![]() We’ve seen it - when he’s crashing the glass, hitting shots and in the right place defensively. I think he’s a self-aware dude, who wants to be great and can be really good. And for MSU, which isn’t able to maximize its talent. An issue for Brooks, who the coaching staff would prefer be on the floor. No offense to Jason Whitens, but if he’s in the game in place of Brooks - as he was for 1 minute and 41 seconds in the first half Thursday - that’s an issue. This is a pivotal moment in Pierre Brooks’ career at MSU. MORE FROM THURSDAY'S MSU WIN: Couch: Jaden Akins is beginning to meet rising expectations – Izzo's and his own 3. Holloman’s role has been solidified and is an important one. He didn’t take another shot and finished with three assists and one turnover in 14 minutes, allowing Tyson Walker to continue to play largely off the ball. I thought Holloman had a solid game, too, beginning with a driving layup late in the shot clock as MSU was working its way back from an early deficit. His development has been a storyline this month. His athletic ability and length and increasing acumen allows MSU to do things like play him in tandem with another big man in a matchup that calls for it, especially with Malik Hall out. He got beat up on the glass, too, but didn’t look out of his element or frustrated. And MSU was plus-17 with him on the court and minus-1 with Sissoko on the floor.Ĭooper also had some good minutes - playing nine of them, all as the second center. And Kohler was an offensive weapon, cutting, shooting and in the post in a game it was needed. He wasn’t a wizard defensively, but if you’re going to lose on that end, you’ve got to win somewhere. ![]() Kohler gave a MSU a lift early, his first bucket, a reverse layup on a nice move along the baseline to begin to dig the Spartans out of an 11-3 deficit, which Kohler called "an adrenaline rush." Kohler kept scoring, hitting 6 of 9 shots for 12 points, to go with 11 rebounds and two blocks, one at a key point in the second half. Sissoko and MSU got their butts kicked on the glass and, when Sissoko did seem to have the edge, he struggled holding onto the ball. You never want to play against yourself, version 2.0. I didn’t like the matchup for the Spartans’ starting center to begin with - facing a bigger, more consistent version of himself in Clifford Omoruyi. Kohler was MSU’s best center Thursday in what was a tough night for Sissoko. Heck, for 3 minutes and 16 seconds in the middle of the second half, all three freshmen, point guard Tre Holloman included, were on the court together for the first time this season. Some interesting things happened with the minutes at the center position for MSU on Thursday night - Jaxon Kohler got more of them than Mady Sissoko and some of Carson Cooper’s playing time came alongside Sissoko and Kohler. An epic freshman thoughts – the Rutgers edition Dropping to 4-4 in the Big Ten was really not an option for where we want to go. “The way we answered tonight, it was crucial,” Hauser said. But that, Thursday night, was a strong showing by MSU’s veterans (and one freshman) against a team capable of beating them. These shaky starts might be trouble on the road. They took control Thursday, outscoring Rutgers 67-45 after a poor start. This MSU backcourt, along with Joey Hauser, gives the Spartans a chance every night. Some of that credit belongs to MSU, whose guards had an especially disruptive game defensively, including nine steals - four each by Tyson Walker and Jaden Akins. The Scarlet Knights hit just 2 of 17 3s and 22 of 64 shots. ![]() What saved the Spartans was their defense, albeit against a Rutgers team that isn’t setting offensive records. Rutgers murdered MSU on the glass, with 18 offensive rebounds resulting in 15 second-chance points. A win that shows they can find a way to win a game that wasn’t entirely a favorable matchup. A win that keeps the Spartans interesting in the Big Ten standings (at 5-3). This is a win that’ll travel to Selection Sunday. Thursday night’s 70-56 win over Rutgers was proof that the Spartans’ strong showing in a one-point loss to Purdue earlier in the week wasn’t just the result of a surge of home-court emotion. More than anything, this was a win that MSU kind of needed to have - against a team competing at the top of the Big Ten, amid a brutal stretch of games, stopping a two-game losing streak before it became a thing. Mostly the center position - more on that in a bit. That was a needed win for the Spartans - one that says they'll be OKĮAST LANSING - This is one of those games that makes you think Michigan State will be just fine for however long Malik Hall is out.Īnd also a game that makes you wonder about some things. ![]()
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