Winston, Tillman hit reset button in second half rout Detroit Free Press
Bring on Michigan. It might not have gone as scripted, and it took some time to learn to live without Nick Ward. But No. 10 Michigan State found its offensive rhythm with defensive dominance in the second half — and a heavy dose of Cassius Winston. The Spartans rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the second half with a 37-10 burst en route to a 71-60 victory over Rutgers on Wednesday at Breslin Center.
Michigan State overcomes sluggish start to top Rutgers, stay in first place MLive.com
The possession was one of more than 60 that Michigan State had on Wednesday night, and resulted in just three of the team’s 71 points. As much as one possession can turn the tide of a game, though, one of Michigan State’s midway through the second half did. Starting with a Cassius Winston miss with 13:11 left, the Spartans hauled in four straight offensive rebounds to keep the possession alive.
Michigan State comes back in second half against Rutgers State News
Things weren’t going Michigan State’s way Wednesday, nearly sending the Spartans into upset alert. After trailing by as much as 10 in the first half, No. 10 MSU (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten) pulled away late with a 27-6 run to stave off Rutgers (12-14, 5-11) at the Breslin Center, 71-60.
Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State basketball’s rally over Rutgers – and what’s ahead Lansing State Journal
1. MSU missed Ward’s ‘presence’ dearly and then figured it out its new normal
2. Freshman thoughts – the Rutgers edition
3. What this means for Sunday in Ann Arbor
Michigan State shakes off rough first half, disposes of Rutgers Detroit News
For about 20 minutes on Wednesday night, Michigan State looked like it was still processing that it would have to play for the foreseeable future without center Nick Ward. The Spartans were out of sorts, missing easy shots and turning the ball over on their way to trailing Rutgers by double digits in the first half as the Scarlet Knights were the aggressor.
Michigan State storms back to defeat Rutgers Spartan Tailgate
No. 10 Michigan State was in danger of getting run out of its own gym. Rutgers came into the Breslin Center Wednesday night ready to fight and held a double-digit lead early in the second half. And then when it seemed that if an MSU run was ever going to happen, it came at a high-octane rate. The Spartans completely flipped the script and used a 28-7 run to defeat the Scarlet Knights 71-60.
Michigan State women’s basketball returns to the friendly confines of the Breslin Center to open a three-game homestand. The Spartans host Ohio State on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network with Lisa Byington and Shelley Till on the call.
The former Michigan State cornerback is in Phoenix preparing for the NFL draft and embarking on a professional career comes with a new approach. “It’s all on me,” Layne said Monday night in a phone interview with MLive. “I’m not going to let myself down, I’m not going to short myself.”
Source: mlive.com
It is another crossroads moment for Michigan State. First it was playing without guard Joshua Langford, and then adjusting to his season-ending foot injury Now, the Spartans must overcome the indefinite sidelining of forward Nick Ward, leaving No. 10 MSU without two of its top three scorers Wednesday night against Rutgers (6:30 p.m./BTN) and perhaps for the rest of its final two months.
Source: Detroit Free Press
No. 10/11 Michigan State, winners of three-straight games, hosts Rutgers on Wednesday night at the Breslin Center. Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. The game will air live on the Big Ten Network, with Kevin Kugler calling the play-by-play and Jon Crispin serving as the color analyst.
“If anybody is dumb enough on my team to look at the Big Ten as we’ve looked at it,” Izzo said. “We’ve had the worst two teams in the league beat the best two teams. We’ve had upsets if that’s what you want to call them. If we need that at this time of the year we’re probably in trouble.
Source: Detroit News
That Rutgers is no longer a Big Ten doormat is good for the Spartans, who need a test without Ward before Sunday’s game at Michigan. MSU has to figure out what life looks like without Ward and with opponents no longer preparing for Ward.
Source: Lansing State Journal
Michigan State hasn’t had a first-round pick in the NFL Draft since offensive tackle Jack Conklin went No. 8 overall to Tennessee in 2016, and it looks like the Spartans will get shut out of the opening round again this year. At least, that’s the way ESPN Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. sees things at this point, a little more than a week before the NFL Combine begins in Indianapolis.
Source: Detroit News
Listen to “Xavier Tillman talks MSU Basketball” on Spreaker.
As Javon Bess and Marvin Clark II talk about the challenges facing their teams in the stretch run of their senior seasons, they sound like their old Michigan State coach.“We’re just getting after it and competing in practice every day,” Bess said of Saint Louis practices this week. “It’s about toughness and rebounding and defense.”
Source: Detroit News
Xavier Tillman just wants to be himself. Tom Izzo agrees. Consistency will carry Tillman through the unknowable duration of Nick Ward’s absence, he said. And that could apply to the rest of No. 10 Michigan State’s healthy players, though none more than Tillman, who moves into Ward’s place in the starting lineup.
Source: Spartan Tailgate
Ward’s injury will prevent him from playing. But unlike an ankle or knee injury, it should not prevent him from conditioning. Whenever the hand heals, he should be ready to get back on the floor.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Ward underwent surgery on Sunday night. The next day, he addressed the media following Michigan State’s practice — one he watched with his left arm in a sling — and expressed hope that the injury won’t mean the end of his junior season. “I’ll be fine,” Ward said. “I’m a quick healer so I’ll be back.”
Source: mlive.com
Kaleb Wesson stands 6-foot-9 and 270 pounds. Moving the Ohio State forward in the paint isn’t an easy task and that was one thrust upon Thomas Kithier on Sunday afternoon.“I can’t remember the last time I’ve gone against somebody that big,” the Michigan State freshman forward said following practice on Monday. “I really don’t think I ever have.”
Source: mlive.com
Matt Mcquaid talks about his time at MSU while the team takes on both Wisconsin and Ohio State. Zach Osburn from MSU Hockey talks senior night and his class. Women’s Basketball takes on Indiana.
It might not be an optimal way for an opportunity, but Nick Ward’s injury opens up 23 minutes a game for Tom Izzo to fill. That means Xavier Tillman will get his shot to start. And a number of younger Spartans now have a chance to work their way into more playing time as No. 10 MSU enters the stretch run — and possibly the rest of the season — without their star forward.
Source: Detroit Free Press
It took less than 30 seconds for Tom Izzo to be clear about the situation Michigan State finds itself in less than 24 hours after Nick Ward had surgery to repair a fracture in his left hand. “I hope everybody here feels bad for Nick, but to be honest with you I don’t want anybody to feel bad for us,” Izzo said.
Source: Detroit News
Recap of Ohio State and a preview of Rutgers. Special Guest Freshman Forward Thomas Kithier
MSU hockey coach Danton Cole talked Monday about a random night out in East Lansing in 1995, when he ran into Hootie & The Blowfish and Tiger Woods.
Source: Detroit News