Tag: msu

Michigan State Football landed commitment of two 3-star recruits this week

Michigan State has had a big start to Thanksgiving week, nabbing two 3-star linemen in two days.

Kind of like I will be doing with some stuffing and mashed potatoes in a few days, Michigan State went for second helpings this week, but instead of carbs they are double-dipping on 3-star football recruits. Mark Dantonio landed the commitment of two 3-star linemen this week, one on the offensive line and one on the defensive side.

First, the Spartans received a verbal commitment from Justin Stevens, a 3-star offensive tackle from Mississauga, Canada on Monday. Stevens is the 129th ranked tackle in the 2020 class.

Then, just a few hours ago, defensive end Avery Dunn of Shaker Heights High School (Ohio) announced his official commitment from his Twitter account.

Dunn is the fifth 3-star defensive end in the 2020 class. Some have criticized MSU for failing to land a big five-star recruit for this class, but they have started to stockpile a well-rounded class.

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Michigan State Men’s Basketball vs. UCLA: Where to watch, listen, stream

MSU Men’s Basketball will face off against UCLA on Wednesday, November 27th. Here is what you need to know to follow the game.

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Michigan State Men’s Basketball narrowly escaped the second-half onslaught unleashed by Anthony Edwards and the Georgia Bulldogs in their second game of the Maui Invitational today. Tomorrow, they will face UCLA. Here’s everything you need to know to watch, listen, or stream the game.

Match-up: Michigan State (4-2) vs. UCLA (5-2)

Location: Lahaina Civic Center, Maui, Hawaii

Game time: 2:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 27

TV: ESPN2

ESPN2 analysts are scheduled to be Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst).

On DirecTV, ESPN2 is channel 209. On Dish, ESPN2 is channel 143.

Online live stream:  Watch ESPN

Online radio broadcast:  TuneIn

Radio: Complete list of Michigan State radio affiliates.

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MSU Basketball vs. UCLA: Three Things To Watch

Michigan State Basketball is set to face UCLA at 2:30 on Tuesday, Nov. 26. This comes after a 93-85 victory over Georgia. Michigan State has underperformed in the tournament so far and must vastly improve before their game against Duke on Dec. 3. …

Michigan State Basketball is set to face UCLA at 2:30 on Tuesday, Nov. 26. This comes after a 93-85 victory over Georgia. Michigan State has underperformed in the tournament so far and must vastly improve before their game against Duke on Dec. 3.

Here are three things to watch in this game against the UCLA Bruins:

Xavier Tillman

Should we be concerned over Xavier Tillman’s performance thus far this season? Right now, he’s averaging 11.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. On paper, this is an improvement over last year in every statistical category, but, he just doesn’t look right.

Tillman currently averages 2.4 turnovers and tallied up three in just the game against Georgia. You expect turnovers from a young player like Rocket Watts but not from Tillman. Worst of all, Xavier is making unforced errors.

Michigan State cannot afford for Tillman to continue this play. Yes, his rebound total is impressive night in and night out, but, he must be wiser with the basketball. Also, he must have a stronger presence around the rim. Watch for Tillman’s improvements against UCLA.

MSU’s Forward Rotation

Marcus Bingham got the start against Georgia instead of Kithier. Personally, I back this decision up. Thomas Kithier is not bad, but, he’s not getting the job done. Especially after a rather horrific defensive performance against Virginia Tech.

Bingham looked great out on the floor. Bill Walton is Bingham’s number one fan. I think that Marcus Bingham brings so much energy to the game. Plus, he usually ends the game with at least one steal and a block.

Malik Hall will definitely get more clock as the season progresses. Against Georgia, Hall had an absolutely vicious dunk. Best of all, he did this while MSU was up by nearly 20 points. That’s the sign of someone with killer instinct.

Guard Depth

Michigan State is absolutely brutal without Cassius Winston on the floor. The offense is discombobulated and the perimeter defense is easily to exploit. More often than not, opposing guards blow right by Foster Loyer for easy buckets at the rim. The Spartan’s lack of Guard depth is a serious problem right now.

What can MSU do? Kyle Ahrens is still working towards full health. As I just mentioned, Loyer can be a defensive liability on any given play. Rocket Watts is moving towards high-quality Guard play but still needs another month of development.

The Joshua Langford injury did more damage than anyone could have imagined. Spartan’s Basketball is in a trial by fire situation. We’ll just have to see how they hold up. Tom Izzo is certainly scheming up something for UCLA.

You can catch this game against UCLA at 2:30 P.M. on ESPN2.

Stay locked on SpartansWire for more coverage to come.

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MSU Basketball holds strong against Georgia, Anthony Edwards: Twitter Reactions

Michigan State Basketball managed to overcome Georgia and Anthony Edwards in a 93-85 victory. Here are some twitter reactions to this game.

Somehow, Michigan State basketball stood tall against Georgia and 33 points from freshman Guard Anthony Edwards. This was a bounceback victory for the Spartans after a 71-66 loss to Virginia Tech.

