Tom Izzo jabs Jason Richardson after career-high performance by son Jase

The 2000 national championship team at Michigan State was honored for the Spartans’ comeback win against the Oregon Ducks. That means that Jason Richardson was on hand to see his son, Jase Richardson, have a career game.

After the game, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo made sure to praise Jase Richardson. At the same time, he also had to make sure he took a playful jab at Jason in the process.

“We got a lot of play out of a lot of play out of a lot of different guys and of course, Jase had a career night,” Tom Izzo said. “When he got that block late, it was a hell of a block, and all the guys were sitting behind me and I turned around to Jason and said, ‘Jason who?’ You know, it was Jase’s night, and how exciting for him and for them and his family, but for us too.”

Richardson finished the game playing 35 minutes, the most he’s played all season long. His 29 points were also the best scoring performance he’s had in his career. On top of that, he had five rebounds, an assist, and a block in the come-from-behind win that would not have been possible without him. For a freshman playing at the school his father was a dominant player at in his own career, it’s the kind of performance that players dream about.

“I mean, he did some great things,” Izzo said. “Him and Tre [Holloman], and we just kept mixing them up, putting in ball screens and we got something out of that because they stymied us in the first half. We scored 36 points, but it was an ugly 36 points. So, some of the key things besides Jase playing the way he did, was to shoot 89 percent from the free throw line in the second half, I think we went 14 for 14 after coming off that abysmal performance out against USC.”

Jason Richardson, in his own career at Michigan State where he was an All-Big Ten selection in 2001 where he also played for Tom Izzo before going on to play in the NBA.

Now, however, it’s his son’s turn to be the college star and that’s exactly what he’s becoming with performances like he had against Oregon. The win ended a tough two-game losing streak and should give Michigan State momentum heading into the final month or so in the regular season.