Jeremy Fears Jr. Assessed Technical Foul After Kick to Michigan Player’s Groin

Michigan State men’s basketball guard Jeremy Fears Jr. is in hot water once again.

Fears, who has come under fire from opponents for his perceived dirty play, was assessed a technical foul for a kick to the groin of Michigan guard Eliott Cadeau during the two teams contest on Sunday at the Crisler Center.

The incident in question occurred with 14:24 remaining in the first half with Michigan leading Michigan State 10–7. Fears, dribbling the ball beyond the three-point line, was defended closely by Cadeau, who swiped at the ball and was whistled for a personal foul. Fears, who had his back to Cadeau, then kicked his right leg back and connected with Cadeau’s groin. The Wolverines’ junior guard then pleaded his case to the officiating crew, who moments later assessed a dead ball technical foul on Fears.

A look at this play which was upgraded to a contact dead ball technical foul against Michigan State and Jeremy Fears Jr. pic.twitter.com/RCsfz5oiDv
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 8, 2026

Tom Izzo not pleased with call on Fears’s technical foul after kick to Cadeau’s groin

Spartans coach Tom Izzo did a courtside interview with CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson later on in the first half, and was asked what he had said to the sophomore guard after his latest technical foul following a questionable act. Izzo wasn’t a fan of the call, believing it to be one made on his player’s past transgressions.

“It's all because of what happened earlier and now every microscope's on him,” Izzo said. “And I don't like that. But I told him I don't even want him breathing wrong...”

It’s not the first time Fears has drawn the ire of an opponent—and also not his first run-in with a Michigan player.

When these two rivals last met on Jan. 30, Fears poured in 31 points and seven assists in a losing effort, but he was a standout player from the game for another reason. The Michigan State guard appeared to trip Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg, prompting a telling interaction between Wolverines coach Dusty May and a reporter after the game.

When a reporter asked about the play in question where Fears had appeared to trip Lendeborg, May took exception to the choice of words.

Dusty May was asked today about a play where Jeremy Fears Jr. appeared to trip Yaxel Lendeborg. “Appeared?” he asked.

Said there are “several plays that are very dangerous” from the game and “the film’s there. 40 minutes of it. It’s not hard to find.”
pic.twitter.com/gOYx0NQL9L
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) February 2, 2026

“Appeared? It wasn’t an illusion,” May said. May, citing the 40 minutes of game film, went on to accuse Fears of making “dangerous” plays. Izzo responded by encouraging May to “call me”, only adding to the intensity of the Big Ten rivalry.

But Fears’s seeming propensity for getting himself into trouble has also forced Izzo’s hand publicly.

Izzo calls out Fears after Michigan State guard kicks Minnesota player in groin

Following a Feb. 4 upset loss to unranked Minnesota in which Fears kicked Golden Gophers guard Langston Reynolds in the groin, Izzo called out the sophomore guard.

“Jeremy's gotta grow up a little bit,” Izzo said at the time.

After Sunday's game, Izzo acknowledged that he “chewed out” Fears but said he didn't believe the Michigan State guard “did anything on purpose.”

“I thought Jeremy Fears played his a-- off 99% of that game,” Izzo said. “And you know what? I did what I was going to do. I chewed him out for it but I watched it on tape and guys pushing him in the back and sometimes that stuff happens. I'm sick of it being one-sided though. That's what upset me about the first time. So Fears will get his lunch from me.

“I wonder if some of their guys will get their lunch from what happened in the first game that didn't get public. But I don't condone anything. I don't think he tried to kick them on purpose ... And you know what? Fears has done a hell of a job since getting publicly reprimanded by everybody.”

The noise surrounding Fears is only going to grow louder, particularly after Sunday’s latest incident, undoubtedly to the chagrin of Izzo.

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