Three Reasons to Believe In Michigan State Basketball Entering the Big Dance

On Sunday, Michigan State basketball will have their seeding revealed for the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans project as a two-or-three seed, with Tom Izzo’s squad soaring past most expectations set for them this year, earning a three-seed in the conference tournament.

While their Big Ten Tournament loss was a blow to the momentum, there is plenty of reason to believe in Michigan State basketball come March. Tom Izzo is used to the mounting pressure that March brings, there is a reason for “January, February, Izzo” being well known in the Spartan community.

Here are three reasons the Spartans project to make a deep push in the NCAA Tournament (before the bracket is revealed) this year.

If you want three causes for concern, for those feeling pessimistic, here is that link as well.

1. The Senior Frontcourt is War-Hardened and Thriving

Carson Cooper lays a thundering dunk against Maryland.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

This season has seen seniors Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper become an imposing duo in the Spartan frontcourt. Combined with the high flying junior Coen Carr, and the Spartans dominate the rebound category. Kohler is relentless in the paint, and if he is left with single coverage on offense, there is a good chance he digs into his bag of post moves for two points.

Kohler is a player that Tom Izzo has praised for “earning” double-teams, as the Big Ten knows he is a scoring threat. The Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection scores at an impressive clip, along with rebounding relentlessly. On any given night, he is not just a double-double threat. Jaxon Kohler could go for a 20-point, 13-to-15-rebound night if not kept in check.

Carson Cooper, meanwhile, has seen his production explode as a senior. After four games with over 10 points in his first three seasons at MSU, Cooper is averaging nearly 11 points per game this season. His defense has routinely been praised by Tom Izzo, dating back to when the zero-star first got to MSU. Now, he has an offensive upside to go with it.

In 2025, the Spartans lacked production from their center position, which led to some lineup switch-ups to cover the glaring hole. Szymon Zapala was benched for the Ole Miss game in the Sweet 16 due to the Rebels’ athleticism. This year, the five spot can be viewed as a positive for Michigan State, not a hole to cover up.

2. Jordan Scott is the Wild Card

Jordan Scott prepares to battle for a ball against Illinois.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

This season, the Spartans have saw another freshman break their way into the starting lineup, much like Jase Richardson did during the 2025 season. Jordan Scott has gone from a ten-minute per game player into a starter in only a few short months, and for good reason.

He is a high energy, high hustle, high motor player. He and fellow freshman Cam Ward do not know how to do anything besides give 110% on any given play. Scott follows this up with some lockdown defense, as evidenced by the Illinois contest, where Big Ten Freshman of the Year Keaton Wagler was left frustrated with Scott covering his every move.

Scott has also seen an uptick in his shooting in recent months, which has been predicted to the media for months by coach Tom Izzo. Izzo has called Scott another version of Max Christie, a one-and-done for the Spartans that has earned a role in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks.

Scott, at 6-foot-8, has the athleticism and ability to be worked in at guard, as the starting shooting guard for this Spartan team. He has been tasked to run point guard when Jeremy Fears Jr. needs a rest, too, implying that there is a high level of trust between Tom Izzo and his freshman.

That trust is apparent, since in almost any win, Izzo is pointing out two-to-five things Scott or Cam Ward did right that might not show up or stand out on a box score.

3. Jeremy Fears Jr. is the X-Factor for this team

Jeremy Fears Jr. flexes against Northwestern.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

If you thought that a piece explaining the optimism for Michigan State basketball in March would not contain third team All-American Jeremy Fears Jr., I am not sure what to say. Jeremy Fears Jr. has become the leader of Michigan State basketball. He is routinely praised by Tom Izzo for being Mateen Cleaves-esque, which is arguably the best praise a player can have from his coach.

Fears has taken a massive leap forward this season, and it is why the expectations have changed so much for Michigan State basketball in 2026. In the Big Ten Tournament, Fears broke Cassius Winston’s single-season record for assists in a season, while also surpassing Winston and Cleaves’s Big Ten Tournament single-game mark for assists.

Fears and Purdue’s Braden Smith are in a competition to lead the country in assists, and it is not even close after them. Fears (9.2 assists per game) and Smith (9.0) are the only players averaging over 7.6 assists per game in the country. Against Maryland, Jeremy Fears had 17 assists, second-best in Michigan State history. That day, the Spartans had their second-best win in Big Ten competition. Coincidence? Not at all.

That is before you mention Jeremy Fears, the scorer. Fears is content to let teams sit on him as a passer, since he will dice up a team with drives to the net. Them, the only choices become contain him, where he will kick it out, or contest a shot, where he will either get it to fall or bring a whistle for a foul. Fears is among the best in the country for free throws, getting to the line 6.1 times per game (81^st best in the country) and converting 89.3% of his shots, which is top-25 in the country.

His free throw percentage has taken the leap this year, rising 16% while his rate of getting to the line also rose with it. His field goal percentage also have gone up five percent this season, and every scouting report has Fears starred, underlined, italicized, bolded, you name it.

There has been concerns about his antics, as the ability to draw fouls turned him into a villain in some public eyes, before a few extracurricular activities (encouraging a vulgar student section chant against Duke’s Cam Boozer, tripping an opponent, and his leg hitting Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau in the groin) have led to him becoming a villain for some.

The one thing fans and opponents can agree on, however, is that Fears’s talent is undeniable. He is the star and the player worth the price of admission for on weekdays and weekends. Fears embodies the captaincy for Michigan State basketball, taking responsibility, taking control of the huddle during runs for his squad or an opponent, and calling the shots. The All-American has taken the leap this year.

The concern on Fears at the start of the season, for his shooting not being good enough to have opponent’s respect it, has turned into a fear that this redshirt sophomore campaign is one last ride for Jeremy Fears.

The Illinois native is going to determine how far this team goes. Fears is rapidly approaching the star status that Michigan State basketball gave some of their greats, and could see his name mentioned among the Cleaves’s, the Winston’s, the Denzel Valentine’s, the Magic Johnson’s, the Draymond Green’s, or the Steve Smith’s, to name a few.

If Michigan State basketball wants to head to Indianapolis, it lies in the Joliet, Ill., native’s hands.