Red Wings Playoff Streak on the Line

Red Wings

The Red Wings have made the post-season for 25 straight years.   They’ve got their work cut out for them if they’re going to make it 26 years.   The Wings have 21 games left to try to climb into playoff contention.  There are six teams ahead of them, and are 7 points behind Toronto who would have the last spot if the season ended today.   The Red Wings host New Jersey tonight, and then are off for a week.

Men’s College Basketball

For the third straight week, Gonzaga, Villanova and Kansas are the top three teams in The Associated Press college basketball poll.  It is the fourth week at No. 1 for Gonzaga (28-0), the only unbeaten team in Division I.  UConn is number one in Women’s College Basketball.

The MSU Spartans host Nebraska on Thursday and Wisconsin on Sunday.  They’ll also be on the road for games next week at Illinois and Maryland and will be without starting guard Eron Harris, who is having knee surgery that will end his college career.  Coach Tom Izzo says Alvin Ellis will replace Harris in the starting lineup.

Michigan is at Rutgers on Wednesday, home against Purdue on Saturday and then on the road next week at Northwestern and Nebraska.

Both Michigan and Michigan State could end up playing in the NIT Tournament this year, depending on these final four games.

NIT Experiments

The NIT is experimenting with some rule changes in this year’s tournament, including increasing individual fouls allowed from 5 to 6, reducing the shot clock to 20 seconds and resetting the foul totals for a team.

Coach Tom Izzo says he likes all of those ideas.  He says the game gets too boring when teams are going to the foul line so often, and he says the foul penalties give taller teams an advantage.

 Pistons/NBA

The Pistons host the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.

Boys’ High School Basketball

Perry 51, Maple Valley 36

Tonight:

Portage Central at Battle Creek Central

Niles at Lakeview

Harper Creek at Parma Western

Hastings at Marshall

Pennfield at Jackson NW

Centerville(12-6) at St. Philip (11-6).  Hear it after the 7pm news on 95.3 WBCK.

Grand Rapids Adventist at Battle Creek Academy

Heritage Christian at Battle Creek Calhoun Christian

Bronson at Athens

Marshall Academy at Bellevue

Climax-Scotts at Lawrence

Delton at K-Christian

Galesburg-Augusta at Constantine

Gull Lake at Portage Northern

Olivet at Maple Valley

Colon at Mendon

Girls’ Basketball

Bronson 50, Colon 27

Tonight:

Battle Creek Central at Portage Central

Parma Western at Harper Creek

Jackson NW at Pennfield

Marshall at Hastings

Marshall Academy at Bellevue

Athens at Union City

K-Christian at Delton

Quincy at Homer

Climax-Scotts at Homer

Will Carleton Academy at Litchfield

Maple Valley at Olivet

Tigers/MLB                                                                                    

2 days until the first Tiger spring training game in Lakeland Florida.     The Tigers have some tough decisions to make on three position players who have been in the organization for a long time.  All three are out of options, which means they either make the team, or go on waivers.   Steven Moya, Tyler Collins, and Dixon Machado all hope to make the big league team this spring, or they could be playing in a new organization. .

Feb. 23: Exhibition game vs. Florida Southern at Lakeland, 1:05 p.m.

Feb. 24: Grapefruit League opener vs. Orioles at Lakeland, 1:05 p.m.