UConn Faces Michigan State in Top Six Exhibition Showdown

Two national championship contenders will test their preseason progress when No. 4 UConn visits No. 6 Michigan State for a men's basketball exhibition at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan, on Tuesday, October 20. The 7 p.m. matchup gives both programs a demanding preparation opportunity as they evaluate returning leaders, new players and potential lineups before the 2026-27 season.

The game will air exclusively on B1G+, according to announcements from both universities. UConn and Michigan State are renewing a preseason series that began last year in Hartford, where the Huskies won 76-69 before defeating the Spartans 67-63 in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.

Michigan State opened its exhibition schedule on October 2 with an 89-59 victory over Incarnate Word. According to Michigan State Athletics, forward Jesse McCulloch scored 20 points, while point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. recorded 10 points and 13 assists, establishing an early indication of the team's offensive potential.

Fears returns as a central figure after leading the Spartans with 15.2 points and 9.4 assists per game last season. His assist average led the nation, and he earned first-team All-Big Ten recognition. The preseason conference player of the year will face UConn guard Silas Demary Jr., who is expected to take a major defensive role against Michigan State's primary playmaker.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo enters his 32nd season leading the program. The Spartans finished 2025-26 with a 27-8 record, including a 15-5 mark in Big Ten play, and reached the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season. They must replace starting frontcourt players Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler, but Coen Carr returns after averaging 12.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Izzo recalled the impact of Muhammad Ali's visit to the team before Michigan State defeated UConn 85-66 on February 5, 2000. Ali encouraged the Spartans to embrace the mentality of champions, and the team went on to win the national championship that season.

“I mean, it was spectacular,” Izzo said of Ali's speech.

Michigan State's coach described the brief address as a memorable moment in his career. The historical connection adds context to a rivalry that has produced significant postseason encounters, although Tuesday's exhibition will not affect either team's official record.

“I told them to play hard and to do what champions do,” Ali told the Lansing State Journal in February 2000.

The current Spartans are also drawing motivation from their recent postseason defeat to UConn. Michigan State erased a 19-point first-half deficit in the Sweet 16 before the Huskies secured a four-point victory. Several returning players are now preparing for another opportunity against the same opponent.

“The fact that every guy on our team can play, it just says something about our team, and that’s special,” Fears said.

Forward Coen Carr is another returning starter expected to play a major role, while guard Kur Teng is working back from offseason foot surgery. Michigan State also added center Anton Bonke, a 7-foot-2 graduate transfer from Charlotte who averaged 10.6 points and 8.3 rebounds in 2025-26.

“All you want to do is win,” Teng said.

The Spartans' schedule includes a November 10 matchup against Duke in Chicago, a November 17 game against Tennessee in Knoxville and a Thanksgiving contest against Arkansas at Little Caesars Arena. Their exhibition against UConn provides an early test before that challenging nonconference stretch begins.

“My goal is to win the national championship,” freshman guard Jasiah Jervis said.

UConn enters the matchup after beating Syracuse 72-52 on October 13. Na'jai Hines led the Huskies with 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 20 minutes, while Nik Khamenia contributed 12 points. Demary added 13 points, five rebounds and two steals.

Hines is expected to play an important role after the departure of center Tarris Reed Jr. His performance against Syracuse offered an encouraging start, but Michigan State's size presents a different challenge, particularly with Bonke protecting the rim.

“The most impressive player on the court,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said of Hines' performance against Syracuse.

Hines could face competition for frontcourt minutes from Oskar Giltay, who started against Syracuse but struggled with foul trouble. Giltay finished with four points and two rebounds before fouling out, while Hines provided the stronger offensive contribution off the bench.

UConn also faces uncertainty surrounding guard Braylon Mullins, who missed the Syracuse exhibition while continuing to participate in practice. His availability against Michigan State remained uncertain, leaving the Huskies to assess their offensive options without a fully established rotation.

“Danny’s a good friend of mine,” Izzo said of Hurley.

Izzo also praised the UConn coach's intensity and commitment, reflecting the respect between the programs. UConn won national titles in 2023 and 2024 and entered the new campaign among the country's highest-ranked teams.

“I’m looking forward to it, but I miss Muhammad Ali for a lot of things,” Izzo said.

After the Michigan State exhibition, UConn is scheduled to conclude its preseason slate against Purdue in Hartford on October 27. The Huskies and Spartans will use Tuesday's meeting to assess their lineups before the regular season begins.