EAST LANSING – Carson Cooper struggles a bit in the moment.

Watching coach Tom Izzo rip into new players for the first time brings back memories for the Michigan State senior center.

“I kind of smile a little bit when he’s really getting on the freshmen and stuff like that because it kind of goes back to how I was as a freshman, kind of wide-eyed, not really knowing what I was getting myself into,” Cooper said after practice on Thursday. “It’s good for them.”

Cooper speaks with a veteran perspective but remains firmly in the crosshairs alongside the rest of the squad. No. 22 Michigan State opened the season on Monday by slogging to an 80-69 win against Colgate , which was enough for Izzo to call out Cooper, his fellow co-captains and nearly everyone who stepped on the court .

“I’m

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