Last week's Spartan Speak podcast was spent largely talking about Michigan State basketball's future, after it looked like the Spartans weren't going to make the NCAA tournament following a loss to Purdue. But in the last week, MSU has come to life with wins over Indiana and No. 4 Illinois and are back on the bubble. On this week's podcast, Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press and Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal discuss how the Spartans have turned their season around, preview the final five games of the season and whether or not they make the NCAA tournament. Then, LSJ sports storyteller Nate Atkins grinds the tape and offers his analysis of MSU 3-star football and basketball recruit Keon Coleman, plus discussion of incoming football transfers Ben VanSumeren and Chester Kimbrough. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spartan Speak

Oh, how the turntables for Michigan State basketball's season and tourney hopes; Keon Coleman film review

Detroit Free Press sportswriter Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch have a lot to get off their chest as the Michigan State men's basketball team sits 4-9 in the Big Ten after losses to Iowa and Purdue and seem very unlikely to play in the NCAA tournament for the first time in more than 20 seasons.  Chris and Graham discuss the Spartans' problems, what's up with the rotations and how they can finish the season before looking to next season, including Enoch Boakye's decommitment, Emoni Bates, Max Christie, Jaden Akins, Pierre Brooks, "the brand" and what MSU's team might look like next season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MSU's unprecedented struggles continue; a peek ahead to next season

Lansing State Journal reporters Nate Atkins and Phil Friend react to Wednesday's recruiting news, with Rayshaun Benny flipping from Michigan State to Michigan and the Spartans getting a commitment and signature from Keon Coleman.  Then, they discuss the five transfer players Mel Tucker has brought into the program - QB Anthony Russo, RBs Kenneth Walker and Harold Joyner, OL Jarrett Horst and DE Drew Jordan. That's followed by a discussion on the 2021 class as a whole, which under-the-radar players they like, position analysis and their favorite players.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rayshaun Benny, Keon Coleman and evaluating MSU's 2021 recruiting class and transfers

The Michigan State men's basketball team has been on a break - two weeks now - due to COVID-19 issues. And it'll be another week before the Spartans play again.  But the podcast doesn't take a break, as Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chirs Solari talk about the layoff, what the Big Ten schedule might look like going forward, assess if the Spartans' resume is good enough for the NCAA tournament and then talk a little gambling to end the podcast, as legal online betting begins Friday in Michigan.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COVID outbreak hits MSU basketball; Assessing Spartans' NCAA tournament resume

With the MSU men's basketball team four days removed from a stunning loss to Purdue and two days out from a road game against No. 8 Iowa, now's the time to evaluate where exactly the program this season. Detroit Free Press Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch discuss what's gone well and what's gone poorly as MSU currently sits 8-4 overall, and 2-4 in the Big Ten.  Can the Spartans make a run in the Big Ten? Will they even make the NCAA tournament? Plus, they talk about Alabama's national title win over Ohio State, and where exactly MSU and the rest of the nation fall in the pecking order of college football. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State of the Union - Michigan State basketball edition

The last time Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari recorded, MSU was 0-3 in the Big Ten. But things have changed - the Spartans upended Nebraska on Saturday and then topped No. 14 Rutgers on Tuesday. They break it all down, including discussions on Aaron Henry, AJ Hoggard, Rocket Watts and the post players, followed by a preview of Friday's Purdue game. Then we end the podcast discussing Tre'Von Morgan's decision to leave MSU football and enter the transfer portal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MSU basketball gets back to its winning way against Rutgers, Nebraska

Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari are back in your ears after witnessing the Spartan basketball team's worst performance in quite some time in Monday's loss to Minnesota.  They're here to break down what went wrong and potential solutions. Then, they switch to football and discuss the incoming transfer of Duke defensive end Drew Jordan and QB Rocky Lombardi's departure to Northern Illinois (40:40). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making sense of Michigan State's loss to Minnesota and how to fix the Spartans

The Michigan State football team saw an alarming amount of roster turnover the past four days, and Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari are here to break it all down.  This week's topics: MSU football player departures/arrivals, including starting QB Rocky Lombardi MSU decides not to play in bowl game Men's hoops gets upset by Northwestern on Sunday - an aberration or a sign of trouble? Wisconsin preview and prediction  Film breakdown of transfer QB Anthony Russo and 4-star LB Ma'a Gaoteote with Nate Atkins Big Ten bowl picks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MSU football player arrivals/departures; Is something wrong with MSU basketball?; Anthony Russo, Ma'a Gaoteote film breakdown

