Joey Hauser downplayed facing former team Marquette prior to Michigan State win

Michigan State forward Joey Hauser did not think it was a huge deal to play No. 2 seed Marquette in the NCAA Tournament. That was from the perspective of playing his former team.

Of course, it was a big 69-60 win for the Spartans to advance to the Sweet 16. But Hauser didn’t need any extra motivation.

Even before the game, Hauser downplayed any additional juice going against the Golden Eagles.

“No, I don’t know any of the players or coaches there,” Hauser said if he had to add any extra motivation. “It doesn’t really — it was a long time ago. So I don’t have any ill will towards them. But it’s just Michigan State versus Marquette.”

Hauser was asked if he talked to his brother Sam, a former Marquette player, about playing the school in the tournament.

“I haven’t talked to him about it, actually. It’s another tournament game,” the Spartan said before the win.

Following the win where Hauser had 14 points and 10 rebounds, head coach Tom Izzo was asked about the physicality of the contest.

“I think that’s part of it,” Izzo said. “But I think you give them some credit, too. I thought they got into us worse than we got into them. We played our defense, was more gap defense; they played their defense, which is more in-your-face defense. That’s where Shaka has grown as a coach. He used to be a press all over the court. Now he picks and chooses his spots. And he really did a good job of that. We had some trouble with the pressure.

“But our defense was phenomenal most of the first half. And I thought we did a great job. But both teams played hard. Us winning the rebound battle was important. We thought getting offensive rebounds was a thing we could do. We didn’t run quite as good as I’d like to. At times we did but not consistently. That was an NCAA game for the — I promise you that, that was a damn good game.”

Hauser received chants throughout the game, something Izzo noticed as well.

“I think we beat a damn good team,” Izzo said. “They were tough. I mean, it started with that first one where they kind of stole the ball from him, and they came at him all day. To A.J.’s credit, that’s where I think he’s grown, because I said to him, he could have just died then. Then he made two great plays in a row. And I think he made some big steps and was the key.

“Joey, it’s so fun to hear people chanting. When people weren’t chanting a couple years ago. And I think he’s deserved every bit of it.”

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Michigan State takes on Kansas State Thursday in the Sweet 16.