Tag: msu

MSU Basketball squares off against Virginia Tech: Five Most Important Players

Michigan State plays Virginia Tech in the first round of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. Here are the five most important Spartan players.

Folks, it’s that special time of year. The Maui Jim Maui Invitational is here! Michigan State faces off against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the first round at the Lahaina Civic Center tomorrow at 5 P.M.

Here are the five most important players for MSU in this game:

Xavier Tillman

Outside of the talent disparity, Virginia Tech’s roster is not all that different from Kentucky’s roster. They have a strong Guard rotation on the perimeter. Down low though, Virginia Tech lacks depth. Michigan State must take advantage of this flaw. This is why Xavier Tillman is the most important Spartan in this game.

Tillman is averaging 12 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on 48.6% shooting from the floor. Xavier should clean the glass all game long. Virginia Tech’s defense will close in on Tillman and this frees up the guards. He must inflict his will upon this game.

Aaron Henry

As I noted in my scouting report, Landers Nolley is the best Hokies basketball player. Cassius Winston and Rocket Watts are the better Guard defenders, but, both are too smaller for Nolley. Henry appeared to hurt both of his ankles in a freak play against Charleston Southern. After the game, Henry stated he was completely fine.

I think Izzo will call on Henry to matchup against Landers. Nolley has a slightly bigger frame than Henry. Henry stands at 6’6″ and Nolley stands at 6’7″. What’s most important is that Aaron can keep with Landers driving to the rim. How Henry handles this matchup is huge for Michigan State.

Malik Hall

Malik Hall is not just fun to watch, he is now vital to the Spartan’s offense. Hall makes high-energy plays on the boards in every single game. All the while, he can shoot the three at a very effective clip.

Much like Tillman, I expect Hall to have quite the game against Virginia Tech. He can exploit the lack of Forward depth by stretching out the defense. This opens up the lane for Winston to attack. Meanwhile, he’s washing windows all day long.

Gabe Brown

Gabe Brown’s importance in this game is quite similar to Aaron Henry’s importance. As a 6’7″ Forward, Brown will be asked to guard Landers Nolley at various points in this game. He must be ready for this responsibility. We all know him for high flying dunks. Can he defend at a high level against a spectacular scorer like Nolley? We’re all about to find out.

Foster Loyer

Okay, hear me out. I know fans think Foster Loyer has underperformed this year, but, that does not shrink his level of importance. As I mentioned earlier, the Virginia Tech roster is guard-heavy. Cassius Winston can only play so many minutes. So MSU will call on Foster Loyer at certain points in this game.

Loyer certainly must play better in this game than he has so far on the year. He needs to shoot the ball better from a distance. More importantly, he must play with confidence. Loyer can pass and can attack the rim. His development as a secondary playmaker to Winston is crucial for the Spartans.

You’ll note, I did not include Cassius Winston on this list. At this point, Winston is consistent in performance. He will show up against Virginia Tech. It’s more important for all of his Spartan teammates also play at a high level. Kentucky trapped Winston as much as possible and forced the ball out of his hands. He will rely heavily on teammates to deliver on crucial possessions

Michigan State takes on Virginia Tech tomorrow at 5 P.M. You can catch this game on ESPN2.

Stay with us on SpartansWire for coverage of this game and all the Spartan basketball info you need.

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MSU Football routes Rutgers: Three Key Takeaways

Michigan State football handled Rutgers in a 27-0 victory yesterday. Here are three key takeaways from this game for the Spartans.

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Michigan State Football took care of business against Rutgers yesterday in a 27-0 victory. On paper, this score may offer up some positive sentiments. Upon further review, I’m not quite sure I feel all that great about this victory.

Here are three key takeaways from this game:

Summary Of The Season

Michigan State put up 395 yards total in this game against Rutgers. Again, this seems impressive on the surface, but they only scored 27 points on that 395 yard total. That is not good. The Spartans strung together long drives that often ended with punts or field goal attempts.

The Spartans defense showed up to play, per usual. One sequence, in particular, was a perfect representation of this MSU football season. Sophomore Xavier Henderson snagged a nice interception and set up the offense with a rather favorable field position. Unfortunately, the Spartan’s offense could not score. Instead, Matt Coghlin came out and missed a field goal.

This sequence represents MSU’s consistent defensive success and offensive woes. I’m still on the Mark Dantonio coaching train, he should not go anywhere. His staff, on the other hand, must go. There should be significant turnover within the coaching staff before the start of next season.

