As Michigan State prepares for a Big Ten matchup with No. 6 Illinois, Spartans coach Tom Izzo has a big decision in front of him. The problem is, he has no idea how to make it.
That decision centers around MSU guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who is under fire for a series of underhanded plays against Minnesota in a 76-73 loss. Arguably the most notable was a backwards kick while trying to create space from Golden Gophers forward Langston Reynolds, resulting in a technical foul. And all of this came just days after Michigan coach Dusty May called out Fears’ play as ‘dangerous.’
Izzo, after the game, did not mince words. He said he wasn’t sure he was going to start Fears against Illinois in Feb. 7’s prime-time game, but comments on Feb. 6 indicate that threat may have been empty.
“I’ve looked at everything with Jeremy, and I can’t say like you normally do,” Izzo said, per the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY network. “I talked about not starting him and bringing him in, suspending him for a half. And then I looked at the whole situation, and I’m still not sure what I’m gonna do. And that’s the honest-to-God truth. And the only reason I’m not is because I gotta make sure that what is reported is always different than what actually happened.’
Izzo added Fears’ kick was largely retaliatory, something he was taking into consideration during his decision-making process.
‘I did not like the backward kick, OK?’ Izzo said. ‘He was pushed, he did that. Sometimes, those are reactionary.’
Izzo talked about Fears at length, praising his acumen in the classroom and the fact that the passion that got him in trouble is also the passion that makes him a strong player for the Spartans.
The timing, for Michigan State, is poor. A season-ending injury to Divine Ugochukwu has left Michigan State extremely thin at point guard, something Izzo did point out will not be a factor in whatever decision he makes.
With all of that in mind, there’s a very good chance Fears continues to start against Illinois despite the controversy. Which means the college basketball viewing world’s — and Izzo’s — eyes will be fixated firmly on No. 1, to condemn or vindicate the Hall of Fame coach’s decision.