2011–12 Major Indoor Soccer League season
In May 2011, the United Soccer Leagues announced it had entered into an agreement with the MISL to operate the indoor league. In September, the Chicago Kick announced that they were unable to secure an arena in time to begin play for 2011–12 but planned to join the MISL in 2012–13.


2011–12 Major Indoor Soccer League season
Besides the aborted team in Chicago, other franchises were added in Syracuse, Norfolk, Rochester, and Wichita. Of the four, the reborn Rochester Lancers were the most successful, finishing second in league attendance and qualifying for the league playoffs.


2011–12 Major Indoor Soccer League season, Playoffs
Both rounds of the playoffs were in a home and home format. The higher seed had the option to choose whether to host the first or second game. A mini-game would be held immediately after Game 2 if the series was tied at one win apiece. Baltimore had the top seed, due to their 2–1 season series win over Milwaukee.


2011–12 Majstrovstvá regiónu
The 2011–12 season of Majstrovstvá regiónu was the nineteen season of the fourth-tier football league in Slovakia, since its establishment in 1993.


2011–12 Majstrovstvá regiónu
64 teams were geographically divided into four groups: Majstrovstvá regiónu Bratislava, Majstrovstvá regiónu Západ, Majstrovstvá regiónu Stred and Majstrovstvá regiónu Východ (16 teams each). Teams were played against teams in their own division only.


2011–12 Malmö Redhawks season
The 2011–12 Malmö Redhawks season was the Redhawks' 5th consecutive season in the HockeyAllsvenskan ice hockey league, the second tier of Swedish elite hockey. The regular season began on 17 September 2011 away against Mora IK, and concluded on 2 March 2012 away against Almtuna IS. The Playoff round began on 4 March and ended on 12 March 2012. The season saw Malmö Redhawks attempting to reach the Kvalserien qualification for Elitserien, after businessman Hugo Stenbeck bought the Redhawks in January 2011.


2011–12 Malmö Redhawks season
The Redhawks finished 7th in the league and qualified for the Playoff round, where they finished 2nd and failed to qualify for the 2012 Kvalserien for Elitserien.


2011–12 Malmö Redhawks season, Summary
The Redhawks started the season with eight pre-season games against professional teams from Norway and Germany as well as Sweden. Malmö went 5–2–1 in those eight games (5 wins, 2 losses, 1 tie).


2011–12 Malmö Redhawks season, Summary
The regular season began pretty well. With 29 points and a top 3 spot in the first two months, everything seemed to be going as intended as the Redhawks fought for a direct spot to the 2012 Kvalserien. However, after only getting 18 points in November, as well as beginning December with three consecutive losses, Malmö jumped down to a spot below top 7, which would have been required to even guarantee a playoff spot. Malmö had enough of then head coach Leif Strömberg, who was fired from the club on 10 December as a result. Ulf Taavola, at that time assistant coach for the team, took over the head-coaching job and Patrik Sylvegård entered the team as new assistant coach.


2011–12 Malmö Redhawks season, Summary
Malmö continued to struggle for a playoff spot throughout January, despite getting 10 points that month, five more than the previous month. The team improved sharply in February, posting 16 points in seven games. As a result, Malmö returned to a playoff spot. In the two last games of February, Malmö had their chance to secure a spot in the playoffs with a win, but failed. As a result, the Redhawks were forced to win the last game of the season, which was against Almtuna. The game was a nail-biter for 59 minutes, but with just one minute left on the clock, Malmö captain Linus Klasen scored the only goal of the game to send the Redhawks to the Playoff round.


2011–12 Malmö Redhawks season, Summary
The Playoff round started well, but because Malmö only received one extra point due to the 7th seed in the regular season, the Redhawks were two points outside the spot for the 2012 Kvalserien going into the final game. While Malmö won their game 4–1, Rögle won their game 7–0 and took the Kvalserien spot due to better goal difference than Malmö, ending the Redhawks' 2011–12 season.


2011–12 Malmö Redhawks season, Schedule and results
"@" indicates that the game was played on away ice.


2011–12 Malmö Redhawks season, Schedule and results, Regular season
Legend:   Win (3 points)  Overtime/Shootout win (2 points)  Loss (0 points)  Overtime/Shootout loss (1 point)|}


2011–12 Malmö Redhawks season, Schedule and results, Playoff round
In the Playoff round, the 4th seed starts at four points, the 5th seed at three points, the 6th seed at two points, and the 7th seed at one point. As Malmö were the 7th-seeded team, they started at one point. The top team after six rounds advances to the 2012 Kvalserien.


2011–12 Maltese FA Trophy
The 2011–12 Maltese FA Trophy was the 74th season since its establishment. In a change from last season, this year's competition will include all teams from Malta and Gozo. The competition began on 8 September 2011 and will ended 27 May 2012 with the Final in Ta' Qali Stadium. The defending champions are Floriana, having won their 19th Maltese Cup last season and first since 1994. The winner will qualify to the first qualifying round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.


2011–12 Maltese FA Trophy
Floriana were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Hibernians.


2011–12 Maltese FA Trophy, Calendar
Matches began on 8 September 2011 and concluded with the final on 27 May 2012.


2011–12 Maltese FA Trophy, First round
Entering this round were 12 clubs from the Maltese Third Division, 6 clubs from the Gozo Football League First Division and 4 clubs from the Gozo Football League Second Division. These matches took place between 8 and 11 September 2011.


2011–12 Maltese FA Trophy, Second round
Entering this round were the 11 winners from the First Round along with the 12 Maltese First Division clubs, the 14 Maltese Second Division clubs, 2 clubs from the Maltese Third Division and 1 club from the Gozo Football League First Division. These matches took place between 12 and 20 November 2011.


2011–12 Maltese FA Trophy, Third round
Entering this round were the 20 winners from the Second Round and the 12 clubs from the Maltese Premier League. These matches took place between 18 and 20 December 2011.


2011–12 Maltese FA Trophy, Fourth round
Entering this round were the 16 winners from the Third Round. These matches took place between 21 and 22 January 2012.


2011–12 Maltese FA Trophy, Quarterfinals
Entering this round were the eight winners from the Fourth Round.


2011–12 Maltese FA Trophy, Semifinals
Entering this round were the four winners from the Quarterfinals.


2011–12 Maltese FA Trophy, Final
Entering this round were the two winners from the Semifinals.


2011–12 Maltese First Division
The 2011–12 Maltese First Division (also known as 2011–12 BOV 1st Division due to sponsorship reasons) Started on 9 September 2011 and ended on 13 May 2012.


2011–12 Maltese First Division, Teams
These teams will contest the Maltese First Division 2011-12 season:


2011–12 Maltese Premier League
The 2011–12 Maltese Premier League was the 97th season of the Maltese Premier League, the top-tier football league in Malta. It began on 19 August 2011 and it ended in May 2012. Valletta were the defending champions, having won their 20th title last season.


2011–12 Maltese Premier League
The Premier League consists of two rounds. In the First Round, every team plays each opponent twice, once "home" and once "away" (in actuality, the designation of home and away is purely arbitrary as most of the clubs do not have their own grounds), for a total of 22 games. The league then splits into two pools. Earned points are subsequently halved. Teams that finish in positions 1–6 compete in the "Championship Pool" and teams that finish in positions 7–12 play in the "Relegation Pool".


2011–12 Maltese Premier League
On 13 January 2011, the Malta Football Association decided to expand the league to 12 teams starting with this season.


2011–12 Maltese Premier League, Teams
Vittoriosa Stars were relegated to the First Division after finishing in last place of the relegation pool last season. This ended a one-year stay in the Premier League for them. Taking their place in the competition are Balzan Youths, the champions of the Maltese First Division. Balzan are playing in the Premier League after a seven season absence.


2011–12 Maltese Premier League, Teams
Because of the league's expansion for this season, the second- and third-place finishers of the First Division, Mqabba and Mosta respectively, were also promoted to the Premier League for this season. Mqabba return to the top league after a three year absence while Mosta return after five years away.


2011–12 Maltese Premier League, Teams, Stadia and training grounds
Only a few stadia have the infrastructure needed to host Premier League matches. These are Ta' Qali National Stadium and Centenary Stadium at Ta' Qali, Attard, Victor Tedesco Stadium at Ħamrun and Hibernians Ground at Paola. Additional to that, each team has been assigned to a dedicated training ground. On a few occasions, Hibernians and Hamrun Spartans play at their home ground, but otherwise all games are played on neutral ground, rendering "home" and "away" games purely symbolic.


2011–12 Maltese Second Division
The 2011–12 Maltese Second Division (referred to as the Bank of Valletta Second Division for sponsorship reasons) is the seventh season of the league under its current title and first season under its current league division format.


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season
The 2011–12 season was Manchester City Football Club's 110th season of football, its tenth consecutive season in the Premier League, and its fifteenth season in the Premier League. The club also played in the UEFA Champions League for the second time, and the first time since its rebranding from being the European Cup, after finishing third in the 2010–11 Premier League.


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season
Manchester City won the English top tier title for the third time in history and the first time in 44 years by beating Queens Park Rangers 3–2 on the final day of the season, coming back from being down 2–1 with two stoppage-time goals just before the final whistle. The championship marked City's first English title since 1968, as well as the first time the Premier League has been won by a club whose current spell in the top division began after the League commenced play. It is also the first Premier League title to be decided on goal difference, and City's game-winning goal against QPR came 15 seconds after City's Manchester rivals Manchester United had just defeated Sunderland 1–0.


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Kit, Kit information
Umbro supplied kits for Manchester City for a third season in a row.


