Michigan

Michigan State basketball proves it can stay cool, calm after stressful start

Published

3 months ago

March 22, 2025

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Michigan State basketball proves it can stay cool, calm after stressful start

Michigan State, a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, overcame a slow start to defeat Bryant 87-62.
Sophomore forward Coen Carr led the Spartans with 18 points and several highlight-reel dunks.
Carr’s performance was crucial in countering Bryant’s athleticism and preventing an early upset.

CLEVELAND — For a while, it looked like it might be one of those games.

Tom Izzo knows them well. The underdog comes out with its hair on fire. An uppercut here. A body blow there.

A couple 3-pointers. A few blocks. And halfway through the first half, the underdog has the lead, as Bryant did over Michigan State.

Remember when MSU began the NCAA tournament as a No. 2 seed in 2016?

Of course you do. And for a moment, the Middle Tennessee vibes were pulsating.

It had been a minute since the Spartans entered the postseason with such a high seed, and with this much expectation. It feels different.

And it felt different here at Rocket Arena.

MSU showed its nerves — and its youth — in particular spots.

The Spartans were amped to start — overamped, truthfully — and when Jase Richardson barely hit the rim on his first two shots, you could see the freshman guard was struggling to catch his breath.

Bryant scored the first five points. The Spartans missed their first four shots — and their first free throw. It wasn’t until Jaden Akins, the senior, got to the free throw line that Spartans scored.

He followed with a 3-pointer. And as he ran down the court, he pushed his palms down near MSU’s bench, motioning everyone to calm down, that everything would be fine.

Eventually, it was, as MSU beat Bryant, 87-62, to advance to the second round, where it will play New Mexico here Sunday.

Pushed around?

“I thought we got pushed around a little bit in the first half,” Izzo said. “And maybe that was me. I don’t know. But we did a better job the second half.”

Punched in the mouth, he called it. And for a coach who has built his program to take the swings, it was hard to watch the beginning.

Then Akins hit the shot to settle things. From there, Coen Carr catapulted the Spartans. The sophomore forward played the game of his life. He ran the floor, as he always does, and dunked. He rebounded, too. Mostly, he supercharged MSU.

“It was infectious,” Izzo said.

Not to mention critical.

Bryant is long on the perimeter and tough everywhere. And unlike so many teams reluctant to crash the offensive glass because of the Spartans’ lethal fastbreak, the Bulldogs were fearless there, too.

their athleticism may not have surprised the Spartans, but it bothered them — especially early — and forced the Spartans to swarm the defensive glass as well, keeping them from running.

Points were a struggle early — except for Carr, who finished with a game-high 18.

He hit a pull-up from the left elbow midway through the first half. On the next possession, he laid it up after a balletic spin. And when he got to the free throw line after getting the chance at a three-point play, he knocked it down — a relief, considering his normally reliable teammates were misfiring from the line.

Twice, he soared in for offensive rebounds. Each time, he rose up and dunked the putbacks off two feet, single-handedly keeping the upset vibes at bay.

“I wasn’t going to let my team lose today,” Carr said. “I just tried to play as hard as I can, tried to get every rebound I can and just make the most of my opportunities out there.”

He started the second half in place of Szymon Zapala, only coming out to take a brief rest. It was his game. His athleticism countered the Spartans’ 15th-seeded opponent. Or at least helped to match it.

His game was made for the matchup — and for the moment.

Because he doesn’t live on the perimeter, where nerves can get in the way, he was free to unleash his otherworldly hops and quickness.

Izzo has been waiting for him to attack the boards like this, and to play defense like this.

“Coen ignited us on offense, especially when things (weren’t) going our way,” teammate Jeremy Fears Jr. said. “He was a big piece in getting this win today and helping us pull away.”

Not, technically, his first rodeo

This was not Carr’s first time under the NCAA tournament spotlight.

But he didn’t get this kind of run a year ago as MSU fell in the second round. He took advantage of the opportunity.

Where Richardson and Fears, and even Jaxon Kohler, took a bit to find their footing — and slow their heart rates — Carr channeled his extra juice into a season-saving night. Kohler was so nervous and jacked up, he couldn’t find his rebounding rhythm — or his normal feel for the ball on the block.

As for Carson Cooper?

Izzo didn’t lean on him early, then spent time kneeling next to him on the bench. Bryant’s front line outmuscled and outmaneuvered MSU’s bigs. Kohler and Cooper knew it was coming, but needed a minute to adjust.

Carr gave them those minutes to figure things out.

Maybe they win without his breakout turn, but not likely.

Izzo refused to acknowledge his team walked off the floor with more teachable moments. He wants his team to be past that by now.

