MSU mailbag: Plenty of concerns on offense; defense, not so much

The News' Matt Charboneau answers your questions on football and basketball.

| 5 days ago

‘He’ll be ready’: MSU’s Brian Lewerke ready to shake off bad attitude, bad season

By the time he’d finished, Lewerke played in 11 games, starting 10. He threw at least one interception in all but one game.

| 6 days ago

Trieu: In Snow, MSU gets ‘physical’ player with strong ties to Spartans

The commitment of Darius Snow to Michigan State has been a long time coming.

| 5 days ago

4-star guard ‘Rocket’ Watts makes it official, signs with Michigan State

Mark “Rocket” Watts, the first commitment to Tom Izzo’s 2019 class, signed his national letter of intent, the first day of the spring signing period.

| 6 days ago

Michigan State lands 4-star safety Darius Snow, son of ex-MSU hoops star Eric Snow

The 6-foot, 215-pound Snow is the nation's 20th-ranked safety, according to the 247Sports composite, and ranked No. 31 overall in the state of Texas.

| 6 days ago

Here are MSU’s Big Ten opponents for the 2019-20 basketball season

Michigan State faces Michigan, Wisconsin and Maryland — the three teams that finished 3-5 this season in the Big Ten — both home and away.

| 6 days ago

Spartans keep ‘newer age offense’ under wraps — for now

The Spartans held back in Saturday's Green-White game and weren't anxious to unveil much about the changes offensive coordinator Brad Salem has made.

Five players who stood out in Michigan State’s spring game

Matt Charboneau of The Detroit News identifies five players who stood out in Michigan State's spring game Saturday.

‘He had good zip’: MSU’s Lewerke passes spring test in a breeze

The arm strength was there for everyone to see despite the windy conditions at Spartan Stadium Saturday.

Short-handed MSU defense flexes its muscle in Green-White game

Green team forces four turnovers — two interceptions and two fumbles — in a 42-26 win in a modified scoring system during the annual MSU spring game.

Michigan State football spring game

MSU QB Brian Lewerke on his play in spring game

MSU quarterback Brian Lewerke talks about how he played in the annual Green and White game.

MSU players after the annual spring game

Michigan State's Joe Bachie, Darrell Stewart, Connor Heyward and Josiah Scott after the annual spring game.

MSU coach Mark Dantonio on the spring game

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio talks about how his team played in the annual Green and White game.

MSU unveils alternate uniforms with shades of lime green; Twitter loses its mind

The uniforms were unveiled before Saturday's spring game, but the team wasn't expected to wear them Saturday

MSU’s Willekes can’t wait to get back on the football field

Defensive end, still recovering from a broken leg suffered in last year's bowl game, glad he came back for his fifth season at Michigan State.

Trieu: Ohio DE Jeff Pietrowski, MSU target, ‘a pure football player’

Jeff Pietrowski, a defensive end from Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward, has 16 scholarship offers, including one from Michigan State.

Michigan State auditions cavalcade of prime candidates at tailback

Offensive coordinator Brad Salem has seven to eight hopefuls trying out at the spot during spring practice.

Izzo: Michigan State’s Winston, Ward should test NBA waters

Michigan State coach says getting an evaluation is a good idea for both; he doesn't anticipate any other roster moves.

Student: MSU response to rape report left me in ‘despair’

Bailey Kowalski publicly accuses the university of discouraging her from reporting a sexual assault four years ago by three basketball players.

Michigan State’s offense getting its swagger back

New offensive coordinator Brad Salem has been implementing his system this spring, which culminates during the annual Green and White game Saturday.

Student says MSU discouraged her from reporting rape

Bailey Kowalski, who sued MSU last year, told the New York Times three basketball players raped her and school officials urged her not to report it

Kentucky, Duke favorites to win 2020 NCAA basketball; MSU, UM close behind

Michigan State and Michigan have the fourth and fifth, respectively, best chances to win the 2020 national championship.

MSU tops ‘way-too-early’ rankings for ESPN, Sports Illustrated; UM in top 10

It was a big season for Michigan State, between a pair of Big Ten titles, and a trip to the Final Four. Next season could be even bigger.

Magic Johnson abruptly resigns as Lakers’ president

The former Michigan State star didn’t tell owner Jeanie Buss or general manager Rob Pelinka before he stepped in front of reporters about 90 minutes before the final game of the Lakers’ sixth consecutive losing season.

Wojo: Why Winston and Spartans can win it all next year

A couple shots short, a couple possessions short, and ultimately, a couple bodies short.

Niyo: Izzo’s Spartans are loaded for another NCAA title run

Tom Izzo had questions. And as he stood in the hallway outside a quiet, somber Michigan State locker room late Saturday night, he promised there would be more.

What’s next for every Michigan State basketball player

Matt Charboneau of The Detroit News on what's next for all of Michigan State's scholarship players, as well as projected incoming freshmen.

Prosecutor: Nassar ‘screw-ups’ prompted ex-MSU president Simon to ‘lie’

Prosecutor says MSU’s “screw ups” in the investigation of a 2014 complaint against Larry Nassar prompted Lou Anna Simon "to lie" to police

Loss to Texas Tech disappoints Michigan State but immediate future is still promising

The Spartans were down, crushed, really. They believed they had as good a chance as any team to walk of the court at U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday night as the national champions.

MSU No. 2, UM No. 4 in Sporting News’ early 2019-20 basketball rankings

The Sporting News on Sunday unveiled its "way-too-early" top 25 for next season, slotting Michigan State in at No. 2, and Michigan at No. 4.

Wojo: In the end, Spartans beaten at their own game

They squeezed everything they could out of this run, out of themselves, right until the end, when a rough and rugged opponent squeezed the last breath out of them.

Niyo: Last shot for MSU’s McQuaid, Goins ends in sadness

For McQuaid and fifth-year senior Kenny Goins, it was a career coming to a close. And as each of them sat on folding chairs in front of their adjacent lockers late Saturday night, that sad reality was beginning to dawn on both of them.

‘They hurt us’: Texas Tech defense smothers Michigan State in Final Four semifinal

Michigan State had all the momentum entering the Final Four, but couldn't ride it. The Spartans are headed home short of the national championship game.

After Spartans loss, Winston and Ward offer no hints about next season

Juniors Cassius Winston and Nick Ward are the most likely to at least take a peek at the NBA, though neither was making any commitments on Saturday night.

Michigan State’s final run doesn’t take it over the finish line

When Texas Tech was up, 50-38, with nine minutes left in the national semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium, Michigan State figured it was in position to make another comeback.

Bob Wojnowski, John Niyo and Matt Charboneau on MSU’s loss to Texas Tech

Bob Wojnowski, John Niyo and Matt Charboneau break down MSU's loss to Texas Tech in the Final Four.

Michigan State players talk about the loss to Texas Tech in the Final Four

Michigan State's Winston, Tillman, McQuaid, Goins, Henry and Ward on the loss to Texas Tech in the Final Four.

MSU coach Tom Izzo after losing to Texas Tech

MSU coach Tom Izzo talks after losing to Texas Tech in the Final Four.

Who sizzled, who fizzled from the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft

Thirty years have passed since the 1989 NFL Draft. Here is what happened to the first-round selections in that draft.

| 1 day ago