Big Ten Daily (Feb. 20): Michigan State Pursuing Redshirt for Freshman Jeremy Fears Jr.

Michigan State is pursuing a redshirt for guard Jeremy Fears Jr, coach Tom Izzo says. The Spartans freshman was injured in a December shooting in his hometown of Joliet, Ill. in December. Fears averaged 3.5 points and 3.3 assists in 12 games before the injury.

It is unlikely that Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. plays again for the Spartans this season after suffering a gunshot wound to his left leg in December. But coach Tom Izzo did reveal some promising news, saying the freshman is making a quick recovery.

Fears was shot in his hometown of Joliet, Ill. on Dec. 23. He played in the first 12 games of the season for the Spartans, but has been sidelined since the incident.

Although Fears is making great progress during his rehab, Izzo cast plenty of doubt of Fears playing again at any point this season.

“There's some guys that are quick healers and some guys that aren't quick healers,” Izzo said, per the Detroit Free Press. “He is a tremendously quick healer. … Does that mean he's gonna play this year? No. But does that mean that he's really getting better and will have a spring and summer to get well on and improve his skills? Yes.”

In 12 games this season, Fears averaged 3.5 points, 3.3 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game. He scored a season-high nine points in Michigan State's 81-49 victory over Alcorn State on Nov. 19. 

Fears dished out 10 assists in a 99-55 win over Stony Brook, just a few days before the shooting. 

Although the 12 games exceeds a traditional redshirt qualification in college basketball, Izzo said the unfortunate circumstances should warrant an additional year of eligibility. Michigan State is going to try and help the freshman in that regard.

“We're gonna try to do that,” Izzo said. “I don't know if he'll ever use it or need it. I don't know what's gonna happen in the future. 

"His circumstances are more than deserving of that, and yet I'm definitely not politicking right now. I'm just saying I think we're in a time when there are no rules, but the only time the rules seem to come up is when the rules probably aren't fair. I mean, here's a case where a kid deserves to be looked at. And we'll do that.”

Joe Paterno Field?

A group of Penn State trustees is reportedly pushing for the field at Beaver Stadium to be renamed after longtime football coach Joe Paterno. Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA reported on the situation.

Per the report, the meetings about naming the field after Paterno were held in private. A group of trustees and "high-ranking university representatives" met twice in January over the matter.

Paterno was fired in 2011 in response to the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. Shortly after his termination, Penn State removed a statue of the coach located outside Beaver Stadium.

While a certain group of trustees are making a push to rename the field, Massey's report indicates that university officials and board members remain hesitant.

Paterno was the coach at Penn State from 1966-2011. He owns the NCAA record for most wins in college football, posting a 409-136-3 record. Paterno also led the Nittany Lions to two national championships (1982, 1986).

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