The FAA’s grounding of flights across the U.S. has created a messy travel picture for a handful of Michigan teams, but most of the state’s major pro and college clubs appear to be in the clear. The one big question mark, as of 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, is in East Lansing.
Michigan State was set to host Washington in a Big Ten football game at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, and the Spartans are already in place.
The Huskies, though, have not yet left Seattle, which puts the game in doubt. The timing makes things even trickier: there isn’t much room to slide the matchup around this weekend or early next week, since MSU is also scheduled to host Oregon on Friday, Nov.
Michigan’s teams, meanwhile, are mostly settled. The Wolverines traveled to Eugene on Thursday and are on track for their football game against Oregon at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday. The only potential issue still ahead for U-M is the men’s basketball team’s home game against William & Mary, which is supposed to tip at 2 p.m.
Sunday. William & Mary is coming from Virginia.
The Detroit Lions are already overseas and should be unaffected. They’re in Munich, Germany, where they’re scheduled to “host” the New England Patriots at 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday at Allianz Arena.
The Pistons also seem to be fine. They already flew to Miami before Saturday night’s game after playing the Washington Wizards in D.C. on Thursday night.
And the Red Wings, who are in the middle of a longer road swing, have already made it to Tampa. They played the Florida Panthers on Thursday in the southeast part of the state and are set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night. After that, they’ll have time to get back to Detroit before their next game, which is scheduled for Nov. 18 against the Boston Bruins at Little Caesars Arena.
In Other News...
Michigan State Lets Another Big Ten Title Slip Away Late
Michigan State came within a whisker of another Big Ten title before Purdue turned the championship game into a late heartbreak. The No. 3 Spartans battled back from deficits to force overtime, showing the same resilience that carried them through the tournament, but Purdue had the final answer in a 4-3 win that ended on Jaiden Andersons golden goal in the 97th minute.
Grace Millers nine saves helped keep Purdue alive through the pressure, and the Boilermakers made the most of their chances when it mattered most. Even in defeat, Michigan State had two players recognized for their work over the weekend, with Bella Najera and Renee Watson earning spots on the All-Tournament Team. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States Blowout Raised A Bigger Question Fans Still Feel
Michigan States 106-72 rout of Northern Iowa had the kind of offensive pop that can make a November box score look like a statement. The Spartans buried a program-record 18 three-pointers, and freshman Jasiah Jervis added another encouraging sign for the rotation with 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, giving the staff a glimpse of how much scoring punch this roster can generate when the shots are falling.
Still, the blowout did not settle the most obvious question hanging over the team. The center spot remains unsettled, with Anton Bonke, Ethan Taylor and McCulloch all getting run but none separating as the clear answer yet. For a team that just flashed so much perimeter firepower, the next layer of growth may depend on whether Michigan State can find a dependable presence in the middle before the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States Bowl Hopes Suddenly Ride On Washington
The momentum from Michigan States upset of Michigan has given the Spartans a much-needed lift, but it also sharpened the stakes for what comes next. Washington arrives at Spartan Stadium on Saturday in a Big Ten matchup that carries real weight for a team trying to keep its postseason path alive, and the margin for error is gone with the regular season winding down.
Michigan State has little room to savor the rivalry win now, because bowl eligibility depends on finishing the job from here. The Spartans recent results have made the picture clear enough, and this one at home is the kind of game that can either extend the season or leave the final stretch feeling like a missed opportunity. [Read more 🡒]