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Caught up with the 2025 ATH on why each school made his top 10 and a found out a couple upcoming visits.

Big Ten Football Media Days will return to Lucas Oil Stadium this summer, but over three days now. Michigan State will be at the podium on Wednesday, July 24 alongside five other programs. New format has six per day.

Izzo liked his team's effort against Purdue, citing several stat lines by his squad that showed promise in the loss. However, there are "no moral victories" and that kind of effort in recent weeks would have seen at least three more wins according to the long-time head coach of East Lansing.

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Granted this is only the strength coach’s version of events, but it sure seems plausible to me. Also, I didn’t realize that Howard’s son was entitled……er I mean a captain.

I must admit that I was generally confused by tonight's games. I am honestly not sure what to think about it. Here is my official, by the book recap:


But here is what I am actually thinking.

Overall, I think that MSU played OK. I would give the effort a B-. I came away mostly feeling what I have felt for the last two years. Purdue is fool's gold. Yes, Edey is hard to stop. Yes, they can shoot. But tonight Purdue only hard four guys score more than two points, Edey put up 32 points and Loyer and Smith hit 80% of their threes combined... and yet Purdue only wins by six at home?

I thought that this was the best game that Walker has played in a while. They was encouraging. But in the first half, Hoggard, Hall, and Akins ALL did not really show up... and yet MSU trailed by just three points... on the road... at Purdue. Booker and Holloman were a big part of the reason why.

Akins and Hall played a little better in the second half. Hoggard was a little better, but he was flat out miserable from the field.

Once again, I expected MSU to play sharp and it really didn't happen. If MSU was actually sharp tonight, I think that they win that game. But MSU covered and their Kenpom rankings will likely go UP after this performance.

So at the end of the night, I am just confused. MSU did some good things tonight, but the record still says that they are 17-12 overall, 9-9 in Big Ten play, and flirting aggressively with the NCAA bubble. But at the same time, it they would have played slightly better tonight, they would have won. My only conclusion is Purdue is over-rated... right?

If MSU's big four of Hoggard, Akins, Walker, and Hall can get their act together, this team is still dangerous. If Holloman and Booker and maybe sometime like Cooper can also have a game at the same time... this team is REALLY dangerous. But at the same time, they could VERY EASILY drop the next two and find themselves in the NIT. I just don't understand.

After the Ohio State game Sunday, Tom Izzo stood behind his decision to not play Xavier Booker for the remaining 15 minutes of the game, citing that he didn’t think Booker was “as available to do things as some of our veterans.” Izzo also said that it was a coaching decision to keep him out of the game.

Izzo stood behind his words and decision after practice on Wednesday.

“I think Booker did some really good things," Izzo said. "I’m absolutely in love with what he did. I told you then why. We just felt like our veterans down the stretch. We felt like our rebounding we were getting hurt. I appreciate all the armchair people. I really do, including (the media), but there’s a reason. I didn’t forget how to coach, contrary to what most of our (alums) feel right now. I’m gonna do the same thing I always (do). I’ll tell you this. In not one ounce of a night do I worry about how I’ve dealt with Booker."

More on the Xavier Booker conundrum & Saturday's meeting with Purdue:

1. Cheating isn't cheating till you are caught and only if you are is it cheating. Then you say something like ; "I broke into the bank and tried to crack the safe but I failed so I am innocent'". No, you are an idiot.

2. "He bought the starving student a mere hamburger." No, he lied to the NCAA.

3. "We "would have won anyway even if we didn't cheat which we didn't". No, you clobbered OSU in 21and 22 because you knew which plays they would run .You cheated

4. "I will never do this again". Harbaugh's annual quote after failing to get an NFL job. He finally got one and is gone. Michigan Man

5. Reading Shakespeare. Please

6. "We're innocent". Who said anything? You are as guilty as they come.

7. "Who has it better than us?" I don't know ask your cellmate.

Michigan State (17-11, 9-8) hits the road for its toughest game of the season against No. 2 Purdue (25-3, 14-3).

The Spartans are coming off of two straight home losses against Iowa and Ohio State.

Purdue has won 11 of 12 games.

Tip off is set for approximately 8 p.m. on FOX.

Jason Benetti and Jim Jackson will call the action.

Last time I made that prediction the Spartans pulled of a victory and RodMSU would not let me forget about it. I am willing to endure Izzo’s chief sycophant’s ridicule for a Spartan victory tonight!

Has Young taken an offer from from another school after said he was going to enter the portal ?Hope not.

Recently, Michigan State football extended a scholarship offer to class of 2025 cornerback Xavier Thompson out of Pine Forest High School in Pensacola, Florida.

Thompson announced his offer on social media on Feb. 20, and is looking forward to building his relationship with the Spartans.

Michigan State secondary coach Blue Adams was the one to offer Thompson as the two chatted over the phone.

Thompson said he doesn't know a ton about MSU's program yet, but came away encouraged after the conversation with Adams and is eager to learn more about what the Spartans have to offer.

