Michigan State’s men’s basketball team gets its turn in the spotlight Thursday at Big Ten Media Day in Chicago, with Tom Izzo, Jeremy Fears Jr. and Coen Carr set to represent the Spartans.
The women already had their moment on Wednesday, when Robyn Fralick, Theryn Hallock and Kennedy Blair spoke about the upcoming season in the Windy City.
It’s a busy stretch across Spartan athletics, with No. 2 Michigan State women’s soccer opening a two-match week Thursday night by hosting Minnesota at 7 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium.
The Spartans then head to the road to face No. 25 Purdue on Sunday afternoon.
Thursday also comes with a Homecoming message in East Lansing. A note addressed to Spartans said, “Spartans,
It’s Homecoming in East Lansing. Across the Michigan State campus, staff and students are preparing to welcome Spartan alums back home.
My family and I are excited to be part of all the festivities, including the parade, the tailgates, and the football game. I can’t wait to meet Spartans from all eras.
Homecoming celebrates the past, with an eye towards the future, building on the firm foundation established by generations of Spartans. With that serving as a backdrop, it’s important that I share some early impressions from my first month on campus.”
Elsewhere on the schedule, women’s tennis is at ITA Regionals in Champaign, Ill., on Thursday and again Friday and Saturday. Friday’s slate also includes cross country at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, field hockey against Penn State at 3 p.m., baseball against Western Michigan in an exhibition at 6 p.m., men’s soccer at Maryland at 7:30 p.m., volleyball against Oregon at 7:30 p.m., and hockey against Northern Michigan at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday wraps with women’s tennis still in Champaign and football hosting Illinois at 3:30 p.m. on FS1.
In Other News...
Michigan State Faces New Lineup Uncertainty In Critical Illinois Week
Michigan States prep for a pivotal Big Ten matchup against Illinois got a little clearer, and a little more complicated, when the schools released their initial player availability reports ahead of the game. The Spartans already know they will be without linebacker Caleb Wheatland because of injury, while Cam Fancher, Tre Bell and Jordan Hall all landed in the questionable category as the week heads toward kickoff.
Illinois, meanwhile, has its own availability questions to sort through, with running back Ca'Lil Valentine ruled out, defensive back Tywan Cox listed as doubtful and guard Champ Smith tagged questionable. For Michigan State, the report adds another layer of uncertainty in a game where depth and availability could matter just as much as game plan, especially with both sides still awaiting final word on a few key names. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Gets A Revealing Look At Illinois Before Homecoming
Michigan States upcoming homecoming opponent comes into the matchup carrying plenty of conversation points, and a fresh look at Illinois makes clear why the Spartans cannot treat this as a routine conference week. An interview with Isaac Ambrose of The Champaign Room painted the Fighting Illini as a team still working through the pressure of heightened expectations, with questions around quarterback Katin Housers play and a supporting cast that has had to shoulder different kinds of responsibility as the season has unfolded.
The more revealing part for Michigan State is on the other side of the ball, where Illinois has had to navigate both injuries and changes in how the defense is being run. Ambrose touched on those complications, along with the recent coaching turnover that has altered the backdrop for the Illini heading into East Lansing. For a Spartan team trying to get a read on what kind of test it will face, the interview offered a useful snapshot, but also left enough uncertainty to make Saturdays matchup worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Is Sending A Clearer Message About Football Money
Michigan State athletic director Dan Bartholomew is making the case that football funding needs to be a more visible priority, and he did it in a letter aimed directly at fans. In it, he laid out why the program needs stronger backing, pointing to the dollars required for roster development and stadium renovations while tying those needs to the departments broader push through Spartan Ventures and the For Sparta campaign.
The message also comes with a bigger-picture legislative angle, as Bartholomew noted the possible effect of the Protect College Sports Act on athletics revenue-sharing rules. For a program trying to keep pace in a changing model, the issue is not just how much money can be raised, but how clearly the department communicates where it is going and why it matters. [Read more 🡒]