Cody White Looked Like A Pro

Cody White had two touchdown catches coming into this game. He tallied three touchdown receptions against Rutgers for five on the year and 11 in his career. White was walking human highlight reel. He made catch after catch, ending the game with 11 receptions and 136 yards.

White went above and beyond against Rutgers. A few catches were made on really bad passes from QB Brian Lewerke. MSU WR Darrell Stewart is out with injury. So, the Spartans really needed Cody White to step.

Here are all three of his touchdown receptions:

Hope For The Future?

Freshman RB Elijah Collins had a solid game against Rutgers. Granted, he has suffered from offensive line injuries. Nonetheless, Collins makes the most of every play. He is certainly the RB option of the future for Michigan State and that is a positive takeaway from this season.

Freshman Tre Mosley, sophomore Jalen Nailor, and Julian Barnett are incredibly intriguing for Michigan State’s future. Mosley has looked great so far when given chances. Barnett is rather impressive as a WR and has 10 receptions on the year. Lastly, Nailor returned from injury against Rutgers and played well. Nailor ended the game with 5 receptions and 27 yards.

Why bring them up? They are Michigan State’s future WR core. It is possible that MSU loses both Darrell Stewart and Cody White next year to the draft. This leaves MSU with the aforementioned players and WR C.J. Hayes. I think Dantonio should give all the younger receivers some snaps as the season winds down.

Michigan State Football is back in action next weekend on Nov. 30. The game kicks off at 3:30 P.M. and you can catch all the action on FS1.

Stay locked on SpartansWire for coverage of this game and all things MSU Football.

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MSU vs. Virginia Tech: Three Things To Watch

Michigan State Basketball takes on Virginia Tech in the first round of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. Here are three things to watch.

The Maui Jim Maui invitational kicks off on Nov. 25 and the Spartans are in action against the Virginia Tech Hokies. This will be a true test for Michigan State as the Hokies are 5-0 on the season.

Here are three things to watch in this game:

Guard Matchups

There are six forwards and nine guards on the Virginia Tech roster. Guards do a lot for the Hokies on a nightly basis. As a result, Michigan State must dominate on the perimeter defensively to win this game. If not, It is likely that Virginia Tech walks away with a victory.

One player, in particular, stands out as a potential defensive nightmare for the Spartans. Freshman Landers Nolley is a 6’7″ Guard and can score both at the rim and from a distance. His height is the biggest issue for Michigan State. Cassius Winston and Rocket Watts are not tall enough to guard Nolley effectively.

Tom Izzo must scheme against Nolley with smart matchups. Maybe he throws a combination of Aaron Henry and Gabe Brown out against Nolley. Trapping Landers Nolley should be a top priority for MSU. I’d make everyone else on that Hokies roster step up.

Big Man Dominance

Michigan State should take advantage of Virginia Tech’s lack of big man talent. First of all, Xavier Tillman can eat in this game. I’m talking 20 plus points and 10 or more boards. Throw in a few assists as well. He will be the determining factor for the Spartans against the Hokies.

Beyond Tillman, look for Hall & Marble to get some important minutes. I think that Marble looked great against Charleston Southern and should get some minutes in this game. Malik Hall has shown why he deserves to play heavy minutes with his three-point shooting and hustle around the rim.

Gabe Brown Dunks

Gabe Brown is so much fun to watch. He charges at the rim with overwhelming ferocity whenever given the chance. Watch for this to continue in this game and every other game for MSU. Brown’s energy clearly lifts up this team. Don’t believe so? Watch his teammate’s reactions during the next big dunk. They love it and so do the fans.

Michigan State plays against Virginia Tech at 5 P.M. Eastern Time. We will have more coverage before this game, during, and after. Stay locked on SpartansWire for all the info you need.

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MSU Basketball vs. Virginia Tech: Scouting Report

Michigan State Basketball faces off against Virginia Tech on Monday, Nov. 25 in Hawaii. Here is a scouting report of the Hokies team.

Michigan State basketball has landed in Hawaii for the Maui Invitational. Their first game is against the undefeated, 5-0, Virginia Tech Hokies on Monday, Nov. 25. This will be a tough out for the Spartans as the Hokies boast a solid roster.

Here is a scouting report of the Virginia Tech Basketball team:

Landers Nolley

Let’s start with the best player on the Hokies roster, Landers Nolley. Nolley is a 6’7″, 230-pound freshman Guard from Atlanta, GA. Yes, you read that right. Nolley is a towering guard that scores from all levels. He can get to the basket with dribble moves and shoots long-range shots at an efficient clip.

