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Juwan Howard puts rivalry aside to support Michigan State amid tragedy

Chandler Vesselsby:Chandler Vessels02/15/23

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As Michigan coach Juwan Howard prepares his team for a rivalry game against Michigan State on Saturday, he knows there are more important things than what takes place on the court. That is especially evident now after a shooting took place on the MSU campus Monday, resulting in the death of three students.

Five others were wounded in the shooting, which resulted in the postponement of the Spartans’ basketball game against Minnesota. Michigan State will travel to Ann Arbor for its first game since the tragedy, and Howard has already been in contact with Spartans coach Tom Izzo to let him know he is thinking of the school.

“I’ve talked to coach Izzo by text as well as (football) coach Mel Tucker,” Howard said. “Just letting them know that we at Michigan, despite the sport and how we both are rivals, when it comes to a tragedy like that, you put the sport aside. All you think about it is those lost ones that unfortunately had to deal with that situation. Our prayers and thoughts are with the families. We will continue to pray and support Michigan State as they deal with this sad tragedy.”

Michigan revealed Wednesday that some of its teams will wear special helmet decals to honor the victims of the shooting. The basketball team has yet to announce any such plans, though it wouldn’t be surprising if they wore something similar on Saturday.

Tip off for the contest between the Spartans and Wolverines is set for 8 p.m. ET in Ann Arbor.

Michigan State receives outpouring of support from Big Ten teams after shooting

The Michigan State and East Lansing communities have received an outpouring of support following the tragedies that took place on campus Monday night. 

Two fellow Big Ten programs showed their support when the Wisconsin men’s basketball team held a moment of silence before it played Michigan Tuesday night at the Kohl Center. 

“Utterly heartbreaking to learn of yet another campus shooting, this time at @michiganstateu,” Jennifer Mnookin, the 30th Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, said in a tweet Tuesday morning. “Colleagues, students and friends at MSU: You are so very much in our thoughts today.”

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The University of Michigan plans to hold a vigil Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. It will take place on The Diag, located at 913 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor. Michigan State also plans to hold a vigil on Wednesday at The Rock, which is located between North Shaw Lane and Auditorium Road off Farm Lane. The vigil will begin at 6:00 p.m.

Santa Ono, the recently-appointed 15th president of the University of Michigan, ordered that all flags across the three U of M campuses be lowered to half-staff until further notice. 

“Our hearts are broken with the Michigan State University family following last night’s horrific shooting,” Ono said in a statement. “We wish for a speedy recovery of the wounded, and we pray for comfort and grace for the loved ones of those so suddenly lost.”

Other Big Ten schools offered moments of silence before their Tuesday night basketball games. Rutgers held a moment of silence at Jersey Mike’s Arena before its game against Nebraska, and Penn State paused for a moment of silence before taking on Illinois at the Bryce Jordan Center.