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Competitions, Premier League, Points breakdown
Points against 2010/11 Top Four: 12 Points against promoted teams: 15


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Competitions, Premier League, Biggest & smallest
Biggest home win: 5–1 vs. Norwich City, 3 December 2011 Biggest home defeat: Undefeated Biggest away win: 1–6 vs. Manchester United, 23 October 2011; vs. Norwich City, 14 April 2012 Biggest away defeat: 5 by a 1-goal margin


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Competitions, Premier League, Biggest & smallest
Biggest home attendance: 47,435 vs. Queens Park Rangers, 13 May 2012 Smallest home attendance: 46,321 vs. Stoke City, 21 December 2011 Biggest away attendance: 75,487 vs. Manchester United, 23 October 2011 Smallest away attendance: 16,026 vs. Wigan Athletic, 16 January 2012


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Competitions, Playing statistics
Appearances (Apps.) numbers are for appearances in competitive games only. Apps. numbers denote: "No. of games started (No. of games subbed on)"Red card numbers denote: "No. of second yellow cards / No. of straight red cards." Numbers in parentheses represent red cards overturned for wrongful dismissal.


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Competitions, Playing statistics
Table statistics current for games played up until the end of 6 May 2012


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Competitions, Playing statistics
Last updated: 13 May 2012. Source: (for players and positions) (for squad numbers) (for actual stats.) All match Reports in Competitive games section above


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Awards, Premier League Player of the Season award
Awarded to the outstanding player of the season as judged by a panel assembled by the Premier League's sponsor


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Awards, Premier League Manager of the Month award
Awarded monthly to the manager that was chosen by a panel assembled by the Premier League's sponsor


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Awards, Premier League Player of the Month award
Awarded monthly to the player that was chosen by a panel assembled by the Premier League's sponsor


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Awards, Premier League Golden Glove award
Awarded to the goalkeeper who kept the most clean sheets over the 2011–12 Premier League season


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Awards, PFA Team of the Year
The combined best 11 from all teams in the Premier League chosen by the PFA


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Awards, LMA Performance of the Week award
Awarded on a weekly basis to the Premier League or Football League team that a five-man LMA adjudication panel deems to have performed in some outstanding manner


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Awards, Etihad Player of the Month awards
Awarded to the player that receives the most votes in a poll conducted each month on the MCFC OWS


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Awards, 2011 CAF Blacks Player of the Year award
Awarded every calendar year from a shortlist of three based on a vote of the 53 CAF national team managers


2011–12 Manchester City F.C. season, Awards, 2011 FSS Serbian Player of the Year award
Awarded every calendar year in conjunction with the FSS Coach of the Year award


2011–12 Manchester City L.F.C. season
The 2011–12 season was Manchester City Ladies Football Club's 24th season of competitive football and its eleventh and final season in the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division before their promotion to the National Division.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season
The 2011–12 season was Manchester United's 20th season in the Premier League, and their 37th consecutive season in the top-flight of English football. United were defending Premier League champions, and aimed for an unprecedented 20th league title this season. Furthermore, they were competing in the Champions League for a 16th successive season. In addition, they were competing in the domestic tournaments, the FA Cup and the League Cup.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season
Manchester United began the season with a 3–2 win over local rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley on 7 August 2011.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season
They were, however, knocked out of the League Cup at the Fifth Round stage for the second successive season after losing 2–1 to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on 30 November 2011.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season
On 7 December 2011, United lost 2–1 away to Basel, a result which saw them finish third in their Champions League group. This meant that they competed in the UEFA Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) for the first time since the 1995–96 season. However, they only made it as far as the Round of 16, falling to Athletic Bilbao 5–3 on aggregate.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season
On 4 January 2012 against Newcastle United, Ryan Giggs broke Sir Bobby Charlton's record for the most starts, the match being Giggs' 757th start.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season
On 28 January 2012, United were knocked out of the FA Cup in the Fourth Round after losing 2–1 against Liverpool at Anfield.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season
Going into the last match of the season, on 13 May 2012, United and Manchester City were locked together on 86 points at the top the table, but City led with an eight-goal advantage in goal difference. United therefore needed to better City's result to win the title. They were on course to do this, winning 1–0 at Sunderland, whilst City trailed 2–1 at home to Queens Park Rangers. However, two stoppage time goals from Edin Džeko and Sergio Agüero gave City a 3–2 win and edged United out on goal difference. It was the first time in 23 years that the champions and the runners-up had finished level on points.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season
The season was the first since 1991–92 without Gary Neville, who retired after the 2010–11 season.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, Pre-season and friendlies
Manchester United preceded their 2011–12 campaign with a tour of the United States for the second year in a row. As in 2010, they played in the MLS All-Star Game, in which they took on a team of the best players in Major League Soccer. In the lead-up to this game, which was played on 27 July 2011, United took on the New England Revolution (13 July), the Seattle Sounders (20 July) and the Chicago Fire (23 July), before finishing the tour with a game against Barcelona at FedExField in Washington, D.C. on 30 July.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, Pre-season and friendlies
The club granted a testimonial to Paul Scholes, who retired on 31 May 2011, to honour his 17 years of service to United. The match was played at Old Trafford against New York Cosmos on 5 August 2011. United won the game 6–0 – with Scholes himself opening the scoring the opening goal – to complete an unbeaten pre-season.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, Pre-season and friendlies
The club also granted a testimonial to Harry Gregg, a survivor of the 1958 Munich air disaster, who rescued a 20-month-old girl, her pregnant mother and attempted to revive United manager Sir Matt Busby. The match was played at Windsor Park against Irish League XI on 15 May 2012. The Irish XI was managed by Martin O'Neill and David Jeffrey. United won the game 4–1.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Community Shield
As Premier League champions, United began the season against the holders of the FA Cup, local rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield. The match was played at Wembley on 7 August. This was the first time the Shield had been contested by the two clubs in 55 years. United had most of the possession and more shots on goal in the first half, but it was City who took the lead in the 38th minute when Joleon Lescott nodded in a David Silva free-kick.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Community Shield
Edin Džeko then doubled City's lead on the stroke of half-time with a low strike from long-distance. However, seven minutes into the second half, Chris Smalling volleyed home an Ashley Young free-kick to reduce the deficit, and then Nani finished off an intricate passing move involving Wayne Rooney and Tom Cleverley in the 58th minute to bring the score back to 2–2. With a penalty shoot-out looming as the game moved into injury time, Nani forced a mistake from City captain Vincent Kompany, outpaced the defence and rounded goalkeeper Joe Hart before sliding the ball into the empty net to seal United's comeback and their 19th FA Community Shield.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, Premier League
The fixtures for the 2011–12 league season were announced on 17 June, with United beginning the defence of their title away from home for the first time since 2005–06.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Cup
United entered the FA Cup at the Third Round stage with the other Premier League clubs, as well as those from the Championship. The Third Round draw was made on 4 December 2011, and gave United an away match against holders Manchester City. The tie was played on 8 January 2012, and was the 162nd Manchester derby ending in a 3–2 win for United. The match saw the dramatic return of Manchester United legend Paul Scholes from his retirement after last season's Champions League Final against Barcelona.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Cup
Two goals from Wayne Rooney and one from Danny Welbeck saw United go 3–0 into the second half after Vincent Kompany was sent off after 12 minutes of first half play. However ten men Manchester City bounced back immediately after the break with a free kick from Aleksandar Kolarov followed by a close range goal from Sergio Agüero.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Cup
The draw for the Fourth Round took place on 8 January 2012, and gave United a tie against their other strong rivals Liverpool for the second successive season in the FA Cup. The match was played at Anfield on 28 January 2012. United lost 2–1. Daniel Agger's header put Liverpool in front, and Park Ji-sung equalised seven minutes before the break, but Dirk Kuyt's late winner ended United's hopes of winning the famous trophy. United had hit the post through Antonio Valencia in the first half. This loss meant that United still had not won the FA Cup since 2004, or even appeared in a final since 2007.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, League Cup
As one of eight English clubs who qualified for European competition in the 2010–11 season, United received a bye to the Third Round of the League Cup. The draw took place on 27 August 2011, giving United a trip to Elland Road to take on fierce rivals Leeds United. The match took place on 20 September 2011, where United won 3–0. Sir Alex Ferguson handed a start to debutant Zeki Fryers, 18 years old, and twice early on, Dimitar Berbatov had to clear off the line.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, League Cup
But that was the closest the hosts came to causing an upset, as Michael Owen opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a scuffed shot and lashed home a second on 32. Ryan Giggs all but sealed the victory when he played a short corner to Park Ji-sung, got the return ball, nutmegged Robert Snodgrass, and shot past Andrew Lonergan via a deflection off Luciano Becchio. Late on, Ramón Núñez, a Leeds substitute, fluffed the chance to score a consolation for Leeds, firing wide.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, League Cup
The draw for the Fourth Round took place on 24 September 2011, and gave United a trip to the EBB Stadium to take on League Two side Aldershot Town. The match was played on 25 October 2011, with United once again winning 3–0, through goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen, and Antonio Valencia.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, League Cup
The draw for the quarter-finals took place on 29 October 2011, and gave United a home match against Championship side Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace took the lead in the 65th minute, with a 40-yard strike from Darren Ambrose. However their lead lasted less than 4 minutes, with Macheda equalising from the penalty spot, after he was fouled himself, in the 69th minute. Despite increasing Manchester United pressure, the match went to extra-time, where Crystal Palace scored a second, with a Glenn Murray header, to put them 2–1 ahead in the 98th minute. The game eventually ended 2–1, with Palace facing Cardiff City in the semi-finals, a game which secured a Championship side in the final.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
Manchester United began their Champions League campaign in the group stage after finishing in first place in the 2010–11 Premier League. The draw for the group stage was made on 25 August 2011. As one of the top eight-ranked teams in Europe, the club was seeded in Pot 1, meaning that they would avoid being drawn with defending champions Barcelona, as well as Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Porto, Real Madrid and the other three English clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City. The draw eventually paired United with two previous opponents, Benfica and Swiss champions Basel, and one new opponent, Romanian champions Oțelul Galați.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
United's first UEFA Champions League group game was away to Benfica on 14 September 2011, which ended in a 1–1 draw. Nicolás Gaitán's delightful long pass picked out Óscar Cardozo in the 24th minute, and he controlled on his chest then finished from 16 yards. But three minutes before half-time, Ryan Giggs cut inside from the right and fired a 20-yard strike to equalise. United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard saved from Nolito and Gaitán late on.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
United's next game in the Champions League was a home game against Basel. Two goals from Danny Welbeck in the 16th and 17th minutes looked to have put United in control. Welbeck's first goal came when he scuffed a shot in off the post, and the England forward's second was a far more convincing strike from Ryan Giggs' cross. Fabian Frei shot in off the post on 58 minutes to give Basel hope, and Alexander Frei's header, aided by awful defending from Rio Ferdinand, made it 2–2.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
With 15 minutes remaining, Basel were awarded a penalty and Alexander Frei sent David de Gea the wrong way to give Basel a shock lead and leave United on the brink of a first home defeat in almost 18 months. In the 90th minute, however, Ashley Young headed home Nani's cross at the back post to rescue a point. United could have earned all three points had substitute Dimitar Berbatov not shot into the side-netting rather than play it along the ground for a tap-in. Instead, United were forced to settle for a point, as they went down to third in Group C. This was the first time since 1999 that United had failed to win either of their first two Champions League group stage matches.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
United went on to win both their fixtures against Oțelul Galați 2–0, with two penalties, both scored by Wayne Rooney, leading United to victory away from home, and an early goal from Antonio Valencia and a late own goal from Cristian Sârghi to ensure a 2–0 United victory at Old Trafford. A 2–2 draw in Matchday 5 against Benfica, however, and an unlikely 2–1 loss against Basel at St. Jakob-Park meant that United failed to progress past the group stage of the Champions League for only the third time in 17 years.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
According to football finance blogger Andy Green (a.k.a. "andersred"), United's failure to progress beyond the group stage of the Champions League could cost them up to £20 million, mostly in lost TV revenue.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Europa League
As a result of finishing third in their group, United played in the UEFA Europa League for the first time since the 1995–96 season. They entered the tournament at the Round of 32 stage.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Europa League
As one of the top four of the eight third-placed Champions League teams, United were seeded for the Round of 32 draw which took place at 12:00 GMT on 16 December 2011. United were drawn against Ajax. The only previous meeting between the two sides came in the 1st Round of the same competition in the 1976–77 season, United winning 2–1 on aggregate.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Europa League
United were away from home for the first leg on 16 February 2012. United won the game 2–0. United struggled to get going in the first half, and David de Gea produced a brilliant save to deny Siem de Jong. But the Red Devils looked far stronger after the break, and Ashley Young put them ahead with a drilled finish. Javier Hernández doubled the lead late on to ensure that United took two away goals with them into the second leg at Old Trafford.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Europa League
The return leg was at Old Trafford on 23 February 2012. United lost 2–1 (their fourth home loss of the season, having lost none at home the previous season), but went through 3–2 on aggregate. The Red Devils took the lead through Javier Hernández's finish following Dimitar Berbatov's fine pass. Aras Özbiliz levelled for Ajax from 20 yards. Toby Alderweireld headed home the winner with three minutes to go, but the goal came too late.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Europa League
United were drawn with Athletic Bilbao in the Round of 16, after the Spanish side defeated Lokomotiv Moscow on away goals after a 2–2 aggregate draw in their Round of 32 tie.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Europa League
United had only met Athletic Bilbao once before, in their debut season in European football. They met in the quarter-finals of the European Cup in the 1956–57 season. Matt Busby's babes lost 5–3 in Spain, before winning 3–0 at Maine Road – Old Trafford was not equipped with floodlights at that time – to progress 6–5 on aggregate. The second leg was played on 6 February 1957, and the majority of the players who played that day would perish exactly a year later in the Munich air disaster.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Europa League
The first leg of the tie against Athletic Bilbao ended in a 3–2 defeat for United at Old Trafford on 8 March 2012. Wayne Rooney smashed United ahead from close range, before Fernando Llorente's header drew the visitors level. But the cavalier Spaniards refused to settle for a draw, as United failed to win yet another European home game.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Europa League
The hosts were stunned by two controversial second-half goals from Óscar de Marcos – who appeared to be offside from Ander Herrera's lofted pass – and Iker Muniain – whose goal resulted from a free-kick awarded after Patrice Evra kicked the ball with only one boot on – before a late consolation by Rooney from the penalty spot softened the blow as United succumbed to their fifth home defeat of the season.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Europa League
United travelled to the San Mamés Stadium for the second leg of tie, on 15 March 2012. Having lost the first leg, United needed to win at least 2–0 to progress. However, United lost 2–1 on the night and 5–3 on aggregate, meaning that they tumbled out of Europe. Iker Muniain hit the post, before Fernando Llorente scored with a volley from Fernando Amorebieta's raking diagonal pass. Ryan Giggs then headed wide, but Óscar de Marcos put further daylight between the sides when he crashed in. Wayne Rooney scored from 25 yards late on, but it was merely a consolation.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, Transfers
Manchester United's first two departures of the 2011–12 off-season were Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and English midfielder Paul Scholes, who both retired shortly after the end of the 2010–11 season. On 1 July, three players were released by the club: English midfielder Owen Hargreaves, Northern Irish goalkeeper Conor Devlin and English defender Oliver Gill. Four days later, Nicky Ajose was allowed to move to Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee. He was followed two days later by veteran defenders Wes Brown and John O'Shea, who were both offered four-year contracts at Sunderland. The final departure of the summer was French forward Gabriel Obertan, who signed a five-year contract with Newcastle United after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, Transfers
The club's first signing of the summer came on 13 June 2011 in the form of Blackburn Rovers centre-back Phil Jones. He was followed ten days later by Aston Villa winger Ashley Young. But with the departure of Van der Sar, the club needed a long-term replacement for him in goal, and a deal was done to sign young Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea from Atlético Madrid. Unlike Van der Sar, however, Paul Scholes' retirement was not permanent, and he returned to the club in January 2012 to alleviate the club's injury crisis. The only other arrival in January was young Swiss defender Frédéric Veseli, signed from cross-town rivals Manchester City.


