Inside the Locker Room: MSU players share postgame excitement about the start of the 2025-2026 season

On Thursday night, the lights at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center flickered back on for the first time since March, ushering in a new season of Michigan State men’s basketball. The familiar hum of anticipation filled the air as students flooded into the Izzone and season-ticket holders reclaimed their seats, eager for their first glimpse of the 2025–26 Spartans.

Eleven different players saw action in Michigan State’s exhibition matchup against Bowling Green State, a game that not only marked the start of the new campaign but also the Breslin debut for more than half the roster. For six of those Spartans, Thursday was their first time stepping under the bright lights of one of college basketball’s most intense home environments - a 16,000-seat arena where energy, history, and expectation collide.

The word that kept surfacing afterward was gratitude.

For newcomer Divine Ugochukwu, the night was a mix of nerves and excitement. “It was really exciting,” he said. “A little nerve-wracking at the same time, but it was a great experience.”

Transfer guard Trey Fort, who arrived from Samford, echoed that feeling. “This is my first time being on this side, in the green and white,” Fort said with a grin. “It feels amazing - just being able to be on the same side as my teammates and finally play somebody else. Excitement and nerves might feel the same, but I’ll take it as excitement.”

For Jesse McCulloch, Thursday represented a long-awaited return. After sitting out last season, simply stepping onto the court again was a moment to savor. “It felt amazing,” he said. “Watching all last year, you see the experience - but getting out there is really different. It was a great environment.”