Tom Izzo

Trice as nice: Senior leads Michigan State to Final Four
By Tyler Piccotti
March 29, 2015 - 10:06pm
The Michigan State senior scored 17 points to continue what his head coach called a "most improbable" tournament run to the Final Four.

Travis Trice wasn't supposed to have this moment.

He wasn't a sought-after recruit in high school, only gracing the wish list of Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo amid the courting of current teammate Branden Dawson.

Then he had a brain infection... and two concussions... and a number of other dings and dents once he arrived in East Lansing.

East Regional: Trice's clutch shooting leads Michigan State past Oklahoma
By Tyler Piccotti
March 28, 2015 - 5:12pm
The senior nailed four clutch foul shots as the Spartans fought off an athletic Sooner team.

With 14 seconds left and seventh-seeded Michigan State clinging to a slim two-point lead in Friday’s East Regional semifinal game against third-seeded Oklahoma, Spartans guard Travis Trice took a long look at the rim and walked to the free-throw line. 

With the game on the line, Trice cleared his mind and didn’t ponder the magnitude of the moment. 

“To be honest with you, I’m just thinking knock them down,” Trice said. “I just want to win the game. That’s all. Really.” 

It worked. 

East Regional Friday notebook: Barber hampered by illness
By Tyler Piccotti
March 28, 2015 - 1:13pm
The N.C. State sharpshooter dealt with an ailing stomach, while Michigan State squeezed in a few laughs before the big game.

As Louisville and North Carolina State battled each other on the court, the Wolfpack’s Anthony “Cat” Barber and Louisville’s Terry Rozier were battling their own bodies. 

Both Barber and Rozier were significantly ill the night before and hours leading up to their clash in the East Regional semifinal at the Carrier Dome on Friday night. 

Barber, one of N.C. State’s potent backcourt shooters, showed violent symptoms of a stomach virus according to head coach Mark Gottfried. 

East Regional notebook: An apology for Obama
By Tyler Piccotti
March 27, 2015 - 11:08am
One N.C. State player reached out to the president, while coaches reflected on their own friendships and relationship with Jim Boeheim.

N.C. State guard Anthony “Cat” Barber is locked in for Friday night’s Sweet 16 matchup against Louisville. 

But only after reaching out to the leader of the free world during the week. 

After the Wolfpack upset top-seeded Villanova in the third round, television cameras caught Barber asking, “The f--- wrong with Barack Obama?” The obscenity was an obvious reference to the president’s bracket, which had the Wildcats advancing to the next round.