Michigan State basketball’s week filed with preseason hoops, playoff baseball and pasties

EAST LANSING — Tom Izzo wants his Michigan State basketball team to know what it takes.

To be professionals. To learn how to win.

On Tuesday night, the Spartans planned to watch the Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns play an exhibition game at Breslin Center. On Wednesday, Izzo expects to take his players to Comerica Park to take in some playoff baseball between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians.

On Sunday, MSU opens its exhibition season in Marquette at Izzo’s alma mater, Northern Michigan.

“I think the one thing that’s been really important for me my whole career is to do things where there’s memory-makers. … It’ll be an exciting time for for all of us,” Izzo said Tuesday morning. “And I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

It starts with the game between the Pistons and Suns, two teams that are owned by MSU alums in Tom Gores and Mat Ishbia, a 2003 graduate who was a walk-on guard for Izzo from 1999-2002.

Former Michigan State player Mat Ishbia, right, talks with head coach Tom Izzo before the game against Maryland on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Izzo joked that he planned to “turn the cold showers on for” Phoenix players Devin Booker and Tyus Jones, who had MSU as finalists during their recruitments before picking Kentucky and Duke, respectively. Izzo also said he got to meet and spend time with Suns forward Kevin Durant after Ishbia purchased the team and traded for the superstar in early 2023.

“I love the way Mat has taken the approach he’s taken,” Izzo said. “You know there’s always curves in the road. I think they made a couple of acquisitions that are gonna be really good.”

Izzo also recruited and coached against several players on Detroit’s roster. Gores graduated from MSU in 1986 and has been instrumental in working with his alma mater and Henry Ford Health Systems to revitalize the New Center neighborhood in Detroit.

“I’ve become…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-basketballs-week-filed-204532049.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2024-10-08 20:45:32

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