EAST LANSING – In quieter moments, Jase Richardson and Coen Carr enjoy building Lego sets together at their apartment. A calming way, both have said, to decompress from the grueling grind physically and hyperfocus needed mentally to play elite-level college basketball.
Because playing for Tom Izzo can be intense and demanding. From both the coach and their Michigan State teammates. Even between the two roommates.
Case in point: A bad-pass turnover near midcourt at Iowa less than two weeks ago.
Richardson’s handoff outside got stripped away from Carr, and the freshman committed a foul seconds later.