Archive

By Jennifer Brugh |@JenniferRBrugh Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS – He called it a fresh start. After an often challenging season at the University of Illinois, that’s how John Groce, coach of the Fighting Illini, defined the step that began this week. “Sometimes I think we can overcomplicate things,” Groce said. “And I wanted to …

By Zach Wagner | @zachwagner22 Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS — With Michigan’s NCAA tournament hopes hanging in the balance, Zak Irvin went up for a jumper to keep his team’s dream alive. Irvin’s 16-foot shot with 3.3 seconds to go in overtime became the difference in Michigan’s 72-70 victory over Northwestern that preserved its …

By Emily Kennedy | @Emily_AKennedy Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS — As confetti began to cover the court at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the embraces had already begun. Maryland Terrapins Malina Howard and Brionna Jones hugged. Tierney Pfirman and Kristen Confroy had locked hands in celebration. In the championship game of the 2016 Big Ten Women’s …

By Alaa Abdeldaiem | @Abdeldaiem_Alaa Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS — For the second half of Sunday night’s 60-44 Big Ten title game loss against fifth-ranked Maryland, Michigan State’s Suzy Merchant had no answers. She thought her team had it. For the game’s first two quarters, the coach of the Spartans watched her team limit …

By Sports Capital Journalism Program Staff | @SportsCapJour Peyton Manning’s retirement brought forth a multitude of reflections on his career: Ross Tucker on leaving football behind for good; Bob Kravitz beautifully pens an open letter to Manning; and Zak Keefer on why there will never be another Peyton Manning. ESPN’s Ivan Maisel on loss and …

By Alaa Abdeldaiem | @Abdeldaiem_Alaa Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS — Shocking, disappointing, heartbreaking — ­all words Ohio State’s Cait Craft could have used to describe her Buckeyes’ 82-63 Big Ten Tournament loss to third-seeded and nineteenth-ranked Michigan State Saturday night, but none would have been enough to express the senior guard’s true emotions after …

The big man next to me in the press box, peered over the top of his binoculars and observed, “I just don’t see that many people here anymore that I know.” It was their loss. The press box just ain’t what it used to be. And it’s not going to be as much fun now …

By Emily Kennedy | @Emily_AKennedy Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS — There is a reason that the Maryland Terrapins became the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament and lifted a trophy signifying the regular-season championship. Maryland’s depth, a signature throughout what could be a second consecutive Big Ten championship season, became …

By Emily Kennedy | @Emily_AKennedy Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS — Aerial Powers scored 26 points and Branndais Agee added 13 to lead the Michigan State Spartans to a 65-64 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers in a quarterfinal of the Big Ten Women’s Tournament Friday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The No. 3 Spartans (23-7) …

By Alaa Abdeldaiem | @Abdeldaiem_Alaa Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS — It was only a matter of time until Kelsey Mitchell found her stride. Coming into the day as Ohio State’s leading scorer, the sophomore guard was held to just 2-of-9 shooting in the first quarter of Friday’s Big Ten Tournament matchup against Rutgers. Her …