It was hot and stuffy in the main gym at MSU’s biggest student recreation center, but that didn’t deter the crowd of hundreds of students looking to interact with the players they usually only get to see in-game. 

Around 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, Cooper put out an invite on his Instagram story announcing he and his teammates would be around for some hoops. Two and a half hours later, the gym was full of students cramming into the bleachers and along the sidelines. 

Cooper said being able to come out and be with the fans who have supported him through four years is something he’s glad he can do.

“It's awesome. These guys are the best,” Cooper said, talking about the hundreds of student fans in attendance. “They show up for home games and everything. So, for them to come out here for some intramural BS is pretty cool.”

Cooper was the first to get to the gym, followed by the four others. It didn’t take long before the five Spartans found the first group of students to play. It was a weeknight dunk contest with each player trying something new. Off the backboard alley-oops, half-court shots and slick dribble moves were just a taste of the plays erupting the crowd. 

Freshman kinesiology major Troy Fox was one of the first to test his luck against the group of Spartans that once boasted the nation’s No. 1 defense. Severely undersized, he gave it his all and said it was fun trying to get past the players. Having fun was the focus for Fox, who was drenched in sweat by the end of the game.

“It was a great experience being able to play against them,” Fox said. “Hopefully, some of them return, and we can do it again next year. At the end of the day, we're all here for fun, so it was great.”

Junior kinesiology major Ross Pugh said he had nothing else planned and knew he wouldn’t have many more chances to see MSU play in a casual setting. He said he was there for Ugochukwu and was glad the sophomore guard could play again after suffering a broken foot in February.

“We were just chilling, and it's Tuesday, so we were like, why not?” Pugh said as Carr came slamming a dunk five feet away. “It's kind of sad the way the season ended. But now I get to see all my guys, and I hope none of them transfer, because they're all just so, so precious to me.”

This was an opportunity for Pugh and others to put a close on the 2025-26 basketball season while celebrating their common hopes for a better season next year.

“I'm just excited. I just love basketball, I love being a part of the Izzone and everything,” Pugh said. “I'm gonna miss Cooper. I’m looking forward to beating Michigan for sure.”

This is the second year in a row MSU men’s basketball has played pickup with MSU students. In April 2025, MSU’s Frankie Fidler put out a similar invitation on his Instagram story, inviting students to IM East to watch them play with former MSU quarterback Aidan Chiles.

Michigan State is coming off a season-ending loss to UConn, and the future isn’t certain for anyone. The transfer portal opens April 7, and departures and newcomers are likely, regardless of head coach Tom Izzo’s philosophy.

Cooper pointed to future pickup games, noting that getting some practice in while meeting fans goes a long way in helping them work through the emotions of the loss.

“It was a tough loss for us, and not just us, for all these fans too. I'm sure they're all feeling it somewhere, somehow,” Cooper said. “It’s all about getting people excited for next year and for those guys that are coming back. I think today was a good day for it, and I'm sure this won't be the last one.”

Fox, who scored twice on MSU players, said this event reminded him that these athletes are students just like him.

“Every school doesn't do something like this,” Fox said. “Right after March Madness, you don't have teams pulling up to the gym to hoop with the fans, so it’s super cool.”