Even in defeat at Michigan, the Spartans showed the formula for a postseason run
Fears, Kohler, and Cooper carried the load in Ann Arbor – now MSU needs a timely breakout from its younger players.
The regular season wrapped up for Michigan State with a 90–80 loss to Michigan. As the Spartans turn their attention to the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament, the game against the Wolverines revealed a lot about Michigan State’s ceiling moving forward.
Even in defeat, Michigan State showed flashes of what a deep postseason run could look like.
The Spartans’ three most important players showcased their potential, but they did not receive enough support from the rest of the roster. Jeremy Fears Jr., Jaxon Kohler, and Carson Cooper all played excellent games, and their success often determines Michigan State’s outcome on a nightly basis.
After four straight games with fewer than 10 points, Kohler has now strung together three efficient performances with at least 15 points, including a 23-point outing against Michigan.
Cooper has also found a scoring rhythm, reaching double figures in five of his last six games. He added 19 points and six rebounds against the Wolverines.
Both Kohler and Cooper have offensive skill sets that can swing a game for the Spartans. Michigan State does not have a clear secondary scoring option, but that gap can be partially filled by creating easy opportunities for the two big men – post touches and open threes for Kohler, and lobs and interior looks for Cooper.
That formula was on full display against Michigan, as Cooper dominated mismatches inside and Kohler shot 10-for-13 from the field.
The Spartans’ interior efficiency was a major reason the offense stayed competitive throughout the game, even as Michigan controlled long stretches.
