Tom Izzo Warns Jeremy Fears Jr., Threatens Benching After Michigan State's Loss to Minnesota

Legendary Michigan State head men's basketball coach Tom Izzo suggested Wednesday that he will consider benching star point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. for the team's next game following a 76-73 loss to Minnesota.

With just over 13 minutes remaining in the second half, Fears was called for a technical foul after an official review showed him kicking backward and making contact with Minnesota guard Langston Reynolds' groin.

Fears received an extended benching as a result, allowing Minnesota to quickly grow its lead to 12 points.

Regarding his plans for Fears when the No. 10 Spartans play next against No. 5 Illinois on Saturday, Izzo told reporters, "I don't even know if I'm going to start him the next game."

Fears has been the subject of controversy lately, as Michigan head coach Dusty May took issue with his tactics following Michigan's 83-71 win over Michigan State last week.

May told reporters that Fears was "dangerous" and accused him of attempting to trip Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg.

Izzo defended Fears, and on Wednesday, he expressed his belief that May's comments could compel opposing players to try to "bait" Fears into violations.

However, Izzo also placed the responsibility on Fears' shoulders to keep his cool and play within the rules of the game, telling reporters, "When somebody comes out and publicly says something about a guy that sometimes happens, but that's Jeremy's fault. I made sure I cleared all that up. I think the officials knew it. I talked to them. I did not see what happened on 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 are they baiting him? Well, of course. And it's his fault."

Izzo's comments on Wednesday night suggest a benching could be on the table, but a diminished role for the best player on the team would put the Spartans in a tough spot against the No. 5 team in the nation.

Fears leads Michigan State with 14.7 points per game, and his 8.9 assists per game are tied with Purdue's Braden Smith for the most in the country.

With Fears leading the way, MSU got off to a 19-2 start this season, but the team has now dropped back-to-back games to No. 2 Michigan and a Minnesota team that is just 11-12.

As a result, the Spartans are now fourth in the Big Ten standings with a 9-3 record, placing them two games behind the Fighting Illini, who lead the Big Ten with an 11-1 mark.

Illinois is also 20-3 overall, and it is in the midst of a 12-game winning streak, which includes victories over ranked teams such as Iowa, Purdue and Nebraska.

Fears figures to be a huge factor in whether the Spartans are able to upset the Illini this weekend, but his impact will depend on how Izzo chooses to deploy him.