The Spartans played their final exhibition game of the season Tuesday night against the No. 4 ranked Connecticut Huskies. A tough early-season matchup is a Tom Izzo specialty—throw the young guys into the fire, build adversity early, and come March, they’ll be battle-tested. And without question, that’s exactly what the Spartans faced against UConn.

Michigan State got a quick taste of what a true road game feels like. The refs kept blowing their whistles for most of the night, and the Spartans found themselves trailing by nearly 20 points in the second half. They clawed back late to cut the deficit to six, but the game was never truly within reach. UConn was the better team—and that’s okay this early, especially in an exhibition. These matchups are meant to expose weaknesses, force players into uncomfortable spots, and show Izzo what needs fixing before the real season begins.

The game felt unusually slow, thanks to nearly 60 total fouls called. That could’ve benefited Michigan State—if only they’d made their free throws. Cohen Carr, who many expect to take a big leap forward this year, struggled mightily from the line, missing his first five attempts and finishing with 11 points in an uneven outing.

Jeremy Fears Jr., who flirted with a double-double in the opener against Bowling Green, led the team with 14 points. But he also committed six turnovers—something Izzo will no doubt emphasize correcting. That’s exactly why these tough exhibition matchups matter: fail forward, watch the film, and clean it up before the games that count.

Overall, the shooting was off across the board. Kur Teng went cold from deep (0/3), and the Spartans finished 18-for-46 from the field, hitting just four three-pointers. Meanwhile, UConn fed off the home crowd, going 23-for-30 from the line and knocking down nine triples.

Trailing by 11 at halftime and as much as 19 in the second, Michigan State looked sluggish. Carr was invisible early, the team never found rhythm, and the officiating didn’t help. If this group wants to make another run in March, there’s plenty to tighten up—ball handling, shot selection, and free-throw consistency top the list.

Still, Izzo thrives on early challenges like this. He’d rather find the flaws now than in February. Expect a hard week of practice in East Lansing as the Spartans prep for the real thing.

Michigan State opens the regular season Monday night at home against Colgate at 7 p.m. The Spartans then host Arkansas on Saturday, November 8, at the Breslin Center.

Next 5 Games:

• 11/3 – vs Colgate (7 PM)
• 11/8 – vs Arkansas (7 PM)
• 11/13 – vs San Jose State (6:30 PM)
• 11/19 – at Kentucky (6:30 PM)
• 11/21 – vs Detroit (6:30 PM)