Michigan State basketball moves up two spots in latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Michigan State moves up two spots in latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

The latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll is live, and following their ninth straight win on the road against Northwestern, the Spartans once again moved up, this time moving up two spots to No. 12.

This ranking reflects some cautious optimism for the Spartans, who started the year outside of the top-25. The four teams in front of MSU all have three losses while the Spartans have just two on the year.

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Michigan State football reportedly promoting analyst to assistant special teams coordinator

Michigan State \reportedly promoting analyst to assistant special teams coordinator

According to a report from SpartanTailgate, Michigan State football is set to promote special teams analyst Joe Begnal to their new assistant special teams coordinator.

Begnal was previous the special teams quality control coach at Memphis, Colorado State, and Idaho. Before that, he coached the wide receivers at New Haven for three seasons and spent a season with Lincoln University as their defensive coordinator.

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Michigan State reportedly elevating former star LB Antjuan Simmons to assistant DL coach

Michigan State is reportedly elevating former star linebacker Antjuan Simmons to assistant defensive line coach

We have seen a few updates on the Michigan State football coaching staff this weekend. The first was the promotion of Aaron Pflugrad to passing game coordinator. A few hours later, insider Justin Thind reported that the Spartans will be elevating former star linebacker Antjuan Simmons to the role of assistant defensive line coach.

Simmons, who played for MSU from 2017 through the 2020 season where he was named second team All-Big Ten in 2020, joined the coaching staff back in 2023 as a graduate assistant. The promotion to assistant defensive line coach allows the Spartans to keep Simmons in the fold moving forward.

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Major Michigan State football transfer portal target reportedly cancels visit with Ohio State

A major Michigan State transfer portal target has reportedly canceled his visit with Ohio State

Michigan State football got some potentially massive news on the transfer portal front Saturday morning when 247Sports’ Chris Hummer reported that FCS All-American left tackle and MSU target Conner Moore has canceled his visit with Ohio State.

Moore, who was at Montana State last year and is the top ranked offensive lineman still available based on the 247Sports rankings, has only visited Cincinnati and Michigan State.

You can keep track of all the incoming and outgoing transfers around Michigan State through the transfer portal using our tracker here.

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Washington HC Danny Sprinkle compliments Michigan State basketball’s effort, accountability

Washington head coach Danny Sprinkle compliments Michigan State basketball’s effort, accountability

In case you weren’t aware, Michigan State basketball gave Washington quite a welcoming for their first game in the Breslin Center since joining the Big Ten Conference, blowing out the Huskies 88 to 54.

After the game, instead of being salty about the loss, Washingston head coach Danny Sprinkle was highly complimentary of the Spartans, saying he hopes his team learns a few things from the Spartans leaving this loss.

In particular, Sprinkle complimented the effort and the accountability for the Spartans on the defensive side of the ball, highlighting a timeout MSU took when they were up huge in the second half where players held each other accountable for a missed assignment.

You can read his full quote below:

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Tom Izzo comments on ‘specialness’ of Michigan State basketball program

For Tom Izzo, Thursday night’s alumni game against Washington was ‘bigger than the game’

One common refrain I have noticed from Tom Izzo in his later years is his constant mission to make sure that fans, alumni, faculty, media members – basically anyone who comes in contact with the Michigan State basketball program – appreciates what a unique program they have in East Lansing.

On Thursday night, the Spartans blew out the Washington Huskies on alumni night, and after the game, Tom Izzo made sure to give credit to all the alumni who came back and noted the ‘specialness’ of the program he has overseen all these years.

Watch it below:

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Michigan State basketball, Duke reportedly in advanced discussions to play game in East Lansing next season

Michigan State and Duke are reportedly close to finalizing a game in East Lansing next season

According to a new report from Jon Rothstein, Michigan State basketball and Duke are reportedly in ‘advanced discussions’ for Duke to travel to East Lansing for a game next season.

Tom Izzo first hinted that this was a possibility back in November.

This move would complete a home-and-home series with Duke and MSU that started all the way back in 2020 with a game between the Spartans and the Blue Devils in Durham during COVID for the Champions Classic.

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Michigan State basketball moves up in latest AP poll

The Spartans continue their ascent up the polls amidst winning streak

Michigan State basketball is currently in the middle of a seven game winning streak, and while they aren’t going to get a top ten ranking handed to them, they continued their steady ascent up the polls this week, moving up to No. 16 in the latest AP Poll.

The Spartans moved up two spots from last week’s position at No. 18.

Michigan State will play next on Thursday against Washington.

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Michigan State women’s basketball moves up one spot in latest AP poll

Michigan State women’s basketball moves up one spot in latest AP poll

After starting their season with the best start in program history, the Michigan State women’s basketball hit some stumbling blocks with two straight losses to Alabama and Maryland.

The Spartans bounced back last week with a win over Purdue, which led to them moving back up one spot in the AP poll on Monday up to No. 20.

The Spartans are now fully the middle of conference play and will travel to Nebraska on Wednesday.

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Michigan State basketball holds on to beat Ohio State on the road

Michigan State earns 7th straight win with victory over Ohio State

It wasn’t without some drama, as Ohio State made a late push and put the game in jeopardy, but once again, Michigan State basketball was able to hang on this year to earn their seventh straight win of the season on the road against the Buckeyes. The Spartans won with a final score of 69 to 62.

While MSU won, Ohio State grabbed a lead late thanks to some untimely turnovers for MSU. The turnover bug has hit the Spartans several times this year, but to their credit, they always seem to lock-in on defense and create as many turnovers as they give up on the other end. Tonight, MSU and Ohio State both had 16 turnovers.

In terms of scoring, Szymon Zapala led the way for MSU with 15 points in what I thought was his most dominant game of the year. He brings size and ferocity on the interior that I think this team has lacked the last few years. Jaden Akins also added 14 as the Spartans looked to him to close the game out.

MSU is now 12-2 on the year and undefeated in the Big Ten. They don’t play again until January 9 when they will face Washington at home.

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