2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season, Transfers
Four players left Manchester United during the January transfer window. First to depart was Irish midfielder Darron Gibson who signed for Everton for an undisclosed fee on 13 January. A week later, after spending the first half of the season on loan to Barnsley, Danny Drinkwater was bought by Leicester City also for an undisclosed fee. The last two players to leave were Mame Biram Diouf, who joined Hannover 96 on 28 January, and Ravel Morrison, who made a deadline day move to West Ham United. Italian defender Alberto Massacci was released from his contract on 23 April.


2011–12 Manhattan Jaspers basketball team
The 2011–12 Manhattan Jaspers basketball team represented Manhattan College during the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Jaspers, led by first year head coach Steve Masiello, played their home games at Draddy Gymnasium and are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They finished the season 21–13, 12–6 in MAAC play to finish in a tie for third place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the MAAC Basketball Tournament to Siena. They were invited to the 2012 CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they defeated Albany in the first round before falling in the second round to fellow MAAC member Fairfield.


2011–12 Marist Red Foxes men's basketball team
The 2011–12 Marist Red Foxes men's basketball team represented Marist College during the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Red Foxes, led by fourth year head coach Chuck Martin, played their home games at the McCann Arena and were members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They finished the season 14-18, 7–11 in MAAC play to finish eighth place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the MAAC Tournament to Iona.


2011–12 Marist Red Foxes men's basketball team, Previous season
The Red Foxes finished the 2010–11 season 6–27, 3–15 in MAAC play to finish in a tie for ninth place. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the MAAC Tournament where they lost to Fairfield.


2011–12 Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team
The 2011–12 Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team represented Marquette University in the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Marquette was coached by Buzz Williams and played their home games at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Golden Eagles were members of the Big East Conference. The Golden Eagles finished the season 26–7, 14–4 in Big East play to finish in second place. (Syracuse, the winner of the Big East regular season, was forced to vacate its wins from the season due to NCAA violations.) The Eagles received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where they defeated BYU and Murray State to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the second consecutive year. There they lost to Florida.


2011–12 Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team, Previous season
The Golden Eagles finished the 2010–11 season 22–15, 9–9 in Big East play to finish in a three-way tie for ninth place. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to North Carolina.


2011–12 Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team, Preseason
On October 19, 2011, at Big East Media Day, Marquette was picked to finish in sixth place in the Big East Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 155 points. Darius Johnson-Odom was named to the Preseason All-Big East First Team, while Jae Crowder was an honorable mention.


2011–12 Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team, 2011 Paradise Jam
Marquette traveled to St. Thomas for the Paradise Jam Tournament in mid-November. Marquette had an easy path to the final game, then were tested. In the opening round, Marquette took on Winthrop, and won easily 95–73, behind 26 points from Vander Blue, who hit his first nine shots, which included two three-point attempts. In the semifinal round, Marquette again won easily, beating Ole Miss 96–66. In this game, Jae Crowder hit nine of eleven field goal attempts, and ended with 25 points.


