Watching the final seconds tick off the clock on Michigan State basketball's 2024-25 season was bittersweet. On one hand, it hurt to lose so close to another Final Four, and on another, it was great to see the program re-establish what Spartan basketball was supposed to be.
Now it's time to build on this.
However, the players in the locker room didn't want to talk about the future after the loss, they wanted to reflect on what was a special season with a great group of guys.
Tre Holloman was visibly emotional, and Jaden Akins had a somber tone in the post-Auburn loss on Sunday night, speaking to the media about what this team and this season meant to them. Jaxon Kohler and Szymon Zapala also spoke and showed some emotions as the camera panned to each of them, sharing hugs with the coaches and with each other.
An emotional @MSU_Basketball locker room after the Spartans fell to Auburn in the Elite Eight, 70-64.
— Mark Pearson (@MarkPearsonTV) March 31, 2025
Hear postgame reaction from MSU👇 pic.twitter.com/Qe9ipwMI36
It's pretty clear that this team was super close, and this loss means that they'll never all play together on the same team again. Sure, most of the roster returns for next season, but gone are Frakie Fidler, Akins, and Zapala. Those guys gave their all this season and made Tom Izzo and the fans proud.
Now, they'll be moving on looking for their own professional careers.
This team is going to be really good next season, despite losing Akins, and if Tom Izzo can find another piece in the transfer portal, it could be even more special.
Izzo has re-established the standard and the program feels "back".