A lot has happened within the Michigan State football program since we last convened: players leaving the program, declaring for the draft and, of course, national signing day for college football. Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari are here to break it all down. Topics: QB Anthony Russo transfers in from Temple 4-star Ma'a Gaoteote flips from USC to MSU Breakdown of 2021 class, including what happens with the commits who did not sign: Rayshaun Benny, Audric Estime and Geno VanDeMark Shakur Brown and Naquan Jones declare for NFL draft Chris Jackson no longer with the team Payton Thorne named starting QB Predictions for MSU football vs. Maryland and hoops vs. Northwestern Then, Phil Friend is joined by Nate Atkins for a deep dive on MSU's QB recruit in the 2021 class, Hampton Fay, including clips of Nate's interview with the Texan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Russo, Hampton Fay, Ma'a Gaoteote and Signing Day 2020 highlights for Michigan State football

On this week's podcast, host Phil Friend is joined by Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch, Detroit Free Press Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari and LSJ sports storyteller Nate Atkins. This week's topics: MSU's basketball game with Virginia postponed (0:28) Big Ten adjusts 7-game rule to put Ohio State in championship game (12:45) Preview hoops game vs. Oakland on Sunday (28:28) Who starts at QB: Rocky Lombardi or Payton Thorne (32:40) Predictions for weekend games (42:08) Discussion with Nate Atkins on the three position groups MSU needs to shore up to compete with the Ohio States of the world (46:40) Nate and Phil make their Big Ten picks (1:10:28) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan State-Virginia gets postponed, Mel Tucker must choose between Rocky Lombardi and Payton Thorne

The Michigan State basketball team showed that perhaps its No. 12 preseason ranking and fourth-place Big Ten prediction might be a little off after the Spartans rolled into Durham and beat No. 6 Duke on Tuesday night. Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss the fall out from that win (1:51), move on to MSU football's game Saturday against Ohio State, which is in some limbo due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Columbus (30:42) and make their predictions for each MSU game this weekend (47:04). Host Phil Friend is then joined by the LSJ's Nate Atkins to break down how MSU's run game was so successful against Northwestern and how to carry that over to Ohio State (53:39) and then make their B1G picks (1:13 36).  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan State basketball shows its insane depth in beating Duke, and MSU-Ohio State football is still on (for now)

Detroit Free Press Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch wrap up a big day for Michigan State, recapping the football team's 29-20 upset of No. 13 Northwestern and the 12th-ranked basketball team's 80-70 win over Notre Dame.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recapping big wins for Michigan State football, basketball teams

Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari gear up for a busy month of simultaneous Spartan football and basketball action, with Tom Izzo's squad starting its season Wednesday against Eastern Michigan. We give a position-by-position breakdown of the team, including discussion on Rocket Watts/Foster Loyer/Joshua Langford, the "5" position, Joey Hauser and Aaron Henry, along with this week's upcoming games against EMU and Notre Dame.  Then, we move on to the football team, which faces a very tough task Saturday against No. 13 Northwestern, and no sign of who might start at quarterback for the Spartans.  Then we make our picks for this week's contests. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Michigan State Basketball 2020 Preview Extravaganza; MSU Football Faces Big Challenge With Northwestern

We've got a power-packed podcast this week with Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal sportswriters Graham Couch, Nate Atkins and Phil Friend.  In the first part with Graham and Chris, discussion topics include: MSU football's game vs. Maryland is canceled due to COVID-19 outbreak for the Terrapins MSU basketball's nonconference and Big Ten slate, including a Christmas Day game against Wisconsin Xavier Tillman and Cassius Winston are selected in the NBA draft Rocky Lombardi or Payton Thorne at quarterback In the second part, Nate and Phil: Break down Thorne's performance against Indiana after coming on for Lombardi Target potential QBs in the transfer portal Make their Big Ten picks   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan State football gets another week to choose between Rocky Lombardi and Payton Thorne

Lansing State Journal sportswriter Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press Michigan State beat writer Graham Couch deliver the postmortem following the Spartans' 24-0 loss to Indiana on Saturday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We now know what Michigan State is following 24-0 loss to Indiana

Weekly discussion from the Lansing State Journal sports staff on Michigan State football/basketball and beyond.

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