2011–12 Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team, 2011 Paradise Jam
Norfolk State also won their first two game in the tournament, so the two teams faced each other for the tournament championship. Marquette had played Norfolk State just a week earlier in Milwaukee, in a game that was never in doubt. Marquette opened up a 6–0 lead, expanded the lead to eleven by halftime, then scored 59 points in the second half to win the game 99–68.


2011–12 Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team, 2011 Paradise Jam
When the two teams met in the Paradise Jam final, the game started out similarly to the early game, with Marquette never trailing, and reaching a nine point lead at halftime. However, instead of scoring 59 points in the second half, they would score only 59 points in the game. The Golden Eagles, ranked 16th in the AP poll, held a 14 point lead at one time, but Norfolk State had two 7–0 runs and tied up the game at 57 points apiece with just over two minutes left. Marquette scored to take a lead; Norfolk State had a chance to tie in the closing seconds but failed to hit the basket, and Marquette won the 2011 Paradise Jam Championship 59–57.


2011–12 Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball team
The 2011–12 Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball team represented Marshall University in the 2011–12 college basketball season as a member of Conference USA (C-USA). They played their home games at the Cam Henderson Center and were led by second year head coach Tom Herrion.


2011–12 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team
The 2011–12 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represented the University of Maryland in the 2011–12 college basketball season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The team was led by first-year head coach Mark Turgeon, previously head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies. In March 2011, Turgeon was hired to replace Gary Williams, who retired from the position after 22 years at his alma mater. The Terrapins played their home games on campus at the Comcast Center in College Park, Maryland.


2011–12 Mascom Top 8 Cup
The 2011-12 Mascom Top 8 Cup was the inaugural season of the Mascom Top 8 Cup. It was played from May to 29 July 2012. It featured the top eight teams from the 2010-11 Botswana Premier League season. Township Rollers were crowned the inaugural champions after defeating ECCO City Greens 3-1 in the final.


2011–12 Mascom Top 8 Cup, History
The 2011-12 season was the first edition of the Mascom Top 8 Cup and was contested by the top eight teams from the previous premier league season. It was the second domestic cup in Botswana, being contested along with the 2011-12 FA Challenge Cup. The cup was predominantly southern, with only two northern teams taking part.


2011–12 Mascom Top 8 Cup, Format
A draw was conducted to decide the opponents. Quarterfinals were then played both home and away to determine the semifinalists. At the end of the quarterfinals the remaining teams were again drawn for a two-leg semifinal. The final was played only once. Three points were awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. Aggregate score was used to determine the winner and where it  was a tie then away goals were used and penalties if it was still a tie.


2011–12 Mascom Top 8 Cup, Final
| July 29 | Township Rollers | 3-1 | ECCO City Greens


2011–12 McGill Martlets women's ice hockey season
The McGill Martlets women's ice hockey team  represented McGill University during the 2011–12 CIS women's ice hockey season. The Martlets were unable to repeat as national champions for the second consecutive season.


2011–12 Meistriliiga (ice hockey) season
The 2011–12 Meistriliiga season was the 22nd season of the Meistriliiga, the top level of ice hockey in Estonia. Five teams participated in the league, and Tartu Kalev-Välk won the championship.


2011–12 Melbourne Aces season
The 2011–12 Melbourne Aces season was the second season for the team. As was the case for the previous season, the Aces will compete in the Australian Baseball League (ABL) with the other five foundation teams, and will again play its home games at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds.


2011–12 Melbourne Aces season, Offseason
During the offseason, it was announced that the Aces' home ground, the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds, would undergo major reconstruction in preparation for this season. Among others, the most notable change involved moving home plate approximately 15 feet closer to the fence, increasing the length of the field to 400 feet at centre field. The ground was previously noted for its size among ABL grounds, having accounted for over 42% of all home runs hit during the inaugural ABL season.


2011–12 Melbourne Heart FC season
The 2011–12 Melbourne Heart FC season was the club's second since its establishment in 2009. The club participated in the A-League for the second time. The club was originally scheduled to compete in the first ever edition of the Mirabella Cup, along with fellow A-League side and fierce rival Melbourne Victory, but FFA forbade all A-League clubs from competing. The season saw the addition of a youth team to the club, which competed in the 2011–12 A-League National Youth League season.


2011–12 Melbourne Heart FC season, Season overview
On 7 July 2011, the club announced it would take part in the inaugural Hawaiian Islands Invitational from 23–25 February 2012. The squad is set to be made up of emerging youth players as the tournament overlaps with the 2011–12 A-League season. Taking part in the Invitational will be Japan's Yokohama FC, South Korea's Incheon United FC and reigning MLS Cup winners the Colorado Rapids.


2011–12 Melbourne Heart FC season, Season overview
Melbourne Heart, along with major sponsor Westpac will again stage the Westpac Community Football Festival. This will be three, three-day celebrations of football as well as a thank you to all of the club's regional supporters. The three regional centers will be set up in Albury-Wodonga on 4–6 August, in Morwell from 18–20 August and in Shepparton from 25–27 August with a practice match being played at each venue.


2011–12 Melbourne Heart FC season, Team kit
From 1 April 2011, all A-League clubs were able to negotiate new kit supplier deals as the previous contract with Reebok had elapsed and as such, Melbourne Heart negotiated a one-year deal with ISC.


2011–12 Melbourne Heart FC season, Team kit
In conjunction with new apparel partner ISC, the club offered supporters the chance to submit designs for a ‘Third Jersey’. A design created by Red and White Unite co-founder Steven Forbes was judged the winner. The design was manufactured in a limited run of 150 and sold to the public.


2011–12 Melbourne Heart FC season, Players, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2011–12 Melbourne Heart FC season, Players, Youth Team
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2011–12 Melbourne Heart FC season, Statistics, Squad statistics
Updated on 2 April 2012Players in italics left the team during the season.


2011–12 Melbourne Heart FC season, Competitions, Hawaiian Islands Invitational
The 2012 Hawaiian Islands Invitational took place from 23–25 February 2012 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. Taking part in the Invitational were to be Japan's Yokohama FC, South Korea's Incheon United FC and reigning MLS Cup winners the Colorado Rapids. Due to the competitions scheduling, Melbourne Heart were forced to field their youth team, because the competition overlaps with the domestic A-League season.


2011–12 Melbourne Renegades season
The 2011–12 Melbourne Renegades season was the inaugural in the club's history. Coached by Simon Helmot and captained by Andrew McDonald, they competed in the BBL's 2011–12 season.


2011–12 Melbourne Renegades season, Summary
The Renegades' foundation captain was Victorian all-rounder Andrew McDonald and coached by then Victorian Bushrangers one-day coach, Simon Helmot. In their first season, the Renegade signed local state players such as Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Hodge and Dirk Nannes, along with Pakistani imports Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq. The Renegades struggled in their first season, only winning two games against the Sydney Thunder and the Sydney Sixers irrespectively. Aaron Finch scored 259 runs, whilst Shahid Afridi took 10 wickets.


2011–12 Melbourne Renegades season, Squad information
The following is the Renegades men squad for the 2011–12 Big Bash League season.


2011–12 Melbourne Stars season
The 2011–12 Melbourne Stars season was the first in the club's history. Coached by Greg Shipperd and captained by Cameron White, they competed in the BBL's inaugural season.


2011–12 Melbourne Tigers season
The 2011–12 NBL season is the 29th season for the Melbourne Tigers in the NBL. After missing out on the playoffs last season, Melbourne will look to improve and return to finals stages of this season's competition. Due to the 2011 NBA Lockout, Melbourne acquired the services of Patrick Mills for the first 9 rounds until losing him to the Chinese team Xinjiang Flying Tigers.


