Jase Richardson is on a March Madness mission — for Michigan State and for his family
ATLANTA — Before a 13-year NBA career with five different teams, Jason Richardson was an impact freshman at Michigan State in 2000.
In many ways, it’s parallel to his son Jase Richardson’s standout freshman season with the program 25 years later. But there’s one facet of the younger Richardson’s game that Jason was quick to acknowledge is more developed at the same age.
“(His shot) is 10 times better,” the elder Richardson said with a smile. “Maybe 100 times better.” And Jason partially credited that to some extra fundamentals coaching from mom Jackie.
On Friday night, the family watched as Jase led the way for Michigan State, sinking four 3-pointers to score a team-high 20 points in a 73-70 win over Ole Miss in the Sweet 16.
The performance came one game after he went just 1-for-10 from the field and 0-for-5 from 3-point range in a second-round victory over New Mexico; Jase went straight to the court to try and rediscover his feel.
“When we got back, I was in the gym constantly just trying to get my shot back,” Jase said. “I don’t think I’ve ever shot that bad in a game before (against New Mexico), so I knew I had to make it up to these guys and hit some shots today.”
But Jase’s shot selection improved, too, as he had one of his most efficient games in a 6-for-8 performance from the field.
Despite attempting his fewest shots in a game since Feb. 18 against Purdue, he reached the 20-point threshold for the sixth time this season as the Spartans advanced to Sunday’s Elite Eight.
Now, after Jason’s first season in East Lansing ended in national championship glory under Tom Izzo, not even the upcoming NBA Draft is distracting Jase from ending the family’s — and the program’s — 25-year wait for a title.
“He’s not even thinking about (the NBA),” Jason said. “He’s (just) thinking about March Madness and trying to win games.”
Gunter Schroeder is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.