Following a fantastic freshman season, Jase Richardson has captured the hearts of Michigan State basketball fans everywhere, with “one more year” chants breaking out within the Izzone following the regular season finale (a 79-62 victory) against Michigan.
But despite what many believe, the freshman phenom and Spartan legacy is not the player most instrumental to a deep March run; Jeremy Fears Jr. is.
The 26-5 Spartans are Big Ten champions for the first time since 2020, and should (barring a Big Ten tournament collapse) be on the line of two seeds come March Madness. Tom Izzo and Co. are pursuing their first appearance in the Final Four in six years, and Fears is the biggest X-factor.
Everybody knows about Fears’ journey after his medical redshirt as a freshman, making a full recovery to become integral to Michigan State’s success. Fears started in all 30 games he appeared in this season, averaging 7.0 points and 5.5 assists per game while serving as an anchor for the Spartans, especially defensively.
His Instagram handle is “@fearsthefloorgeneral” for good reason. Only Braden Smith and Ace Baldwin averaged more assists per game in the Big Ten than the Joliet, Ill., native. While Richardson and Jaden Akins might be the go-to scorers for Michigan State, it’s Fears Jr.’s playmaking prowess and maturity beyond this year that has powered the offense to new heights.
While he doesn’t shoot threes frequently (1.0 attempts per game), Fears has improved considerably from beyond the arc. Defenses left him open, and he would make them pay for that decision.
Fears' 3-point percentage ascended from 16.7% a season ago to a team-leading 40 percent in 2024, displaying an offensive confidence that has only blossomed. Fears is still a work in progress when it comes to refining his offensive game, but showed plenty of promise.
His impact also goes beyond the stat sheet. Fears knows how to provide the Breslin Center with a burst of energy like he did early on on Sunday, as shown in this clip from the CBS broadcast which was tweeted by @CBBonFox on X.
After forcing an early turnover on Michigan’s Vlad Goldin, Fears brought the building to its feet, feeling the energy of the contest before exchanging words with Izzo.
Despite being highly productive on the defensive end, Fears has been inconsistent offensively all season, struggling to step up in consecutive games. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound point guard recorded five or fewer points 11 times this season, including goose eggs against Indiana and Purdue, and a one-point outing versus Wisconsin.
When Fears is on, he is on. Michigan State is 8-1 when he scores in double figures, and he helps unlock the Michigan State offense when shooting well.
Between Fears, Akins, Richardson, and junior Tre Holloman, the Spartans have an impressive crop of guards. But with a burgeoning offensive arsenal, Fears at his best could very well see MSU reach its ninth Final Four in 30 seasons under Izzo’s tutelage. It is all a matter of which Fears shows up, as he is this team's biggest wild card.