Izzo threatens to bench Fears after tech in Michigan State loss

After his star point guard was accused of employing dirty tactics for the second straight game, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo called him out.

Izzo said Jeremy Fears Jr., who ranks second in the nation with 8.8 assists per game, “needs to grow up a little bit” after being cautioned for a critical technical foul in the second half of the No. 10 Spartans’ 76-73 upset loss to Minnesota on Wednesday.

Izzo said Fears’ actions could affect his status as a player in the near future.

“I don’t even know if I’m going to start him in the next game,” Izzo said after the loss, which dropped Michigan State to fourth place in the Big Ten standings.

In the second half of Wednesday’s game, Minnesota guard Langston Reynolds was called for a foul after tangling with Fears. After Minnesota head coach Niko Medved requested a review, Fears received a technical foul when replay showed his foot coming into contact with Reynolds’ groin during contact.

Izzo benched Fears after the technical.

Michigan State was down five at that point, but Minnesota extended its lead to 12 about 90 seconds later and then held on to hand the Spartans their second straight loss.

“Those are critical plays,” Izzo said of the sequence that followed Fears’ technical foul.

During Michigan State’s loss to rival Michigan in East Lansing on Friday, Michigan coach Dusty May said there was “40 minutes” of footage showing Fears crossing the line after he was accused of trying to trip star Yaxel Lendeborg in that game. May said Fears’ actions were both intentional and “dangerous.”

After Friday’s game, Izzo said “I don’t care” when told what May said, and added that the Michigan staff could “call me” if they wanted to discuss the game’s plays. He also accused the Wolverines of questionable actions.

On Wednesday, Izzo referenced May’s comments and said the aftermath of Friday’s game was “mishandled,” suggesting May’s comments encouraged opposing players to “bait” Fears. He added, however, that the fears had caused the backlash on himself.

“When someone comes out and publicly says something about a guy, that happens sometimes, but it’s Jeremy’s fault,” Izzo said. “I made sure I got everything straight. I think the officials knew that. I talked to them. I didn’t see what happened during the play. I saw him get pushed and I saw his leg come up and I didn’t think he hit anybody, but if he did, then he deserves it, I guess. But if he didn’t, I questioned it. So, did they are harassing him? Of course. And it’s his fault.”