EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 10-ranked Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo responded to No. 2-ranked Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May’s recent criticisms of Jeremy Fears Jr.‘s controversial play during their rivalry game this past Friday.
Following Michigan’s 83-71 victory inside the Breslin Center in East Lansing, May criticized several dangerous plays by Fears during his Monday press conference in Ann Arbor.
Recommended Videos
“I’m not going to get into that. I have no idea,” Izzo said in response. “I thought there were a couple of plays the other way, too, like jumping into a guy and getting a foul when it was a complete joke.”
Izzo added, “This is what it’s supposed to be. And you know what? Michigan’s over. I’m moving on to Minnesota.”
He emphasized, “I don’t care what Dusty says. I don’t care what they say. There were some things Jeremy did that I addressed with him. But he and their point guard were going at it pretty good. That’s what happens in games like this.”
Izzo concluded, “If anybody did anything dirty, tell them to call me, and I would be more than happy to address it. If it was physical play, that’s the way that game’s always going to be.”
The game marked Michigan’s first victory in East Lansing since 2018, but it was a hard-fought battle.
The Spartans rallied from an 18-point deficit to take a brief two-point lead in the second half.
Fears Jr. stood out with 31 points, seven assists, and five rebounds, but his play sparked controversy.
A highlight reel circulated on social media showing Fears Jr. engaging in questionable actions throughout the game.
One notable moment showed Fears Jr. appearing to trip Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg.
When asked if it was a trip or an illusion, May responded, “Appeared? It wasn’t an illusion, right?”
The game was heavily televised, featuring the highest combined Associated Press ranking in the rivalry’s history, with Michigan at No. 3 and Michigan State at No. 7.
Before the game, Michigan State was riding a four-game winning streak and had won seven of the last 10 meetings.
NBA scouts in attendance noted the intense, at times questionable, plays.
Other controversial moments included Fears flopping during a contested pass against L.J. Cason, then grabbing his leg to cause a fall, and abruptly stopping his dribble to draw a foul on a fast break.
Fears was also caught on camera yelling at Michigan’s Aday Mara, calling him a derogatory name.
During a fast break, Fears committed a flagrant foul by swiping at Lendeborg without going for the ball, sending Lendeborg to the free-throw line.
A flop by Fears cost Michigan State three points when it allowed an uncontested three-pointer by Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau.
Fears also pulled Lendeborg to the ground during a block attempt, leading to an and-one play for Michigan State.
At the game’s end, Fears was seen trying to yank the ball from Cadeau after a timeout was granted, prompting a referee to intervene.
When asked if Fears’ play went beyond basketball and if the Big 10 should intervene, May said, “I think there were several plays that were extremely dangerous, and I am proud of our guys for the responses they had in those situations.”
May added, “I am extremely proud of their self-control, their restraint, and their impulse control, and I’ll leave it at that.”
May noted, “But they’re not isolated incidents.”
When asked if he had contacted Michigan State’s staff about the film evidence, May said, “I have not reached out to their staff. No.”
He concluded, “The film’s there, 40 minutes of it. It’s not hard to find.”
--> ‘40 minutes of it’: What Dusty May said about Jeremy Fears’ controversial plays in Michigan-MSU game
Handshake blow by
Izzo also addressed the aftermath of a handshake he had with May after the Spartans’ loss to the Wolverines.
“Whether I hug and kiss Dusty or he hugs and kisses me, we got beat by a better team,” Izzo said. “They played better. They were better. They have been better.”
Izzo acknowledged the challenge, saying, “We knew we had to play our best game. We didn’t do that. We showed at times where we can play with anybody. We didn’t do that on a consistent basis.”
He was clear about the outcome: “The better team won. Simple.”
Izzo also addressed the media’s focus on postgame gestures, saying, “Every time something is questioned, I just want to make sure you know. You weren’t probably born yet. Barely.”
He recalled how questioning his actions in the past cost him, “People questioned when I did it, and it cost me. Because people question, there is no right answer. There’s one right answer. You know what it is? Win.”
Izzo downplayed the significance of whether he hugged or shook hands with May after the game, stating, “It wasn’t a blow-by handshake. It was just a handshake and a walk by. I think nothing of it. I thought nothing of it last year.”