The Final Four takes place on Saturday, April 4, in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, but Tom Izzo and the Michigan State University men’s basketball team won’t be there.
No. 3 seed Izzo and the Spartans fell to No. 2 seed UConn Huskies on March 27 in a 67-63 final score, advancing the Huskies to the Elite Eight and, eventually, the Sweet 16, but ending MSU’s hopes for another championship.
So, Izzo is back home, and he’s having to say farewell to his seniors. It’s a bittersweet time for any team ending their season.
On Thursday, April 1, Michigan State senior Carson Cooper took to social media to send a heartfelt farewell to the team and community. Cooper averaged 11.1 points, 7.1 rebounds for the team as a senior, according to ESPN research. He started all 35 games last season, averaging 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
“I’m just a kid from Jackson, Michigan that got to live out a dream,” he stated in his post. “Four years after I committed to Michigan State, I’m leaving as part of the Spartan family.”
Cooper added, “Coming to Michigan State and being a part of the men’s basketball team, being a student here and being part of this great University was the best decision I’ve ever made. The memories I’ve made here will be with me forever.”
He also thanked the Izzone, which is the MSU student cheering section that supports the team at every home game.
“It was an honor to put on that jersey for the last four years and I’m proud to be graduating from this great University,” Cooper continued in his message. “I thank you all for all of your support these last four years. I may have come here as a kid from Jackson, but I’m leaving as a Spartan.”
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Following Michigan State’s loss to UConn, Izzo talked about how proud he was of his team.
“This day and age, they don’t know it now, because I wasn’t happy during the game, but I love those guys just about more than anybody because everybody can leave now,” Izzo said. He added that the team “stood strong” and that “never did we even think about them leaving, and they got better and we got better.”
Izzo continued, “So, they stand for everything I believe in. As the years go on, they’ll be even more special to me, to be honest with you.”
