Tom Izzo defends Fears, MSU: ‘I ain’t taking a back seat to nobody’

Two words summed up Tom Izzo’s feelings: proud and defiant.

The Michigan State basketball coach was pleased with the effort and intensity his team showed in once again giving Big Ten regular-season champion Michigan all it could handle, even though the third-ranked Wolverines pulled away for a 90-80 victory over the final 10 minutes of the regular-season finale Sunday, March 8, at Crisler Center.

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And Izzo delivered a pugnacious rebuke to anyone besmirching his eighth-ranked Spartans.

“I guess the crowd didn’t watch the game,” Izzo opened his postgame press conference saying, “because I’m nobody’s damn little brother. And neither is my team.”

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reacts to a play against Michigan during the second half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

WINNERS AND LOSERS: Yaxel Lendeborg big winner, Jeremy Fears’ reputation loser in rivalry game

MSU (25-6, 15-5 Big Ten) finished in a three-way tie for second place in the league, with Nebraska and Illinois, behind the Wolverines (29-2, 19-1). The Spartans will open Big Ten Tournament play as the No. 3 seed in the late game Friday (approximately 9 p.m., Big Ten Network) at United Center in Chicago against the winner of Thursday night’s final game between 6-seed UCLA and Wednesday night’s 11-seed Minnesota/14-seed Rutgers winner.

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U-M is the No. 1 seed and opens at noon Friday.

“Give them credit, and I give us credit. It was a helluva basketball game,” Izzo said. “They’ve had a helluva year, we’ve had a helluva year. Theirs has been a little better.”

On Sunday, Jaxon Kohler scored 23 points with eight rebounds and three assists, while Jeremy Fears Jr. had 22 points and nine assists. Carson Cooper added 19 points and six rebounds.

Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) dribbles against Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau (3) during the first half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

Izzo also delivered an equally impassioned…

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Publish date : 2026-03-09 02:09:00

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