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Tom Izzo reacts to Jeremy Fears Jr. technical for kick to Elliot Cadeau's groin

DR Lewisby: Derek Lewis03/08/26

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo took great exception to a dead-ball contact technical assessed to star guard Jeremy Fears Jr. in the first half vs. rival Michigan. And, he let it be known that he feels it’s all based on reputation, not the letter of the law.

Fears Jr. earned yet another technical on the season as he tried to pick up a loose ball. During the gather attempt, his right leg kicks back, making contact with Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau‘s groin area. As CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore noted, it was the “unnatural motion” that prompted officials to stop play and eventually levy a technical after a review.

Izzo’s not buying it.

“It’s all because of what happened earlier, and now the microscope’s on him,” Izzo told sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson. “And I don’t like that. But I told him, ‘I dont even want him breathing wrong.’

“The fouls are what’s killing us — The fouls and the offensive boards. Other than that, I thought we’re playing pretty good.”

After the game, Izzo went further.

“I’m not talking about that. You know what, I don’t think he did anything on purpose,” Izzo said during a postgame press conference, via Field of 68. “I think it was a reaction. I don’t know the whole deal about it. It was a critical play, as they all are. But I thought Jeremy Fears played his ass off 99% of that game. And you know what, I did what I was going to do, I chewed him out for it. But I watched it on tape and the guy’s pushing him in back, and sometimes that stuff happens, you know.”

And he even called out Michigan’s play during his defense.

“I’m sick of it being one-sided, though. That’s what upset me about the first time,” Izzo said. “So Fears will get his lunch from me, I wonder if some of their guys will get their lunch from what happened in the first game that didn’t get public.”

Gene Steratore explains Jeremy Fears Jr. ruling

Izzo may not have liked the Jeremy Fears Jr. technical, but Steratore thought it was blatant and obvious.

“We all see it, I think what they’re looking at is just the unnatural movement of Fears’ leg,” Steratore said. “That’s coming at a place that doesn’t really make sense based on the rest of that play, and then naturally, the area that (Fears) made contact with is going to add to that right now. But it’s the unnatural movement of it, and with that contact, I’m sure that’s what (the officials) are discussing right now.”

The explanation is unlikely to satisfy Izzo, who has been defending Fears all season long. The longtime Michigan coach elected not to suspend Fears following a similar incident vs. Minnesota in January.

He similarly defended Fears over a reporter questioning a potential tripping foul that went uncalled vs. Illinois.

“You know, Larry, you’re the only guy that would ask that question,” Izzo said. “I have no idea. I didn’t go over there. He breathes on somebody now there’s going to be a call thanks to what happened. So end of that story. Ask me another question, you won’t get an answer.”

As common as Fears finding himself in these situations is Izzo defending him after them.

— On3’s Alex Byington and Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this report.