March 21, 2026, 5:09 a.m. ET
BUFFALO, NY – Ryan Conwell obtained knocked to the ground time and again. The Louisville guard continued to get again up, even after getting tripped by South Florida’s Wes Enis.
The knee harm that saved him out earlier within the season and the bumps and bruises gathered throughout a protracted season wouldn’t maintain Conwell down. And it wouldn’t maintain the Cardinals from attending to the second spherical of the NCAA Tournament.
Setting up a long-awaited matchup towards Michigan State basketball’s Jeremy Fears Jr that is been within the making for over two years.
“I think it’ll be good. Obviously, great players going at it,” Conwell stated Friday, March 20. “I respect him a lot. I know he’ll be ready for the challenge, and I’ll be ready for the challenge, for sure.”
The 3-seed Spartans (26-7) take on 6-seed Louisville (24-10) with a visit to the Sweet 16 of the East area up for grabs on Saturday, March 21. Tipoff is 2:45 p.m. at KeyBank Center (CBS).
For the well-traveled Conwell, a senior on his fourth college in 4 seasons, it is going to be his second time taking part in towards MSU. His sophomore yr, whereas taking part in for Indiana State, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Indianapolis native scored 16 factors on 5-for-11 capturing however lost to the Spartans at Breslin Center, 87-75.
The date, Dec. 30, 2023, is a vital one. It was per week after Fears was shot in his upper left leg, ending his freshman season, and a day after he returned to East Lansing following surgical procedure on his gunshot wounds and an ensuing hospital keep. He arrived on crutches and watched from the bench, his lengthy and arduous path again unclear and his future taking part in basketball nonetheless unsure.
In the time since, Fears recovered totally and has coach Tom Izzo on the verge of his seventeenth Sweet 16. The 6-2, 185-pound level guard from Joliet, Illinois, additionally has blossomed into an All-American and first-team All-Big Ten participant in his third season with the Spartans. He leads the nation at 9.2 assists per recreation and leads MSU in scoring at 15.4 factors per recreation this season.
“I think him coming back from that and being able to produce in the way he is, it just really speaks volumes just to who he is and his circle,” Conwell stated. “It’s really just a blessing that he was able to come back. You don’t wish that happening on anybody, no matter if they play basketball or not. But just the simple fact that he’s able to come back and produce in the way he is, it’s just really special.”
Dr. Lorenzo Guess referred to as Fears’ restoration and growth since being shot each “amazing” and “crazy.” MSU’s director of energy and conditioning and a former Izzo guard stated Fears has elevated his energy and vertical soar since being shot.
“Even though some days, he didn’t want to do anything because he wanted to practice,” Guess stated Friday. “Every day I had him when he did rehab in the training room, we had a lot of one-on-one time together. He wanted it. Whatever he could do, he did it. …
“This is a testament to him. This dude went to work. Everything he did, he believed in us. And look at what he did? And also he’s a winner. He always finds a way to win.”
Conwell, meantime, has continued to progress as a participant.
He averaged 5.1 factors, 1.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists as a freshman in 2022-23 whereas at South Florida, which he helped ship dwelling from Buffalo on Thursday (83-79) with 18 factors, six assists and 4 rebounds.
Conwell then went to Indiana State in 2023-24 (16.6 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists), adopted by Xavier final season (16.5 factors, 2.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists).
This season with the Cardinals, Conwell is averaging 18.7 factors, 4.8 rebounds and a pair of.6 assists. He’s averaged 30-plus minutes at ISU, Xavier and now Louisville and this yr has been taking part in by means of a knee harm that saved him out of just one recreation.
Assistant coach Thomas Kelley, who was on MSU’s employees for the ISU recreation in 2023, stated Conwell’s toughness “is right there” with Fears’ grit. Jaxon Kohler additionally missed that recreation for the Spartans with a foot harm.
“He’s a physical guard, he’s shifty. He can shoot it, he can score at three levels,” Kelley stated of Conwell. “He’s a very good basketball player. He was good. And then watching him now, I’ve been watching, he’s still physical. He can get you on his hip, he’s strong enough to finish. He can make plays.
“He’s found a way to do well everywhere he’s been. You gotta be tough to do that, mentally and physically.”
Fears, a self-admitted basketball junkie, stated he noticed the reckless abandon with which Conwell and Louisville performed in Thursday’s first-round win. He additionally stated Conwell is “a bucket.”
“I’ve seen him make some tough drives, tough finishes. He got in the paint and made some plays, kicked out to his teammates and whatnot,” Fears stated. “They’re a good team. They make shots, they play defense, they rebound, they run. So for sure, it’s definitely gonna be a challenge. And I think they match up with us how we match up with them.”
Fears’ subsequent mission is to get that head-to-head victory over Conwell and to proceed pushing towards a second nationwide title for his coach. And one other step towards reaching the targets he set earlier than he obtained to MSU, earlier than he obtained shot, and since final season ended one recreation in need of a Final Four within the Elite Eight.
“It’s gonna be a game, for sure,” he stated. “Just trying to do our job and our work and hopefully go get another win.”
Contact Chris Solari:csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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