No ‘Michigan State Madness’ This Year? What Tom Izzo Had To Say

I grew up in a very Michigan State household thanks to a die-hard fan for a father. As a kid, I'd go to summer football camps where I did drills with the players. But the real highlight of my fall was when my dad would bring us to stay up late and attend Midnight Madness at the Breslin Center, where we'd meet that season's players, hear Tom Izzo speak, and watch a scrimmage.

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It made me fall in love with Michigan State basketball. This midnight show, rebranded in recent years as Michigan State Madness, has remained a year-round highlight for MSU fans. But this year, things are different.

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Instead of the usual early-October celebration, the school will be doing a third exhibition game against a D-2 school. But not all hope is lost. Here's what to know.

Michigan State Men's Basketball vs. University of Incarnate Word

Tom Izzo is known for scheduling difficult non-conference matchups early in the season, and that extends into the preseason. Last year, he played eventual NCAA National Championship runners-up UCONN, and this year he's doing it again.

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The Spartans will play exhibition games against the University of Connecticut, Marquette University, and the University of Incarnate Word, a D2 Catholic university in Texas. This will be the first time they've played three exhibition games.

However, the game against the University of Incarnate Word will only be open to Izzone Members and season-ticket holders. After the game, students will participate in the annual Izzone Campout. This detail has fans worried, since this event would typically follow Michigan State Madness.

So Is Michigan State Madness Over?

At the moment, there is no Michigan State Madness scheduled, the first time since 1997. But Michigan State Madness is one of Tom Izzo's favorite nights of the year, and during yesterday's press conference, he quickly addressed the lack of an announcement.

"We are still going to have a public deal for all the kids and signing stuff; we just don't have a date yet, but that will be done because I think that's a very important part of the madness."

The athletics department wanted to try doing "something a little different", which is why the Izzone Campout is following the exhibition game instead. So don't worry: the Michigan State Madness tradition will still continue; it will just look a little different. Keep your eyes on the Men's basketball socials for updates.