As if Drew Neitzel didn’t have enough on his plate.  The now senior guard will be trying to guide the Spartans back to the Final Four and even the National Championship with one of the most stellar recruiting classes in recent years, but now there is one more thing that the  All-American will now try to do.  He has been invited, according to Michigan State University, to try out for the USA Basketball Pan American Team.

Neitzel would not be the first Spartan to represent MSU on the squad.  In 2003 Tom Izzo served as coach, and Chris Hill made the team.  He will try out to compete against other top college players for the games this summer.  The games are July 25th to 29th.

Let’s all hope the Neitzel can not only make the team, but also represent the Spartans well as others have done in the past.  I’m not sure if the games will be televised, but updates will be posted on Spartan Sports Unleashed as they continue to come in for the Pan American Games.  Good Luck Drew, and Go Green.

The Big Ten Sports Network launches this August and will carry most, if not all Big Ten sports events. There will be more information to follow about the schedules of Michigan State events. Search Big Ten Network on Google for more details about the actual network. Go Green.

The team (who is ranked 20th in the nation) at first looked as if they may fall short of the national championships for the second straight season.  It wasnt until, back-to-back birdies on the par-4, 357-yard No. 17 by junior Sara Brown and senior Rachel Meikle helped the Spartans pull away. 

It was definatly a struggle for the Spartans who grinded their way into the championships.  They will just have to ride that momentum into the tournament.  They have a chance to bring the Golf Program back into the national spotlight where it belongs.

The final home game of the season at Kobs Field was a happy one for the Spartans.  The Spartans cruised to an 11-6 victory over Big Ten foe Northwestern.

The Spartans put their offense into full throttle with 18 hits.  Senior cathcher, Sean Walker, had a career high 6 RBI.  Walker hit a grand-slam in the fifth inning that added 4 of the 6 runs the Spartans scored that inning.

Junior center fielder also had a career day as he went 5-5.

The Spartans faced a crucial part in the game going into the bottom of the fifth.  They were trailing 6-5 after the Wildcats scored five runs on five hits in the top of the inning.

Steve Gerstenberger batted home E.J. Daws on a single.  A walk to Brandon Doherty loaded the bases for the Spartans.  Sean Walker stepped to the plate and hit his second grand-slam of his career.

“All season long I’ve almost gotten the big hit, so it feels good to finally come through,” said Walker.  “It was great to get a grand-slam and turn the game around.”

Craig Brookes pitched 5.1 innings to earn is fourth win of the season.   With the win the Spartans improve to 20-24 on the year and 10-14 in the Big Ten.

The series continues with a double header, beginning Saturday Afternoon.

The game was blown open early as the Illinois-Chicago Flames got 2 runs in the first inning and 4 in the second to torch the Spartans for 6 runs just as the game was starting. MSU then got back into the game with 1 run in the third and 3 runs in the fourth. That’s when the game started to get interesting.

The Spartans tied the game in the 7th inning with a 2-out, 2-run single by Evan Friedland (in picture) that resulted in Kyle Day and Sean Walker crossing the plate for MSU. Unfortunately the it only the UIC a half-inning to reclaim the lead as Tyler Moore smoked a home run to left field. This was only Moore’s 4th home run this season.

The Spartans will host Northwestern for it’s final home series of the season starting May 11th.

MSU football had a horrible defense last season surrendering many late touchdowns in contests against teams such as Notre Dame when the Spartans blew a big 4th quarter lead only to eventually lose the game. Could Gordon have made a difference in big games like this on defense? I personally don’t think so. It one of John L.’s better decisions to sit Gordon for a year and let him adjust to the college game. That decision is paying off now.

The 6-foot 220-pound linebacker recorded 27 tackles in three spring scrimmages, including four for losses. Hopefully Eric Gordon can come out in 2007 and put a band-aid on the wound that is the Michigan State football defense. It sure looks as if he will have a great opportunity.

It was a one in a lifetime occasion for Michigan State (and now Detroit Lions’) quarterback Drew Stanton.  He was taken by the Detroit Lions with the 43rd pick in the NFL Draft. 

