Among the hundreds of attendees, alumni from different generations stood side-by-side. Some were recent graduates, while others had been following MSU basketball for decades.

Todd Sneathen, a 1990 MSU engineering graduate, drove from East Lansing to attend the rally before heading to State Farm Arena for the game. He’s attended several NCAA Tournaments, including the 2000 tournament where the Spartans won the title.

This season, Sneathen noted that this team is different from previous ones, mainly because of their chemistry and adaptability to roles.

"I see a lot of guys who seem to really love playing together," Sneathen said. "They have a lot of guys who could do a little bit of everything."

Michelle Maki, an MSU alumni who started going to NCAA Tournaments in 1990, has a viewpoint similar to Sneathen. She said that even though this season’s team isn’t the most talented Izzo has led, they’re "very cohesive," and it’s easy to see that "they really care about each other."

To beat No. 6 Ole Miss, Sneathen believes MSU should continue doing what has worked all season: limit turnovers, play "great defense," and have a "few people step up" for all 40 minutes.

Jenny Pawlawski, a 2001 MSU graduate, has traveled for the NCAA Tournament practically every year since 1999. In 2019, during MSU’s trip to Washington, D.C., where the Spartans eventually beat the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils, her friend group met Maki’s group, and they’ve been friends ever since. Pawlawski compared this season’s team to the 2015 team featuring Denzel Valentine, where the Spartans lost in the Final Four to No. 1 Duke: they have talent, but "when together, they make themselves better."

After attending all these tournaments, Pawlawski realized how special the past 26 years of following MSU basketball have been: 27 straight tournament appearances, 16 Sweet 16 appearances and eight Final Fours.

"That’s the great thing about being a Spartan: for others, this is a rarity, and for us, it’s an annual thing we do. I give credit to Tom Izzo," Pawlawski said.

Fans and alumni agreed this team is unlike any in the past five years. Kevin Bull, a 1997 MSU grad, praised the team’s performance and expects them to beat No. 6 Ole Miss and possibly make the Final Four. The key, he said, will be Michigan’s game against Auburn. Bull is confident the Spartans can beat their in-state rivals for a third time this season.

"This is the most fun team to watch since the 2009 team that went to the championship game," Bull said. "I’ve been following more this year than any other year since the '99 through 2001 era when they were among the elite. They just play well as a team. They’re very unselfish and team-oriented."

Two other pep rally attendees who agreed that this team is similar to the 2000 team are Jeff Grossman and Paul Mankowski. Both of them went to the first-ever game at the Breslin Center as students, and the pair have traveled to MSU tournament games for "years and years."

Like many others, Mankowski feels this team is more united than past teams. After the Kansas loss, he knew this team had what it takes to go far. Grossman believes it’s special to see a team like this, especially in an era where the transfer portal and individuality dominate college basketball.

"In the current state of NCAA basketball, with the transfer portal, to have a team that resembles the team from 2000 — not talent-wise, but from a teamwork standpoint and camaraderie, playing together, unselfishness — you don’t see this day and age in college basketball," Grossman said.

Hundreds of alumni attended the pep rally, some heading to State Farm Arena to watch the game, others staying at Skol Brewing or gathering at various restaurants in Atlanta. Regardless of where they watched, all came together to participate in MSU traditions and show their Spartan spirit before the matchup against Ole Miss.

"Being a Spartan is in your DNA and you don’t want to miss out. We want to be here, and we’ve done that for decades," Pawlawski said. "Live in the moment, enjoy the moment, don’t put your foot on the brake, hit the gas and realize what you’re doing today, you’re going to be talking about 40 years from now."

As the Spartans face Ole Miss, the unwavering support from alumni highlights the deep Spartan tradition. Whether in the stands or afar, the Spartan family remains united in pride, believing this team’s journey is one for the ages. With their Sweet 16 run, Michigan State’s legacy is stronger than ever.