Nolley will be a test for Michigan State on defense. If healthy, Aaron Henry will definitely guard Nolley for most of this game. If not, MSU might be in trouble. So far, Nolley leads his team with 20.2 points per game. He also averages 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. Most impressive, he is shooting 45.9% from three-point land and 50% from the field.

The Landers Nolley matchup is quite an interesting one. We’ll have to wait and see what Izzo cooks up.

Small Ball Domination

As I mentioned earlier, the Hokies are 5-0 on the year.  their guards lead the team in numerous statistical categories. Virginia Tech guards lead the team in points, assists, steals, and even rebounds! So there is no doubt that Virginia Tech will run some sort of small-ball lineup.

Junior Guard Wabissa Bede leads the Hokies in both assists and steals with eight and 1.4 respectively. He is a perfect balance to Nolley’s impressive offensive skills. Wabissa handles the other teams best guard on the perimeter. That way, Nolley does not need to carry the team on both ends.

Wabissa also shoulders the playmaking load with that staggering eight assists. For comparison, Cassius Winston is averaging 7.0 assists on the year. Virginia Tech’s next leading scorer behind Nolley is freshman Guard Nahiem Alleyne. He averages 12.6 points on 46% from the floor.

Lastly, it is important to point out freshman Tyrece Radford. At 6’2″, Radford leads Virginia Tech in rebounds with seven per game. Now, this means Michigan State can dominate down low. Both Malik Hall and Xavier Tillman can clean the glass all game long for the Spartans.

Michigan State takes on Virginia Tech at 5 P.M. Eastern Time. You can catch this game on ESPN 2.

Stay locked on Spartans Wire for more coverage of this game and all things MSU basketball.

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Game Recap: Michigan State, Cody White torch Rutgers 27-0

Michigan State football trampled Rutgers 27-0 in an impressive performance. Here is a game recap with all the details you need.

Michigan State Football demolished Rutgers in a 27-0 shutout today. Before this victory, the Spartans were on a five-game losing streak. Michigan State was sluggish and sloppy in the first half. Then, in the second half, Cody White exploded in an impressive showing.

Here is a recap of this game:

First Half

The Spartans offense lacked urgency early on in this game. MSU’s offense moved the chains but failed to score on their first drive. On the other hand, the defense showed up to play. Yet again, the Spartan’s defense did not allow a touchdown on the opening drive. Sure, this is against Rutger’s offense, but, we can still marvel at this accomplishment.

Next, Michigan State’s offense continued to move downfield. A high snap almost forced a turnover but Brian Lewerke did not fumble. This set up a third and long which is rather intimidating for this offensive unit. Luckily, Lewerke threw a nice touchdown pass to Cody White.

Later, the offense failed to capitalize on a nice drive. Instead, they settled for a field goal. This brought the first quarter to a close as Michigan State lead Rutgers 10-0.

Rutger’s defense came out hot in the second quarter. Lewerke was sacked and this set up a third and long. MSU then went three and out. Sophomore Safety Xavier Henderson stepped up with a beautiful interception. Unfortunately, the Spartans failed to convert this into a touchdown and settled for a field goal. This time, Matt Coghlin missed the field goal kick. This sequence can sum up the entire year for MSU.

Late in the second quarter, the Spartans ran a two-minute drill. Play after play, Lewerke hit Cody White for big gains. Eventually, Lewerke threw another, crisp touchdown pass to White on a seam route.

Second Half

Rutgers started the second half with plenty of offensive movement. Their run game yielded more success in the first three minutes of the second half than the entire first half. No worries, the Spartans did not give up any points on this Rutger’s drive. Instead, Kenny Willekes sacked QB Johnny Langan.

Michigan State put in AJ Arcuri at LT for their first drive of the half. MSU managed to move the chains forward for a first down. Lewerke found White on yet another impressive deep ball, but, this play went under review. Eventually, the referees determined the play was an incomplete pass.

Next thing you know, this drive turned into a disaster. Lewerke tried to hit White again in the endzone but White could not control the ball. Instead, Rutger’s defense snatched the ball away for an interception.

Early in the fourth quarter, Josiah Scott forced a fumble and gave Michigan State a favorable field position. Unlike earlier, the Spartans capitalized on this key turnover with an amazing touchdown. Lewerke overthrew a ball to White but it did not matter. White managed to snag the ball and fell into the endzone for a touchdown and a 27-0 lead.

