Mitten Minute: MSU Fires Jonathan Smith, Pistons Edge Heat, Wings Fall to Bruins
Good evening, Michigan! Tonight’s Mitten Minute brings a little bit of everything — coaching chaos in East Lansing, a gritty finish in Ann Arbor, and a busy weekend for Detroit’s pro teams.
MSU Fires Smith, Turns to Fitzgerald
Michigan State pulled the plug on the Jonathan Smith era, parting ways with the head coach and moving quickly toward a plan to hire former Northwestern boss Pat Fitzgerald. It’s a stunning but decisive move that signals just how badly the Spartans want to reset the trajectory of the program.
On the field, though, the Spartans actually ended their season on a high note. MSU knocked off Maryland 38–28, closing things out with a rare feel-good performance in front of the home crowd. Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic delivered his best game in green and white, throwing a career-high four touchdown passes and showing the kind of poise and playmaking Spartan fans have been craving.
Wolverines Fall to Buckeyes
Down in Ann Arbor, the Michigan Wolverines saw their season end with a thud in a 27–9 loss to rival Ohio State. Michigan’s offense struggled to finish drives, and the Buckeyes made the big plays when it mattered most. After a stretch of owning “The Game,” this one will sting for a while, and it sets up a long offseason full of questions about what comes next.
Pistons Edge Heat in a Shootout
On the hardwood, the Detroit Pistons are coming off a much-needed feel-good moment. Detroit outlasted the Miami Heat 138–135 in a Saturday night shootout, snapping some frustration and reminding everyone how fun this team can be when the offense is humming.
Cade Cunningham set the tone with 29 points, attacking the rim, hitting timely shots, and keeping the Pistons composed in crunch time. It wasn’t perfect, but a close win on the road over a tough Heat squad is something to build on.
Wings Battle but Fall in Boston
Over on the ice, the Detroit Red Wings went toe-to-toe with the Boston Bruins and came up just short in a 3–2 weekend shootout loss. It was a heavy, physical game with playoff-style energy from start to finish — the kind of matchup you circle on the calendar.
Lucas Raymond and Michael Rasmussen found the back of the net for Detroit, but Boston’s Morgan Geekie was the difference-maker, scoring twice and tilting the night in the Bruins’ favor. Even in defeat, it felt like one of those games you don’t mind watching — fast, chippy, and competitive wire to wire.
Around the Mitten: CMU and MSU Women’s Hoops
In MAC action, Central Michigan had a rough go against Kent State, falling 21–3 in a game where the offense never really found its footing.
On the women’s college hoops side, the Michigan State Spartans were in action at the Baha Mar Nassau Championship, taking on Clemson in a key early-season test. It’s the kind of neutral-site tournament that gives you a good read on where a team stands before conference play ramps up.
Wrapping Up
From coaching changes and rivalry heartbreak to tight NBA finishes and physical NHL battles, it was a busy Sunday across the Mitten.
For full stories, deeper breakdowns, and more reaction, head over to MittenSportsTalk.com — your home for Michigan sports, from preps to pros.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