2011–12 Melbourne Tigers season, Roster
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season
The Melbourne Victory 2011–12 season is Melbourne Victory's seventh season in the Hyundai A-League, the highest level association football league in Australia.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season, Season summary
On 27 May 2011, erratic Costa Rican Marvin Angulo was axed by Melbourne Victory just weeks after his loan deal appeared set to be extended, while goalkeeper Michael Petkovic announced his retirement. Thai defender Surat Sukha left to join Buriram PEA after he was released by the Victory on compassionate grounds. It was also announced on 16 June 2011 that Adidas had signed a five-year deal as the club's official kit manufacturer.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season, Season summary
On 21 June 2011, Mehmet Durakovic was appointed as head coach of Melbourne Victory while former Socceroo and SBS football analyst Francis Awaritefe was appointed as Director of Football. However, after a brief five-month stint in his job as the Director of Football with Melbourne Victory, Awaritefe was axed by Melbourne Victory, after a run of poor results.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season, Season summary
On 20 August 2011, Melbourne Victory officially confirmed the signing of Socceroos and former Leeds, Liverpool and Galatasaray player Harry Kewell on a three-year contract.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season, Season summary
On 15 September 2011, it was announced Brazilian Fabio Alves had signed a one-year contract with Victory, after an impressive trial performance in a pre-season friendly against reigning champions Brisbane Roar.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season, Season summary
On 4 October 2011, Ante Covic signed a one-year deal with Melbourne Victory as an injury replacement for Tando Velaphi who was ruled out for 12 weeks.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season, Season summary
On 5 January 2012, it was announced that manager Mehmet Durakovic had been sacked due to poor performances throughout the season, with only three wins from their first 14 games. Assistant coach, Kevin Muscat, was appointed caretaker coach while the club searched for a new coach.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season, Season summary
On 7 January 2012, the former manager of Ipswich Town, Jim Magilton, was appointed as interim manager until the end of the current season.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season, Season summary
On 23 January 2012 it was reported that Melbourne Victory was to secure Mark Milligan on loan until the end of the season. It was confirmed on 24 January that Milligan has signed the contract for a loan deal until the end of the 2011–12 A-League season. On 24 January 2012 it was confirmed that Julius Davies had signed with Melbourne Victory after impressing the staff during his two weeks of training with the club, although he was not cleared to play until 16 March 2012. On 8 February 2012 Hong Kong based Spanish defender Ubay Luzardo secured a loan deal to Melbourne Victory until the end of the season.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season, Season summary
Veterans Tom Pondeljak, Rodrigo Vargas and Fabio were released days before the final series began.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season, Season summary
On 15 March, Victory confirmed the signing of sought-after Gold Coast United defender Adama Traore on a two-year deal. On 16 March, Jim Magilton boosted his defensive stocks for the upcoming season with the capture of Central Coast Mariners utility Sam Gallagher.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season, Season summary
Melbourne Victory finished the 2011–2012 season in eighth place and missed the finals campaign. Magilton was not offered a further contract and departed the club in April 2012.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season, Season summary
The Melbourne Victory 2011–12 season is Melbourne Victory's seventh A-League season.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory FC season, Players, First team squad
As of 9 February 2012. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season
The 2011–12 season was the fourth season that Melbourne Victory competed in the Australian W-League. The team finished fourth for the second time in two seasons and was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual champions Canberra United.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, Background
The Victory entered the 2011–12 season having finished fourth in 2010–11 and being eliminated in the semi-finals in their first finals appearance.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, Background
Vicki Linton returned for a second year as head coach, the only female coach in the W-League.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, W-League, Regular season
Victory opened the season with a 2–0 victory over Perth Glory at the Veneto Club with Caitlin Friend and Amy Jackson scoring either side of half-time.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, W-League, Regular season
Playing against Sydney FC in their second match, the Victory lost a tight battle 2–1 with Sydney's guest player Megan Rapinoe scoring a winner late in the match.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, W-League, Regular season
Travelling to Canberra, Victory faced Canberra United at McKellar Park. Victory conceded two goals in the first half and Kendall Fletcher could only score a consolation goal with twelve minutes to play.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, W-League, Regular season
Returning to Victoria, the team faced winless Adelaide United at Veneto Club. Victory prevailed 4–0, with Caitlin Friend scoring three times.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, W-League, Regular season
In their sixth match of the season, Victory played Newcastle Jets in Geelong, marking Melissa Barbieri's return to Victoria. The Victory used her return to market the match and tried, unsuccessfully, to attract a W-League record crowd. Before the match, Barbieri complained, saying, "they are billing me, in front of their own players, to market the game and I think that's poor form." Ultimately, the Victory prevailed 2–1, with Jodie Taylor scoring two goals for the home team.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, W-League, Regular season
Playing in Perth a week later, Victory faced a Perth Glory team who had been defeated 11–0 by Sydney FC the previous week. The Glory were also missing two players who had been suspended after a fight at training. Victory recorded their biggest win of the season in a 5–0 defeat with Katrina Gorry scoring a brace and Jodie Taylor a hat-trick.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, W-League, Regular season
Facing the undefeated Canberra United in late December, the Victory led early with Taylor converting a 20th minute penalty after Fletcher was brought down in the penalty area. Michelle Heyman equalised for Canberra in the 81st minute and the final score remained 1–1.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, W-League, Regular season
Entering their final match of the season against Adelaide United at Burton Park in Adelaide, the Victory were guaranteed of making the finals, with the Newcastle Jets losing to Perth Glory the day before. Had the Jets won, the Victory would have needed a point to lock in fourth spot. The Victory won comfortably with four players sharing in the goals in a 4–1 win over the Reds.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, W-League, Finals
Having finished fourth, Victory faced Canberra United for the chance to play in the grand final. Canberra entered the match as firm favourites having gone through the season undefeated.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, W-League, Finals
Victory were beaten 1–0 in Canberra having missed several chances to take the match. The winning goal was scored after 83 minutes when a  shot from Michelle Heyman deflected off Victory defender Rebekah Stott into the top right-hand corner of the goal.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, Venues
Melbourne Victory hosted five matches in the 2011–12 W-League season. Three matches were at the Veneto Club in Bulleen and two were played at Kardinia Park in Geelong.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, Coaching staff
Vicki Linton returned for a second season at Melbourne Victory. Michael Edwards acted as an assistant for several matches before taking control of the 12 November match against Canberra United while Linton was coaching the Australia women's national under-17 soccer team at the 2011 AFC U-16 Women's Championship in China.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, Transfers
In September, Linton made the decision to release national team goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri ahead of the season in favour of 16-year-old Brianna Davey.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, Transfers
England international Jodie Taylor returned to the club from Birmingham City in the FA Women's Super League (WSL). American players, Kendall Fletcher and Danielle Johnson from Sky Blue FC in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) returned for a second season.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, Transfers
In October 2011, the Victory recruited Laura Spiranovic, sister of Australian men's international Matthew Spiranovic, from South Melbourne. Spiranovic had come off a big season in the Victorian Women's Premier League having won both the best player award as well as being the league's leading goalscorer.


2011–12 Melbourne Victory W-League season, Transfers
Linton also brought in local players, Jackie Vogt, Cassandra Dimovski and Georgie Koutrouvelis.


2011–12 Memphis Grizzlies season
The 2011–12 Memphis Grizzlies season was the 17th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the 11th for the franchise in Memphis.


2011–12 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team
The 2011–12 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team represented the University of Memphis in the 2011–12 college basketball season, the 91st season of Tiger basketball. The Tigers were coached by head coach Josh Pastner. Pastner was assisted by Jack Murphy and Damon Stoudamire. From the summer of 2011 until December 2011, NBA player Luke Walton was also an assistant coach, though he departed from the position with the end of the NBA lockout. Jimmy Williams was brought in to replace Walton for the remainder of the 2011–12 season. The Tigers played their home games at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee and were members of Conference USA.


2011–12 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team, Pre-season
The 2010–11 Memphis Tigers finished the season with a record of 25–10 (10–6 C-USA). The Tigers finished in fourth place in C-USA, but won the 2011 Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament to secure a berth in the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament where they lost in the second round to Arizona.


2011–12 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team, Season summary
The Tigers began the season ranked in the top 15 of the AP and Coaches polls and the consensus pre-season favorite to win the Conference USA championship. The Tigers had scheduled aggressively, with their out of conference schedule ranking as one of the toughest in the country among division 1 teams.


2011–12 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team, Season summary
The Tigers, with a roster dominated by a large sophomore class and freshman blue chip recruit Adonis Thomas, struggled somewhat with their difficult out of conference schedule. Despite not taking any bad losses prior to the start of conference play, the Tigers did not defeat a ranked opponent during their non-conference slate. Sophomore Will Barton, however, quickly became a favorite to win CUSA player of the year honors, ranking in the top 50 in both rebounds per game and points per game in division 1 for the 2011–12 season.


2011–12 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team, Season summary
On January 16, 2012, the Commercial Appeal reported that talented freshman Adonis Thomas would miss the remainder of the regular season due to ankle surgery. Senior guard and starter Charles Carmouche would also miss all but the first few games of the Tigers' season with knee problems. Thomas, however, returned to the court for the Tigers' first CUSA tournament game.


2011–12 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team, Season summary
With a victory at Tulsa on March 3, the Tigers clinched the CUSA regular season championship. The Tigers finished the regular season with an overall record of 23 wins and 8 losses, and a conference record of 13 wins and 3 losses. On March 7, 2012, Will Barton was named Conference USA Player of the Year.


2011–12 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team, Season summary
In the CUSA tournament, the Tigers defeated their three opponents by an average of 25 points and ultimately won the championship over Marshall on March 10 in Memphis. For the second consecutive year, Tigers' point guard Joe Jackson was named the tournament's most valuable player. Will Barton and Tarik Black were also named to the all-tournament team.


2011–12 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team, Season summary
The Tigers received an 8 seed in the West Region of the 2012 NCAA Tournament, a seed which was widely considered to be too low given the Tigers' resume. Memphis lost to 9 seed St. Louis in the second round on March 16, ending their season.


2011–12 Men's Volleyball Serie A1
2011–12 Serie A1 is the 67th season of Italian Championship (Italian Volleyball League) organized under the supervision of Federazione Italiana Pallavolo.


2011–12 Meralco Bolts season
The 2011–12 Meralco Bolts season is the 2nd season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).


2011–12 Mercer Bears men's basketball team
The 2011–12 Mercer Bears men's basketball team represented Mercer University during the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bears, led by fourth year head coach Bob Hoffman, played their home games at the University Center and are members of the Atlantic Sun Conference. They finished the season 27–11, 13–5 in A-Sun play to finish in a tie for second place. They lost in the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun Basketball Tournament to Florida Gulf Coast. They were invited to the 2012 CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they defeated Tennessee State, Georgia State, Old Dominion, Fairfield, and Utah State to be the 2012 CIT Champions.


2011–12 Mercyhurst Lakers women's ice hockey season
The Mercyhurst Lakers women's hockey team will represent Mercyhurst College in the 2011–12 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season. The Lakers were coached by Michael Sisti and won the regular season College Hockey America championship. During the season, the Lakers only carried 17 skaters, but the club won its 12th consecutive regular season title. In addition, the squad qualified for the NCAA tournament for the eighth consecutive season, an NCAA Division I women's hockey record. The Lakers finished 22-8-3 overall, and were defeated by top-seed Wisconsin, 3-1, in the NCAA quarterfinals.


