MSU's Izzo Speaks on Upcoming Senior Night, Game vs. Rutgers
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EAST LANSING, Mich. --- The last game at the Breslin Center for a couple of players is near.
No. 8 Michigan State (24-5 overall, 14-4 Big Ten) is looking for one last win at home this season when it takes on Rutgers (12-17, 5-13) on Thursday night. The Spartans will be honoring seniors Jaxon Kohler, Carson Cooper, Denham Wojcik, Trey Fort, and Nick Sanders following the game, as well as the senior team managers.
This night that comes around every year is special to Tom Izzo. He's seen lots of players come in and out of his program across 31 seasons now as MSU's head coach, and as somebody who used to play himself at Northern Michigan, he wants to ensure that Senior Night is a memorable one for his players.
"You always want to see your seniors go out the right way," Izzo said Tuesday afternoon. "In each and every way, they [all] have done something for us."
Full Tom Izzo Press Conference
More from Izzo on Senior Night
One big thing that Izzo really appreciates is how many people stick around to honor the seniors of the program. There usually are not too many seats empty when the seniors kiss the Spartan logo at mid-court and then officially get honored after the game.
"I've seen a lot of Senior Nights where you come out and the place is half-empty because people leave or, a lot of places, have it before the game," Izzo said. "I did that once or twice my first couple years. I think that brought more nerve-wracking and more this and that and not as good of an appreciation."
The tough part about having Senior Night festivities after the game, though, is that sometimes a slightly awkward situation unfolds where MSU loses. Izzo reflected on when it happened during Draymond Green's senior season, where Michigan State lost at the buzzer to Ohio State in 2012 when the Spartans were trying to lock up an outright Big Ten regular season title.
"That's what you dread: you dread having Senior Day and losing," Izzo said. "But it's part of life. You've got to learn how to deal with it, so I learned that day that it's not all bad. We're still appreciating a four-year span, not a one-night deal."
On paper, Rutgers should be an opponent that the Spartans should take down relatively easily. The Scarlet Knights are currently 158th in the NET rankings, which is the lowest mark in the Big Ten. Still, they gave MSU all it could handle in Piscataway back on Jan. 27, with Michigan State needing a semi-miraculous comeback to win in overtime.
"You look at their record, Rutgers was the one team that played us as good or better than any of the other teams that we're playing," Izzo said. "We earned it at the end out there, but they probably deserved to beat us."
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A 2025 graduate from Michigan State University, Cotsonika brings a wealth of experience covering the Spartans from Rivals and On3 to his role as Michigan State Spartans Beat Writer on SI. At Michigan State, he was also a member of the world-renowned Spartan marching band for two seasons.
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