Unfortunately Stanton was taken by the Lions who are notorious for running great college quarterbacks out of the NFL in a season.  Coming out of Oregon Joey Harrington was supposed to be the Lions savior.  What happened to him?  He continued to play sub par until the Lions finally traded him to the Dolphins.  I believe (and hope) that he can turn the Detroit Lions quarterback curse and tear it to shreds.

Drew does have the raw skills to become a big time NFL quarterback, and being drafted into the pros gives him a gigantic oppourtunity.  Not only is he leaving a team that gave him no help on his way to the NFL, but he also has a chance, unlike some drafted quarterbacks, to sit a year or so under seasoned vet Jon Kitna and learn the system.  Stanton also has a chance to work under the offensive mastermind Mike Martz.  Martz’s system could do wonders with Stanton’s career if he takes enough time to learn it.

Drew also has the chance to step of the “mediocre” label.  All his career at MSU people labeled not only him, but also the team, mediocre.  Critics say Stanton is consistent one game and then looks like a back-up in another.  Was it really his fault at MSU?  I don’t think so.  I think that if you give Stanton a team with talent like Florida or Ohio State he oculd have easily been a Heisman frontrunner if not the winner. 

Stanton already has the skills and physique needed to play in the NFL.  At 6-3, 223 pounds, he can still fly down the 40-yard track in a mere 4.73 seconds.  He has mobility, along with size that will greatly benefit him in the NFL. 

Finally Drew Stanton has the chance to step into the Pro’s and learn the game from two of the games veterans, Jon Kitna and Mike Martz.  All the stats on coaches on paper look good, its just that many of us have seen what the Lions can do to quarterbacks.  Unfortunately the Lions are turning to him to be the future of the organization, and it is up to Stanton to deliver.

Delvon Roe is one of a kind. The 6-foot-8 junior has the size to play down low, but also the skills to play outside on the perimeter.  After his verbal commitment he has everyone in the program raving about the future.

 Roe was initially recruited heavily by Ohio State, Michigan, and North Carolina.  After showing up to the North Carolina Duke game in Chapel Hill this March decked in Carolina gear, it seemed that Roe was headed to Tar Heel country.  But a sudden turn of events changed his mind.

“I love everything about Michigan State,” said Roe.  “It’s the best place for me and my family.”

How talented is Roe though?  Well he’s a five star propsect that’s ranked 5th in his class (2008) by Scout.com, and 10th in his class by Rivals.com.

He’s a great finisher around the hoop, and has great length.  He’s also one of the most versatile player in his class.  His range of talent isn’t the only thing he’ll bring to the banks of the ole’ Red Cedar though.

“I’m a very hard-worker,” said Roe.  “I’m always watching film. Mostly of my favorite players, seeing what they do and trying to make my game into theirs. I love watching Antawn Jamison.”

Delvon Roe is the second verbal commit the Spartans have received from the class of 2008.  They’ve also picked up point guard Korie Luscious (44th on Scout.com, and 75th on Rivals.com).

With the addition of Roe the Spartans have a great chance at being a very scary team to play in years to come. 

Spartan Fans rejoice.  Finally someone other than our own fans have recognized the basketball team as  the top college basketball program of the last ten years.  Some people (especially Michigan Fans) may wonder what reasoning comes with this selection? 

Although the Spartans may not have gotten the flashy recruits in the last couple of years, they continue to grind out wins and NCAA tournament appearances with the players they have. 

The Spartans have been to the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament the last 10 straight years.  (That is the 5th longest streak in the nation by the way.)  They also won a national championship in 2000.  That was one of the greatest Spartan teams, if not college basketball teams, that I have ever seen.  They were led by Mateen Cleaves, Toronto Raptors starter Morris Peterson, and Golden State standout Jason Richardson among others. 

From the recruiting front, just remember this, every four year player recruited by Izzo in the last 10 years has played in at least one Final Four.  How’s that for an incentive to come to MSU?

Not only are the Spartans good on the court, they also excel in the classroom.  They have  82.9% graduation rate (for players who finished four years of school).  This shows not only dedication to the program by the coaches, but also some by the players to keep themselves in contention to participate. 

The Spartans continue to chug away, and with arguably the best player in the country Drew Neitzel, and 3 new five-star recruits coming in from high school, it doesn’t look as if the Spartans are going anywhere.