If you were like most Michigan State fans, you probably face-palmed early in the first half when Jeremy Fears Jr. was fouled by Elliot Cadeau and flailed his leg backward as a reaction.
It was an interesting move, but if Fears didn't already have the somewhat-forced reputation of being a "dirty" player, these plays wouldn't even be looked at twice. His awkward leg kick led to a technical foul and Michigan turned that into a four-point possession, taking an early 14-7 lead.
Obviously Fears has to be more careful even if he feels like it was a normal move after being shoved in the back by Cadeau.
That was a tough play that went against the Spartans and Tom Izzo spoke about it during a timeout in the first half on the broadcast, and then again after the game when he was asked about it.
His response after the loss was 100 percent spot on.
Tom Izzo on Jeremy Fears:
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 8, 2026
"I'm sick of it being one-sided. That's what upset me about the first time. 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?"
🎥: @wilxTV pic.twitter.com/DWuqVtcPzL
Izzo said that Fears is going to hear from him about this and then alluded to the fact that Dusty May should also hold his players accountable. He said that there were some things from the first matchup that weren't made public that he wonders if May is going to hold to the same standard that he apparently holds Fears.
That not-so-suble jab obviously went viral after the game with Michigan fans calling Izzo a sore loser, but it's hard to tell where the lie is because he is holding Fears accountable.
No, he's not thrilled that this kind of stuff keeps happening because it hurts the team, but he also doesn't believe that Fears is doing anything maliciously. If anything, Aday Mara's fouls against Carson Cooper and Fears were more aggressive than anything the Spartan point guard did.
Does he foul bait a little too much? Yes. Does he flop every now and then? Yes, most college basketball players do. Is he dirty? No, I believe that tag is forced and these plays are amplified because of who he is. He got shoved in the back, tried to retain his balance, and because of where his legs were positioned, it looked way worse.
Fears may not have been in the right even if it was an accident, but the same energy needs to be kept for Mara and Trey McKenney.