V-Cast: Talking Michigan State hockey, hoops, football at Great Lakes Invitational
Grand Rapids, Mich. – SpartanMag.com staffers Jim Comparoni and Paul Konyndyk were in the Furniture City on Thursday night to watch Michigan State take on former CCHA rival Ferris State in the second of two semifinals at the Great Lakes invitational hockey tournament. Despite playing without four key playmakers who were participating in the World Junior Championship, Adam Nightingale’s team dominated the Bulldogs to advance to Friday’s GLI championship with a 4-1 victory.
Afterward, we checked in from the arena with a wide-ranging V-Cast that covered hockey, basketball, and the latest developments in football.
V-Cast Topics
GLI: This Michigan Tech-hosted tournament isn’t as big as it once was in its heyday, but the GLI is still one of the best tournaments in college hockey. There wasn’t as much flavor on Day 1 of the GLI with Western Michigan University not in the field this year as there was a year ago, but Van Andel Arena saw a strong turnout for the event which began with Michigan Tech beating Alaska as a prelude to Michigan State beating Ferris State. There were more Spartan fans in the stands on Day 1 at the GLI than there were last year. The Michigan State brand is getting stronger.
Ferris State Coach Bob Daniels was impressed with what he saw from Adam Nightingale’s team. This Michigan State team has more talent, depth, and plays better together from its first line to its fourth line than it did last year when Daniels’ team beat the Spartans in an entertaining game.
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Michigan State hasn’t won the GLI since 2009. The Spartans will have a chance to hoist the trophy with a win over Tech, which is 8-8-4 on the season.
JEREMY FEARS: Michigan State freshman Jeremy Fears will return to campus on Friday to begin rehab after undergoing surgery last week after suffering gunshot wound to his leg. Spartan coach Tom Izzo indicated after practice on Thursday that Fears is expected to make a full recovery. The McDonald’s All-American will not return this season. With Fears out, Michigan State will lean on sophomore Tre Holloman to play more minutes at the point guard spot as a back-up to AJ Hoggard. Holloman, who served as the back-up point guard for the Spartans last season, has played a good chunk of his minutes at the two this season.
FOOTBALL: Michigan State received some good news earlier this week when defensive tackle Derrick Harmon and offensive guard Geno VanDeMark withdrew their names from the NCAA transfer portal opting to return to the Spartan program to play for first-year Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith. Both VanDeMark and Harmon had heavy interest from several strong Power Five programs.
