Pat Fitzgerald at Michigan State football: Our first impressions
LSJ’s Graham Couch and Free Press’ Chris Solari and Shawn Windsor react after Pat Fitzgerald’s introductory press conference with the Spartans, Dec. 2, 2025.
It’s time for an epic top-10 showdown in East Lansing, with Tom Izzo and Michigan State basketball hosting Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils.
All the big names in East Lansing are on hand of this one, as Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia and new football coach Pat Fitzgerald shared a hug before tipoff.
The MSU-Duke started at noon ET on Saturday at the Breslin Center and is airing on Fox, with Tim Brando and Jim Jackson on the call.
The Spartans have already shot up the college basketball rankings, moving all the way to No. 8 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll after starting the season at No. 21 and they’re doing it through physicality. MSU has three marquee victories through seven games, beating Arkansas, Kentucky and North Carolina and has a chance to stamp the nonconference slate with the biggest win yet against the Blue Devils.
Watch MSU-Duke on Fubo
As for the Blue Devils, they’ve managed to stay undefeated despite dialing up a tough nonconference slate of their own, most recently beating the defending national champion Florida Gators, 67-66, in a total nail-biter at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke is led by do-it-all freshman Cameron Boozer, the son of Duke great Carlos Boozer. The younger Boozer was the No. 3 player in the 2025 class and plays alongside his twin brother, Cayden Boozer, the No. 23 player in the 2025 class.
Here is what you need to know and live updates from Michigan State vs. Duke at the Breslin Center in East Lansing:
Duke vs Michigan State basketball live updates, highlights, score
Score: Duke 5, MSU 3.
You can tell this is a big one because both teams look tight.
Duke scored the first basket on a 3-pointer that banked off the rim, went up in the air and went in. MSU’s only points came on a Carson Cooper dunk in transition, as the Spartans were shooting under 17% at the first break.
Just minutes before opening tip, new MSU football coach Pat Fitzgerald and Phoenix Suns owner and MSU mega donor Mat Ishbia shared a quick hug and conversation.
In today’s NIL-fueled era of college basketball, this will be an important relationship.
Magic Johnson “can’t wait to watch” what he says will be “must see TV” when Michigan State hosts Duke at the Breslin Center today.
And Magic is right. If you’re a college basketball fan, this one is about as big as it gets for the nonconference slate. On a loaded day of college hoops, MSU vs. Duke sticks out as the marquee game.
The Spartans have a chance to rubber stamp their résumé before picking Big Ten play back up after taking down Iowa on Tuesday in the Big Ten opener.
Cold?
Tired?
Just can’t wait to get inside the Breslin?
What better pick-me-up than shaking hands with Tom Izzo?
MSU’s Hall-of-Fame coach took a few minutes before the game against Duke on Saturday to shake hands with the waiting Izzo members and to get them fired up for the huge game.
It was surely a welcome sign for the Izzone members, who had to get their much before they were officially allowed in to jockey for good positioning in the lower bowl.
What time is Michigan State vs Duke basketball?
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 6.
- Time: Noon ET.
- Location: Breslin Center, East Lansing.
MSU’s home game against Duke tips off at noon ET from Breslin Center in East Lansing in a huge top-10 matchup.
Michigan State vs Duke basketball channel
The game will air nationally on Fox, and the game will be on the radio on the Spartan Media Network.
Michigan State vs Duke streaming link
This game is available on Fox’s streaming services, or you can watch it via Fubo streaming.
Watch MSU-Duke on Fubo
Michigan State prediction vs Duke basketball
Chris Solari, Free Press: In what will be a classic matchup between two bluebloods, the Spartans’ ability to elevate each other – and the Izzone’s ability to provide a homecourt advantage the Blue Devils rarely see outside their own Cameron Indoor Stadium – will have Fears and Co. playing at a high level against a strong offensive opponent. But the difference in this will be MSU’s defense over Duke’s, as they pester Boozer enough to escape with a thrilling win in the final minute as Fears controls the tempo and late situations. The pick: MSU 67, Duke 65.
Michigan State basketball schedule in December
For more, here’s MSU’s full schedule in 2025-26.
- Dec. 6: Duke.
- Dec. 13: at Penn State.
- Dec. 16: Toledo.
- Dec. 20: vs. Oakland (Little Caesars Arena, Detroit).
- Dec. 29: Cornell.
- Jan. 2: at Nebraska.
