Hockey Wins, 2015 Recruiting Weekend & Izzo in Omaha

HOCKEY

First blog post and we already have a Michigan State victory.  The hockey team completed a 4-1 victory over Ohio State at home.  Brent Darnell continues his hot streak with a goal and two assists, having record ten points in his last seven games.  The line of Darnell, Thomas Ebbing, and Ryan Keller was very successful, accounting for three of the four goals.  From what I’ve seen of Keller this year, I’ve been very impressed with his play, which utilizes his length and effort to create many chances.  It now remains to be seen whether the team can finally sweep a weekend, bringing back the old tradition of signing the fight song in the locker room after a sweep, which hasn’t happened since Penn State last January.  The win also moved Michigan State into third place in the Big Ten. 

FOOTBALL

This weekend is also a big visit weekend for the football team as they look to close out the 2015 recruiting class. They have four prospects on official visits: Quarte Sapp, Cole Chewins, Mufi Hunt, and Drake Martinez.  Besides being the highest ranked visitor, Sapp brings comparisons to Denicos Allen.  Cole Chewins committed to the team yesterday, and will be a grey shirt in the fall, meaning he will be a preferred walk-on for the first semester, and then receive a scholarship for the winter semester of his freshman year.  Mufi Hunt is a player from Utah who has publicly stated that he’d like to go on a Mormon mission for two years immediately after his high school graduation.  However I was told that MSU wouldn’t be recruiting him if they didn’t believe they would have him enroll in the fall.  Lastly Drake Martinez is the brother of former Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez.  Drake originally enrolled at Nebraska, then transferred to a Junior College in California.  Martinez would have three years of eligibility remaining, and could play WR, LB or S.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Tomorrow afternoon provides another big test for the men’s basketball team at Nebraska (11-7/3-3).  The win Thursday night over Penn State inspired little confidence, and MSU has been tested since Nebraska has entered the conference.  However Nebraska has not lived up to pre-season expectations, sitting in eighth in the Big Ten Conference standings.  Nebraska will be led by Terran Petteway, who is averaging 18.9 PPG and scored 23 in their upset win at the Breslin Center last year.  Also keep an eye out for Shavon Shields, a 6’7” junior wing averaging 16.4 PPG.  Nebraska lacks any scoring threats after these two, with third-leading scorer Walter Pitchford averaging just 7.6 PPG. 

Plus, if you haven’t seen this video yet, I’d highly recommend you watch cornerback Darien Hicks and wide receiver Matt Macksood impersonate their coaches, teammates, and Lou Holtz.