Michigan State Considers Discipline for Star Guard Jeremy Fears

Spartans coach Tom Izzo weighs options after Fears' latest on-court incident, as team also loses key transfer to season-ending injury.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 5:07pm

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Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is considering disciplining star guard Jeremy Fears after the sophomore's latest on-court incident, which included an apparent intentional groin shot against Minnesota. Izzo is weighing whether to bench Fears for at least part of the Spartans' upcoming game against Illinois. The team is also dealing with the loss of key transfer Divine Ugochukwu to a season-ending foot injury.

Why it matters

Fears is a key player for the 10th-ranked Spartans, leading the team in scoring and assists. Izzo's handling of the disciplinary situation could impact Michigan State's performance as it tries to bounce back from consecutive losses and avoid a three-game skid. The Spartans' depth in the backcourt has also taken a hit with Ugochukwu's injury.

The details

In the Spartans' loss to Minnesota, Fears received a technical foul after swinging his leg backward and making contact with an opposing player's groin area after a whistle. This came after a similar incident in the previous game against Michigan, where Fears appeared to intentionally trip an opponent. Izzo said he is considering various options for disciplining Fears, including benching him for part or all of the Illinois game.

  • On February 1, Fears appeared to intentionally trip Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg during the Spartans' loss to the Wolverines.
  • On February 4, Fears received a technical foul for swinging his leg into an opposing player's groin area in Michigan State's loss to Minnesota.
  • On February 6, Izzo said he is still deciding on potential discipline for Fears ahead of the Spartans' game against Illinois on February 7.

The players

Tom Izzo

The head coach of the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team.

Jeremy Fears

A sophomore guard and leading scorer for the Michigan State Spartans.

Divine Ugochukwu

A key transfer guard who suffered a season-ending foot injury for the Michigan State Spartans.

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What they’re saying

“I do have some decisions to make. And I could make 'em playing him from the start, playing him 10 minutes into the game, playing him at halftime. I'm not trying to minimize it. I'm just trying to do what I think is right and fair from what I know of the kid.”

— Tom Izzo, Head Coach, Michigan State Spartans

“If I look at what he's done, how far he's come and what he's been through, there's a lot worse that I've been through than that. My decision, you can create your own philosophy on whether it's right, wrong or indifferent. I promise you this is not nearly what it was made out to be in the first place.”

— Tom Izzo, Head Coach, Michigan State Spartans

What’s next

Izzo said he will decide before the Illinois game on Saturday whether to bench Fears for any portion of the contest.

The takeaway

Izzo's handling of the Fears discipline situation will be closely watched, as the star guard's actions have raised concerns about sportsmanship and could impact Michigan State's performance as it tries to bounce back from consecutive losses.