"He (Coach Adams) was talking about getting me up there (for a visit)," Thompson told Spartans Illustrated. "(He was asking), do I like playing man and pressing? He also asked what my best strength was and I said my speed for my size."

More here, via @Seth Berry:

As you folks know, I am a numbers guy and not an x's and o's guy, but I feel like I have learned a lot in my 40+ years of watching college basketball to have an informed opinion on this.

Obviously, the main issue in dealing with Purdue is dealing with the enormous Zack Edey. If Edey is neutralized, I honestly think Purdue is a good team, but not an elite one. So here is what I would do.

MSU does not have a great center, but they do have a LOT of centers. If I am Tom Izzo, I tell who ever is playing center to SPRINT down the floor EVERY SINGLE TIME and try to get a lob dunk. Full speed, every time. When Sissoko gets winded, you put in Cooper. When Cooper gets winded, you put in Kholer or Booker. Substitute at the five like every two minutes like a hockey line. You try to wear Edey's ass down.

Now, maybe teams have tried this already and it doesn't work. I don't know, but I think that it is worth a try.

Just shy of a year after he was named the cornerbacks coach at MSU, Jim Salgado is again making a move from the NFL to the college ranks.

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Class of 2025 four-star Ohio linebacker Grant Beerman will make multiple visits to Michigan State in the coming months.

Beerman, who earned a fourth star from Rivals this week, will take an unofficial visit to MSU when the Spartans begin spring ball on March 19, and then will return to East Lansing for an official visit during the weekend of June 14 through June 16.

Beerman took an unofficial visit to Michigan State in early February for junior day. Afterward, he noted that MSU is "definitely standing out" to him.

Now, with two visits upcoming, it is clear that the Spartans are a contender. He believes in head coach Jonathan Smith and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Joe Rossi.

"Coach Smith's plan for the future stands out to me the most," Beerman explained. "I think he’s capable of making MSU a national powerhouse."

More here:

Let me preface this by saying that I’m as frustrated as anyone at the way this season is turning out. But if Izzo were to step down who do you see as a REALISTIC replacement? I emphasize the word “realistic” because as much as some people seem to love Nate Oats, I think the chances of him coming here are close to nil. It’s pretty much a forgone conclusion that Izzo will have a lot of input into who his successor is. To me, that makes it’s pretty likely that the eventual successor will be from within the “family” and that scares me. I just don’t see anyone among his former and current assistants or others close to the program who excite me. Drew Valentine at Loyola seems to be the best of the bunch, and his track record is very limited. Ideally I’d like to find a way to pry Dan Hurley away from UConn, but that seems more unlikely than Oats.

So again, realistically, who do you see replacing him?

The Spartans say goodbye to Moira Joiner and Tory Ozment.​

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's basketball will play its final regular-season home game against Illinois on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 8 p.m. The Spartans will also celebrate its two seniors in the Leap Day game, as MSU says goodbye to Moira Joiner and Tory Ozment. Sloane Martin and Meghan McKeown will be on the call for the Big Ten Network.

• The Spartans have now won three-straight games, improving to 20-7 overall and 10-6 in Big Ten action. MSU has now reached the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2018-19 season. MSU has won at least 10 B1G games since the 2015-16 season when it went 13-5.

• This is the first meeting of the season between Michigan State and Illinois. The Fighting Illini come to town with a 13-13 overall record and are 7-9 in league action. On Feb. 19, Illinois captured its biggest win of the season over Indiana, 86-66.

• MSU head coach Robyn Fralick is the third Spartan head coach to win 20 games in their first season. Karen Langeland went 23-6 in her first season (1976-77), and Suzy Merchant was 23-14 in her first year at the helm (2007-08). Merchant also went 10-8 in B1G action and there was no Big Ten schedule in 1976-77.

• The Spartans also broke the single-season school record for 3-pointers in a season against the Scarlet Knights on Feb. 24. MSU came into the game needing 11 to break the record and hit 14 in the game. The Spartans have now recorded 255 3-pointers this season, breaking the record set during the 2016-17 season.

SCOUTING ILLINOIS
In their only meeting of the regular season, the Fighting Illini come to East Lansing with a 13-13 overall record and hold a 7-9 mark in Big Ten play. Illinois has won five of its last eight games, including a marquee win against Indiana, 86-66, on Feb. 19. Last time out, the Illini lost a high scoring affair to Iowa, 101-85, in Iowa City.

Illinois is seventh in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 75.0 ppg, while also standing seventh in scoring defense, allowing only 67.4 ppg. The Illini are third in turnover margin (+3.12) right behind Michigan State (+6.78).

Makira Cook is ninth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 15.3 ppg, while Genesis Bryant is 14th with 14.1 ppg. Kendall Bostic is third in the league in rebound, averaging 10.3 rpg.

