LSJ - MSU Basketball

[The Server]

Last week's results• MSU 66, Ohio State 60• MSU 78, Minnesota 732 - As in how many Big Ten road victories MSU has in 13 tries after Sunday's win at Minnesota. MSU went 1-7 away last season and 2-6 the season before, after a 6-2 showing in 2005. The Spartans likely will need to go at least 5-4 this season to have a shot at the title. The next two trips - to Northwestern and Penn State - look favorable.Player of the weekDrew NeitzelAfter making just 9-of-33 shots (27.3 percent) in the first three Big Ten games, Neitzel made 10-of-22 (45.5 percent) this week. He averaged 16 points a game, scoring 19 in the victory over the Gophers - with 17 in the second half, thanks to five 3-pointers. It appears he has shot his way out of the doldrums.Quote of the week"I was pretty pumped up after talking to her. She gave me that little boost I needed."- Neitzel, on the correlation between his pre-game chat with ESPN's Erin Andrews and the early shots he hit against Ohio StateComing upFrankly, this looks like one of the easiest weeks of the season - and it's Big Ten Network-free! MSU gets the league's two worst teams, Northwestern and Michigan. The Spartans travel to play the Wildcats on Thursday (9 p.m., ESPN2). Then MSU comes home for its only meeting this season with U-M, at noon Sunday (Ch. 3, 6). - Joe Rexrode

Link to full story