UCLA’s rapid rise has given Michigan State a clear picture of what a rebuild can look like when everything clicks.
That’s the backdrop as the Spartans head into a Week 9 trip to Los Angeles, where a new staff and a reshaped roster have already pushed the Bruins into the national conversation. Michigan State, meanwhile, is still trying to find traction in a reset season that has produced a five-game skid and plenty of hard lessons.
On Monday, Fitzgerald pointed to UCLA as proof that a program can move fast - even if he’s realistic about how difficult that kind of leap usually is.
“Oh, absolutely!” Fitzgerald said on Monday when asked whether UCLA’s turnaround shows how quickly a program can improve.
“And that is no disrespect to the job (Chesney) is doing. Anybody can do it.”
The difference, Fitzgerald noted, is that Chesney brought 11 players from James Madison to Los Angeles. That kind of continuity has mattered, especially when compared with the way Curt Cignetti brought over much of his own foundation from the same program before leading Indiana to a national championship.
Michigan State’s version of the rebuild is still in the early stages. Fitzgerald said this year is about evaluation as much as anything else, with the current stretch giving him a chance to sort out what still needs to be fixed beyond 2026.
There’s also the reality that Cignetti’s rapid ascent has changed the way people talk about program turnarounds. But Fitzgerald has made it clear he’s not chasing outside expectations. He’s trying to get MSU where it needs to be, one step at a time.
“You’re close, like we are … but you’re nowhere near satisfied with the standard,” Fitzgerald said. “But you’re creating something.”
That tension has been obvious in recent weeks. The Spartans have been competitive against Big Ten opponents, but that hasn’t changed the fact that they’ve come away empty-handed. They’ve dropped back-to-back games by a combined four points, a reminder of how thin the line is in this league.
UCLA has already crossed that line from competitive to winning. The Bruins are undefeated through six weeks and one of only six FBS teams still without a loss.
Even more notable, they’ve kept rolling after losing starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava to a season-ending leg injury against then-No. 13 Oregon. Senior quarterback Ty Dieffenbach stepped into the job, and UCLA has not backed off.
That kind of response is part of what Chesney built in year one, and it’s the sort of trait Fitzgerald wants to see more consistently in East Lansing. The Spartans have been dealing with injuries of their own, particularly on defense, and Fitzgerald said his challenge is getting his team to trust itself in key moments.
“I’ve got to coach these guys better, get them to trust themselves to make some plays in the moment,” Fitzgerald said. “The last two weeks we've practiced at a high level, and we've performed at a better level. My anticipation is we'll do the same.”
For Fitzgerald, the encouraging part is that the team is still fighting, even if the results haven’t followed yet. He said he’s proud of the way the players have handled the challenge, even while stressing that the standard is still much higher than where they are now.
“I’m not satisfied or even close to the standard that we want to play with yet,” Fitzgerald said. “But who these guys are, the way they're challenging themselves, holding each other accountable and fighting to try to win for us, I'm really proud of them.”
Michigan State now gets a direct look at UCLA’s blueprint when it takes on the Bruins at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct.
- The game will air on CBS.
In Other News...
Tom Izzo Sent A Clear Message To MSU Fans In Loss
An October exhibition at the Breslin Center turned into a showcase of how intense Michigan State fans can be, but it also brought a reminder from Tom Izzo about where the line should be. When UConn coach Dan Hurley was met with hostile chants during the game, Izzo stepped in and asked the crowd to stop, even as the No. 5 Huskies went on to beat No. 6 Michigan State 78-70.
The game itself still had the feel of a big-stage meeting between two nationally respected programs, with both coaches showing plenty of appreciation for the other side afterward. Izzo and Hurley each praised the opposing team and coaching, leaving the Spartans with a result they did not want but also a clear message from their own coach about how he wants the home environment handled. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremy Fears Jr. Just Gave Michigan State Fans A New Worry
Michigan States exhibition against UConn ended with a familiar preseason mix of promise and concern, as the Spartans fell 78-70 at Breslin Center but still got a strong performance from Jeremy Fears Jr. The guard paced the team with 23 points and eight assists, helping keep Michigan State in the game against a UConn frontcourt that controlled stretches of the night and made life difficult on the glass.
The bigger worry for the Spartans came in the second half, when Fears gave the fan base a scare after appearing to deal with an ankle issue. Even in a game that did not count in the standings, his health matters to a team trying to sort out its backcourt and tighten up before another exhibition against Marquette, especially with UConns rebounding edge serving as a reminder of how quickly preseason games can expose issues. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State May Have A Bigger Jeremy Fears Jr. Story Brewing
Michigan States exhibition loss to No. 4 UConn still gave the Spartans a useful look at where things stand early, and Jeremy Fears Jr. made sure he stayed at the center of it. The sophomore guard led Michigan State with 23 points and eight assists, and he looked more explosive than he did a year ago, punctuating the night with a one-handed dunk that stood out even in a game the Spartans ultimately dropped 78-70.
The bigger takeaway, though, may be how much Fears can shape everything around him if this version sticks. Michigan State also got 11 points from freshman guard Jasiah Jervis, while the starting center spot remains unsettled after Jesse McCulloch played well enough to challenge the expected starter Anton Bonke. For a team still sorting out its rotation, Fears jump is the kind of development that can change the ceiling in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]