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season
Mersin İdmanyurdu (also Mersin İdman Yurdu, Mersin İY, or MİY) Sports Club; located in Mersin, east Mediterranean coast of Turkey in 2011-2012. 2011–12 season was the 12th season of Mersin İdmanyurdu football team in Süper Lig, the top level division in Turkey. Mersin İdmanyurdu football team has finished 2010–11 season at 1st place in TFF First League. The team has promoted to 2011–12 Süper Lig. The aim of team was remaining in the league for the first year after promotion. MİY finished season at 13th place and remained in the league. Team participated in 2011–12 Turkish Cup and was eliminated at Round 3.


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season
Ali Kahramanlı was club president. Nurullah Sağlam who won the 2010–11 TFF First League championship has continued as head coach. 11 of the players were saved in the team and some known players from Beşiktaş, Bursaspor and Sivasspor were transferred in pre-season. Attacking midfielder André Moritz was the most appeared player with 33 apps. Márcio Nobre who known as Mert Nobre in Turkey was the top goalscorer with ten goals.


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, Pre-season
MİY team started to first preparation camp period in Isparta, Davraz on 27 June 2011. Preparation games:


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, Pre-season
First camp period ended on 12 July 2011. Second camp period started in Austria, on 17 July 2011. Planned preparation games could not be played during Austria camp due to several reasons. One preparation game was played:


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, Pre-season
Second camp period ended on 30 July 2011. A third camp period is being planned because a delay in the 2011–12 Süper Lig is in the concern due to manipulation matters which TFF deals with. Preceding to the third camp, MİY attended in a tournament in Ankara, which Ankaragücü club organized and the revenue obtained from the audience was donated to people suffering from famine in Somalia. The games played in this tournament were:


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, Pre-season
After TRT Cup played in Ankara, MİY remained in Ankaragücü sports complex. Three more preparation games were played before the start of the season:


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2011–12 Süper Lig participation
Mersin İdmanyurdu participated in 2011–12 Süper Lig. The league was played as "Spor-Toto Süper Lig" in that season due to sponsorship reasons. 18 teams attended. A play-off system introduced for the first time in league history. Top four teams play two-leg league system play-offs. The winners and runners-up of the play-off were qualify for 2012–13 UEFA Champions League (ECL). The team who finished the league at first place qualifies for ECL even if they could not finish the play-offs at top two places. The third team qualifies for 2012–13 UEFA Europa League (UEL).


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2011–12 Süper Lig participation
Second team who qualifies for UEL is determined by another play-off which is played by the teams who finished the normal season at 5th through 8th places. Bottom three teams relegate to 2012–13 TFF Second League. The start date of the league is 10 September 2011 and end date of normal season is 8 April 2012.


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2011–12 Süper Lig participation
Mersin İdmanyurdu finished 2011–12 Süper Lig season at 14th place and did not participate in play-offs but remained in the league.


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2011–12 Süper Lig participation, League table
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2011–12 Süper Lig season standing in league table after normal season:


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2011–12 Süper Lig participation, Results by round
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2011–12 Süper Lig season standing in league table after normal season:


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2011–12 Süper Lig participation, First half
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2011–12 Süper Lig season first half game reports is shown in the following table. Kick off times are in EET and EEST.


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2011–12 Süper Lig participation, Second half
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2011–12 Süper Lig season second half game reports is shown in the following table. Kick off times are in EET and EEST.


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2011–12 Turkish Cup participation
Mersin İdmanyurdu has participated in 2011–12 Turkish Cup from the third round. Turkish Cup has been played in its 50th season with 57 teams as Ziraat Türkiye Kupası for sponsorship reasons. It was played in four elimination rounds and finals in one-leg elimination system. MİY took place in third elimination round and eliminated to Sivasspor. Sivasspor has been eliminated by Galatasaray in the fourth elimination round and Galatasaray was eliminated by Bursaspor in quarterfinals. Bursaspor has lost finals to Fenerbahçe who won the cup for the 5th time. Fenerbahçe had won its 4th Cup 29 seasons before against MİY in finals of 1982–83 Turkish Cup.


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2011–12 Turkish Cup participation, Cup track
The drawings and results Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) followed in 2011–12 Turkish Cup are shown in the following table.


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2011–12 Turkish Cup participation, Game details
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2011–12 Turkish Cup game reports is shown in the following table. Kick off times are in EET and EEST.


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2011–12 squad
Appearances, goals and cards count for 2011–12 Süper Lig and 2011–12 Turkish Cup games. Only the players who appeared in game rosters were included. Kit numbers were allowed to select by players. 18 players appeared in each game roster, three to be replaced. Players are listed in order of appearance.


2011–12 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, U-21 team
Mersin İdmanyurdu U-21 team had participated in 2011–12 A2 League. League was played in three stages. In the first stage, 37 teams played ranking group games in 4 groups on regional basis. 3 consisted of 9 and 1 consisted of 10 teams. In the second stage winners and runners-up of each ranking group constituted final group while the rest played classification group games. In the third stage, winners of classification groups played quarterfinals with first four placed teams in final group. Mersin idmanyurdu U-21 team took place in Ranking Group 4 and finished 8th in the first stage. In the second stage the team took place in Classification Group 4 and finished 5th with 9 wins, 8 deuces and 15 losses.


2011–12 Mestis season
The 2011–12 Mestis season was the 12th season of the Mestis, the second level of ice hockey in Finland. 11 teams participated in the league, and Sport won the championship.


2011–12 Mexican Primera División season
The 2011–12 Primera División Profesional season was the 65th professional top-flight football league season in Mexico. The season was split into two tournaments: the Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura; each of identical format and  contested by the same eighteen teams.


2011–12 Mexican Primera División season, Changes from 2010–11
On May 16, 2011, the General Assembly of the Primera División announced a format change to begin with the 2011 Apertura. The first change was the elimination of groups in the First Stage. The top eight teams at the end of the First Stage would advance to the next round. The other change would affect the playoffs. Instead of a two-legged, single elimination tournament culminating in the finals, the eight teams in the next round would be placed into two groups of four. The four teams in each group will play against other in a double round-robin format.


2011–12 Mexican Primera División season, Changes from 2010–11
The top team in each group will advance to the Finals. However, on June 6, 2011, the Primera División Profesional's Operations Committee announced that the format change would only affect the elimination of groups in the First Stage, and that the playoffs would remain as they were. Therefore, the top eight teams at the end of the First Stage would advance to a two-legged elimination bracket.


2011–12 Mexican Primera División season, Clubs
The following eighteen teams participated in the season. Necaxa was relegated to the Liga de Ascenso after accumulating the lowest coefficient during the immediate past three seasons, ending its one-year stay in the league. Tijuana was promoted, the winner of the 2010–11 Liga de Ascenso season. This is Tijuana's inaugural season in the Primera División.


2011–12 Mexican Primera División season, Torneo Apertura
The 2011 Apertura was the first competition of the season. The Regular Season began on July 22, 2011 and ended on November 6, 2011. The playoffs began on November 19, 2011 and ended on December 11, 2011. The team known as Pumas UNAM were the defending champion.


2011–12 Mexican Primera División season, Torneo Apertura, Top goalscorers
Players ranked by goals scored, then alphabetically by last name.


2011–12 Mexican Primera División season, Torneo Clausura
The 2012 Clausura is the second and final competition of the season. The regular season began on January 6, 2012 and ended on April 29, 2012. The team known as Tigres UANL were the defending champions.


2011–12 Mexican Primera División season, Torneo Clausura, Top goalscorers
Players ranked by goals scored, then alphabetically by last name.


2011–12 MiWay T20 Challenge
The 2011–12 MiWay T20 Challenge was the ninth season of the MiWay T20 Challenge, established by the Cricket South Africa. The tournament was previously known as the Standard Bank Pro20 Series. The tournament was played between 15 February and 1 April 2012. The tournament had an expanded tournament format. It featured the addition of a seventh team, a change in the group stage from a single to a double round-robin tournament, and a 2-match knockout stage.


2011–12 MiWay T20 Challenge, Rules and regulations
The tournament is divided into a group stage and a knockout stage. In the group stage, teams face each other in a double round-robin tournament (i.e. each team plays every other team twice, once at home and once away). At the end of the group stage, the top team qualifies for the final. The teams in second and third take part in a play-off match with the winners contesting the final. If a match in the knockout stage ends with a tie, a Super Over will determine the winner.


2011–12 MiWay T20 Challenge, Rules and regulations
In the event of teams finishing on equal points, the right to play in the semi-finals will be determined in the following order of priority:


2011–12 Miami Heat season
The 2011–12 Miami Heat season was the franchise's 24th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They came into the season as the defending Eastern Conference champions, the second season playing with the "Big Three" of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh, and the fourth season under head coach Erik Spoelstra. Prior to the beginning of the season, they looked to bounce back from their disappointing finish to the previous year where they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.


2011–12 Miami Heat season
Following the 2011 NBA lockout, the Heat played only 66 games this season and finished with a 46–20 record, roughly the equivalent of 57–25. They won their division for the 9th time and appeared in the Eastern Conference Finals for the 5th time. For the second year in a row, Wade, James, and Bosh were all selected to the NBA All-Star Game, tying the record for the most Heat players in an All-Star game in franchise history.


2011–12 Miami Heat season
On June 9, 2012, the Heat beat the Boston Celtics to advance to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year and 3rd time in franchise history. On June 21, the Miami Heat won the NBA Championship at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder 4–1, following their 121–106 Game 5 victory to become the 2012 NBA Champions, the second NBA championship for the franchise. LeBron James won his first NBA championship, and was awarded the 2012 NBA Finals MVP.


