Michigan State to play Tennessee in charity exhbition game at Breslin Center, Oct. 29
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State basketball fans will get a sneak peak to watch their Spartans a little earlier this season, than expected. The Spartans will play host to Tennessee in a charity exhibition game on Sunday, Oct. 29 at Breslin Center, the universities announced on Wednesday
Michigan State and Tennessee played a closed scrimmage in Knoxville last year. This year, they are playing a return scrimmage in East Lansing, but are opening it up to the public. All proceeds from the game will be donated to the Hawai’i Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund, providing donations to the relief efforts from the Maui wildfires.
“The Maui Invitational and the city of Lahaina have always held a special place in my heart,” Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo said in a statement released by the university, Wednesday morning. “The images we’ve all seen and the stories we’ve heard following the wildfires have touched so many of us in the college basketball world and I know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been affected.
“We’ve had plans to scrimmage Rick’s team since last Fall and we spoke about what we could do to help and honor the city of Lahaina and the people there who are in need. I’m hopeful that our Spartan family will pack the Breslin Center for what will be a great game, but will have an even greater mission, and that’s to help the Lahaina community as much as we can.”
Izzo and Tennessee coach Rick Barnes have often sought to play one another in the early stages of the season, dating back to when Barnes was head coach at Texas. The coaches have been known to debrief one another in the days following their games in order to get self-scout information and outsider viewpoints on their teams. That will be the case again for this exhibition, with an eye on helping an area of need.
“First, I appreciate coach Izzo and Michigan State for hosting this game, which will benefit a community that means so much to the world of college basketball,” Barnes said. “While we certainly need to continue to pray for the families in Maui who have been impacted, this benefit game will enable us to offer tangible support toward the restoration of Maui and its beautiful spirit.”
Michigan State has played in the Maui Invitational five times, beginning in 1991 under legendary coach Jud Heathcote when the Spartans won the tournament.
Izzo has coached Spartan teams in Maui in 1995, 2005, 2010 and 2019.
Michigan State is slated to play in Maui again in 2024.
“Our program at Michigan State has had the opportunity to visit the island five different times and I’ll never forget the feelings I had when we arrived and when I walked on to the floor at the Lahaina Civic Center to start my career,” Izzo said. “It’s one of the most special events in college basketball and it’s because of the people who put it on and the city that embraces and welcomes all of us.”
Further details, including ticket information, game time and broadcast information, will be announced at a later date.
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