Witness intimate moments, father-son rivalries, and reflections on legacy as Michigan State basketball prepares for Senior Night.
Though the Spartans’ Senior Night has passed and the team now awaits its next hurdle — the Big Ten Tournament and beyond — fans are given a more intimate and deeper dive into the program during the buildup to the final game ever played at the Breslin Center for five players who don the green and white.
Throughout the season, the Spartans have released eight episodes of The Cut: A Season with MSU’s Men’s Basketball Team. It’s an amazingly well-shot, produced, and edited YouTube series that takes a deeper look into the program beyond the court. Episode eight was just released, and it begins with Tom Izzo giving a quick synopsis of just how special Senior Night truly is.
From there, things get going with a friendly father-son competition between Doug Wojcik and Denham Wojcik in a game of P.I.G.
Doug Wojcik has been on Tom Izzo’s coaching staff since 2021, but his ties to the program go back even further. He previously served on staff from 2003–2005 before leaving to become the head coach at Tulsa until 2012 and later Charleston until 2014. His son, Denham, began his collegiate career in the Ivy League playing for Harvard through his junior season two years ago. Wojcik did not play college basketball last year but transferred to Michigan State this season, where he’s carved out a role as the team’s backup point guard.
Denham ultimately beats his dad in front of a small audience, and afterward Doug reflects briefly on what it has meant to watch his son’s journey come full circle. It’s a very special moment for the rare father-son duo sharing the same team.
From there, the show shifts to another senior, Trey Fort. The cameras catch up with him in his car while he shares some life lessons and reflects on his journey. Rather than viewing Senior Night as the end, Fort explains how he sees it as simply the end of one chapter while looking forward to the future.
“You made it this far,” he says. “Now what’s next?”
Fort transferred to Michigan State from Samford this season and arrived with fairly high expectations. He was given the nod as the starting two-guard early in the year but struggled to consistently do exactly what Izzo needed to hold onto that role. Still, Fort has carved out an important spot off the bench, playing big minutes when needed. His role remains vital, and he’ll certainly be missed next season.
The show then cuts to a classic game of billiards. Nothing says casual downtime quite like a game of pool between two of the most notable seniors on the roster — and arguably two of the most well-liked Spartans outside of East Lansing. Of course, we’re talking about the big men: Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper.
The two jump right into their game while reminiscing about their first game as freshmen — which, if you don’t remember, took place aboard an aircraft carrier, an extremely unique way to kick off a college basketball career. The conversation between the two is exactly what you’d expect.
They laugh about the classic “welcome to college basketball” moment, but both imply that it’s nothing compared to the true initiation: a “welcome to Tom Izzo’s team” moment. Cooper follows that up by saying he wishes he had written more things down during his time in the program.
Kohler then shares his favorite Tom Izzo quote:
“One second can change a minute, one minute can change an hour, one hour can change a day, one day can change a year.”
The quote clearly resonates with both Kohler and Cooper. As the conversation shifts to what comes next, it’s clear they embody the prototype of players built within the Tom Izzo machine. They may not have arrived as the most highly touted or physically dominant recruits, but they stayed the course, remained loyal, and grew under Izzo’s tutelage.
Kohler ultimately wins the game, joking, “You can’t put that much pressure on me,” before drilling the final shot — perhaps a bit of foreshadowing for how the final stretch of the season would unfold.
The show then fast-forwards to the next day — one day before Senior Night — where viewers get a rare glimpse into an intimate team meeting led by Izzo.
Izzo begins by mentioning that he was up at 6:30 that morning speaking with Michigan State hockey head coach Adam Nightingale. Both teams were battling late into their seasons, and Izzo emphasized the importance of focusing on what truly matters: continuing to get better every single day.
From there, Izzo hands the meeting over to Jon Borovich, who begins breaking down film from the previous day’s practice.
It’s another fascinating inside look. Izzo, the coaching staff, and the players sit together in a small auditorium reviewing film. Izzo asks questions, holds players accountable, and offers coaching points in real time. It’s only a brief glimpse, but watching it almost feels like seeing the Mona Lisa being painted — a rare opportunity to witness the process behind the masterpiece.
The only downside is that the clip is so short. It’s the type of behind-the-scenes footage fans could easily watch for hours.
Finally, the show shifts to the last senior: Nick Sanders, the son of Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders. Much like his father, Nick isn’t one for the spotlight. His segment is short, heartfelt, and sincere as he expresses his gratitude for his time in East Lansing.
Then, the show transitions one final time.
A bittersweet melody plays over highlights from all five seniors throughout the season. A muffled announcer and heartbeat-like bursts of crowd noise echo through the montage. It’s an emotional turn for the episode — but in the best possible way.
The flood of memories culminates with Tom Izzo thanking each player before all five seniors kneel down and kiss the Spartan logo at midcourt — a Michigan State tradition unlike any other.