Broncos Blown Out in Dismal Performance

On Sunday, University Area was alive with excitement as the Western Michigan University Broncos (3-6) took on the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames (2-6). This was an important game for the Broncos, especially for one, junior Taylor Manley, who in her freshman year attended UIC.

The Broncos opened the game on a good note when Manley put up five easy points, however, the tides began to change early on when the Flames opened up to a early lead. At the 12:00 minute mark in the first half UIC had a 6 point lead and they never looked back from there. On the game, the Flames had four players score in double digits.

“In our 1-6 start this year one of our struggles has been scoring,” said UIC head coach Lisa Ryckbosch. “In order to be productive on the offensive end you have to be effective on the defensive end and I feel that we did a good job of that today.”

At the end of the first half the score was 39-28 UIC.

In the second half, not a lot changed for the Broncos. UIC was able to get a lot of easy shots especially in the paint where they outscored the Broncos for the game 44-20. Nothing went well for the Broncos. In the second half alone they shot 6-33 from the field and were out rebounded 24-18. UIC on the other hand shot 11-22.

“If your shots aren’t falling and your not able to rebound, its going to lead to offensive breaks for your opponent,” said WMU head coach Tasha McDowell.

It was a frustrating and emotional loss for the Broncos on Sunday. There wasn’t much to cheer about. The final score was 69-47 UIC, 47 points being a season low for the Broncos. They shot 18-67 on the game, a 26.9 field goal percentage. It was the third straight game that sophomore Miame Giden was held to single digit points after scoring a career high 31 against Southern Illinois.

“I think the frustration comes from not playing to the ability that we know we can,” said senior Molly Dwyer. “Over this break I’m going to evaluate myself all around and try and be a better leader for this team.”

“I really don’t know where my team is at right now,” said McDowell. “I really don’t think we came out the way we should have. Obviously we are having some shooting issues. We are shooting the ball well in practice but in games, to shoot 26%, is dismal.”

Womens Basketball Weekly Preview

No. 21 MSU earns 74-51 win over lady Broncos

It was all hugs and handshakes between the Western Michigan University Broncos and the number 21 nationally ranked Michigan State University Spartans in the pregame warm ups, however, when tip off came, it was a defensive battle at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.

Today marked the 19^th time these two programs have crossed paths, with MSU leading the series 10-8 and winning the last three. The two teams have met prior to today in Grand Rapids in the 1981 and 1982 seasons. WMU’s last win over MSU came in the 1982 season.

It was a defensive battle early on between the Broncos and Spartans. No points were scored until MSU’s Brittany Thomas went to the free throw line at the 17:37 mark. No field goals were made until MSU’s Lauren Aitch put one in for two at the 16:07 mark. WMU was 7-24 in the first half and MSU was 12-29. Also, MSU’s center, 6 foot 9 Alyssa Dehaan, who is currently 67 blocks away from taking the record for most blocks in NCAA history, had four blocks in the first half.

The Broncos came out and got into foul trouble in the first half giving MSU 15 chances from the line. Along with fouls, the Broncos committed 18 turnovers. It didn’t help the Broncos that freshman DeAirra Goss left the game early with an ankle injury.

One positive that came out of the first half for WMU was that senior Molly Dwyer, who has never missed a game, made a basket from three giving her over 500 points for her career.

At half time, the score was Michigan State 33, Western Michigan 23.

In the second half, Michigan State came out on a tear. They started on an 7-0 run to make the score 40-23, however, the run ended when WMU’s Miame Giden made two foul shots. MSU eventually took control of the half though. They were able to feed the ball around and get open looks in the paint and from beyond the arch. WMU was outscored in the paint 42 to 18.

“We held them under their average,” said WMU head coach Tasha McDowell. “We expected them to have a big night in the post, and [MSU] came here and took care of business.”

WMU tried to cut down MSU’s lead later in the second but they couldn’t. WMU’s Sara Vest led the team with 12 points, and she shot 7-8 from the free throw line. However, it was turnovers that lost the game for Western. They committed 30 turnovers.

“You can’t turn the ball over that many times and win games,” said McDowell.

The final score of the game was 74-51 Michigan State, however, WMU will have another chance to play the Spartans next year when MSU will travel to Kalamazoo to play the Broncos at University Arena.

Womens Basketball Weekly Preview

WMU Womens Basketball Team All in the Family With Giden Sisters

For some families, getting along with your sibling might be a little hard, but not for sophomore women's basketball players Miame and Robin Giden. They came to Western Michigan University in 2008 from Proviso East High School in Maywood Illinois looking for a chance to play together.

This dynamic duo has been playing basketball together since the seventh grade when they played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) ball.

