Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. to Start vs. Illinois

Sophomore point guard will take the court despite recent disciplinary issues

Feb. 7, 2026 at 7:15pm

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Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo has decided to start sophomore point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. in the team's big matchup against No. 6 Illinois on Saturday, despite Fears' recent technical foul and disciplinary issues. Fears leads the Spartans in scoring and assists this season.

Why it matters

Fears is a key player for Michigan State, and his status for the Illinois game was in question after he received a technical foul for an incident in the team's previous game against Minnesota. Izzo's decision to start Fears shows he is willing to give the young player another chance, despite the recent disciplinary problems.

The details

Fears received a technical foul for kicking a Minnesota player in the team's previous game, leading Izzo to consider not starting him against Illinois. However, Izzo ultimately decided to keep Fears in the starting lineup. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound sophomore leads Michigan State in scoring (14.7 points per game) and ranks second nationally in assists (9.3 per game).

  • Fears received a technical foul for kicking a Minnesota player in the team's game on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
  • Michigan State faces off against No. 6 Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 7.

The players

Jeremy Fears Jr.

A 6-foot-2, 190-pound sophomore point guard who leads Michigan State in scoring and assists this season.

Tom Izzo

The head coach of the Michigan State basketball team, who ultimately decided to start Fears Jr. despite his recent disciplinary issues.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The outcome of the Michigan State-Illinois game on Saturday, Feb. 7 will be a key next step in determining the Spartans' standing in the Big Ten conference and their potential NCAA tournament seeding.

The takeaway

Izzo's decision to start Fears Jr. despite his recent disciplinary issues shows the coach's willingness to give the young player another chance to lead the team. However, Fears will need to avoid further incidents and continue his strong play if Michigan State hopes to upset the highly-ranked Illinois squad.