Carson Cooper steps into leadership role ahead of Arkansas showdown

As Michigan State prepares to host Arkansas for one of its biggest non-conference matchups of the season, senior center Carson Cooper finds himself in a role he’s spent four years preparing for — both on the court and in the locker room.

The Spartans’ early-season Top-25 showdown isn’t unfamiliar territory for a Tom Izzo team, living up to the program’s mantra: “Anybody. Any place. Any time.”

However, it isn’t often the Spartans welcome an elite team like No. 14 Arkansas into the Breslin Center in just the second game of the year.

This season, Michigan State will host Arkansas on Saturday and Duke in early December, marking two of the biggest moments on its schedule.

But for Cooper, these games represent a chance to lead and set the tone for a program aiming to take the next step after last year’s deep tournament run.

The Spartans’ early-season Top-25 showdown isn’t unfamiliar territory for a Tom Izzo team, living up to the program’s mantra: “Anybody. Any place. Any time.”

However, it isn’t often the Spartans welcome an elite team like No. 14 Arkansas into the Breslin Center in just the second game of the year.

This season, Michigan State will host Arkansas on Saturday and Duke in early December, marking two of the biggest moments on its schedule.

But for Cooper, these games represent a chance to lead and set the tone for a program aiming to take the next step after last year’s deep tournament run.