Here are a handful of twitter reactions to this game:

Michigan State plays again tomorrow at 2:30 against UCLA.

You can catch this game on ESPN2. Stay locked on Spartanswire for more coverage to come.

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Michigan State Men’s Basketball vs. Georgia: Where to watch, listen, stream

MSU will face off with Georgia in the loser’s bracket of the Maui Invitational. Here’s what you need to know to follow the game.

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This isn’t where the Michigan State Men’s Basketball program wanted to be, but they are facing Georgia today in the loser’s bracket of the Maui Invitational a day after falling to Virginia Tech 71-66. Here is everything you need to know to watch, listen, or stream the game.

Match-up: Michigan State (3-2) vs. Georgia (4-1)

Location: Lahaina Civic Center, Maui, Hawaii

When: Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 2:30 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN2

On DirecTV, ESPN2 is channel 209. On Dish, ESPN2 is channel 143.

Online live stream: WatchESPN

Online radio broadcast: Spartans Sports Network

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Michigan State HC Tom Izzo apologizes to fans after Virginia Tech loss in Maui

MSU’s Tom Izzo was apologetic to fans in Maui after the Spartans were upset by Virginia Tech in their first game in the Maui Invitational.

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It was a very frustrating day for Michigan State fans, both in the mainland United States and the ones who made the trip to Maui. After the No. 3 Spartans were upset by Virginia Tech 71-66 in the Maui Invitational, Tom Izzo apologized to the fans who made the trip, calling them, “maybe the greatest fan group that was here.”

“We feel like I let them down,” Izzo said.

Something a lot of fans criticized was the decision by Izzo to bench Cassius Winston over nine minutes in the first half after picking up two fouls. Sure, bench him for a few minutes to make sure he doesn’t get another one, but by the time Winston came back in during the second half, he looked cold and had a hard time getting back into full gear after spending so long on the bench.

Izzo acknowledged this as well, saying that “he panicked” after Winston picked up what he thought to be a “ghost call.” It was encouraging to see that he also admitted that he might have to play guys longer even if they pick up a few fouls early. This is particularly true for Winston as Foster Loyer has still not fully grown into the role as a capable backup for Cassius.

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MSU Football vs Maryland: Scouting Report

Michigan State Football takes on Maryland this weekend on Saturday, Nov. 30. Here is a scouting report of the Maryland Football team.

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Michigan State Football squares off against Maryland this weekend on Saturday, Nov. 30. The Spartans come into this game after a 27-0 victory against Rutgers. Maryland, on the other hand, is fresh off a 54-7 loss to Nebraska.

Here is a scouting report for the Maryland Terpins Football team:

Offensive Side Of The Ball

Maryland is…not a good football team, however, their offense isn’t absolutely terrible. Maryland has a solid QB by the name of Josh Jackson. Jackson has racked up 1,133 yards and 11 touchdowns on 180 throwing attempts.

While Jackson has a strong arm, it is certainly not accurate. He has thrown five interceptions on the year. Furthermore, Maryland has scored one touchdown or less in four different games. Michigan State’s defense can exploit his inaccuracies for their own gain. Much like they did with Johnny Langan last week against Rutgers.

Junior RB Javon Leake and sophomore RB Anthony McFarland shoulder the load for the run game. Leake has 92 carries for 716 yards on the year with eight touchdowns to boot. McFarland, on the other hand, has tallied 480 yards and seven touchdowns on 106 attempts. The Spartans must dominate the trenches to shut down Maryland’s run game.

Defensive Side Of The Ball

Maryland, much like Rutgers, is really weak on defense. Opponents average 36 points per game against the Terpins. Furthermore, Maryland suffers horrendous losses at the hands of high-end collegiate programs.

Penn State dropped 59 total points on Maryland. Michigan put up 38 points. Ohio State devastated the Terpins in a 73-14 loss and as I mentioned earlier, Nebraska blew them away 54-7.

Yes, Michigan State has struggled in the past offensively. This should not persist against Maryland though. Instead, the Spartans should have a field day on offense Especially given how hot the Brian Lewerke and Cody White connection is as of late. At the very least, MSU Football ends the year on a high note with a blowout victory.

The game kicks off on Saturday at 3:30 P.M. and you can catch all of the action on FS1. Stay locked on SpartansWire for more coverage to come.

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Game Recap: MSU Basketball coughs up 71-66 loss to Virginia Tech

Michigan State Basketball lost to Virginia Tech 71-66 in frustration fashion. Here is a quick game recap for anyone that missed the game.

Michigan State Basketball lost in frustrating fashion to the Virginia Tech Hokies, 71-66 in the opening round of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. This game was incredibly close all throughout. The Spartans played right into the hands of the Hokies in the first half. Then in the second, things only got worse.

Here is a quick recap of this game:

First Half

Boy, the first half was pretty rough. One stretch was so bad that MSU only shot one of nine from the floor. Even worse, Cassius Winston had zero points in the first half. That is just not good. The Spartans need other players to provide positive plays besides Winston. If Cassius struggles, Michigan State is vulnerable, to say the least.

