Michigan State's Coen Carr returning to play in front of hometown fans at Sweet 16 showdown against Ole Miss

As Michigan State gears up for its Sweet 16 showdown against Ole Miss on Friday night, head coach Tom Izzo made sure to keep things light—at least off the court.

After an impressive run to the Sweet 16, Michigan State will be looking to continue its hot streak against Ole Miss on Friday night.

The Spartans are no strangers to the tournament spotlight, having reached the Final Four in 2015 and making regular appearances in the Elite Eight. This year, they’ll be aiming for another deep run, and they’ll be hoping to avoid any major distractions along the way.

One potential distraction could be the return of sophomore forward Coen Carr to play in Georgia. Carr, who is originally from Stockbridge, Georgia, will be playing just outside of his hometown at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

However, head coach Tom Izzo isn’t planning on letting the hometown atmosphere get to Carr’s head. When asked about it during Thursday’s press conference, Izzo joked, “I told Coen, ‘Don’t be inviting any of those old girlfriends over either.'”

Carr, though, is all business and isn’t letting the hometown atmosphere distract him from his focus on helping the Spartans reach the Final Four.

“As far as trying to organize all that, I haven’t really been doing too much. It’s mostly my mom taking care of all that,” Carr said about managing tickets for friends and family.

Energy boost for Michigan State

Carr has certainly elevated his game this season, averaging 8.0 points per game after scoring just 3.1 a year ago. He played a key role in Michigan State’s earlier trip to Atlanta in November, where the Spartans faced Kansas and posted eight points and three rebounds.

Despite seven players on the roster averaging at least seven points, Carr has been a standout with his high-energy contributions throughout the season.

“His dunks feel like six points,” teammate Jesse McCulloch said of Carr. “He’s a momentum changer, he works super hard … he’s just been a great leader in general.”

Izzo acknowledged that managing distractions can be difficult during tournament time, especially with the constant presence of reporters. However, he’s confident in Carr’s ability to stay focused.

“There’s still a curfew and other rules in place,” Izzo said. But he added that Carr has earned his trust when it comes to blocking out the noise and staying focused on what matters most—helping the Spartans win games.

The Spartans will need every ounce of that focus against a strong Ole Miss squad in a game with huge implications for both teams.