Michigan State and UConn squared off inside of the Breslin Center in a top-10 exhibition matchup. In the game, it was the Huskies defeating the Spartans, 78-70. It's the second time MSU and head coach Tom Izzo have squared off against Dan Hurley and his UConn Huskies in 2026, with the previous game ending Michigan State's season in the NCAA Tournament.
The game provided both Tom Izzo and Dan Hurley the opportunity to get a strong look at their teams before the beginning of the 2026-27 season.
Hurley has long been an admirer of Tom Izzo and his Michigan State teams, and tonight was no different. After the game, Hurley spoke to the media about the matchup with MSU and was highly complimentary of the Spartans:
- "Awesome. What an opportunity for both us today. Going into it, I thought it would be high-level sparring. Two boxers getting into a fight that starts in November for both of us."
- "The atmosphere, the fact that that was an exhibition games blows my mind."
- "We were bracing for impact, playing against these guys. Their coaching, their staff, their physicality, you're going to be sore the next day."
- "I saw taller, too. Looked like he [Jordan Scott] was 6-8 out there. Stronger, too. He's a stud."
- "They have everything you need to be a national championship contender. We have our own S--- to figure out, too."
- "Normally when we play… We go in with a culture advantage, a toughness advantage. (With his guys) I said we don't have that culture advantage,"
- "He's [Jeremy Fears] a dog. I don't know what you'd have to do to him to knock him out of a game,"
- "We root for Michigan State when they're playing. We have the ultimate respect. We root for them."
- "Go Sparty"
Hurley: As much as they were mean to me - and rightfully so - we root for Michigan State.
— David Harns (@DavidHarns) October 21, 2026
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Ends his presser with "Go Sparty" pic.twitter.com/gII5HIoIFw
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: What UConn coach Dan Hurley said about Michigan State after win