Is it a Final Four without Duke? It is with Izzo

By Art Spander
For Maven Sports

MINNEAPOLIS — It’s gray and gloomy, which is not unusual this time of year in Minnesota; perfect weather for walking through the enclosed passageways from one downtown building to another — gerbil tunnels, they’re called — or hosting an NCAA final that doesn’t seem like an NCAA final.

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Copyright 2019, The Maven 

Newsday (N.Y.): Connor Cook, Spartans defense rally Michigan St. past Stanford in Rose Bowl

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

PASADENA, Calif. — It was one of 100 for the Rose Bowl, the "granddaddy of them all," as it is billed, but for Michigan State, the winner yesterday on the first day of 2014, it was one of a kind.

"Thirteen-and-one," bellowed Spartans coach Mark Dantonio, as he accepted the trophy, "can't get much better than that."

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Copyright © 2014 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday (N.Y.): Defensive juggernauts clash in 100th Rose Bowl

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

PASADENA, Calif. — The oldest of the bowl games, the one known as the "Granddaddy of Them All," promises smash-mouth power football, a throwback to the old days, good or not.

For its 100th game, the Rose Bowl on Wednesday matches Michigan State, ranked No. 4 in the BCS standings, against No. 5 Stanford, two teams more concerned with substance than style, particularly in stopping an opponent.

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Copyright © 2014 Newsday. All rights reserved.

RealClearSports: Butler Does Its Ugly Best

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- The sense is something mystical is happening, something beyond all the rebounds, turnovers and missed shots -- and oh, were there missed shots.

The thought is everything is going so perfectly for Butler, the sporting gods have taken control of the college basketball season.

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© RealClearSports 2010