Michigan State basketball will host Pierre Brooks, Butler in Gavitt Games

Michigan State basketball will host Spartan transfer Pierre Brooks and Butler in the 2023 Gavitt Games this fall.

A couple of familiar faces will be back at the Breslin Center this fall during the Gavitt Games as Michigan State basketball will play host to Butler, according to Jon Rothstein.

NEWS: Matchups are set for the 2023 Gavitt Games, according to multiple sources.

Xavier at Purdue
Marquette at Illinois
Michigan at St. John's
Maryland at Villanova
Butler at Michigan St
Iowa at Creighton
Wisconsin at Providence
Georgetown at Rutgershttps://t.co/m8mcWHwukJ

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 22, 2023

It’s interesting that the Spartans get Butler instead of a team like Marquette but this matchup is intriguing given the fact that Pierre Brooks is now there. Not only that, but former Ohio State head coach Thad Matta is leading the Bulldogs nowadays. That makes two familiar faces for Spartan fans back at the Breslin in non-conference play.

Brooks opted to transfer following the 2022-23 season in which he averaged just 3.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in a little over 14 minutes. But his numbers dwindled throughout the year as he became a smaller part of the rotation.

Everyone saw the writing on the wall for his transfer and Butler felt like a good place for him to rebound and get his confidence back.

Matta just finished his first season with Butler and it’s his first head coaching job since being fired from Ohio State in 2016-17. He went an impressive 337-123 at Ohio State, but in his final two seasons, he missed the NCAA Tournament which really did him in. He saw plenty of success at Ohio State but it’s a “what have you done for me lately?” business. Matt’s first season at Butler wasn’t exactly a success as he went 14-18, but he’ll be pushing for a tournament berth in 2023-24.

He’ll have a chance to make a statement against Michigan State during the Gavitt Games.

Some of the other intriguing matchups at Xavier at Purdue, Marquette at Illinois, Michigan at St. John’s,