All articles tagged with #michigan state spartans
Pat Fitzgerald opened Michigan State's fall camp by drawing a line between 'rules' and 'standards,' urging players to commit to a higher standard to turn around a 4-8 Spartans season. He retained defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, added Nick Sheridan to run the offense, and framed aspirations from a Big Ten title to a national championship as he returns to head coaching after Northwestern's hazing scandal.
Michigan State has named Jon Palumbo as interim athletic director, effective immediately, to replace J Batt who is departing for Kentucky. Palumbo, MSU’s executive deputy athletic director/COO and head of Spartan Ventures, previously led MSU athletics after arriving from Georgia Tech and has prior AD experience at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Batt’s exit comes with a $3.95 million buyout from Kentucky as MSU searches for a permanent replacement.
CBS Sports writer Tom Fornelli highlights five teams he believes will outperform their 2026 preseason win totals: the Florida Gators, boosted by a coaching upgrade under Jon Sumrall; the Kansas State Wildcats with Collin Klein potentially contending for the Big 12 title; the Michigan State Spartans under Pat Fitzgerald turning the corner with a strong transfer class and improved defense; the USC Trojans, led by Jayden Maiava, potentially becoming a playoff contender; and the Virginia Tech Hokies, where Franklin’s impact could spark a climb in the ACC. He acknowledges his predictions may miss, but he’s betting on these teams delivering surprises in 2026.
The piece highlights five 'most interesting' Notre Dame games for 2026—Miami, Michigan State, SMU, Wisconsin, and BYU—focusing on revived rivalries, potential top-25 intrigue, and early-season tests, and invites readers to share their takes in the comments.
The Connecticut Huskies survived a late push from the Michigan State Spartans to win 67-63 in the Sweet 16 at Capital One Arena. Tarris Reed Jr. scored 20 and Alex Karaban added 17 for UConn, with clutch late free throws sealing the victory. UConn advances to face Duke in the East Region final.
UConn looks to advance past Michigan State in a tight Sweet 16 clash at Capital One Arena, anchored by Alex Karaban’s inside-out scoring surge and the Huskies’ ability to counter MSU’s rugged interior defense. Karaban is projected to eclipse 13.5 points, while MSU’s defense could slow Connecticut’s offense, making Karaban the key focal point. The piece highlights Karaban Over 13.5 points as the best bet, and also outlines a same-game parlay around MSU +2 and other prop bets; tip-off is 9:45 p.m. ET on CBS.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, now in his 31st season, decries the chaotic shifts in college basketball yet his program thrives by sticking to a traditional, development-first approach, highlighting a Sweet 16 run and a looming regional clash with UConn.
Porter Martone tallied a goal and an assist, including the game-winning strike, as Michigan State edged UConn 2-1 in the NCAA Tournament opener. Ryker Lee also scored for the Spartans and Trey Augustine made 41 saves, helping MSU advance to the regional final.
A profile of Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State's point guard who has matured into a premier playmaker under Tom Izzo, overcoming the 2023 shooting trauma to embrace a leadership role while leading in assists and helping power the Spartans toward another NCAA Tournament run.
No. 3 Michigan topped No. 8 Michigan State 90-80 at Crisler Center to sweep the regular-season series and stay atop the Big Ten at 19-1, 29-2 overall. Yaxel Lendeborg led MSU with 27 points (19 in the first half) and Jaxon Kohler added 23, while Michigan got 18 from Morez Johnson Jr. and 22 points with 9 assists from Jeremy Fears Jr. for MSU. A late incident drew a technical on Fears as the rivalry game closed, bolstering Michigan’s path toward the NCAA Tournament.
The Detroit News previews Sunday’s regular-season finale at Crisler Center, where No. 3 Michigan (28-2, 18-1 Big Ten) hosts No. 8 Michigan State (25-5, 15-4) on CBS at 4:30 p.m. Michigan has clinched the outright Big Ten title, while MSU hopes to spoil and boost its postseason momentum. The teams split earlier this season despite UM’s 83-71 win Jan. 30 in East Lansing, and Michigan leads the all-time series 98-92. The Wolverines will honor seniors after the game and are chasing their first season sweep of MSU since 2014.
Indiana’s defense remains a major issue as it falls 77-64 to Michigan State, extending its four-game skid. IU allowed 1.281 points per possession, struggled with ball-screen defense, and watched MSU shoot 50% from three. The Hoosiers also failed to capitalize on MSU’s late drought, received no bench points, and saw Reed Bailey limited again, highlighting depth and production concerns as NCAA considerations loom.
After UCLA’s 82-59 loss to Michigan State, Mick Cronin ejected his own player for a late-game foul, defended the move in a tense postgame scrum, and then sparred with a reporter about the opposing student section, all amid UCLA’s slipping NCAA Tournament prospects following consecutive blowouts.
No. 15 Michigan State routed UCLA 82-59 as Steven Jamerson II was ejected after a technical foul for squaring up with Carson Cooper; UCLA coach Mick Cronin pulled Jamerson midgame and later called the incident a lapse in judgment, while MSU surged to a 31-5 run to build a big first-half lead, leaving UCLA’s season outlook uncertain and prompting a tense postgame exchange with reporters.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin ejected his own center Steven Jamerson II after a hard foul on Michigan State’s Carson Cooper during UCLA’s 82-59 loss to the Spartans, pulling Jamerson from the court before officials could decide the penalty as UCLA dropped its second straight blowout.