Michigan State University’s men’s basketball team will kick off the 2025-26 season against Colgate University on Monday, November 3, at 7 p.m. The game will take place at the Breslin Center, featuring live streaming on B1G+. Jack Stager will provide play-by-play commentary, while Joe Dez serves as the color analyst and Oliviah Klinski reports from the sidelines.
Spartan Team Overview
Entering this season, the Spartans are ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press preseason poll and No. 21 in the USA Today Coaches poll. Last season, Michigan State finished strong with a record of 30-7 and a commanding 17-3 in the Big Ten Conference, capturing the regular season title.
Head Coach Tom Izzo, in his 31st year with the program, has led the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament for 27 consecutive seasons. Under his leadership, the team advanced to the Elite Eight for the 11th time last year, concluding the season ranked No. 7 in the AP Top 25.
Key Departures and Returning Players
This season, Michigan State must replace three starters and four letterwinners who contributed significantly to last year’s performance, accounting for over 63% of the team’s scoring. Notable departures include guards Jaden Akins and Jase Richardson, both honored on the All-Big Ten Third Team.
Despite these losses, the Spartans return senior forward Jaxon Kohler and redshirt sophomore point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. Kohler averaged 7.8 points per game (ppg) and was among the top 10 in rebounding in the Big Ten with 7.5 rebounds per game (rpg). Fears averaged 7.2 ppg, led the conference in assists with 5.4 apg, and demonstrated exceptional playmaking ability, ranking No. 8 nationally in assist rate.
- Jaxon Kohler: 7.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg
- Jeremy Fears Jr: 7.2 ppg, 5.4 apg
- Coen Carr: 8.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg
- Carson Cooper: 5.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg
Recent Exhibition Games
The Spartans recently completed two exhibition matches. They secured a victory against Bowling Green with a score of 75-66 on October 23. In their second game, they faced a tough challenge against the fourth-ranked UConn, losing 76-69.
Against Bowling Green, Coen Carr led the Spartans with 17 points. He showcased an impressive performance, making 7 of 11 shots and contributing five rebounds and four assists. Both Kohler and Fears also had strong games, with Kohler recording a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Colgate University Overview
Colgate finished the 2024-25 season with a record of 14-19 and 10-8 in the Patriot League. They are coached by Matt Langel, who has successfully guided the Raiders to six Patriot League titles and five NCAA Tournament appearances. This season, Colgate is predicted to finish third in their conference.
- Top Player: Jalen Cox (11.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.7 apg)
- Notable Addition: Ben Tweedy, a transfer from Wisconsin-Green Bay
Historical Context
Monday’s game will mark the seventh meeting between Michigan State and Colgate. Historically, Michigan State has dominated the series, winning the last five encounters. The last matchup took place on January 17, 1993, where the Spartans triumphed with a score of 40-26.
As the season opener approaches, Michigan State aims to build on their recent successes while Colgate looks to establish their strength in the Patriot League.
