MICHIGAN SPORTS

Detroit Lions, Pistons, Red Wings, Tigers, U-M Wolverines, MSU Spartans & More

There is an unprecedented lockdown of information coming out of the Detroit Lions' front office about the potential candidates for the team's vacant head coaching job, according to Lions insider Tom Kowalski. He tells Stoney and Wojo of WDFN-AM Detroit that new president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew are keeping the information to themselves and taking their time so they can make the right decision to help the franchise rebound from its worst season ever.

Join MLive Red Wings Insider Ansar Khan on Tuesday at 12 noon for his weekly Q and A:

In his news and notes tidbit today, Michael Lombardi dropped a small bomb -- the Lions have an interest in Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh.

A split to the start of its Big Ten season wasn't enough to keep the University of Michigan men's basketball team from falling out of the Associated Press' Top 25 poll.

Update from Monday's practice: Wings coach Mike Babcock said Ty Conklin will start in goal Tuesday against Columbus and Chris Osgood will start Thursday vs. Dallas. Osgood has a good career record against the Stars (27-10-3 regular season, 8-4 playoffs), so perhaps Conklin will start again Saturday against Buffalo, followed by Osgood next Monday in Dallas.

EAST LANSING -- Michigan State junior forward Raymar Morgan was rewarded for being doubly good in the Spartans first two Big Ten games.

University of Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez still hasn't found a defensive coordinator for the 2009 season, but the man he's trying to replace - Scott Shafer - already has a new job.

Unlike last week, when the Lions could interview head coaches but not offer them jobs, that situation is completely different this week.

AP File PhotoThe Detroit Lions reportedly will interview several head coach candidates this week, including Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey.

The Detroit Lions' search for a head coach enters the second week.

Team president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew are expected to interview several more candidates this week for the Lions' vacant head coaching position.

Lewand said the team will not confirm any information, including to whom the Lions already have spoken or whom they're scheduled to meet. Several reports, though, indicate the Lewand and Mayhew have been busy -- and will continue to be.

AP PhotoDetroit's Chris Osgood makes a save against Minnesota on Saturday night.

DETROIT -- Being sidelined for nearly three weeks with a strained groin wasn't necessarily a bad thing for Detroit Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood.

While out, he watched tapes of last year's playoffs, trying to determine what worked for him then that hasn't gone right this season. He also worked on some technical aspects of his game in practice.

Perhaps more importantly, the time off helped him recharge and refocus.

AP PhotoPistons forward Jason Maxiell (54) fouls Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (9) during the first half.

LOS ANGELES -- There's never a dull moment--or an easy win--when it comes to the Detroit Pistons.

Even against an injury-riddled Los Angeles Clippers team, the Pistons had problems. However, the Pistons did do just enough to squeak out an 88-87 win Sunday.

Allen Iverson, who struggled all game with his shot, hit the game winner -- sort of.

ANN ARBOR -- DeShawn Sims' biggest play in Michigan's pivotal 74-64 Big Ten Conference win Sunday against a streaking Illinois team wasn't one of his three 3-point field goals en route to 13 points.

Nor was it any of the nine rebounds he pulled down.

LOS ANGELES -- With a bag of ice wrapped around his ribs, another wrap around his left thigh and a left pinkie finger that was popped back into place moments earlier, Antonio McDyess said, "I look the way I feel."

His physical ailments aside, McDyess delivered the kind of gutsy performance the Detroit Pistons needed to squeak past the Los Angeles Clippers 88-87 on Sunday.

Matt Millen took the blame for the Detroit Lions' 0-16 season, but why did NBC turn to him as an analyst?

It's bad enough Matt Millen ruined the Detroit Lions.

He's now laughing about it as a member of NBC's "Football Night in America" broadcast team during the NFL playoffs.

The former president and general manager of the Lions joined Bob Costas, Dan Patrick, Keith Olbermann and Jerome Bettis in the studio Saturday for NBC's telecast coverage of the Arizona Cardinals-Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts-San Diego Chargers wild-card playoff contests.

Zack Novak kept asking for scoreboard updates, anxious to make his return to the Crisler Arena floor.

Moments before, the University of Michigan freshman guard had been forced to the training room where he required six stitches after being elbowed in the temple.

LOS ANGELES -- Jason Maxiell just picked up his second personal foul, and was replaced by Antonio McDyess with 2:45 to play in the first half.