Dusty May calls out Michigan State for idea tradition led to altercation with Michigan

Michigan coach Dusty May pushed back on the idea that it was a Michigan State tradition that led to an altercation between the two teams Sunday. The game was largely out of hand when the fracas occurred, as Spartans guard Tre Holloman came over to shove LJ Cason and Phat Phat Brooks, who were standing on the logo at midcourt during a pair of free throws.

It was Senior Day for MSU and apparently it is tradition for the team’s seniors to kiss the logo before leaving the Breslin Center for the final time. Holloman explained after the game that is why he pushed the Wolverines players, as he believed they were deliberately preventing the Spartans from doing so.

In his postgame press conference, however, May said Michigan was completely unaware of the tradition.

“I didn’t know there was a tradition where they’re shooting a free throw and we have a guy standing at half court, but there’s not a tradition that we can’t stand at half court as the game’s going on?” he asked. “I’m not familiar with that one. Is that a tradition? Obviously, it took a while, but we’re fine with that. They’ve earned the right for that. The seniors had poured their hearts out. As far as whatever happened, are we not allowed to stand at half court while they’re shooting a free throw?”

Luckily, before a worse altercation could break out, the players were separated. An animated Holloman was seen being taken away from midcourt, where players grouped together, by an official. Head coach Tom Izzo was later seen speaking with him directly. For its part, Michigan can be seen huddling up and having a discussion.

After that, Michigan State was able to continue its tradition of seniors exiting the senior day game kissing the logo.

Things didn’t end there, however, as Holloman continued to take shots at the Michigan players for standing on the logo. He even claimed that he asked the Wolverines to leave before things got physical.

“I was just like, man, they’re gonna let them kiss the floor. Whether they just move or. I gotta move them, so,” Holloman explained.

It would make sense that May would not have been aware of the tradition for Michigan State, as he is in his first season coaching Michigan. Regardless, it was an unfortunate way to see the game come to an end, but thankfully it was able to be sorted out before things got too ugly.