Jeremy Fears Jr. Reflects After Sweet 16 Victory
Michigan State redshirt freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. recorded a game-high six assists in the Spartans’ 73-70 win over Ole Miss in the Sweet 16 on Friday.
ATLANTA, Ga. — Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. wasn’t as impactful in the first half of their Sweet 16 matchup against Ole Miss on Friday, but he came alive in the second half.
The young guard made some key plays down the stretch, finishing with six assists—more than any other player in the game. His performance helped spark the Spartans’ crucial late-game run, securing their victory and advancing them to the Elite Eight.
After the game, Fears spoke to the media. Below are some highlights from his availability:
Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo’s Postgame Remarks:
Opening Statement: Izzo: “First off, that team was the toughest and most physical defensive squad we’ve faced in years. They reminded me of the old Gene Keady and Clem Haskins teams when I first started in this profession. They played well.
“I didn’t think we played particularly well in the first half, we got stuck a lot. But I admire these guys because they kept fighting. Getting close to halftime was crucial.
“At halftime, we felt we could attack the basket more. Tre [Holloman] was driving. These guys were driving. Jase [Richardson] hit some big shots. Coen [Carr] had some huge blocks. Jaden [Akins] knocked down a big three, and those free throws at the end were key.
“It’s hard to believe, but in just two days, we’ll be playing for a chance to do one of the greatest things in any basketball player’s career, and that’s compete for a Final Four. I’m proud of these guys, they’ve earned it.”
Q: Tom, you mentioned the opportunity to play for a spot in the Final Four on Sunday. This marks your eighth Elite Eight appearance. Do you put much value in that, or is your focus on the Final Four and championships when you look at your career milestones?
Izzo: “Elite Eights are great, but as I said before, we don’t hang banners for Elite Eights. We hang banners for Final Fours and championships.
“I’ve spoken to the team about this, and I guess it’s the one thing I have experience with. Thank God I’ve had some former players around who’ve been in these moments. I even have Kevin Willis in the locker room giving my guys a hard time about toughness.
“I think our coaching staff, with all the Final Four experience we have, has been talking to them as well. We’ve all been working on this together. We’ve got to play better, but I’m really proud of the effort. We’re not a team that can just show up and win, and that second-half performance was outstanding.”
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