Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State Men’s Basketball Starts Practice for 2026-27 Season
9/22/2026 7:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State head men's basketball coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans held their first practice of the 2026-27 season on Tuesday afternoon.
Ahead of the team's first session, Izzo met with the media in the media room of the Breslin Center for nearly 40 minutes prior to the group attending practice.
"I can't believe we're here," Izzo said. "It's hard to believe that we're starting practice today but just seems like it was just yesterday that we weren't allowed to start until three weeks from now.
'As far as my teams goes, it's been a great summer. The guys have been great. The team's going to be led by two guys who have been here for four years and have grown each year. Jeremy's (Fears) always had some leadership skills but now I think he's done a better job of gathering people. And I think Coen (Carr) has really grown in that area.
"With the underclassmen we have in this program, like Cam (Ward) and Jesse (McCulloch) and Jordan (Scott), we've got some veterans and we've got a young freshman class. I can't speak enough about how excited I am. Grind Week this year was special, maybe more special than we've had, but it made me realize how lucky I am to have so many players come back and what it meant to the players here. The guys said, 'you have something special here.'
Michigan State will open the season with an exhibition game on Friday, Oct. 2 against the University of Incarnate Word, leading into the annual Izzone Campout.
The Spartans will play three exhibition games ahead of the season, including hosting Big East member UConn on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Following that game, MSU will play an exhibition on Sunday, Oct. 25 at Marquette.
The 2026-27 regular season opens on Monday, Nov. 2, with the Spartans hosting Quinnipiac, the preseason pick to win the Metro Conference.
Big Ten Conference play starts on Wednesday, Dec. 2, with the Spartans hosting Minnesota. MSU plays its first conference road game on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at Maryland.
Michigan State finished the 2025-26 season with a 27-8 overall record, including a 15-5 record in the Big Ten Conference. The Spartans earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the 17th time under Head Coach Tom Izzo.
With the 2026-27 schedule now set, there's no better time to secure your place at the Breslin Center for another season of Spartan Basketball. A limited number of season tickets remain available, giving fans the opportunity to experience every home game and help create the energy and home-court advantage that makes the Breslin Center special. Secure your season tickets HERE - and be a part of the action all season long as the Spartans take the floor.
Ahead of the team's first session, Izzo met with the media in the media room of the Breslin Center for nearly 40 minutes prior to the group attending practice.
"I can't believe we're here," Izzo said. "It's hard to believe that we're starting practice today but just seems like it was just yesterday that we weren't allowed to start until three weeks from now.
'As far as my teams goes, it's been a great summer. The guys have been great. The team's going to be led by two guys who have been here for four years and have grown each year. Jeremy's (Fears) always had some leadership skills but now I think he's done a better job of gathering people. And I think Coen (Carr) has really grown in that area.
"With the underclassmen we have in this program, like Cam (Ward) and Jesse (McCulloch) and Jordan (Scott), we've got some veterans and we've got a young freshman class. I can't speak enough about how excited I am. Grind Week this year was special, maybe more special than we've had, but it made me realize how lucky I am to have so many players come back and what it meant to the players here. The guys said, 'you have something special here.'
Michigan State will open the season with an exhibition game on Friday, Oct. 2 against the University of Incarnate Word, leading into the annual Izzone Campout.
The Spartans will play three exhibition games ahead of the season, including hosting Big East member UConn on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Following that game, MSU will play an exhibition on Sunday, Oct. 25 at Marquette.
The 2026-27 regular season opens on Monday, Nov. 2, with the Spartans hosting Quinnipiac, the preseason pick to win the Metro Conference.
Big Ten Conference play starts on Wednesday, Dec. 2, with the Spartans hosting Minnesota. MSU plays its first conference road game on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at Maryland.
Michigan State finished the 2025-26 season with a 27-8 overall record, including a 15-5 record in the Big Ten Conference. The Spartans earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the 17th time under Head Coach Tom Izzo.
With the 2026-27 schedule now set, there's no better time to secure your place at the Breslin Center for another season of Spartan Basketball. A limited number of season tickets remain available, giving fans the opportunity to experience every home game and help create the energy and home-court advantage that makes the Breslin Center special. Secure your season tickets HERE - and be a part of the action all season long as the Spartans take the floor.
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