It was yet another January, February, Tom Izzo, and yet another incomplete run. The game started tough, with a brutal 17-0 run in the first half, putting Michigan State in a hole they couldn’t climb out of. Even when they fought hard to get back in the game, it just wasn’t enough. As the final buzzer sounded, Izzo did something rare: He pounded the scorer’s table and clasped his hands behind his head. That was another Final Four let go of. But Izzo isn’t blaming this one on his players.
Auburn might have been the No.1 seed, but entering the Sweet 16 matchup, it was the Spartans that were the favorites. 27 tournament appearances seem to do that to you. But by the time the buzzer had sounded, the Michigan State’s coach of 30 years was standing with his 26th March Madness loss. There are going to be should’ve, would’ve, could’ve, but Izzo is shutting them all.
“For the 30th year, I’m not sure I’ve ever been prouder of a team,” he started in the post-game conference. This is a team that has delivered a 30-win season for the first time since 2019, despite losing out on leading scorers. This is a team that had made it past the Round of 32 which 2 of the last 3 rosters failed. This was a team that was ranked fifth in the conference in preseason poll, and Izzo is ensuring to give credits were its due.
“These guys gave me everything they had. I have drained them of everything. Should take a week off. There’s nothing left,” he added. But when Izzo addressed the team in the locker room, the atmosphere wasn’t as high-spirited as Izzo tried to sound initially. “It was a tear-jerking locker room because they knew they spilled it all,” Izzo admitted.
And you could tell he meant it. The pride. The exhaustion. The emotion of a long season coming to an end. These players had given every ounce of themselves to this tournament, and as the realization set in that their journey had come to a close, the emotions spilled over.
Then, in a moment that echoed through the locker room, on the other end of post-game interviews, one of his biggest stars—Jase Richardson—finally broke his silence on the NBA draft. And by the looks of it, the emotions Izzo mentions have truly gotten to the freshman guard.
“I’ve got a lot of people I need to talk to in order to make this decision, make this move, or if I am coming back… This is going to be a tough decision. I love these guys so much. Love coach. I fell short of one of my goals that I want to have on my college resume, so it’s going to be a tough decision.”
Richardson’s performance during the season had already drawn NBA scouts’ attention. He averaged 12.2 points per game on 50.2% shooting as a freshman. His breakout performance in the tournament, including a 20-point showing against Ole Miss, had many thinking he was ready for the league.
But now, after the loss to Auburn, Richardson wasn’t rushing his decision.
Will Jase Richardson chase the NBA or one more shot with Tom Izzo?
Izzo, always blunt, has made it clear he thinks Richardson should at least test the NBA waters. But Richardson’s decision is more than just about basketball. If he leaves for the NBA now, he does so after a tough shooting night and a tournament run that ended short of his dream. But if he stays, he gets another shot at MSU’s first Final Four since 2009. Another year under Izzo’s tough-love mentorship could refine his game, preparing him for whatever comes next.
But it’s a family decision for Richardson, too. With his father, Jason Richardson, having been a star at MSU, the weight of this choice is heavy. Jason was a key member of Michigan State’s 2000 national title team and a standout player in the early 2000s. He knows the value of a college career that ends on a high note. Jase knows he’s not just carrying his own legacy, but that of his family’s as well.
If Richardson returns, the Spartans will be ready for another strong run, led by a core of returning players like Jaden Akins and the continued growth of young talents like Jaxon Kohler. But for now, Richardson’s decision is still up in the air. The dream of a Final Four might just be enough to keep him at MSU for another year. If he does return, he’ll join Izzo in pushing for greatness once more.
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