It’s tournament time. The “my bad” excuse doesn’t work this time of year, as he likes to say.

“There should be no eye openers, I don’t think,” Izzo said. “We’ll talk about that tonight when we get back (to the hotel). It wasn’t looking real good there, and I think if (Bryant) would have kept close, (with) the way those three guys could shoot it, I wouldn’t have liked for that thing to come down to the nitty-gritty, and I think our team will learn that.”

He wanted a better, cleaner start — and who can blame him?

His team may not have overwhelming talent, but it has thrived all season within its relatively small margin for error. Look at the way these Spartans closed the Big Ten regular season.

“We know what it’s like to show up every night, and we’ll have to do better,” he said.

To make a run, they’ll have to.

To make a run, they’ll have to survive the occasional fits and spurts — and to do that, someone will have to lift the group. Carr did that Friday night, making sure MSU’s postseason didn’t end almost as soon as it started.

This is how it has been for these Spartans all season: If one side of the floor gets a little sticky, someone on the other side gasses it.

Sunday, against New Mexico, it may be someone else. Or it may be someone else and Carr again.

Because what he did, he can duplicate.

Energy is like that — and he is proving to have an unlimited supply.

Contact Shawn Windsor: swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him @shawnwindsor.

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Michigan

Why MSU Legend Jason Richardson Chose MSU Over Rival Michigan

Published

12 hours ago

June 8, 2025

Press Room

Why MSU Legend Jason Richardson Chose MSU Over Rival Michigan

Michigan State basketball legend Jason Richardson is now watching as his son, Jase Richardson, a fellow Spartan, prepares for the next level as he gets ready to hear his name called in this month’s NBA Draft.

Jase Richardson, of course, comes off his lone season at Michigan State, a place he almost didn’t go to, but he made his decision after visiting during the program’s annual “Grind Week,” where alumni return to campus, a story he discussed during his and his father’s recent appearance on “Podcast P with Paul George.”

He chose the Spartans, and it was a decision that Jason Richardson left up to him. Just as he had made his decision himself when he was going through the recruiting process over 25 years ago.

“I went through a similar thing where my whole family wanted me to go to Michigan,” Jason Richardson said on the podcast. “I grew up a University of Michigan fan. Fab Four (Five), watching Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson.

“And when I went to Michigan State, I felt that brotherhood like he (Jase) felt. And that’s why I ended up (going) to Michigan State, and my family all wanted me to go to Michigan, but I made that decision on my own, and it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.

“And so, when my son go through this, and I got a younger son, Jaxon, I want them to make a decision on their own to where they go because they got to feel that they could get better there, they could learn there, that could help them maybe get to the next level.”

Jason Richardson could have tried to direct his son to Michigan State, but as any good father would, he knew it wasn’t about him.

“When it’s all said and done, he’s the one that’s got to be at practice, he’s the one that’s got to be on campus, he’s the one that’s got to live in the snow when I’m in Miami in the beautiful sunshine weather,” Jase Richardson said. “And that’s his job for him to go through that process.”

It’s safe to say Jase Richardson’s decision worked out for everyone.

Keep up with the latest on Jase Richardson when you follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and feel free to share your thoughts when you join our community group, Go Green Go White, as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Make sure to also follow us on X @MSUSpartansOnSI.

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Michigan

Leaders crash in 12-vehicle pileup at Michigan, Canadian steals win in triple OT

Published

1 day ago

June 7, 2025

Press Room

Leaders crash in 12-vehicle pileup at Michigan, Canadian steals win in triple OT

BROOKLYN, MI – It became anybody’s race after the leaders crashed on a restart with five laps to go.

Three overtimes later, Stewart Friesen was the surprise winner of the Michigan International Speedway NASCAR Truck Series race on Saturday, June 7.

Friesen was ninth on the first overtime, but advanced to fourth by the third overtime – which was prompted by multiple crashes. Friesen powered ahead of leader Grant Enfinger with two laps to go to take his first lead of the day and cruise to victory.

“It just got crazy there at the end. We were able to pick off a couple, pick off a couple and then we had a shot at it,” Friesen said.

Jack Wood (91) runs into the back of Ty Majeski (98) during the Craftsman Truck Series DQS Solutions and Staffing 250 Powered by Precision Vehicle Logistics at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on Saturday, June 7, 2025. After nine cautions and three overtimes, Stewart Friesen (52) finished first.Ayrton Breckenridge | MLive.com

Friesen’s last win was in 2022. The 41-year-old from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, slammed on his roof and climbed the fence in elation.

