Jaden Akins of Michigan State Talks Confidently After Win Against Bryant, “Spartans Fans are Celebrating after all”

Jaden Akins Talks After Michigan State’s Victory Over Bryant

Michigan State senior guard Jaden Akins contributed 11 points, five rebounds, and two steals in the Spartans’ dominant win over Bryant in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Michigan State’s veteran guard, Jaden Akins, played a crucial role in the Spartans’ victory against Bryant on Friday. Akins finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and two steals, being one of five players from Michigan State to score in double figures.

While it took some time for the Spartans to establish a significant lead, they eventually broke away, continuing their strong performance throughout the season. Akins addressed the media after the game, discussing the mindset that fueled the team’s execution and other key aspects of the victory.

Below is the transcript from Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo’s opening remarks during the postgame press conference:

Izzo: “The score didn’t really reflect how the game went. Let’s give credit to them—they came out strong, hit some early shots, grabbed some rebounds, and forced turnovers. I thought they played really well. Our big men, in particular, let us down early on. Even these two guys didn’t play their best at first, but Coen came in and sparked us, Jeremy [Fears Jr.] started pushing the pace, and Jase [Richardson] finally started taking some shots. Tre Holloman also contributed. Those four players really stepped up, while some of our bigs had a rough night.

“Jaden [Akins] struggled a bit, missed a few open shots, but he took the right shots and didn’t force anything. I was impressed with Bryant—they had some excellent shooters and put a lot of pressure on us defensively. Our staff did a good job adjusting to their switching defenses and different lineups. We need to improve, but I think the biggest takeaway is that the first game of the tournament is crucial.

“Having been in tournaments for 27 years, I know how important the opening game is. It’s not always going to feel perfect, but I’m proud of our guys, especially Phil Martelli Jr. for his work. The final score doesn’t reflect how well Bryant played, and I’m proud of our players, especially Carr, Richardson, and Fears, who really stepped up today.”