Spartans Welcome Media for On-Campus Media Day

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State's men's basketball team met with the media on Thursday afternoon during its on-campus media day.

Head Coach Tom Izzo welcomed the media during his opening statements and took questions for more than an hour before player availability.

"What a couple of years it's been, but I am excited to be back," Izzo said. "It's the right time of year, we've just come off some incredible opportunities ourselves of going to different things, whether it be a Tigers game or (summer trip) Spain or to the U.P. or just spending time together, we've tried to do more and more where we can make sure we keep our culture where we want it.

"I think we've got a good, experienced group. We've got a mixture. We've got Jaden (Akins), Jaxon (Kohler), Tre (Holloman), Frankie (Fidler), Szymon (Zapala), those guys have all been juniors and seniors, and yet we've got that core of (Xavier) Booker and Jeremy (Fears Jr.) and Coen (Carr) as that sophomore class, and the freshman class is kind of expanded because Gehrig (Normand) is still a freshman, still hurt, but getting a lot better. And then, of course, the three freshmen. It's been a group that we played and we've seen great improvements out of some guys, Coen, and Book has had great improvements. I think in general, the young kids, all three of them that are playing, I have been pleased with all three of them all summer.

"It's been 30 years. This will be the 30th year. It's pretty exciting for me.  As I said a lot, I love where I am. I love where the institution is going too."

Michigan State's players met with the media in the Tom Izzo Hall of History during a 60-minute session before practice at 3 p.m.

The Spartans started exhibition play last Saturday with a 70-53 win over Northern Michigan in the Superior Dome Showdown. It was the first time Izzo, a 1977 graduate of Northern Michigan, coached a game at his alma mater.

The second exhibition is slated for Tuesday, Oct. 29 (7 p.m., B1G+) against Ferris State at the Breslin Center.

Michigan State officially opens the 2024-25 regular season on Monday, Nov. 4 (7 p.m., B1G+), hosting Monmouth at the Breslin Center.

Big Ten Conference play starts on Wednesday, Dec. 4 (8:30 p.m., BTN) when the Spartans visit Minnesota. The team's Big Ten home opener is on Saturday, Dec. 7 (noon, BTN).

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