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Michigan State University (MSU) will face off against the University of Tennessee in a basketball game on Sunday. The game holds significance as it marks a long-standing friendship between MSU coach Tom Izzo and Tennessee coach Rick Barnes, which dates back 37 years. Izzo and Barnes have a history that goes back to when Izzo and former MSU coach Jud Heathcote tricked Barnes into thinking they weren't interested in recruiting Steve Smith. The game is part of a charity exhibition called #MauiStrong, which aims to raise funds for a cause beyond themselves.
Love having big time exhibitions on @BigTenNetwork raising money for #MauiStrong. Tennessee at Michigan St to start. In-game player interviews. Bill Raftery. And still have Kansas at Illinois up next 🔥🔥🏀
“We get to do it for a cause that’s more than ourselves” 💚 Tom Izzo on Michigan State’s charity exhibition game vs Tennessee. #MauiStrong https://t.co/PxlDA7HjFo
Tom Izzo was nice enough to join us for an in-game interview from the @MSU_Basketball bench. 🗣️ #MauiStrong https://t.co/ORxsCCJYcv
Michigan State sleepwalking early against Tennessee. Hawaiian shirt-wearing Tom Izzo, memorably teed up in an elf shirt, might never wear themed shirt again. https://t.co/58Hucx1T0W
"You get to do it for somebody else, and I think that makes it pretty cool." Tom Izzo address @MSU_Basketball before today's exhibition vs. Tennessee. #MauiStrong https://t.co/AytFxdpGFp
Column on a long, winding friendship between Tom Izzo and Tennessee's Rick Barnes that dates back 37 years — to when Jud Heathcote and Izzo tricked Barnes into thinking they weren't interested in a recruit named Steve Smith. The Vols are at MSU on Sunday. https://t.co/n0wm1MSU0u