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A Michigan State backcourt deemed by most preseason magazines as the country's best now appears to be the one which has been disciplined the most.

A Michigan State backcourt deemed by most preseason magazines as the country's best now appears to be the most disciplined. Coach Tom Izzo said the junior won't play Friday in MSU's first game of the Big Ten tournament.

It has been an odd season, but as Kalin Lucas has gotten healthier and the defense has cranked up, old images are resurfacing. All sorts of former players came back for this one, and about the time Michigan State took a 25-8 lead, it was clear Michigan was being sent through a buzzsaw.

East Lansing -- Michigan State receivers Mark Dell and B.J. Cunningham were each sentenced today to 18 months probation and 150 hours of community service for their involvement in a Nov. 22 on-campus fight.

With former players Mateen Cleaves and Charlie Bell in attendance, the Spartans once again clinched a Big Ten title by embarrassing the Wolverines -- just like they did to clinch the championship in March 2000.

Linebacker Lawrence Thomas is a two-year starter who is 6-foot-4, weighs 240 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds. He was offered a scholarship by Alabama, Florida, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Ohio State, USC, Vanderbilt and many others.

New Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon started his job Monday and appeared that night on Fox Business. Among the highlights, Brandon was asked if he's afraid to fire a coach. "I'm not afraid to fire anybody if they deserve it," Brandon said.

Michigan Stadium gates will open at 10 a.m., and the spring game will be preceded by the second annual alumni flag football game at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 17.

The way Michigan basketball coach John Beilein has it figured, there likely will be no postseason for the Wolverines. Michigan is 14-16 overall, including a win over a Division II team, and 7-11 in the Big Ten as it prepares for the conference tournament that begins Thursday. Michigan is the No. 8 seed and plays No. 9 Iowa.

For profoundly wounded Michigan, the only hope now for a second straight NCAA Tournament invitation is quite simple: Win the Big Ten tournament. Well, the concept is simple, but the execution will be anything but.

It is the first time the teams have met in a CCHA playoff series since 1987, when Michigan State swept Michigan in East Lansing. That also was the last time Michigan had a losing season.

Michigan State continued its basketball dominance of Michigan with little resistance in the final regular-season game for both teams.