With basketball season less than a month out, Michigan State fans are looking forward to the return of a beloved celebration. Michigan State Madness will take place this Friday, Oct. 7 at the Breslin Center after a three-year hiatus.
Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and the event will kick off at 9:30 p.m. with the introduction of the men’s and women’s basketball teams and coaches.
Fans will then get a glimpse of what’s to come this season during the team scrimmages. The Spartan Marching Band, MSU cheerleaders and dance team and Sparty will also perform during the festivities.
The event celebrates the start of the 2022-23 season, and for many players on the squad, it will be their first time participating in the event due to the pandemic.
Junior guard A.J. Hoggard is one of them.
“I never had a Midnight Madness here, so I'm looking forward to everything about it,” Hoggard said. “Just soaking up the moment, enjoying the moment. Coming into college, what you look forward to having a Midnight Madness … I didn't get it because of COVID, so I'm just looking forward to seeing the fans, seeing Spartan Nation there on Friday.”
Every year, men’s basketball Head Coach Tom Izzo and women's basketball Head Coach Suzy Merchant make a grand entrance dressed in costumes.
Izzo’s past costumes include a Hippie, a member of KISS, a magician and Iron Man. Most recently, he came out dressed as the Hulk as part of an Avengers theme in 2019.
Freshman guard Tre Holloman is in his first season with the team and said he’s heard stories of his head coach’s past costumes, but Friday will be the first time he experiences it for himself.
“Nobody’s told me (what Izzo has planned) yet,” Holloman said. “We’ll just hopefully see if he comes out with something funny or comes out with something cool.”
Overall, Holloman said Friday’s scrimmage is an opportunity to see his teammates have fun in front of fans.
“We all play as a team (and) come together,” Holloman said. “Play hard, play fast – and then just give the crowd a show.”
Izzo said he appreciated the turnout at the Izzone Campout and credits the student body for its support of university athletics since they've been allowed to attend games again since the start of the pandemic.
“Our fans and our community – I really hope everybody gets out,” Izzo said. “I think football has done a good job getting students back in the stands and fans back in the stands. We got to do the same thing.”
Since the event is free to the public, Izzo said he hopes fans who can’t attend games regularly come to Midnight Madness.
“It's also the time that other students, the community, kids around the community, that maybe don't get to see us as much get to spend a little time with us,” Izzo said. “I'm really looking forward to it because we haven’t done it for like three years.”
Izzo added he’s prepared to execute any theme that’s in store for him this year.
“Ride an elephant, jump out of a building, whatever they want me to do, I’ll do,” Izzo said.
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