Izzo Stops Michigan State Fans From Cursing Hurley

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo stepped in to stop hostile chants directed at UConn coach Dan Hurley during a men's basketball exhibition at Breslin Center in East Lansing on Oct. 20, 2026. The intervention came during a first-half stoppage, when students in the Izzone section targeted Hurley as he argued with an official.

According to The Detroit News, Izzo walked down the court during a timeout and gestured for the students to stop. The incident unfolded as No. 5 UConn defeated No. 6 Michigan State 78-70 in a matchup between two highly ranked programs preparing for the regular season.

The Huskies' victory included a significant advantage on the offensive glass, where Michigan State surrendered 14 offensive rebounds. The Spartans also struggled from long range, making just 3 of 20 attempts from beyond the three-point line, according to the game report.

Hurley acknowledged the crowd's reaction after the game and recognized that his animated behavior on the sideline can provoke opposing fans. The UConn coach has a reputation for intense exchanges with officials, including a forehead-to-forehead confrontation with referee Roger Ayers during the Elite Eight last season.

“Obviously, the fans turned on me at different points in the game, and rightfully so. It was their first time seeing the antics, but as much as they were mean to me, I root for them,” Hurley said.

Hurley has led UConn to national championships in 2023 and 2024. The Huskies also reached the national championship game in April, where they lost to Michigan, according to The Detroit News.

Izzo praised UConn's coaching and competitive quality after the exhibition, highlighting the challenge his team faced against the Huskies. His comments followed an encounter in which he had already intervened to discourage the student section from directing profanity at Hurley.

“He's a good coach, and he's done a good job. They're tough,” Izzo said.

The coaches have split their two regular-season and postseason meetings, according to The Detroit News. Michigan State beat UConn 64-60 in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Nov. 25, 2021, before the Huskies defeated the Spartans 67-63 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on March 27, 2026.

UConn and Michigan State have also faced each other in exhibitions, with Hurley's team winning both encounters. The Huskies won in Hartford last season before securing the 78-70 victory in East Lansing.

Before tipoff, Izzo and Hurley exchanged a hug and backslaps. Izzo described the matchup as an ideal test for his team against a strong opponent and a highly regarded offensive system.

“This was the best game we could have played in the country. We couldn't have played a better team, better coach, better offense than they run,” Izzo said.

Hurley also expressed respect for Michigan State's established program culture, explaining that UConn could not rely on its usual perceived advantages in toughness and team identity against the Spartans.

“For us as a program, when we go and play a lot of places, we feel like we go in with a culture advantage. We go in with a toughness advantage. And we tried to make it clear to the players that there's no culture advantage when you play Michigan State. Their culture … I mean, those guys are soldiers,” Hurley said.