BracketRacket: A quiz, a thought and Peeps (The Associated Press)
Welcome to BracketRacket, your one-stop shopping place for all things NCAA. For our first Sweet 16 edition, we’ve got a geography quiz by Shockers and Explorers, a coach in rarified air, a former Ohio attorney general rooting for Michigan State and Jim Larranaga’s thought for the day. All that and some Bracket Bits that include all of Dunk City’s postseason dunks and, in honor of Easter, Peeps. — GEOGRAPHY QUIZ Who says academics go by the wayside during the NCAA tournament? La Salle and Wichita State took a geography quiz at the West Regional in Los Angeles, and the Shockers passed. Belying their name, the Explorers need to brush up a little. Here’s an excerpt of how it went from AP Sports Writer Beth Harris: Question: Where is La Salle located? Answer: ”Philly, right? I believe it’s Philly,” Shockers guard Malcolm Armstead said. Correct. Question: Where is Wichita State located? Answer: ”What state is it in?” asked La Salle guard Ramon Galloway. And it went downhill from there. ”I saw a store down here called Which…
Ohio State 61, Michigan State 58
CHICAGO — DeShaun Thomas was Ohio State’s indispensable man Saturday as the Buckeyes earned a Big Ten championship game berth with a 61-58 victory over Michigan State at the United Center.
Ohio State Outlasts Michigan State in Thrilling Big Ten Showdown
The No. 2 seeded Ohio State Buckeyes survived a thrilling, back-and-forth matchup with the No. 3 seeded Michigan State Spartans in the Big Ten tournament’s semifinal game by the score of 61-58. Aaron…
Ohio State vs. Michigan State: Live Score, Analysis for Big Ten Tournament 2013
Saturday during the Big Ten tournament means one thing—it’s semifinals time and the level of competition is about to increase. The No. 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes face off against the No. 3…
4-Star WR and Ohio State Target Drake Harris Decommits from Michigan State
Looking to build off the momentum of signing the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class following a perfect 12-0 season in 2012, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes are pursuing some of the most talented…
B1G Finish: Still 4 teams alive for Big Ten title (The Associated Press)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — It began on the last day of December, when Michigan State showed up at Minnesota’s Williams Arena on a six-game winning streak and left with a 13-point loss. Along the way, Tyler Griffey slipped past Indiana, Ben Brust stunned Michigan and Trey Burke stole the show against Michigan State. Each week brought new drama, and now, one of the most exhilarating Big Ten races in recent memory will finally end – in a most appropriate way. Indiana can clinch an outright championship on Sunday with a win at Michigan, but if the Wolverines prevail, as many as four teams could share the title. It will be a fitting conclusion after the Big Ten’s heavyweights went through 2 1/2 months of emotional peaks and valleys to reach this last day. ”Do I reflect on how fortunate I am to coach at this level against these type of players? Yes. It’s an opportunity that every coach would like to have,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. ”I do try to take a moment in the …
Northwestern-Michigan St. Preview (The Associated Press)
After ending its longest slide of the season, Michigan State still has a chance to earn a piece of the Big Ten title. The No. 10 Spartans can achieve that feat for the fourth time in five years by getting some help, then handing visiting Northwestern an eighth straight defeat in Sunday night’s regular-season finale. Following three straight losses by a combined 13 points to Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan, Michigan State (23-7, 12-5) posted a much-needed 58-43 win over No. 22 Wisconsin at home Thursday. The Spartans pestered the Badgers into season lows for points and field-goal percentage (29.4) and a season-high 17 turnovers. The victory put the Spartans in a three-way tie for second place with the seventh-ranked Wolverines and No. 14 Buckeyes, one game behind the second-ranked Hoosiers. A Michigan State victory Sunday, combined with an Indiana loss at Michigan earlier, would produce a shared conference title for at least three teams. Coach Tom Izzo wouldn’t say he’ll be rooting for the rival Wolverines. “I’m going to pull for Michigan …
No. 10 Michigan State beats No. 22 Wisconsin 58-43 (The Associated Press)
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Keith Appling scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half to help No. 10 Michigan State pull away to beat No. 22 Wisconsin 58-43 on Thursday night and stay in the Big Ten race. The Spartans (23-7, 12-5) moved into a three-way tie for second with Michigan and Ohio State. The trio trails conference-leading Indiana with one game left in the regular season. The Hoosiers can claim the Big Ten title outright with a win Sunday in Ann Arbor against the Wolverines. If they lose, Michigan would earn piece of the title and give Michigan State and the Buckeyes a shot to pull into a four-way tie. The Spartans close the regular season Sunday at home against Northwestern after Ohio State hosts Illinois. The Badgers (20-10, 11-6) fell to fifth place with the decisive road loss after Purdue handed them their most lopsided setback at home in more than seven years. Michigan State broke open a close slugfest with …
Ohio State vs. Indiana: The 5 Best Subplots in Big Ten Battle
The Indiana Hoosiers welcome Ohio State to Assembly Hall on Tuesday night with a chance to clinch the Big Ten title. After Indiana, the conference standings are a jumbled mess. The Buckeyes are…
CFB Roundup: Players out at Alabama, MSU eyes Bollman for OC spot
Four Alabama players facing charges of robbery and fraudulent use of a credit card after a campus attack on two students Feb. 11 are no longer with the team nor enrolled in school. Coach Nick Saban announced Wednesday the disassociation of defensive back Eddie Williams , running back Brent Calloway , defensive lineman D.J. Pettway and Tyler Hayes with the team and school. The four had been suspended indefinitely by Saban and barred from campus by the university after the incident that left one student unconscious. Williams, Hayes and Pettway each face two counts of second-degree robbery. Williams and Calloway were charged with fraudulent use of a credit card. In a separate incident a day earlier, Williams was charged with carrying a pistol without a license. Callway also had a prior arrest on misdemeanor possession of marijuana in October 2011. —Michigan State is expected to name former Ohio State assistant Jim Bollman as its new offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports. Bollman would replace Dan Roushar, who left Michigan State in early …
