Lansing Sun

Michigan State University's men's basketball team is set to face Northern Michigan University in their first exhibition game of the 2024-25 season. The game, dubbed the Superior Dome Showdown, will take place on Sunday, October 13 at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on BTN with commentary from Lisa Byington and Bill Raftery. Fans can also tune into the Spartan Media Network for a radio broadcast featuring Will Tieman, Matt Steigenga, and Zach Surdenik.

This exhibition marks a special occasion for Michigan State's head coach Tom Izzo as it will be his first time coaching at his alma mater, Northern Michigan University. Izzo graduated from NMU in 1977.

The Spartans finished their previous season with a 20-15 record and tied for sixth place in the Big Ten Conference. They made their 26th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance but were eliminated by North Carolina in the second round after defeating Mississippi State.

The team is undergoing significant changes this season as they replace four starters who contributed significantly to last year's performance. Returning players include senior guard Jaden Akins and junior guards Tre Holloman and Carson Cooper. The Spartans have also added two transfers: senior forward Frankie Fidler from Omaha and senior center Szymon Zapala from Longwood/Utah State.

Additionally, Michigan State has welcomed three freshmen recruits recognized nationally as part of a top-20 recruiting class. These newcomers are guards Jase Richardson and Kur Teng, along with forward Jesse McCulloch.

Historically, Michigan State has played exhibition games against ten different schools within Michigan. Sunday's matchup against Northern Michigan will be their seventh meeting but the first held in Marquette since their last encounter on October 30, 2018.