spartans’ side as their rivals tried to close in on the comeback in the second half.
The Spartans will need another influential performance from Hall and junior point guard A.J. Hoggard, who is in third place in assists (6.4 APG) in the Big Ten.
In Hoggard’s last four games, he’s scored 38 points and dished out 33 assists while only turning over the ball five times.
“We’re a better defensive team than last year already,” Izzo said. “We’ve been able to collect some good wins, so we’ll see what we can do on the road. There are no bad teams in the league.”
Tuesday night’s game against Wisconsin is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN. The Spartans will follow up the trip to Madison with another road game to Illinois (Jan. 13) before returning to East Lansing to face Purdue on Monday, Jan. 16.
Michigan State defeats Michigan 59-53, extends win streak to sixKeon Coleman will not play basketball this season, will focus on footballMalik Hall expected to return against Buffalo
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State men’s basketball team earned its seventh win of the season after defeating Brown 68-50 on Friday night. Senior Joey Hauser led the Spartans with 22 points and reached 1,000 career points in the latter half of the game against the Bears.
The Spartans improve to 7-4 on the season, while the Bears are now 6-5. The Bears were on a five-game win streak before facing MSU.
“I’m the happiest guy in America now that the 11 games of Hell are over,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “Trust me when I say we need some practice time because we probably have less than any team in the country.”
The Spartans had a slow shooting performance to start the game, only shooting 1-7 in the first four minutes. The rhythm picked up after senior guard Tyson Walker made a layup and a deep three-pointer in back-to-back possessions to extend the lead to 9-5 after six minutes.
Junior guard A.J. Hoggard, who scored a career-high 23 points in the win against Penn State on Dec. 7, scored 17 points against Brown. Hoggard shot 4-4 from the free-throw line and the entire team went 6-6.
“It’s probably one of my best free-throw shooting teams,” Izzo said. “We’re not great on nights getting to the line. We’ll have to practice that too.”
Jaden Akins dribbles toward the lane during Michigan State’s victory over Brown on December 10, 2022. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith)The Spartans finished the first half shooting 38.7% from the floor. Sophomore guard Jaden Akins showed off his range with pair of three-pointers in the first half. He ended the game with three threes and nine points.
“Jaden Akins is getting better. He’s getting healthier,” Izzo said. “I don’t expect him to be there [at 100% fitness] until Christmas.”
MSU went into halftime with a healthy 32-18 lead.
The Spartans continued their hot scoring streak in the second half, shooting 45% (15-33) and making four three-pointers. Hauser made a three-pointer from the top of the arc to open the scoring in the second half.
“We didn’t set the world on fire offensively,” Izzo said. “We’re working on our offense. That’s where we’re a little out of sync.”
Hauser received an enormous ovation from the Breslin Center crowd after he subbed off late in the game. Hauser transferred from Marquette in 2020 and has been a fan favorite for many at MSU.
Apart from his 22 points, Hauser recorded five rebounds and four assists to lead the Spartans to their seventh win of the season. Hauser scored 12 points in the win against Penn State.
“I don’t know if anyone’s ever been excited about finals week but we definitely get some time off. I think mentally and physically, we get some time off,” Hauser said. “It definitely caught me by surprise [reaching 1,000 career points].”
On the other side, Brown guard Paxson Wojcik led his team with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Wojcik’s father, Doug, is an assistant coach for Michigan State.
Wojcik played at Loyola Chicago before transferring to Brown in 2021.
MSU guards Davis Smith, Nick Sanders and Steven Izzo played in the final minutes of the game as the Spartans held a comfortable 20-point lead.
Joey Hauser drives to the lane during Michigan State’s victory over Brown on December 10, 2022. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith )After the final whistle, Michigan State players huddled over Hauser to celebrate his memorable night.
“It was a really cool moment, but definitely even more special to have my teammates surround me and congratulate me,” Hauser said.
The Spartans will return to the hardwood when they host Oakland on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Tip-off from the Breslin Center is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Spartans ‘out-toughed’ by Northwestern at home in Big Ten openerSpartans close out PKI with tight victory over PortlandNo. 12 Michigan State defeats Oregon in second game of Phil Knight Invitational
PORTLAND, Ore.- The Michigan State men’s basketball team opened the Phil Knight Invitational against No. 18 Alabama on Thursday night. The Spartans held on for as long as they could, but Alabama’s freshman star Brandon Miller and his 24 points led the Crimson Tide to an 81-70 win.
“There were some good things, but we kind of stood around and we ran out of weapons,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “That hurt us.”
The former 2021 McDonald’s All-American Miller led his team with 17 points to end the first half and hit a buzzer-beater to extend the lead 42-37 going into the halftime break.
The Spartans led for a large part of the first half but were unable to defend the perimeter. Alabama would end the game with eight three-pointers.
“We missed some key free throws too,” Izzo said. “We just can’t do those things and win games.”
MSU shot 72% from the free-throw line. Forward Joey Hauser went to the line the most, shooting 7-8.
Senior guard Tyson Walker led the Spartans with 21 points and 4 assists. AJ Hoggard had a quiet 15 points but did not distribute the ball as well as he has been so far this season, only recording one assist against Alabama.
