Three former Michigan State players, who found new homes in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, have seen their journeys end after the first weekend. The potential nightmare for Spartan fans-being eliminated by a former teammate-is off the table after Xavier Booker and his UCLA Bruins fell to the UConn Huskies on Sunday night. A win for UCLA would have set up a Sweet 16 showdown with Michigan State, marking their second clash in three weeks.
Booker and his squad went toe-to-toe with the Huskies in the first half but couldn't keep up after the break. Despite the loss, Booker showcased his talent with an average of 14 points and 6.5 rebounds over two tournament games.
His amicable departure from Michigan State left him in good standing with Tom Izzo, who continues to support him. As Booker looks ahead to a pivotal senior season at UCLA, he's aiming to bolster his NBA draft prospects.
With Booker, Tre Holloman, and Gehrig Normand out of the picture, the Spartans can now concentrate solely on their upcoming battle with UConn this Friday.
Michigan State's Next Challenge
The matchup between UConn and UCLA was tightly contested for much of Sunday, but the Huskies pulled away with a commanding 16-point victory. Now, Tom Izzo's Spartans face Dan Hurley's Huskies for the first official time this season, following a preseason exhibition loss in Connecticut. Reaching the Elite Eight will be no small feat, but this Michigan State team thrives in these high-stakes games against formidable opponents.
The Spartans are gearing up, and you can bet they're ready to take on the challenge against UConn.