Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc.

Emotions are running high throughout the Michigan State basketball program, but it has nothing to do with its Thursday night showdown against Big East favorite Seton Hall.

The death of Zachary Winston, the younger brother of Spartans senior guard Cassius Winston, has cast a pall over the team. Zachary, a member of the Albion (Mich.) college basketball team, died of an apparent suicide on Saturday night. He was friends with many players on the Spartans squad.

"Our players were close to his brother, too," coach Tom Izzo said. "So it's not just how you feel about one of your teammates' brothers, it's how you feel about your teammates' brother who also was your friend and a guy you knew very well. When people see things like that happen and when you're young, I mean, it's scary, shocking. I don't know what words would be right."