“We ran out of people to go to when Joey [Hauser] wasn’t in there too,” Izzo said. “I think everybody got frustrated.”
Walker’s 21 points were one of the bright spots for MSU in the loss against Alabama, but Walker struggled to score early in the second half. He did not convert from three-point range on Thursday night.
The other bright spot was freshman Jaxon Kohler, who recorded six points and seven rebounds. Kohler used his size to battle Alabama’s forwards through the paint and regain possession for the Spartans.
Sophomore guard Pierre Brooks earned the start for Izzo’s side after forward Malik Hall (foot) and guard Jaden Akins (ankle) were ruled out. Brooks only recorded five points but had nine rebounds, which tied Miller for the game-high total in rebounds.
Hall will be sidelined for multiple weeks and Akins is doubtful for the rest of the tournament.
“One thing I don’t try to do is play doctor, and I thought we’d have him [Akins] back today,” Izzo said. “He doesn’t feel good enough yet, and we’re not taking any chances.”
Despite the notable absences from MSU, the Spartans played tough, physical basketball and used most of its bench.
Tre Holloman, Carson Cooper and Jason Whitens recorded impactful minutes. Holloman scored one of MSU’s four three-pointers of the night and was a key factor in Thursday’s point guard rotation.
“We’ll do better,” Izzo said. “That was a good team.”
The Spartans return to the court on Friday, Nov. 25 against the University of Oregon. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 a.m. EST at the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum.
EAST LANSING — The fourth-seeded Michigan State women’s soccer team faces off against No. 17 TCU in the second round of the NCAA tournament. After a dramatic 3-2 win against Milwaukee in the first round, the Spartans prepare for another knockout game against the Horned Frogs on Friday, Nov. 18.
This will be the first time MSU faces TCU since the program started in 1986.
“They’re [TCU] a national brand,” Hosler said. “They’re very similar to us. In fact, if you go through analytics, they’re the team most like us in possession and style of play.”
The Spartans were left stunned when Milwaukee’s Kayla Rollins scored in the 89th minute to send the game to overtime.
Graduate forward Camryn Evans sent MSU to the second round of the national tournament after her late game-winner in overtime solidified the win against Milwaukee.
“It’s very difficult for a team to concede in that type of dramatic fashion and be able to come back out and be on the front foot,” Hosler said. “I think it shows the resiliency they play with.”
It was the Spartans’ first-ever home win in the National Tournament.
TCU (13-4-5) has faced five ranked opponents in the regular season. They came out on top against Santa Clara and Texas A&M but were held to a draw against Harvard and Texas.
TCU defeated UTSA in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Two goals in the last eight minutes of the game saw the Horned Frogs through to the second round.
Sophomore forward Camryn Lancaster sealed the 3-1 victory over TCU in the 83rd minute.
The Horned Frogs finished in second place in the Big 12 standings and had a similar record to the Spartans.
However, Friday’s game against MSU raises a different challenge for TCU.
The second round will be played at the University of Notre Dame and temperatures are expected to reach 27 degrees with snow showers earlier in the day. With the wind chill, it will be a frosty afternoon in South Bend, Indiana.
“It’ll feel like seven degrees..yes seven… so that’s perfect for us,” Hosler said. “We’ll be training outside all week and getting ready.”
Michigan State will not just have to continue to adjust to tough conditions but will also have to adjust to TCU forward Messiah Bright’s play style. Bright earned a call-up to the US U23 Women’s Youth National Team in June.
She is a clinical striker that usually needs less than two touches to find a clear shot opportunity. She has scored 49 goals in five seasons at TCU.
In 2021, Bright was named a United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American and was the Big 12 tournament Most Outstanding Player.
“Coach Bell has done an excellent job of bringing a talented team together, and I think they boast a lot of impressive individual athletes who we will have to manage to find success,” Hosler said.
Bright and MSU forward Lauren DeBeau have both notched 11 goals and earned All-Conference First-Team honors, respectively.
“She’s [DeBeau] got a bit of that old-school toughness in her,” Hosler said. “She hasn’t been physically at 100 percent for over two months now but you wouldn’t know it with the impact she makes on the pitch.”
DeBeau is this year’s Big Ten Forward of the Year after leading MSU to its first-ever conference championship in just her second year in East Lansing.
“The thing I admire most is when it’s hard when it’s a tough moment she’s the one who wants the ball to make those plays,” Hosler said.
She transferred to MSU in 2021 from Central Michigan University. DeBeau has scored 13 goals and tallied six assists since then.
“We’re the newcomer to this party on Friday,” Hosler said. “We’re just looking to go, have that same mentality. Win or lose, we play hard and let our work and performance do the rest.”
Friday’s second-round matchup against No. 17 TCU is scheduled for 3 p.m. from South Bend, Indiana, and will stream on ESPN+.
EAST LANSING- Michigan State’s head football coach Mel Tucker and Director of Athletics Alan Haller have released a joint press release, announcing the suspension of four additional student-athletes for their part in the altercation at Michigan Stadium last Saturday. Jacoby Windon, Malcolm Jones, Justin White and Brandon Wright have all been suspended effective immediately. The...
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