2011–12 Miami Heat season, Season summary
When the Heat made it all the way to the finals in Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh's first year playing together, they were seen as heavy favorites from the Eastern Conference to return in 2012. The team's original starting lineup was:C – Joel AnthonyPF – Chris BoshSF – LeBron JamesSG – Dwyane WadePG – Mario Chalmers


2011–12 Miami Heat season, Season summary
The starting lineup would go through a lot of changes as the season went on. The finals lineup in the NBA Finals is listed below.


2011–12 Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team
The 2011–12 Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team represented the University of Miami during the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hurricanes, led by first year head coach Jim Larrañaga, played their home games at the BankUnited Center and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They finished the season 20–13, 9–7 in ACC play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the ACC Basketball Tournament to Florida State. They were invited to the 2012 National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Valparaiso in the first round before falling in the second round to Minnesota.


2011–12 Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team, Previous season
The Hurricanes finished the 2010–11 season 21–15 overall, 6–10 in ACC play and lost in the quarterfinals of the NIT to Alabama.


2011–12 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team
The 2011–12 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Spartans' head coach was Tom Izzo, who was in his 17th year at Michigan State. The team played its home games at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan, and were members of the Big Ten Conference. MSU finished with a record of 29–8, 13–5 in Big Ten play to finish in a three-way tie for first place. The Spartans also won the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans received a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their 15th consecutive trip to the Tournament, and reached the Sweet Sixteen, losing to Louisville.


2011–12 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Previous season
The Spartans finished the 2010–11 season with an overall record of 19–15, 9–9 in Big Ten play to finish in fourth place. Michigan State received a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their 14th straight trip to the Tournament, and were eliminated in the Second Round.


2011–12 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Offseason
The Spartans lost Durrell Summers (11.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game) and Kalin Lucas (17.0 points and 3.4 assists per game) to graduation following the season.


2011–12 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
Senior Draymond Green (16.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game) was the unquestioned leader for the Spartans. MSU started the season unranked and suffered a loss to No. 1 North Carolina in the Carrier Classic which was played on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in San Diego in the first game of the season. The teams wore special camouflage uniforms for the event. MSU followed that loss with a loss to No. 6 Duke in the Champions Classic. Starting the season 0–2, the Spartans refused to fold. MSU won the next 15 games in a row to jump into the top ten in the polls. The wins in the streak included a win at No. 23 Gonzaga. The Spartans finished the non-conference schedule at 11–2 and ranked No. 16 in the country.


2011–12 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
The winning streak continued in Big Ten play with wins over No. 13 Indiana, and at No. 11 Wisconsin. MSU also beat No. 23 Michigan, No. 3 Ohio State, and No. 15 Wisconsin at Breslin Center. A loss in the regular season finale at home to No. 10 Ohio State meant the Spartans would share the Big Ten regular season championship with Ohio State and Michigan, all of which finished the Big Ten season with a 13–5 conference record. In that loss to Ohio State, key freshman reserve, Branden Dawson, tore his ACL, ending his season.


2011–12 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
The Spartans finished the season ranked No. 8 in the country. The Spartans, due to tiebreak rules, were the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and beat Iowa, No. 14 Wisconsin, and No. 7 Ohio State to win the Tournament championship. Draymond Green earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors, the fifth time a player had done so under Tom Izzo. Izzo was also named Big Ten Coach of the Year.


2011–12 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
MSU received a No. 1 seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament, where they beat LIU–Brooklyn in the First Round behind Green's triple-double. The Spartans overcame Saint Louis in the Second Round to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. This marked the 10th time in 15 seasons that the Spartans advanced to at least the Sweet Sixteen. The Spartans, missing Dawson and struggling offensively, became the first No. 1 seed to lose in the Tournament, falling to No. 17 and fourth-seeded Louisville, 57–44.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season
The 2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team represents Michigan Technological University in the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The team is coached by Mel Pearson, a 1981 Michigan Tech alumnus in his first season as a head coach after spending the past 23 seasons as an assistant/associate coach for the Michigan Wolverines. The Huskies play their home games at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena on the campus of Michigan Tech in Houghton, Michigan, and compete in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season
Michigan Tech enters the 2011–12 season after winning 4 of their 38 games the previous season. The team's 4–30–4 record led to the resignation of head coach Jamie Russell shortly after the season's completion. Mel Pearson was hired as Russell's replacement in May.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Offseason coaching change
Jamie Russell, Michigan Tech's eighth-year head coach, resigned following the 2010–11 season, in which the Huskies won 4 games and endured a 26‑game winless streak. "The best memories are of the players and the guys I've worked with, that's what I'll remember", Russell said. "Successes, obviously, there weren't enough of them." Russell accepted an assistant coaching position with Providence a few months later. Michigan Tech athletic director Suzanne Sanregret began searching for Russell's replacement immediately after his resignation, saying university president Glenn Mroz gave her the authority and many alumni gave her the resources to "go after the best coach".


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Offseason coaching change
Among Sanregret's interviewees were Michigan Tech alumnus and Michigan associate coach Mel Pearson, Nebraska–Omaha associate coach Mike Hastings and Green Bay (USHL) head coach Eric Rud. Pearson's interview took place four days after his team lost the NCAA Division I national championship game to Minnesota–Duluth, and when Sanregret gave him 48 hours to decide whether to accept the position, he ultimately could not say yes. "[W]ith everything going on, it was just a tough time to make ... a life-changing decision", Pearson said. "So I just think I went with the safe way and said no".


