Updated Feb. 3, 2026, 12:20 p.m. ET
Michigan State basketball is the subject of a new conspiracy theory.
Boston Celtics center Luka Garza went on his teammate Derrick White’s “White Noise Podcast with Derrick & Welsh” in an episode released on Monday, Feb. 2, and the former Iowa standout decided to stir the pot.
In the interview, Garza claims that the Spartans intentionally keep one rim in worse condition than the other on the basketball court in the Breslin Center to give themselves a second-half advantage (and their opponents a second-half disadvantage).
“I think Michigan State purposely puts the basket that they’re going to shoot on in the first half on that side on purpose,” he said. “You have to swish it or it doesn’t go in. I think they do it to themselves so they’re down in the first half and then they come back in the second half.”
Garza played at Iowa for four seasons from 2017-21 and the Hawkeyes were 1-2 at the Breslin Center in that span, which included an 88-58 win over the Spartans in 2021, Garza’s senior season. However, Garza struggled from the field in all three road games against the Spartans, shooting 1-for-10 with seven points in 2018, 8-for-21 with 20 points in 2020 and 3-for-11 with eight points in 2021.
By comparison, Garza shot 4-for-8 against the Spartans at home in 2018, 8-for-14 in 2019 and 9-for-18 in 2021, though two of those three Iowa home games also ended in losses for the Hawkeyes.
Was Garza’s difference in production against the Spartans at home and on the road due to the rim? It’s difficult to measure, but Garza seems to be convinced that’s the case.
“It’s the worst rim in college basketball,” he said. “Other teams come in the second half and they can’t buy a bucket, and [the Spartans] always come back and win.”
Michigan State has made a habit of second-half comebacks this season, most recently in an 83-71 home loss against the Wolverines on Friday, Jan. 30. However, that tendency has also shown up on the road, notably with a second-half comeback in Eugene on Jan. 20 against the Oregon Ducks.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
