Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Men’s Basketball Takes Part in NCAA Tournament Open Practice Arena in Cleveland, Makes Final Preparations for Bryant
3/20/2025 6:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Michigan State's men's basketball team arrived in Cleveland on Wednesday evening and went through a pair of workouts on Thursday as the Spartans made final preparations for their NCAA Tournament First Round matchup with Bryant.
Michigan State, the No. 2 seed in the South Region of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, plays No. 15 seed Bryant on Friday, March 21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The game will air on TBS at 10 p.m., with Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel and Jon Rothstein calling all of the action.
The Spartans practiced at Cleveland State University early in the afternoon before making their way to Rocket Arena.
The team met with the media in its locker room, while senior Jaden Akins, junior Tre Holloman, redshirt freshman Jeremy Fears Jr. and freshman Jase Richardson took part in a press conference, along with MSU Head Coach Tom Izzo.
"Well, there's nothing like the tournament," Izzo said. "I mean, it's one thing that hasn't changed. Everything else has changed in college basketball. But the excitement of the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday first weekend is second to none, and I'm just happy that we get to be a part of it.
"I've got a good basketball team that has played awfully well, and yet our margin for error is very slim. It's a unique team in a lot of ways, but a fun team to coach and a very connected team and looking forward to seeing what we can do."
The Spartans have emphasized "Strength in Numbers" this year, with 10 players averaging at least 10 minutes per game, two players scoring in double figures, seven players averaging at least 7.0 points per game and nine different players leading the team in scoring throughout the season.
"I just think that everybody wants to see everybody win, so this is just like a great moment for us," Holloman said. "This season we've just been so connected, so together."
"I feel like we've just been together all year," Akins said. "We're all hungry, motivated to win. I feel like that's really our driving factor, and we're just a versatile team that can play multiple ways."
Fears and Richardson emphasized the times since last summer the team has to bond, from a 10-day trip to Span, going to a Detroit Tigers playoff game, seeing an NFL game in Detroit and an exhibition game at Northern Michigan, Izzo's alma mater, in October.
"I'd definitely say just how together -- how much we are together and that everyone on this team, I don't think, has egos or pushing and stuff," Fears said. "We all just come out to play basketball, play hard and play together. I think that's really why we've been so successful, and it kind of shows."
"I just think what we do off the court," Richardson said. "We're always with each other 24/7, always texting each other, playing the game with each other. I feel like we're so connected off the court, and it kind of just bonds on the court."
Following the press conferences, the Spartans took part in an open practice at Rocket Arena, with hundreds of MSU fans in attendance.
Michigan State, the No. 2 seed in the South Region of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, plays No. 15 seed Bryant on Friday, March 21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The game will air on TBS at 10 p.m., with Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel and Jon Rothstein calling all of the action.
The Spartans practiced at Cleveland State University early in the afternoon before making their way to Rocket Arena.
The team met with the media in its locker room, while senior Jaden Akins, junior Tre Holloman, redshirt freshman Jeremy Fears Jr. and freshman Jase Richardson took part in a press conference, along with MSU Head Coach Tom Izzo.
"Well, there's nothing like the tournament," Izzo said. "I mean, it's one thing that hasn't changed. Everything else has changed in college basketball. But the excitement of the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday first weekend is second to none, and I'm just happy that we get to be a part of it.
"I've got a good basketball team that has played awfully well, and yet our margin for error is very slim. It's a unique team in a lot of ways, but a fun team to coach and a very connected team and looking forward to seeing what we can do."
The Spartans have emphasized "Strength in Numbers" this year, with 10 players averaging at least 10 minutes per game, two players scoring in double figures, seven players averaging at least 7.0 points per game and nine different players leading the team in scoring throughout the season.
"I just think that everybody wants to see everybody win, so this is just like a great moment for us," Holloman said. "This season we've just been so connected, so together."
"I feel like we've just been together all year," Akins said. "We're all hungry, motivated to win. I feel like that's really our driving factor, and we're just a versatile team that can play multiple ways."
Fears and Richardson emphasized the times since last summer the team has to bond, from a 10-day trip to Span, going to a Detroit Tigers playoff game, seeing an NFL game in Detroit and an exhibition game at Northern Michigan, Izzo's alma mater, in October.
"I'd definitely say just how together -- how much we are together and that everyone on this team, I don't think, has egos or pushing and stuff," Fears said. "We all just come out to play basketball, play hard and play together. I think that's really why we've been so successful, and it kind of shows."
"I just think what we do off the court," Richardson said. "We're always with each other 24/7, always texting each other, playing the game with each other. I feel like we're so connected off the court, and it kind of just bonds on the court."
Following the press conferences, the Spartans took part in an open practice at Rocket Arena, with hundreds of MSU fans in attendance.
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