Tom Izzo – Syndication Server

Samford HC gracious for opportunity to play Michigan State basketball

A lot of team’s have dodged Samford as a buy game, due to the success the Bulldogs have had, making Bucky McMillan very grateful for the opportunity to play in East Lansing:

Michigan State basketball took down Samford inside of the Breslin Center on Tuesday night. The Spartans, who are not afraid to play any team, were praised by Samford head coach Bucky McMillan for playing this game.

McMillan noted that the opportunity to get to play at MSU in a buy game really helps his program on the financial side of things. He shared that it has been difficult for him to find buy games like these against big time programs.

That difficulty is presumed to be in part to McMillan’s 77-41 record at Samford, including back to back regular season SoCon championships, and an NCAA Tournament appearance last year, where Samford took Kansas to the brink in the first round.

As Tom Izzo says though, anybody at anytime in anyplace.

Tom Izzo updates injury scare to Jase Richardson

Michigan State basketball played host to Samford on Tuesday night, where the Spartans took care of business, 83-75.

Towards the end of the win, star freshman Jase Richardson went down with an apparent lower leg injury after an awkward fall.

After the win, in his post game press conference, Tom Izzo addressed the injury to the freshman guard, stating that he thinks it is just a sprain.

Izzo said, “Richardson is probably going to miss a few days, there’s no question about that. But I don’t know how long it will be.”

Stay tuned to Spartans Wire for more updates.

Watch MSU head coach recap, talk Spartans’ narrow win vs Bowling Green

Hear what MSU head coach Tom Izzo had to say about the Spartans’ performance in Saturday night’s narrow home win over Bowling Green

Michigan State basketball was tested on Saturday night, and luckily was able to get by with a victory over Bowling Green.

The Spartans trailed most of the game, but was able to lockdown the Falcons in the final minutes to earn the 86-72 win. Michigan State held Bowling Green without a field goal for the final seven minutes of the game, and ended the night on an 18-0 run for the victory.

The Spartans had seven different players reach double-digits in points in the win. Jaden Akins led the group with 13 points, and also finished the night with 12 rebounds for a double-double.

Michigan State will return to the court on Tuesday in one final game before the Maui Invitational the week of Thanksgiving. The Spartans host Samford from the Breslin Center in that matchup.

Before moving onto the next game, let’s hear what head coach Tom Izzo had to say about the Spartans’ performance on Saturday night.

This video is courtesy of SpartanMag

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Tom Izzo talks to the media after practice on Thursday

Tom Izzo spoke to the media on Thursday

Michigan State basketball dropped a game against Kansas in the Champions Classic on Tuesday, albeit a competitive effort. Now, the Spartans will be tasked with bouncing back against Bowling Green on Saturday inside of the Breslin Center.

After practice on Thursday, head coach Tom Izzo spoke to the media, breaking down his team after getting a chance to watch film and the subsequent practices.

See what Izzo had to say via SpartanMag on YouTube:

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Tom Izzo teases match-up between Michigan State and Duke in 2025 in the Breslin Center

Tom Izzo teased a match-up with Duke in the Breslin Center on his weekly radio show

Every year, we get the pleasure of seeing Michigan State basketball play against some of the top programs in the country when they face one of Kentucky, Duke, or Kansas in the annual Champions Classic. On his weekly radio show, Tom Izzo talked about his desire to bring more of those marquee match-ups to the Breslin Center, starting with a potential home-and-home series with Duke that would start with a game in East Lansing in 2025.

Izzo teased the news on his weekly radio show, which you can watch here.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

Both 2025 MSU basketball commits officially sign with Spartans

MSU has officially inked LOIs for both of their 2025 commits

Michigan State basketball has put an official close to both of their 2025 recruiting class members. Tom Izzo and his staff did a magnificent job landing the commitments of 4-star prospects Cam Ward and Jordan Scott earlier this fall and now they are officially Spartans.

Both Ward and Scott inked their letters of intent with the Spartans, signing during the initial signing period in college basketball.

Michigan State will now be looking to either finish the 2025 class with one more prospect, or turn their attention to the NCAA Transfer Portal at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season .

MSU head coach Tom Izzo talks offensive struggles, loss vs. Kansas in Champions Classic

Hear what head coach Tom Izzo had to say about the Spartans’ performance against Kansas

It was an offensive struggle for the Spartans in Tuesday night’s narrow loss against No. 1 Kansas.

Michigan State fell against the Jayhawks by the final score of 77-69 in the Champions Classic matchup on Tuesday. The game was held in Atlanta, Ga.

Michigan State kept it close throughout but Kansas ultimately pulled away late for the win. The Spartans struggled on the offensive end of the floor, shooting 35% from the field and hitting only three of 24 three-point attempts.

With the loss, Michigan State is now 2-1 overall. They will return to the floor next on Saturday in a home matchup against Bowling Green.

Hear what head coach Tom Izzo had to say about the Spartans’ performance in the video below:

Video is courtesy of SpartanMag

Hunter Dickinson compliments Tom Izzo, Michigan State basketball after win over Spartans

Michigan State basketball went up against a familiar foe on Tuesday night when Hunter Dickinson and Kansas beat the Spartans in the Champions Classic.

According to reporting from Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press, Dickinson was complimentary of Tom Izzo after the game, saying he knew Izzo, as a Hall of Famer, would have Michigan State ready for. He also said he thinks MSU will be a top-25 team by the end of the season, but that they aren’t there yet.

Tom Izzo lists who he would like to replace him at Michigan State when he retires

Tom Izzo named a few people who he would like to replace him at Michigan State when he eventually retires

This offseason, fresh off a hip replacement surgery, Michigan State basketball head coach Tom Izzo seemed like he found the fountain of youth and made a point to tell the media multiple times that he has no plans to retire anytime soon.

“I got no interest in getting out of it,” Izzo said Monday on the College Hoops Today Podcast, per Fan Duel’s Jon Rothstein. “When I’m done, I’m going to talk to Mateen Cleaves, Steve Smith, Magic Johnson, and Draymond Green. I don’t want to lose the culture that I’ve seen for 40 years as a GA on up. I think it’s being lost somewhat now in college sports. Not just for me, but the players who come back and are a part of things. At least here at Michigan State, it’s important. It may not be that way at other places.”

It would be a little hard to imagine 65-year old billionaire Magic Johnson taking over that job, and it’s also worth noting that Draymond Green said back in July that he doesn’t have any interest in coaching Michigan State. Then again, he could also just be referring to those four as people he will consult with after he retires and not who he actually thinks will directly replace him.

Tom Izzo talks importance of Champions Classic, previews matchup vs. Kansas

Watch Tom Izzo preview Tuesday night’s matchup against Kansas in the Champions Classic

Playing in the Champions Classic is still a big deal for Michigan State basketball head coach Tom Izzo.

For the 14th time, Michigan State will play in the Champions Classic on Tuesday evening, with this year’s matchup for the Spartans against No. 1 Kansas. Michigan State is one of four teams to annually play in this event, with Kentucky, Kansas and Duke being the other three.

Izzo previewed the matchup with the Jayhawks during a Monday press conference, and touched on the importance of this event. He said how it’s a privilege to be part of this event and is excited about the opportunity to play Kansas on Tuesday.

Michigan State comes into this matchup with a 2-0 record after a pair of blowout wins over subpar competition in the opening week of the season. Kansas is also 2-0 on the year, but has a much more impressive resume that includes a win over top 10 foe North Carolina.

Watch Izzo preview the upcoming matchup against Kansas on Tuesday night in the video below.

This video is courtesy of SpartanMag