Virginia Tech defended transition points quite well. They made sure to get all five players back on defense each and every possession. Meanwhile, Winston racked up two fouls and had to sit early on. This brought in Foster Loyer and put Rocket Watts at the PG position.

Rocket drilled a three right in front of the Virginia Tech bench. Unfortunately, he also turned the ball over twice on back to back possessions. This brought the turnover total to 10 before the end of the first half. Virginia Tech simply spaced the floor against MSU. The Spartans could not stop helping on driving defenders. As a result, the Hokies hit threes at a solid clip in the first half.

Virginia Tech pulled ahead at the half, 32-28.

Second Half

The second half was even more frustrating than the first. Michigan State shot themselves in the foot time after time in the second half. I can’t tell you what was worse between the sloppy offense and unintelligent defense. MSU opened the second half with more turnovers and blown defensive assignments.

Virginia Tech tallied seven three with nine minutes left in the game. One three came as the result of Thomas Kithier leaving his defensive assignment wide open in the corner for a three. On the other end, Michigan State continued to cough up the ball to Virginia Tech. The Spartans totaled 16 turnovers with nearly five minutes left in the game, yikes.

Despite turnovers and missed three-point shots, MSU kept this game close down to the very end. Gabe Brown hit a clutch corner three to bring the game to 59-52, Virginia Tech’s lead. Winston later hit a three in transition to bring the Spartans within four points.

Two minutes left in the game and Landers Nolley stepped up big for Virginia Tech. Nolley came down and scored a bucket right at the rim through two MSU defenders. On the other end, Xavier Tillman put the ball on the floor then kicked it out to a wide-open Aaron Henry for three. This bucket brought Michigan State within one, 65-64.

Unfortunately, Landers Nolley came right back with a three of his own. He scored back to back buckets to put his team ahead. Spartan Guard Kyle Ahrens drove baseline and scored, but, it did little to help the Spartans. Wabissa Bede grabbed the board. MSU tried to extend the game with intentional fouls to no avail.

Where did this game go wrong? Turnovers, Virginia Tech threes, and Winston’s poor play. I know, I hate to say it too. Cassius is the leader of this team though. He cannot score only seven points on 2-8 shooting from the floor.

Michigan State plays against Georgia tomorrow at 2:30 P.M. You can catch this game on ESPN2 as well.

Stay locked on SpartansWire for more coverage to come.

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Mark Dantonio: Joe Bachie’s Michigan State Football career is officially over

After losing his appeal to the NCAA, Joe Bachie’s Michigan State Football career has now concluded.

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On Saturday, Michigan State Head Coach Mark Dantonio made it official. The Spartans star linebacker Joe Bachie, who was recently suspended after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, will never play another game for Michigan State. His collegiate career is over.

This comes after his appeal to the NCAA was denied, Mark Dantonio told reporters on Saturday. It remains unclear what substance Bachie tested positive for. Bachie finished the season with 71 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks, and an interception. Bachie was a three-year starter and two-time captain.

“We lost a great linebacker, as you guys know, in Bachie,” Dantonio said. “We’ve sort of been working through it. It just depends on who we play (for) where we play people.”

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MSU Hockey Stuns No. 3 Notre Dame with late game rally in 3-2 Victory

Michigan State Hockey stunned No. 3 Notre Dame with two late game goals for a 3-2 victory. Here is a quick game recap from SpartansWire.

Michigan State Hockey rallied late in the game with two goals to stun No. 3 Notre Dame. This victory puts MSU at 6-5-1 on the year and Notre Dame at 8-2-2 on the year. In their previous game with Notre Dame, the Spartans tied 1-1 despite an extra period of overtime.

Here is a quick game recap:

Notre Dame went on the powerplay early on in this game. The result? A goal from senior Forward Mike O’Leary, assisted by senior Forward Cam Morrison and junior Forward Colin Theisen.

Michigan State scored a goal of their own thanks to Sam Saliba. His first of the night. This goal came unassisted on a delayed Fighting Irish penalty. As a result, the two teams went into the third period with a tie game 1-1.

Notre Dame came out in the third and scored immediately. Sophomore defenseman Nick Leivermann scored on a goal with assist credit given to senior Forward Cal Burke and Colin Theisen, yet again.

Later in the third, MSU senior Forward Logan Lambdin scored a goal to tie things up 2-2. He scored on a nice shot with a defender following closely. With the game all tied up, the Spartans aimed to walk away with a victory.

Finally, with one minute left in the game, Sam Saliba tallied his second goal on a nice redirect in front of the net. This put Michigan State ahead 3-2. They held off the Fighting Irish in the final minute of the game for a nice, comeback victory.

Here is a full highlight package from the MSU Hockey program:

Michigan State Hockey plays again on Saturday, Nov. 30 against Ohio State. This game starts at 5 P.M. They have another game against Ohio State the very next day on Sunday, Dec. 1. You can catch the Dec. 1 game on the Big Ten Network.

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