“I really started playing in sixth grade, [Robin] in seventh,” said Miame. “We played on four different teams together before college and now five.”

Once the sisters began to play AAU together they started to receive letters from different colleges around the country. They were recruited by Western Kentucky University, Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University, St. Louis College, and Western Michigan University.

“There were a lot of visits [to different schools] and we kept in contact with them,” said Miame. “We singed early in our junior year [of high school] because we liked Western Michigan and it was one of the only places Robin and I could be on the same team.”

The twins weren’t recruited by the current coach Tasha McDowell but by the former coach Ron Stewart.

“Even though we came in and there was a new coach, we saw how close knit the team was, and to me, that’s really important,” said Robin.

The two have been with each other their whole lives. They shared a room together when they lived at home, they roomed together in the dorms, and currently they have an apartment together.

“Living together is great,” said Robin. We take turns washing dishes and doing other stuff around the house. I love it.”

The two aren’t just sisters though. They are also teammates. They know each other’s game inside and out.

“Robin is a great post player,” Miame said. “She opens up a lot for me. I am able to drive to the basket. We are able to play off each other and look for each other on the floor. Its been this way for years.”

“From playing together I am able to see how much heart Miame has and how much love for the game,” said Robin. “It influences me.”

The sisters are truly a dynamic duo. They do everything together and love playing on the same team. They may be sisters first, but they are also teammates, and they have each other’s backs no matter what.

“I know I have someone there for me and I can go to her and talk to her about anything,” said Robin. “I can’t imagine doing anything without her.”

Womens Basketball Weekly Preview

WMU Womens Basketball Season Preview

For the Fan By the Fan

Welcome to Hoop City. Throughout the weekend of this year’s Final Four, the college basketball shrine is open at Cobo Hall in Downtown Detroit. Upon walking into the hall, music is blaring, basketballs are hitting the floor and swishing through the nets, and fans are cheering for their teams. It truly is basketball heaven.

Hoop City opened yesterday and closes Monday. Open noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Sunday, and Monday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, fans shouldn’t miss out on their opportunity to be a part of the Final Four. Even if you are not going to the game, you can still feel like you are part of the town’s atmosphere by showing up at Cobo Hall. Throughout the City, there are activities that are great for everyone. While entering the city, the first thing many fans approach is the Coke Zero NCAA Championship Zone

“It just caught me by the eye,” said Villanova fan Jamal Walker. “I love that basketball shooting game that keeps track of my points until time runs out after thirty seconds. I made 15 shots.”

Also in the Coke Zero NCAA Championship Zone is a game where fans can play for their favorite Final Four team. They are pulled out of a small audience and they play against another team in an “Around the World” type of game. The winning team of each round continues to play while new fans are picked to play for other teams. The last remaining team at the end of the day receives a trophy. All throughout Cobo Hall there are many activities. There are stations such as CBS College Sports’ various basketball half courts where fans can play “Lightning” or “21,” to the kids station where if a child puts the ball through the hoop they receive a prize. Overall, there are 21 different stations, including a food court, sponsored by different companies. There is also entertainment for fans to enjoy. On the NCAA Center Court, various performances take place each day.

On Friday, there was a Detroit Media Celebrity Game, on Saturday there was the State Farm Coaches All American Team Introductions, Sunday there are clinics that fans can participate in, and on Monday there are fan games and dunk contests. There is something there for everyone to watch and participate in. Along with interactive basketball games and entertainment, there is a Michigan Sports Hall of Fame truck filled with Detroit team memorabilia and plaques with Detroit sports legends on them.

“While walking through the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame truck I was able to relive some of my memories growing up watching the Tigers play at Tiger Stadium,” said Michigan State fan Michael Thompson. “It’s moments like these that make proud to be a Detroiter.”
Hoop City is a place where the big time basketball fan lives. There is so much to do there. Fans can wait in line to meet and receive autographs from Oklahoma superstar Blake Griffin and Davidson standout Stephen Curry or shoot around with some friends. No basketball fan could ever become bored in a town like Hoop City. Governed by New York based company MTKG, Hoop City has a city that is for the fan, and by the fan.

