This summer Duke unveiled its plans to practice at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg in mid-October following a day of military training — obstacle course, two-mile run, push-ups, etc. The Blue Devils aren’t the only team to pay tribute to the military this season, however, and when Michigan State does, they’ll be wearing some of the wildest, yet somehow fitting, uniforms I’ve ever seen. Read More »

When you are arguably the best basketball coach on the planet, you can do pretty much anything and it will be cool. Example: Tom Izzo “arrived” at Michigan State’s Midnight Madness from the rafters dressed as Iron Man (with his family members dressed as other members of the Avengers) to “save Sparty from the Big 10 Legion of Doom.”

The best part is that this was reportedly the actual suit worn by Robert Downey Jr. in the first two movies. Watch it here: Read More »

Sixteeen Nike-sponsored universities from eight college conferences are getting closer to creating a branded tournament as a tribute to Nike co-founder Phil Knight in 2017, ESPN reported yesterday. The names, as expected, are some of the biggest headliners in college basketball — Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky included. Technically, it will be two eight-team tournaments because NCAA rules prohibit two teams from the same conference playing at the same regular-season tournament. Working around that means the party for Knight’s 80th birthday is ready to go, as long as it can find a TV partner (and ESPN is very interested). Read More »

It’s true what Thomas Wolfe wrote, that you can’t go home again. OK, so saying New Orleans is Chris Paul’s home is a definite stretch, but when you spent your whole career someplace, it’s more than just a stop on a map. Read More »

If you follow high school basketball at all, you’ve probably heard of Jabari Parker, the standout rising junior who is near the top of all the recruiting boards for the Class of 2013. Some call him Grant Hill with a jump shot, and that’s because his versatility and aggressiveness is only a sign of things to come. Read More »

Five NCAA teams that got my attention this past weekend for various reasons:

1. Michigan State (7-3) Considering the Detroit Pistons’ fall from NBA grace and Michigan State’s rise to NCAA elite, I’m not sure if Saturday’s doubleheader at The Palace of Auburn Hills was meant to showcase Pistons/Raptors as the main event or the undercard. Before the Pistons blew a 25-point lead and lost their game, the Spartans barely hung on to beat unranked Oakland. Read More »

A mere 1,000 yards from the Pacific Ocean, an eight-team field is taking center court in the 27th edition of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. This year’s tournament showcases an elite lineup of teams, including former national champions Connecticut, Kentucky and Michigan State, as well as Oklahoma, Virginia, Washington, Wichita State and host school Chaminade University. With the action tipping off today, check out the Nike Hyperdunk 2010 – which comes with eight different laces representing the field that will be on the hardwood. Read More »

Now that the Top 25 has come out, it is time to preview some of the best college teams in the 2010-11 season. The key to having a successful team is having the perfect blend of athleticism, fundamentals and chemistry. Last week, we broke down the No. 1 ranked Duke Blue Devils. This week’s profile will be on Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans. Read More »

With it becoming increasingly likely that Tom Izzo takes the Cavaliers head coaching job, those at Michigan State must be wondering who can replace their legendary coach if he decides to leave. With that in mind, here are some potential candidates: Read More »

You already know that there’s a shakeup going on in Cleveland, but now it appears that the Cavs could be making a bold move: Offering their head coaching job to Michigan State’s Tom Izzo. According to Bob Finnan of The News-Herald, a league source has stated that the Cavs have in fact already made him an offer to be their next head coach, and that it’s going to take a lot of money to convince him to leave the college ranks. Read More »