In his first year of high school football after starring in the Detroit Police Athletic League, Ross emerged as a standout performer for Orchard Lake St. Mary's

"I think it's got to be a significant amount higher," Izzo said about how many teams should be in the tournament on top of the 65 that currently make it.

A Michigan State backcourt deemed by most preseason magazines as the country's best now appears to be the one which has been disciplined the most.

He also was ordered to undergo 30 days of alcohol tests after news surfaced in court that Leggett recently made a post on Facebook, a social networking site, that referred to "drunk texting."

A Michigan State backcourt deemed by most preseason magazines as the country's best now appears to be the most disciplined. Coach Tom Izzo said the junior won't play Friday in MSU's first game of the Big Ten tournament.

It has been an odd season, but as Kalin Lucas has gotten healthier and the defense has cranked up, old images are resurfacing. All sorts of former players came back for this one, and about the time Michigan State took a 25-8 lead, it was clear Michigan was being sent through a buzzsaw.

East Lansing -- Michigan State receivers Mark Dell and B.J. Cunningham were each sentenced today to 18 months probation and 150 hours of community service for their involvement in a Nov. 22 on-campus fight.

With former players Mateen Cleaves and Charlie Bell in attendance, the Spartans once again clinched a Big Ten title by embarrassing the Wolverines -- just like they did to clinch the championship in March 2000.

Linebacker Lawrence Thomas is a two-year starter who is 6-foot-4, weighs 240 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds. He was offered a scholarship by Alabama, Florida, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Ohio State, USC, Vanderbilt and many others.

For profoundly wounded Michigan, the only hope now for a second straight NCAA Tournament invitation is quite simple: Win the Big Ten tournament. Well, the concept is simple, but the execution will be anything but.