TLE: An American Epidemic

I was sitting on my couch the other day, after school, watching ESPN. Jim Rome was on and he was interviewing Michigan State Senior Guard Travis Walton. Now, I do not like Jim Rom because I think he is full of himself and very cocky. However, I decided to continue to watch his show because I am a State fan and I wanted to see what Walton had to say. As Rome and Walton were speaking, it occurred to me that young members of today's society have a speech impediment. In every single one of Walton's answers he used the phrase "ya know." He'd say something along the lines of "Ya know, I took that shot and made it, ya know." No I don't know. And while Travis Walton is a bright kid, saying "ya know" every five words makes him sound somewhat stupid.
This also takes place in every teenager across America. It is an epidemic that I have come to call the "Teenage Like Epidemic," or "T.L.E." Every high schooler has it, including me. It is a bad habit that I am trying to rid myself of. TLE most often kicks in when I am trying to describe something out loud. I have said thing similar to "In my first hour class today, we, like, did this activity where you do a lot of, ya know, like, umm, stretches and stuff." It makes me sound stupid. If I had said, "In my first hour yoga class today, we did a Pilate's workout followed by final relaxation," wouldn't it have sounded a lot better?

My dad loves to correct me of TLE. I'll be having a conversation with him and he will interrupt me and make me start over just because I said like. Sometimes I don't even notice I'm saying it because it has become such a bad habit for a very long time. I am a true believer that this happens to all teenage students because we say like so much.

But who is to fault for TLE? Schools, teachers, parents? Have they taught us wrong? No. It is in my opinion that TLE is a contagious infection passed down to kids by our American Athletes. If there is one flaw to them besides steroids it is their speech. Whenever I watch an athlete in a press conference, they always use "like," "umm," and "ya know." They could be describing their game winning shot or their spectacular catch in the outfield; no matter what it always kicks in to their system.TLE is a fault in American society that needs to be fixed. There is no antibiotic or pill for it, but as victims of TLE we need to realize the epidemic and work together to find a cure. You could do what I do and have your parents correct you and make you start your sentence over. It's not a big deal. TLE makes us teenagers sound less intelligent than we actually are. We are a smart group of citizens. Don't let TLE define who you are, stand up to it and defend yourself instead.

Is Michigan State A Final Four Contender?

How far can Michigan State go in this NCAA Tournament? With their Sweet Sixteen game tonight against Kansas, it is crucial for MSU to pull out a win if they want to play in the Final Four in front of their own fans. I know it's obvious that they have to win the game to advance to the next round, but this years tournament has an extra special meaning for the Spartans. Having home advantage in the Final Four is like having a plate handed to you with a silver spoon on it. The Spartans are heading into tonight's game playing their best basketball of the season, I'm convinced. You know they're playing well when Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Travis Walton is putting up 18 points against Southern Cal, a guy who is only averaging 5.3 ppg this season.So far in the tournament, the Spartans are really playing like the want to make it to Ford Field. They beat Robert Morris easily, but in the game against USC, the Spartans really came through in the last few minutes of the game. I don't mean to be cliche but it was a battle to the wire. The Spartans pushed out a victory in the second half and won 74-69, however, at one point MSU did trail by five.
Tonight, MSU will play the Kansas Jayhawks, who they beat earlier in the season. However, at that time it was January, the Spartans were at home, and it is obvious that both teams have improved since then. Kansas is defending it's National Championship so you know they will be ready to play. The Spartans need to pick it up on offense in order to win tonight. Spartan scoring leader Kalin Lucas only put up ten points against USC, but the key tonight will be Raymar Morgan who only put of three points against USC. Morgan needs to have strong games this weekend because his play could be the deciding factor in a Michigan Sweet 16 exit or a Final Four appearance. In an article written by Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp, MSU head coach Tom Izzo said "the junior forward is having frustrating mood swings -- from melancholy to extremely melancholy." If Michigan State expects to win Morgan needs to get a grip on things and want to make it to the Final Four as much as his coach and team do.

Right now I am in first place for my bracket pool. I have Michigan State in my Final Four, along with Uconn, Pitt, and UNC, however, Michigan State has to want to be there. They are going to have to get past a tough Kansas team and a tough Louisville team, if they beat Arizona. Michigan State has the drive to succeed and if they want it bad enough they will. They have an advantage in not having to travel as far as other teams and they have played in Indianapolis before when they won the NCAA Tournament in 2000. Also, Michigan State knows what could happen if they "March to Motown." The opportunity to win a National Championship in front of a home crowd would be stupid to pass up.

Some key factors you might want to know about Michigan State before their upcoming games are:

1. Michigan State is 7-0 all-time as a 2 seed.

2. The Spartans beat the Jayhawks 75-62 on Jan. 10 in East Lansing.

3. Before the game against USC, Travis Walton hadn't scored in double figures since he had 11 against Kansas.

4. Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Travis Walton scored a career-high 18 points, moving Michigan State into the Sweet 16 for the eighth time in 12 years. That's more appearances in the last dozen years of any school besides Duke.

5. In the last 12 years, every Spartan who has stayed for four years has appeared in a Final Four.