TOLEDO, Ohio — Dozens of Rocket Nation members, alumni, players and more gathered at Savage Arena Wednesday evening for the annual Rocket Roundball Social.
The event provides an opportunity to meet Rockets head basketball coach Tod Kowalczyk, his staff and players, as well as host a guest speaker.
The 2023 guest speaker featured none other than Michigan State head basketball coach and Hall of Famer Tom Izzo.
Izzo and Kowalczyk are from the same are by the Michigan-Wisconsin border and have continued their friendship for many years.
Izzo has also served as a mentor for Kowalczyk, helping guide his coaching career. And Kowalczyk, along with everyone else, soaked up a message guided toward Rocket Nation and basketball fans.
"I hope that people take away just how important a community is to a college really, and to a program," Izzo said. "I mean I think that we kind of got to get back to where we were before COVID."
He added that the Spartan Nation lends a helping hand to the Michigan State basketball team's success year after year, and that although not an easy task, it is vital for coaches, players, and the community to be a team.
"We say every year our fanbase wins us three games a year and I think it's got to be that way here," Izzo said. "It's a lot of work to do some special things, but I think just remembering where you came from, how difficult it is and yet how rewarding it can be."
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