Shauna Green is in her second season at Illinois with a 35-23 overall record, leading the Illini to the NCAA Tournament last season. Overall, she holds a career record of 191-98 with stops at Dayton and Loras before heading to Illinois.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE FIGHTING ILLINI
Michigan State holds a 46-29 series lead over Illinois, including leading at home 25-10. MSU is 18-16 against Illinois in Champaign, while the series is tied on neutral ground 3-3. After losing 10-straight games, the Fighting Illini captured last year's meeting in Champaign on Jan. 20, 2023. The last time the team's met in East Lansing was on Dec. 9, 2021 when the Spartans came out on top 75-60.

LAST TIME VS ILLINOIS
Despite four players reaching double figures Michigan State women's basketball dropped a tough 86-76 battle to No. 22/22 Illinois at the State Farm Center on Jan. 29, 2023.

The Spartans played without former head coach Suzy Merchant who missed the game due to a medical incident.

Four Spartans reached double figures led by 23 points from graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel, which was her sixth 20-point game of the season. Sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann was near a double-double with 10 points and eight assists, tying her season-high in helpers. Off the bench, senior forward Taiyier Parks scored 13 points with five rebounds, while senior guard Moira Joiner had 11 points and six boards.

FAMILIAR FACE
Spartan fans will see a familiar face on the Illini bench. Senior forward Kendall Bostic played her freshman season at Michigan State during the 2020-21 season. She has earned All-Big Ten honors both seasons at Illinois.

BY THE NUMBERS VS. RUTGERS
• The 93 points that Michigan State scored against Rutgers were the most since scoring 92 against Wisconsin on Jan. 24, 2021. Michigan State has scored at least 90 points in five Big Ten games this season. Overall, MSU is now 11-1 when scoring 90 or more points this season.

• The Spartans recorded 27 assists on 37 made baskets against Rutgers. It was the most helpers for MSU since recording 29 against Central Michigan on Dec. 17. MSU's season high in assists was 34 in the Spartans' 104-44 win against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 16. Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann led the way with seven assists, while junior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate tied her career high with six helpers.

• Michigan State out-rebounded Rutgers 34-29, behind seven rebounds from Jocelyn Tate and six from Julia Ayrault. The Scarlet Knights came into the game ninth in the Big Ten in rebound margin (+0.97).

NET RANKING
Through Feb. 25, Michigan State holds a NET ranking of No. 22, which is fourth-best in the Big Ten. Iowa is first at No. 6, followed by Ohio State at No. 8 and Indiana at No. 13.

LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State women's basketball celebrated 4-H Day at the Breslin Center with a dominating, 93-57, win over Rutgers in front of 7,696 fans on Saturday afternoon.

All nine Spartans that played in the game scored for MSU, as Michigan State distributed the ball well. Graduate guard Moira Joiner led the way with 22 points in only 23 minutes of action. Both sophomore guard Abbey Kimball and graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault added 17 points with Ayrault adding six rebounds. Junior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate added nine points and a team-high seven boards.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

Class of 2026 four-star shooting guard/combo guard Gabe Sularski returned to East Lansing for an unofficial visit to Michigan State this past Sunday to watch the Spartans take on the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Sularski ranks as the No. 47 overall prospect in the 2026 cycle and Michigan State has identified him early as a top target in the class. The MSU men's basketball program has not yet offered many 2026 recruits, but offered a scholarship to the Benet Academy (Lisle, Illinois) star in October of 2023.

Sularski has built up his relationship with the Spartans since the offer, and he looks forward to strengthening his bond as his recruitment moves forward.

This past weekend's visit was the third time Sularski was on Michigan State's campus. He visited twice in 2023, in August and October when he received the aforementioned offer.

Following the latest trip, Sularski spoke with Spartans Illustrated to recap the visit, provide his thoughts on Michigan State and update where his recruitment currently stands.

"I love the atmosphere in the Breslin Center, but most importantly, I like the style of basketball Coach Izzo plays," Sularski said.

Much more here:

I gave Nebraska a chance at OSU tonight but the Buckeyes held serve. The Huskers were in it for the most part, but OSU pulled away for a solid win. Deibler has them playing much better and I'll be surprised if he isn't named the new, permanent coach. Watch out for them in the BTT. Besides Mythigan, there isn't a team in the B1G we are assured to beat up in Minneapolis.

Rutgers appears to be annihilating a very disoriented and rudderless Michigan. I can't believe (but hope I'm wrong) Manuel retains Howard. This has got to end.

Michigan State celebrated senior night at the Breslin Center on Thursday as the Spartans defeated Illinois, 87-70, in a game that wasn't as close as the final score would indicate.

The two players that were honored were Tory Ozment and Moira Joiner as they both played their final game at home.

More on the senior night festivities and the victory for the Spartans:

Some thoughts on the current and future state of Michigan State men's basketball program.

Jordan is set to be a defensive program assistant for the Buckeyes. He most recently was a pass rush specialist for the Seattle Seahawks.

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“I feel privileged and blessed to have that opportunity to be recognized by big football programs like Michigan State.”

2025 LB/FB Antoine Deslauriers talks about his recent offer from MSU, potential visit plans to East Lansing and more:

Via Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports: