EAST LANSING - Michigan State University's basketball teams kicked off the 2011-2012 seasons at the Breslin Center. Midnight Madness is the official start of the Men's and Women's basketball seasons at Michigan State. It is best described as a supped-up pep rally meant to bring fans out and get them excited for another year of Spartan hoops. Coach Tom Izzo and his players signed autographs for fans of all ages prior to the start of the event. While the cheerleaders and the band, along with Sparty, revved up the crowd.
The Breslin Center was heating up as players from both teams were announced and the coaches addressed the crowd. After that the teams then took the court for a scrimmage in front of the home crowd. The women's team enters this season as the reigning big ten champions, and coach Suzy merchant said that the theme for this season is to defend their title like prize fighters.
The Men's team finished last season with a tough loss to UCLA in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Izzo said the he expects this season to be better than the last. Izzo addressed the crowd in an Air Force flight suit, in honor of the Spartans season opener aboard an aircraft carrier.
Former players returned to the Breslin for Midnight Madness. Izzo acknowledged how import former players are for the program and said the fans should honor the men who, in his words "built this arena". He asked fans to say high to the former players who came back to campus. Izzo's team opens the season with a battle against the North Carolina Tar Heels, aboard the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego, on Veterans Day; while Merchant leads her Spartans against Villanova to open the season.