CHICAGO – Sometimes, Michigan State basketball runs into a hot-shooting team and loses. See Middle Tennessee State, from the archives, and Wisconsin just a month ago.
Rarely, though, does coach Tom Izzo walk away from a defeat feeling like he did after watching a Big Ten tournament melt away like it did against UCLA on Friday, March 13.
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The Bruins bombed away from 3-point range, making 13 of them. But they also banged and bruised with the Spartans, who mounted a too-late comeback in their 88-84 loss and quick exit from the league tourney.
And the verbiage the Hall of Fame coach delivered in his 31st season was cutting – such as “out of sorts” and “not ready to play” – in describing the ongoing defensive breakdowns and yet another slow start, after appearing to have corrected that in the final weeks of the regular season.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo talks to forward Jordan Scott (6) after a play against UCLA during the second half of Big Ten tournament quarterfinal at United Center in Chicago on Friday, March 13, 2026.
JEFF SEIDEL: What was Michigan State basketball lacking against UCLA? Desperation
“We didn’t bring the energy we had in practice to the game,” said junior forward Coen Carr, who had 12 points and eight rebounds. “They started off and punched us in the mouth, then we didn’t respond. By the time we responded, it was too late.”
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But Izzo’s most apt analysis in the instant aftermath: UCLA played with desperation that is needed in March, “and we did not look desperate.”
And his most damning criticism of his team: “I just did not think that was a Michigan State effort.”
“They played harder, tougher,” Izzo said. “It doesn’t happen to my team very often. But for some reason, we didn’t answer the bell coming out. … I think they made us play that way. They came at us. They punched us in the mouth, and we didn’t respond.
“That doesn’t happen very often. We’ll figure out why, and then we’ll move forward.”
Defensive downturn
UCLA guard Skyy Clark (55) shoots a 3-pointer against Michigan State guard Kur Teng (2) during the first half of Big Ten tournament quarterfinal at United Center in Chicago on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Moving forward won’t happen until next week.
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MSU (25-7) must wait until Sunday to learn its 2026 March Madness seeding and destination for Izzo’s record 28th straight appearance. The Spartans entered this Big Ten Tournament appearing to have an inside track on a 2-seed for the NCAA Tournament that begins next week, though the loss to the Bruins (23-10) could put them closer to the 3-line than if they had advanced to the semifinals or beyond.
“They kicked our you know what. So they deserved to win,” Izzo said. “But we did not do the things that we’ve been doing most of the year. That’s disappointing when it gets to tournament time.”
UCLA became the 15th opponent this season to hit at least 10 3-pointers against the Spartans, and the fifth to beat them by doing so. MSU entered the postseason having let Big Ten teams shoot 33% beyond the arc this season, seventh in the league. Meanwhile, the Bruins, who were the best during conference in 3-point shooting at 37.7%, went 13-for-27 – 48.1% – from deep Friday.
A big reason for that was the play of point guard Donovan Dent, who had the first triple-double in nearly three decades of Big Ten tournament history in Thursday’s win over Rutgers.
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On Friday, Dent attacked the Spartans off the dribble, getting going downhill before kicking it out for his teammates to get open looks from the perimeter – 3-point tries or long 2-pointers. Trent Perry had four 3s, while Skyy Clark had three. Dent also drilled his first three 3s and finished with 23 points and 12 assists, basically negating the 21 points and 13 assists from Jeremy Fears Jr.
UCLA guard Donovan Dent (2) shoots a 3-pointer against Michigan State forward Coen Carr (55) during the first half of Big Ten tournament quarterfinal at United Center in Chicago on Friday, March 13, 2026.
“I think he was huge for them. He played great tonight,” said Fears, who passed Cassius Winston’s 291 assists for MSU’s single-season record and now has 294 on the year. “Overall, he just got to spots wherever he wanted on the court. He got his guys open shots, and he did what he needed to do to help the guys win. I didn’t do my job in trying to contain and make it hard for him.”
Izzo’s gap defense system is a collaborative effort, though. A year ago, with Tre Holloman, Jaden Akins and Jase Richardson alongside Fears on the perimeter, the Spartans ranked second in the nation in holding opponents to just 28% on 3-point tries. Without those three, MSU’s 32.4% entered Friday ranked 97th. UCLA’s 48.1% mark Friday was the second-highest percentage of 3s allowed this season by the Spartans. (Rutgers went 10-of-18 for 55.6% eight days earlier.) Of the 15 teams who have hit at least 10 3s vs. MSU, 10 shot 35% – or better.
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“We had some possessions where we’d get two or three stops and chip away and get it down to striking distance, but then they hit a big time 3 or drive and kick and they get it and one,” Fears said. “Those moments like this, it’s heartbreaking. Oh, you’re so close, and they score again. Just understanding that, if we didn’t put ourselves in that position to start with, those big-time shots [are] just part of basketball.
“We got down early too much, and they made us pay.”
Big picture
Michigan State center Carson Cooper (15) reacts after committing a personal foul against UCLA during the second half of Big Ten tournament quarterfinal at United Center in Chicago on Friday, March 13, 2026.
So what does the loss to UCLA mean for Izzo’s team?
The Spartans have seven one-and-done trips to the Big Ten tournament since it began in 1998; in those years, they have advanced to three Final Fours (2001, 2005, 2010), two Sweet 16s (1998, 2023) and two early exits from the NCAA tourney: a first-round loss to North Carolina State in 2002 and a First Four loss to the Bruins in 2021.
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This team does not have the same baggage of the two that got bounced immediately after barely squeaking into the field – two of Izzo’s worst seasons during his streak of NCAA appearances that will extend to 28 on Sunday when the field of 68 is released. These Spartans also don’t have the depth of NBA talent of the teams from Izzo’s first decade – or a lot of depth, period.
However, MSU has beaten high-quality teams this winter. Even in losses – Duke and Michigan, particularly – the Spartans showed they can stick with some of the best teams in college basketball for long stretches.
But the next loss will be the last loss of the season. And Friday’s, to UCLA – which few consider in the Spartans’ tier, just behind the nation’s elite – showed exactly what Izzo has been saying for months:
The margin for error for this group is razor-thin. Especially now.
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“It’s definitely going to sting for a while,” Fears said. “And we’ve got to watch it and understand that, next time, is your season.”
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball: Loss shows thin margin for postseason error
