Spartan Speak

Things are looking up for the Michigan State basketball team after the Spartans beat Kentucky in double overtime, thanks in large part to Malik Hall's dunks at the end of regulation and the first overtime. But the biggest revelation has been the emergence of third-year player Mady Sissoko, who's becoming a force in the paint.  Graham and Chris also preview Friday night's basketball game against Villanova, before moving on to the Spartan football team. It is one game away from bowl eligibility after last week's win over Rutgers and they can get it with a win Saturday over Indiana.

Wednesday was National Signing Day for college basketball, and all four of Michigan State's commits - Xavier Booker, Jeremy Fears, Coen Carr and Gehrig Normand - sent in their letters of intent, meaning coach Tom Izzo has secured the nation's No. 3 recruiting class for 2023, according to 247Sports. Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss the Spartans' excellent haul and discuss Monday's season-opening win over Northern Arizona. They also discuss MSU football's home game Saturday against Rutgers and the latest in the MSU-Michigan tunnel skirmish from two weeks ago.

There was a game played Saturday night, but nobody's talking about that. Instead, the post-game altercations that occurred in the Michigan Stadium tunnel after the game have taken center stage. Eight Spartans have been suspended - and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch are here to discuss it all.  Plus, we preview Saturday's game vs. Illinois and the men's basketball team's exhibition opener against Grand Valley.

There's no mistaking it. The Michigan Wolverines are flying high with a 7-0 record and a No. 4 national ranking. Michigan State is 3-4 and recently ended a four-game losing streak with an overtime win over Wisconsin.  But this in-state rivalry has produced some great games over the year, especially the last 14 years, with the Spartans owning a 10-4 advantage in that stretch, including a number of wins where they were the Vegas underdog.  Can MSU pull it off again and derail the Wolverines' dreams of a national title? Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch, Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and host Phil Friend preview Saturday's game. 

With the Spartans on a bye week, Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch brought out their red pens this week to grade the Michigan State football team offense, defense, special teams and coaching.  Along with host Phil Friend, they also discuss Saturday's win over Wisconsin with a sprinkling of comments on MSU's game against Michigan on Oct. 29. 

The Michigan State football team's losing streak reached four after getting blown out by Ohio State on Saturday. The Spartans' issues continue to pile up, as Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch, Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and host Phil Friend discuss the issues with the defense, offensive line and recruiting, along with QB Payton Thorne's comments earlier this week. 

There isn't much to grab on to the last three games if you're a Michigan State fan, as the Spartans prepare to host No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday afternoon.  Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari, Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and host Phil Friend preview Saturday's game - trying to find spots where the Spartans can feel optimistic, discuss Jayden Reed's season, make game predictions and also talk a little hoops at the end. 

The Michigan State football team is at a crossroads once again after getting thumped at home by Minnesota. Now, all of the sudden, Saturday's opponent, Maryland - which is coming off a near-upset of Michigan - is an 8.5-point favorite. How did MSU get to that point?  Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch try to answer talk, discussing Mel Tucker's tendencies in recruiting and the transfer portal, before breaking down Saturday's Maryland game and making predictions. 

After an offseason of heightened expectations, the Michigan State football team couldn't get through the nonconference slate unscathed after losing at Washington last weekend.  Now, the Spartans face a veteran Minnesota team that has the potential to completely upend MSU's season. Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch dissect the state of the Spartans: the offensive line, defensive secondary, running game, pass game, coaching and more. 

On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch discuss the performance of Michigan State QB Payton Thorne, who has had a bit of a rollercoaster performance in the Spartans' first two games this season.  Then, they preview Saturday night's Washington game and answer listener questions. 

We've got an actual, live college football game to reach to on this week's Spartan Speak! Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch discuss Michigan State's win over Western Michigan that proved a bit costly, as two key defenders went down with injuries.  Plus, we talk about Jacoby Windmon, the offensive line, the wideouts, Mel Tucker calling out (maybe) MSU's nutritional team, and we preview Saturday's game vs. Akron. 

Michigan State football's season opener is Friday night against Western Michigan. Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch get you caught up on what to expect in the game, discuss the newest details in Tom Izzo's contract extension and then we do over/unders and predictions for the 2022 college football season. 

Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch catch you up on the latest news in Michigan State sports.  This week's topics: Football and basketball recruiting 6 MSU football observations (Keon Coleman and special teams among the topics) Listener questions

The Spartan Speak podcast has returned from its annual sabbatical, and just in time, as the Michigan State football team is well into preseason practice and the season opener against Western Michigan is right around the corner.  The Detroit Free Press's Chris Solari and the Lansing State Journal's Ryan Black take you through the latest in Spartan news. Topics: Tom Izzo contract extension MSU basketball recruiting lands Coen Carr, Xavier Booker, Gehrig Normand 6 MSU football preseason tidbits MSU football recruiting Listener questions - including 6 hot takes

Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari are two of the few people in the world who have already seen the new Magic Johnson documentary, "They Call Me Magic," which airs on Apple+ this weekend.  We spend the first 14 minutes talking about that before discussing Julius Marble's decision to enter the transfer portal and Joey Hauser opting to return for one more season.  We then shift to football, with RB Donovan Eaglin and CB Antoine Booth entering the portal, and then a discussion on the spring game. 

It's a listener question episode of Spartan Speak this week! Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari answer your questions ahead of the Michigan State football team's spring game on Saturday. 

The latest Michigan State news is basketball heavy, as longtime assistant basketball coach Dwayne Stephens is leaving the program to become the head coach last Western Michigan. And last week, freshman Max Christie declared for the NBA draft. Will he change his mind and return to campus? Plus, spring football talk. 

On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal sportswriters Graham Couch and Phil Friend discuss the Spartans' second-round loss to Duke in the NCAA tournament, while also looking ahead to next season's squad.  They also talk about Foster Loyer and MSU's win over Davidson, the Big Ten's disappointing performance and more. 

After a decent run in the Big Ten tournament that saw the Michigan State basketball team beat Maryland and Wisconsin before losing a competitive game to Purdue in the semifinals, the Spartans drew a 7-seed in the NCAA tournament, and oh, boy, there are storylines galore.  MSU drew 10-seed Davidson in the first round, and its leading scorer is former Spartan Foster Loyer. And if MSU wins that game, longtime nemesis Duke likely awaits in the second round in Mike Krzyzewski's final season with the Blue Devils.  Then, Chris, Graham and Phil make their Final Four and national title predictions before ending the podcast with a little football talk. 

If you're from Greater Lansing or a Michigan State alum, the new HBO show "Winning Time" has something for everybody. The series debuted on Sunday night and Graham, Chris and Phil give three thumbs up as we open the podcast with a discussion about the show.  We then move on to previewing the Big Ten tournament, debating which teams are in the bubble, discussing the seven-seed Spartans' opener against 10-seed Maryland, predicting who will win the tourney, and then predicting who wins the MSU game.