Cody White ended the game with 11 receptions, 136 yards, and three touchdown catches. QB Brian Lewerke ended the game with 239 yards on 21/30 attempts with three touchdowns and one interception.

Michigan State football takes on Maryland next week on Saturday, Nov. 30. This game starts at 3:30 P.M.

Stay locked on SpartansWire for more coverage to come.

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Michigan State WR Cody White sets new career-high in catches in a game

MSU football’s Cody White has set a new career-high with 10 catches (and counting) against Rutgers.

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It’s still only the third quarter, but Michigan State wide receiver Cody White has already set his new career-high in catches in a game. He currently has 10 catches with about 8 minutes to go in the first half. MSU is currently leading Rutgers 17-0 and White has been pretty much unstoppable in this game.

His previous career-high was 9 catches which came against Arizona State in last year’s loss in Tempe. To go along with his 10 catches today, White also has 129 yards and 2 touchdowns, and it does not look like he has any intention of slowing down, so we’ll make sure to update this post as he will presumably add a few more catches to his new career-high.

I will say that I might have jinxed him a little bit with this post (sorry) because he just had a touchdown pass ripped out of his hands for an interception. My bad.

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Michigan State Football still has yet to give up a touchdown on the opening drive this season

With Rutgers first punt of the game, Michigan State’s defense continues their streak of preventing a touchdown on the opening drive.

We can bicker and debate the merits of Michigan State Football this year, particularly on the defensive side where hopes were highest, but the Spartans do have one impressive stat to hang their hat on: with Rutgers punt on their first possession of the game, the MSU defense has yet to give up a touchdown on the opening drive of a football game this season.

Now, we can debate the importance of this, and I think that’s a debate that should be had because you could make an argument that the defense is really good, and they’ve done their job all year of shutting down the opposing team to start the game and get the ball to their offense, but the quick three-and-outs, poor special teams, and inability to keep the defense off the field and give them good field position to work with, puts Michigan State’s defense in a very unfavorable position.

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Michigan State Football vs. Rutgers: Where to watch, listen, stream

MSU is heading to Rutgers tomorrow and will hopefully get their first win since September. Here is how to follow the action.

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Finally, Michigan State Football will hopefully get their first win since SEPTEMBER when they travel to face Rutgers tomorrow. Rutgers is just absolutely terrible and have yet to win a game against a Big Ten opponent, so if this isn’t a win for the Spartans, I don’t know what to tell you. Here is how to watch, listen, or stream what should be a fun game for Michigan State, finally:

Match-up: Michigan State (4-6) @ Rutgers (2-8)

Game time: 12pm ET, Saturday, Nov. 23

TV: FS1

FS1 broadcasters are scheduled to be John Strong (play-by-play) and Evan Moore (analyst).

On DirecTV, FS1 is channel 219. On Dish, FS1 is channel 150.

Betting Odds: Michigan State -20.5

Online live stream: FOXSports.com/live

Online radio broadcast: TuneIn

Satellite radio: XM channel 387; Sirius channel 976

Complete list of Michigan State radio affiliates.

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Former Michigan State LB Andrew Dowell signed to New Orleans Saints Practice Squad

Former Spartan Andrew Dowell will be heading to the New Orleans Saints Practice Squad.

It’s been a good 24 hours for the Dowell family. We just covered that middle brother and Michigan State safety David Dowell will be joining the East-West Shrine Bowl this year. In the NFL, it was announced that former Spartan linebacker Andrew Dowell will be heading to New Orleans to play for the Saints on their practice squad.

Andrew Dowell originally went undrafted and was then signed by the Dallas Cowboys. He was released by Dallas with an injury settlement before the season. He had also worked out for the Green Bay Packers back in September.

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Michigan State Football S David Dowell accepts invite to 2020 Shrine Bowl

It is getting closer to January which means it is nearly college football all-star game season. Michigan State safety David Dowell was invited and has now accepted his invite to one of these in the East-West Shrine Bowl. The Shrine Bowl just …

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It is getting closer to January which means it is nearly college football all-star game season. Michigan State safety David Dowell was invited and has now accepted his invite to one of these in the East-West Shrine Bowl. The Shrine Bowl just rebranded and was formerly the Shrine Game.

MSU was represented by Matt Sokol last year in the annual game. The East-West Shrine Bowl has been played every year since 1925 and benefits Shriners Hospitals for Children. The game is held in St. Petersburg, Florida in Tropicana Field on January 18th.

He will look to join his brother Andrew, who was just signed by the New Orleans Saints, in the NFL.

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