3 Spartans To Be Honored At Michigan State's 'Senior Day' vs. Ohio State
As the 2022-23 men's college basketball season comes to a close, Michigan State will honor three seniors on what could be their final career games at the Breslin Center.
On Thursday, head coach Tom Izzo confirmed that shooting guard Tyson Walker, small forward Malik Hall and small forward Jason Whitens will each walk during 'Senior Day' festivities prior to tip-off against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
All three of those players are still undecided on whether or not they will use the extra year of eligibility provided by the NCAA's COVID-19 waiver in order to return to Michigan State in 2023-24.
Hall has batted through injuries for much of his senior campaign, which caused him to miss 11 games. He's averaging 9.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 18 games played.
“He’s been through the most and yet the injury this year was tough,” Izzo said of Hall. “Whether he comes back or not, and that decision will be made by him, but we’ll all talk about what could’ve been. He too is now playing his best basketball.”
“I haven’t made any firm decisions yet,” Hall added. “I’m just trying to get through the end of the season to be honest. It’s just the most important and foremost on my mind right now.”
Walker has been the leading scorer this season for the Spartans, averaging 14.8 points per game in his second season at MSU. Walker said he is taking the decision about his future "day-by-day".
“It’s been fun,” Izzo said about coaching Walker for a second season. “I remember in the beginning of the year him saying ‘I feel so much better than I did last year.’ I think he too is going to have more basketball to play, but he’s definitely got more here in the next couple of weeks.”
Whitens transferred to Michigan State from Western Michigan ahead of the 2021-22 season, fulfilling a lifelong dream of being a Spartans. However, he suffered a torn ACL during an exhibition against Ferris State which caused him to miss the entire season.
In 2022-23, Whitens played meaningful minutes as a frontcourt option for Michigan State while the Spartans were without Hall due to injury.
“He comes here for his lifetime dream to just be at a school, play at a school like this,” Izzo said about Whitens. “After we give him a scholarship … he blows his knee and decided to stay one more year. God, that’s special. I think that specialness is going to pay dividends for him down the road.”
Graduate senior power forward Joey Hauser — who participated in 'Senior Day' a year ago — will likely be playing his final game at the Breslin Center but will not participate in pregame festivities again.
“I thought Joey always wanted to be here and I thought he always belonged here," Izzo said. "[He was] someone I felt close to since probably the end of his sophomore year, beginning of his junior year of high school. I’m just really pleased with the year he’s having.”
In what may come as a surprise to some, Izzo said that Hauser has the option to apply for a medical waiver to be granted yet another year of eligibility, should he choose to do so.
“He would be a good guy to figure out where he’s at … figure out where he is and chances to play beyond here,” Izzo said.
While Hall, Walker, Whitens and even Hauser will have decisions to make this offseason, one Spartan senior has already chose to return for a fifth year of eligibility — Steven Izzo.
Steven has already graduated from Michigan State, but he will conclude his master's degree next year.
“He wanted to stay with it,” Tom Izzo said about Steven. “It’s just been an incredible experience having him around every day.”
Michigan State (18-11 overall, 10-8 Big Ten) will host Ohio State (13-17, 5-14) at noon on Saturday for 'Senior Day'. The Buckeyes have had a disappointing season overall, come come to East Lansing have won each of their last two games.
“I feel like we’re coming together offensively at the right time,” Walker said. “We have a lot of old guys on their way out, so we’re trying to get it done by any means.”