“Thank you to … all these bad-ass race fans,” Friesen said. “I know there’s a lot of Canadians, there’s a lot of Americans, everybody’s having a good time together and that’s what it’s all about, baby, yeah!”

Friesen’s hometown is about 300 miles east of MIS. The track is close enough to Canada that the Canadian National Anthem is performed before every race.

Friesen remembers visiting the track as a kid in 1994 – when Rusty Wallace celebrated in the same victory lane he celebrated in Saturday.

“One Friday night, my grandfather was like, ‘Alright, we’re getting in the motorhome and going to Michigan,’” Friesen said. “We camped way out on the back 40.”

An even more local driver nearly won, as Portage native Carson Hocevar was leading before a flat tire forced him to pit with eight laps to go. Hocevar drove back through the field into the top five, but was forced to the back again after a restart violation. He finished 11th.

Only one Michigan-born driver has won a Truck Series race at MIS – Johnny Benson in 2006.

Hocevar and Corey Heim dominated the first half of the race, before fuel strategy mixed up the field. Heim gave his teammate Gio Ruggiero a push on the restart with five laps to go that helped trigger a 12-truck crash.

The crash knocked out Cup Series regular Ross Chastain (No. 44), who would finish 26th.

Chastain and Hocevar will compete in the Sunday, June 8, FireKeepers Casino 400 at MIS. That race begins at 2 p.m. on Prime Video.

The 20 lead changes in Saturday’s race tie a Truck Series record for MIS. This was the first truck race at MIS since 2020.

Here are the top 10 finishers from Saturday’s race.

Stewart Friesen, No. 52 Toyota
Grant Enfinger, No. 9 Chevrolet
Luke Fenhaus, No. 66 Ford
Ben Rhodes, No. 99 Ford
Corey LaJoie, No. 07 Chevrolet
Matt Crafton, No. 88 Ford
Jake Garcia, No. 13 Ford
Chandler Smith, No. 38 Ford
Andres Perez De Lara, No. 77 Chevrolet
Layne Riggs, No. 34 Ford

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Michigan

Driver nicknamed ‘Butterbean’ wins Friday Michigan NASCAR race, climbs fence

Published

2 days ago

June 6, 2025

Press Room

Driver nicknamed ‘Butterbean’ wins Friday Michigan NASCAR race, climbs fence

BROOKLYN, MI – A racer known for celebrating his wins at Waffle House was victorious Friday, June 6, at Michigan International Speedway – in a state with zero Waffle Houses.

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen held off a hard-charging Corey Heim in the closing laps of the ARCA Series race at MIS to win by 0.3 seconds.

Brenden Queen (28) celebrates after the ARCA Menards Series Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on Friday, June 6, 2025. Ayrton Breckenridge | MLive.com

Queen, 27, pumped up the fans in the grandstands during his TV interview.

“It’s Bean Nation time tonight, boys!” Queen said. “It’s insane. I mean, I think I’ve got to climb the fence before I’m done.”

Queen was true to his word. He scaled the fence in front of cheering fans just after his interview.

The mullet-donning driver brings an energy to the series – living up to the hype of his “Butterbean” nickname. His family gave him the nickname as a baby, as they thought he looked a bit like professional boxer Eric “Butterbean” Esch.

This is Queen’s third career ARCA Series win, all coming in 2025. After the first two, he took his team and the trophy to Waffle House to celebrate.

“It’s been a thing I’ve done since I was late model racing … we’d just always take the trophy to Waffle House. It was the only thing open (that late),” Queen said. “We try to enjoy the night, reflect on it and then get ready for the next one.”

While Michigan doesn’t have a Waffle House, Queen has a plane to catch tonight, anyway, to get back to North Carolina.

It’s yet-to-be-determined if he’ll end up at one before the night ends. Queen was asked what his favorite thing is at Waffle House after he finished speaking with the media.

“Chocolate milk! We’re going to go get a chocolate milk,” Queen said.

Brenden Queen (28) celebrates in victory lane after the ARCA Menards Series Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on Friday, June 6, 2025. Ayrton Breckenridge | MLive.com

How he got there

Queen took the lead with 23 laps to go on the final restart. While side by side with Gio Ruggiero, the pair slapped doors entering Turn 3, and Queen cleared him for the lead off Turn 4.

Second-place Heim, who has four Truck Series wins this year and is the favorite for Saturday’s race, wasn’t even supposed to be racing Friday. He was a substitute driver for Jake Finch, getting the call just hours before the race, since Finch had a viral infection.

Morgen Baird, who grew up in nearby Grass Lake, was the top finishing Michigander on Friday, with a 13th-place result. Baird will also race in Saturday’s Craftsman Truck Series race, which starts at noon on Fox.

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