On Thursday, Tom Izzo held a media day session for his Michigan State basketball team as they quickly approach the start of their season, which will unofficially begin with an exhibition game against UConn on October 28. Izzo, who has seemed visibly reinvigorated for the past year, came off very positive about his team in the session.
Below, you will find five key takeaways from a fun press conference in East Lansing.
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1. Tom Izzo said Jordan Scott has been the surprise of the team
Michigan State’s Jordan Scott, left, and Divine Ugochukwu participate in a drill during the first day of basketball practice on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
For me, the biggest takeaway from this session was Tom Izzo’s praise of Jordan Scott. With Kaleb Glenn’s injury, the Spartans need Scott to absorb some minutes on the wing, and it looks like he might be ready for even more than that. Izzo said that Scott put on 15 pounds of muscle this summer and even compared him to Max Christie. That’s massive news for a team with a major hole on the wing due to Glenn’s injury.
2. Tom Izzo calls Kur Teng ‘best pure shooter’ on the team
Michigan State’s Kur Teng celebrates after a 3-pointer against Niagara during the second half on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
Is it Kur Teng’s time? Teng will likely have some time to grow into the starting shooting guard role, but this should be the year we finally see him able to play some rotation minutes with consistency. On Thursday, Tom Izzo mused that he thinks Teng is probably the ‘best pure shooter’ on the team. The question will be around his defense, but it can never hurt to have a sharpshooter come in off the bench.
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3. Coen Carr taking another leap?
Dec 18, 2023; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Coen Carr (55) dunks the ball as Oakland Golden Grizzlies players watch during the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports
Last season, Coen Carr wasn’t just the breakout player of this MSU team, he might have been the breakout player of the entire Big Ten Conference. Tom Izzo talked about ‘big expectations’ for Carr this year, noting that the junior is bigger, stronger, and has improved his shooting and ball-handling. Coen Carr might just be the ‘addition’ this team needs to replace the production they lost this summer, and he will likely be tasked with playing more at the three this year.
“You fall in love with him with the fact he can jump over you. But that’s not why I fall in love with him. I think he’s worked his tail off,” Izzo said of Carr.
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4. Trey Fort still working on defensive end of court
Feb 24, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs guard Trey Fort (11) dunks against LSU Tigers guard Trace Young (14) during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
One of Michigan State’s big additions this year was sixth-year senior Trey Fort, who has spent time at both Mississippi State and Samford. Fort will, presumably, be the new starter at shooting guard this year, replacing minutes previously occupied by Jaden Akins and Jase Richardson. While Izzo noted that Fort has ‘Coen Carr athleticism’ (which, that’s kind of scary to think about), he still has a way to go on the defensive end of the court. Luckily, that’s Tom Izzo’s specialty.
5. Izzo also praises freshman Cam Ward
Michigan State’s Cam Ward shoots a layup during the first day of basketball practice on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
While I started this article talking about Izzo’s praise of Jordan Scott, it definitely shouldn’t overshadow Cam Ward. Ward already had plenty of hype coming into MSU, and it looks like he might be even better than expected.
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When talking about both Scott and Ward, Izzo said, “These two guys are better than I thought when I got them.”
That’s pretty encouraging stuff from Izzo.
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Five takeaways from Tom Izzo’s media day for Michigan State basketball
