Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. Draws Heat After On-Court Incidents in Loss to Minnesota
Michigan State’s road trip to Minnesota on Wednesday night ended in a tough three-point loss, but the scoreboard wasn’t the only thing grabbing headlines. Sophomore point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. found himself at the center of controversy after a pair of questionable plays - one of which earned him a technical foul and the ire of head coach Tom Izzo.
Let’s break down what happened, what it means for the Spartans, and why Fears’ recent string of incidents is drawing attention across the Big Ten.
The Kick That Shifted the Game
Midway through the second half, with Michigan State trailing by five, tensions flared. Fears, while defending Minnesota guard Langston Reynolds, appeared to kick his leg backward - and connected squarely with Reynolds’ groin.
The officials hit him with a technical foul, and the Golden Gophers capitalized. What had been a manageable five-point deficit ballooned to 12 in a matter of minutes.
The Spartans did claw their way back late, trimming the lead to three before the final buzzer, but the damage had already been done. It was a momentum swing that Michigan State couldn’t fully recover from - and it came at a time when every possession mattered.
“Those are critical plays,” Izzo said afterward, visibly frustrated.
Izzo Doesn’t Hold Back
Tom Izzo has never been one to sugarcoat things, and he didn’t hold back postgame. Asked about Fears’ actions, the Hall of Fame coach made it clear that this wasn’t just a heat-of-the-moment mistake.
“Jeremy’s gotta grow up a little bit,” Izzo said, echoing comments he made just days earlier after Fears was involved in a separate incident against Michigan. “I don’t even know if I’m going to start him the next game.”
That next game? A marquee matchup against No.
5 Illinois. If Izzo follows through and benches his starting point guard, it would be a strong statement - and a major shakeup ahead of one of the biggest games of the season.
A Pattern of Behavior?
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Earlier in the same game, Fears was caught on video appearing to try to trip Reynolds again - this time while sitting on the court as the Minnesota guard walked past. It’s the kind of play that doesn’t show up in the box score but raises plenty of eyebrows when it shows up on film.
And this isn’t the first time Fears has found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Just five days earlier, during a rivalry matchup against Michigan, Fears was accused of tripping Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg.
Michigan head coach Dusty May didn’t mince words afterward, saying there were “several plays that are very dangerous” involving Fears and adding, “The film’s there. Forty minutes of it.
It’s not hard to find.”
Izzo, for his part, defended his player after the Michigan game, suggesting Fears had been baited and took the bait. But with back-to-back incidents now on tape, the narrative is shifting - and opposing teams are likely to take notice.
What This Means for Michigan State
For a Spartans team fighting to gain traction in Big Ten play, this is a distraction they didn’t need. Fears is a talented floor general with the quickness and vision to be a difference-maker, but these lapses in judgment are hurting his team in real time.
Izzo’s message is clear: composure matters. And in a conference where physicality and mental toughness often decide games, Fears has to find a way to channel his intensity without crossing the line.
With Illinois looming, all eyes will be on the sophomore guard - whether he’s in the starting lineup or not. The Spartans can’t afford to let emotional mistakes derail their season.
And for Jeremy Fears Jr., the next step in his development isn’t about skill. It’s about maturity.