It’s been exactly one year since Jase Richardson and Jeremy Fears Jr. were first named to the Michigan State starting lineup—and what a year it’s been. Since that fateful lineup shuffle, the young backcourt tandem has gone from promising prospects to full-blown Spartan fan favorites. And this week, they celebrated their “starter-versary” in true style: with an 88–54 demolition job over a stunned non-conference opponent.
From buzzer to buzzer, it was a display of exactly why the duo has become the heartbeat of the Spartans. Jase lit up the scoreboard with a career-high 26 points, including four three-pointers that practically sizzled the nets, while Jeremy dished out 11 assists like he was serving dinner at the Breslin Center. Fans in the front row could practically hear them calling plays with their own secret language—and by the second half, even the bench couldn’t stop smiling.
It wasn’t just the scoreboard that told the story—it was the chemistry. Every no-look pass, every synchronized defensive trap, every shared laugh after a fast-break dunk reminded everyone just how well these two work together. If basketball is a dance, Jase and Jeremy are Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in green and white.
Head Coach Tom Izzo, known for his no-nonsense demeanor, cracked a rare smile in the post-game presser. “They’ve grown a lot since last year. I just told ‘em, if this is what anniversaries look like, we might need to celebrate every week.”
Beyond the stat sheet, what’s made this partnership special is the trust. Whether it’s Jase hitting a step-back jumper or Jeremy diving for a loose ball, each play shows they have each other’s backs—and the team’s. The ‘J & J Express,’ as fans are now calling them on social media, has become one of the most electrifying backcourt combos in the Big Ten.
One year in, and the duo’s still heating up. With March on the horizon, Spartan Nation hopes this anniversary celebration is just the start of another unforgettable run.