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Offseason coaching change
Sanregret continued the search after Pearson turned down the job, but she met with Pearson again in early May at the American Hockey Coaches Association convention in Naples, Florida, and this time he was ready to accept. Pearson signed a five-year contract and was introduced at the Grant Hockey Educational Center on Michigan Tech's campus on May 10. At the press conference, Pearson posited that what separates him from the previous alumni who have returned to coach the Huskies is his 30 years of experience.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Offseason coaching change
"As you're in the game longer you get a bigger network of people who can help you recruit, so I think that's the biggest difference right now", Pearson said. Bill Muckalt, a veteran of five National Hockey League (NHL) seasons who was coached by Pearson at Michigan, was hired as an assistant coach in June; Damon Whitten was retained as the other assistant coach. "Our coaching staff has done a lot of winning and we want to instill the attitude that we're going to win", Whitten said.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Offseason coaching change
Pearson spoke of changing the team's style of play to emphasize skill, speed and offensive creativity, and said his staff's efforts would be focused on recruiting for the next few months. He brought in Steve Shields, another former NHL player who played under Pearson at Michigan, as a volunteer goaltending coach in September.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Recruiting
Most of Michigan Tech's incoming freshmen for the 2011–12 season had been recruited and verbally committed during Jamie Russell's tenure. The first was forward Tanner Kero, whose hometown of Hancock, Michigan, is across Portage Lake from Michigan Tech. Kero committed in late 2009 while a member of the Marquette Rangers of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). He spent the 2010–11 season with the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and was named to the USHL Western Conference All-Star Team while scoring 37 points in 55 games.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Recruiting
Defenseman Nick Cecere committed to play at Nebraska–Omaha while a member of Northwood School's "Junior Team", but switched to Michigan Tech after a coaching change at Nebraska–Omaha. Explaining why he chose Michigan Tech, Cecere said, "Since I've been in prep school, I'm used to a smaller, close-knit community, and that's what I like. ... I fell in love with [Michigan Tech], and my parents did as well". Indiana Ice (USHL) forward David Johnstone, brother of Michigan Tech sophomore forward Jacob Johnstone, committed two months later.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Recruiting
Justin Fillion, who was in his third season with the Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), also committed in December. He credited his coach, former Michigan Tech player Ed Dempsey, with helping him earn the scholarship that Tech offered. Blake Pietila, a forward with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, originally committed to Northern Michigan, but switched when his older brother Chad decided to transfer from Northern Michigan to Michigan Tech. Blake was drafted by the New Jersey Devils with the 129th pick of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, becoming Michigan Tech's first drafted player since Jordan Foote was selected in 2004.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Recruiting
Two recruits decommitted after Russell's resignation. Sam Labrecque, a defenseman with the Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL), had committed to Michigan Tech in October 2010, but switched to Clarkson. Andrew Kolb, a forward with the Michigan Warriors (NAHL), instead joined Division III Wisconsin–Stevens Point.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Recruiting
The new coaching staff spent much of the summer recruiting for 2011–12 and beyond. Pearson spotted defenseman Jimmy Davis at a June tryout camp for the Muskegon Lumberjacks, a USHL team for which Davis was trying to earn a roster spot after two all-state seasons with East Kentwood High School, and Davis accepted his scholarship offer. Michigan Tech's recruiting of defenseman Riley Sweeney, who played for the Surrey Eagles (BCHL), began during the Jamie Russell era, and he ultimately committed after speaking with Bill Muckalt at a hockey camp in July.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Recruiting
The final addition of Sweeney meant eight players joined the team for the 2011–12 season. Six of those players were available at the start of the season; until the end of the fall semester, however, Chad Pietila was not eligible to play in any games and Fillion was not eligible to join the team.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Preseason
The NCAA ice hockey season began on September 15, and head coach Mel Pearson held a practice that day with assistance from goaltending coach Steve Shields while the other assistant coaches were on recruiting trips. Practices continued four days a week, though the coaches were only allowed on the ice two hours a week through September. The results of a WCHA preseason poll were released in late September, and while Pearson finished second place in voting for coach of the year, the team was picked to finish in last place in the standings.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Preseason
Senior captain Brett Olson said, "We're definitely not a last place team.... With everything that's been set in place, attitude and everything, we're definitely going to be contending". Heading into an October 1 exhibition game at home against the Lakehead Thunderwolves, Pearson planned to use at least two goaltenders and prepared his team to play the "up-tempo, aggressive, puck control style that has been the focus of practices so far". The intent was that aggressive backchecking and outnumbering opposition forwards would lead to more turnovers and therefore more offensive chances.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Preseason
The Huskies won the game against Lakehead 5–3 after coming back from 1–2 and 2–3 deficits. Sophomore forward Jacob Johnstone scored a hat trick, and senior goaltender Josh Robinson played the entire game after Shields recommended leaving him in to see how he responded to playing from behind. Pearson cut defenseman Ricky Doriott and forwards Alan L'Esperance and Evan Witt from the roster the following Monday.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, October
The regular season opened on October 7 with a two-game series against visiting American International. Pearson sought to improve the team's defensive zone coverage in practices before the series, but starting goaltender Kevin Genoe gave up three goals in the first period while his Yellow Jackets counterpart, Ben Meisner, stopped all eight Huskies shots. The Huskies' comeback began late in the second period when Blake Pietila's pass deflected off a defender's skate past Meisner. In the third period, goals from Pietila, Steven Seigo and Jordan Baker completed Michigan Tech's 5–3 comeback win.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, October
Genoe stopped all 14 shots he faced in the final two periods. In the following night's rematch, Robinson started at goaltender and the Huskies scored first after Riley Sweeney's pass sent Brett Olson on a shorthanded breakaway and Meisner failed to stop Olson's high shot. The Yellow Jackets, however, tied the game 31 seconds later while the Huskies were still shorthanded. Pearson had inserted Mikael Lickteig in the lineup for this game, hoping his speed would be beneficial, and it paid off when Lickteig created a scoring chance for himself that Meisner stopped, but Jacob Johnstone scored on the rebound.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, October
In the second period, Johnstone found a loose puck immediately in front of Meisner and made "three quick stick-handling moves for a highlight-reel goal", and the Huskies won 3–1. Robinson stopped 32 of 33 shots, and Pearson called him "the difference in the game". The series sweep was the Huskies' first since December 19–20, 2008, against Northern Michigan. Pietila was named Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Rookie of the Week for his two-goal performance in the series' first game.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, October
Michigan Tech hosted Wisconsin for a two-game series the following weekend to open its WCHA conference schedule, but did so without junior defenseman Tommy Brown, who underwent an appendectomy that week. Pearson wanted his team to play with more discipline so as to limit the Badgers' power play chances, and the Huskies responded by taking one penalty through the first two periods of the Friday game. Michigan Tech freshman Tanner Kero opened the scoring in the second period with his first career goal by deflecting a shot from Riley Sweeney.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, October
In the third period, however, the Huskies incurred two consecutive penalties in the first seven minutes, and Wisconsin forward Tyler Barnes beat Josh Robinson for a power play goal. The Huskies outshot the Badgers 16–8 in the third period, but could not put the puck past Landon Peterson to win the game in regulation. Nearly three minutes into the overtime period, Michigan Tech started a dump-and-chase and Peterson stopped the puck behind his net, but he collided with teammate John Ramage while the Huskies forechecked, leaving Jordan Baker to score on an undefended goal and win the game.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, October
In the Saturday game, Wisconsin started Joel Rumpel at goaltender and Huskies forwards Kero and Blake Pietila each scored a power play goal on a deflection. Midway through the second period, Wisconsin scored off a rebound after Robinson stopped the initial shot. Michigan Tech killed off a five-minute major penalty to Alex MacLeod in the third period, but the Badgers tied the game with two minutes remaining. Twenty seconds into overtime, however, Huskies captain Brett Olson scored on a wrap-around shot that went through Rumpel's five-hole for the win.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, October
Pearson was pleased with his team's performance, saying, "Our kids are working hard, there's a lot of good things going on in our locker room and we see it every day as coaches". Robinson was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week after stopping 44 of 47 shots in the series.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, October
The Huskies traveled to Bemidji State for a pair of games on October 21–22 and anticipated employing "better puck control and discipline, while maintaining a fast-paced, aggressive style that better capitalizes on offensive opportunities and limits opposing scoring chances". Josh Robinson started on Friday and surrendered an early goal to Beavers captain Ben Kinne, but Michigan Tech responded with goals from Carl Nielsen, David Johnstone and Blake Pietila in a seven-minute span. After Bemidji State replaced starting goaltender Dan Bakala with Andrew Walsh, the Beavers scored three more goals to end the first period with a 4–3 lead.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, October
Bemidji State added two more goals by the midway point of the third period, but Alex MacLeod scored off a rebound and Steven Seigo scored on a shot "through traffic" to reduce the lead to one goal. Pearson substituted an extra skater for Robinson late in the game, but the Huskies were unable to score on either of the scoring opportunities they generated and lost the game 6–5. Kevin Genoe started at goaltender for Michigan Tech in the Saturday game. MacLeod opened the scoring in the first period on one of the Huskies' 12 shots.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, October
Michigan Tech took five penalties in the second period, and the Beavers converted on two of the power play opportunities. Drew Fisher scored Bemidji State's third goal of the game 12 minutes into the third period, and Walsh stopped the rest of Michigan Tech's shots to earn the victory. The Huskies outshot the Beavers 32–16.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, October
The #2-ranked Denver Pioneers, a team Pearson said "[has] more balance and ... experience than the three teams we've seen so far", visited Michigan Tech the last weekend of October. The teams traded goals in the opening minutes of the Friday game, then Huskies forwards Milos Gordic, who played in his first two games of the year after recovering from shoulder surgery, and Ryan Furne scored 16 seconds apart midway through the first period. Furne collided with and injured Denver goaltender Adam Murray after scoring, forcing coach George Gwozdecky to substitute Juho Olkinuora.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, October
In the second period, Gordic scored a power play goal and Josh Robinson stopped all 21 Pioneers shots. Gwozdecky pulled Olkinuora with seven minutes left in the game, and Gordic completed his hat trick on an empty net a minute later. The Denver goal remained undefended for a few more minutes – "to try to work on our six-on-five situations", Gwozdecky said – and Brett Olson and Dennis Rix scored on the empty net. Denver added a late goal for a 7–2 final score. Robinson stopped 38 of 40 shots.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, October
The next evening, Gordic and Denver forward Jason Zucker traded goals in an "open, fast-paced first period [that] gave way to a choppy, penalty-filled second period". The Pioneers took the lead on a second-period power play, then Olson beat Olkinuora off a rebound in the third period. The game went to overtime, but Tanner Kero was unable to convert either of two scoring opportunities late in the five-minute period. Michigan Tech earned three of four possible points with the win and tie, and Gordic and Robinson were named WCHA Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively. Pearson said after the series, "If we [continue to] play like that we're going to win a lot of hockey games."


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, November
The Huskies, with a 5–2–1 record to this point, entered their November 4–5 home series against Minnesota State ranked #16 in the USCHO.com poll. It was the first time the team had been nationally ranked in four years. The first game turned into a "battle [between] two hot goaltenders", and the only goal occurred on a Michigan Tech power play when Ryan Furne's 90‑foot shot toward Mavericks goaltender Austin Lee "took a strange hop just outside the crease" and crossed the goal line. Minnesota State failed to score on six power play opportunities and Josh Robinson stopped all 29 shots.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, November
In the second game, Huskies goals from Jacob Johnstone, Blake Pietila and Tanner Kero were matched by Minnesota State, and the game was tied 3–3 after two periods. The Mavericks took advantage of Michigan Tech's penalties and sloppy defensive play in the third period and scored two more goals against Josh Robinson, plus an empty-net goal, to win the game 6–3. "It's tough to lose at home like that, but we're going into an off week, and we have a lot of time to fix things we need to get better at", said Brett Olson.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, November
After an off-week, Michigan Tech traveled to Alaska–Anchorage for games on November 18 and 19. Junior defenseman Carl Nielsen stayed home to recover from a concussion sustained in the team's previous game, and with three freshmen defensemen in the lineup, Pearson stressed defensive zone coverage in practice sessions before the series. Kevin Genoe started at goaltender in the Friday game and gave up one goal in each period. Sophomore defenseman Bradley Stebner scored his first collegiate goal, and the Huskies' only goal of the game, on a 4-on-3 attack late in the second period.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Season events, Regular season, November
Five or six of the 19  shots generated by Michigan Tech were "quality chances" according to Alaska–Anchorage coach Dave Shyiak, and Seawolves defenseman Corbin Karl said it was "the most complete game" his team had played to that point in the season. In the Saturday game, Josh Robinson started at goaltender and earned his second shutout of the season while stopping 23 shots. On the offensive side, the Huskies capitalized on numerous defensive mistakes by the Seawolves. Blake Pietila scored after Michigan Tech forced a turnover inside the Alaska–Anchorage zone. Jordan Baker was left undefended and scored on a rebound. Ryan Furne was similarly left alone in front of the goal before he scored. Milos Gordic and Jacob Johnstone also scored for the Huskies in their 5–0 win.


2011–12 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season, Schedule and results
† Non-conference game EX Exhibition game ‡ Great Lakes Invitational


2011–12 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The 2011–12 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan during the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in Ann Arbor, Michigan at Crisler Center for the 45th consecutive year. It had a seating capacity of 12,721. It was also the team's 95th straight season as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Fifth-year head coach John Beilein led the team, alongside All-Big Ten players Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Zack Novak. Burke was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was Michigan's first Associated Press All-American honoree since 1998.


2011–12 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The team's season began with a preseason media day and practices in October 2011. In February 2012, Michigan hosted ESPN's College GameDay for the first time in a game against Ohio State. It was the eighth time a Big Ten team hosted the show, which began in 2005.