5 Observations: Michigan State falls to Nebraska in crushing loss
Michigan State entered tonight's game having suffered one of the worst starts of a preseason Top 5 college basketball team in history. The Spartans had just been beaten soundly at home in their Big Ten opener by Wisconsin, and were in desperate need of a victory against Nebraska.
In a game which featured six ties and 15 lead changes, Michigan State came out on the wrong end of the scoreboard in a 77-70 loss to the Cornhuskers. The Spartans fall to 4-5 overall, 0-2 in conference play and are left with lingering doubts surrounding a season which was supposed to return them to the top of the sport.
Michigan State used a 7-0 run early in the game to go up 13-6, but the Cornhuskers punched back with an 11-2 run to take their first lead of the game at the 9:12 mark in the first half. It was a back-and-forth first half from there, as Nebraska threw in some prayers from beyond the 3-point line and the Spartans responded with solid play in their halfcourt possessions. When the dust settled, Michigan State led 34-31 at halftime.
The start of the second half was all Nebraska, as the Huskers went on an 11-2 run out of the locker room to take their largest lead of the game. Michigan State trailed for the majority of the second half, before leading-scorer Tyson Walker came alive late and gave the Spartans a 63-60 lead with just under five minutes left with his third 3-pointer of the game.
But, down the stretch, it was Nebraska that came up with the timely baskets and the winning plays, as the Cornhuskers outscored the Spartans 17-7 in the final 4:45 to send MSU home with a crushing loss.
1.) Defensive intensity doesn't last
Michigan State came out playing tough on the defensive end. If not for a couple miracle 3-pointers from Nebraska in the first half, the Spartans would have been able to take control of this game early. The Cornhuskers shot just 11-of-29 (38%) in the first half, but hit 7-of-11 shots from deep in the first frame.
In the second half, however, Michigan State's defensive intensity wavered and Nebraska took advantage. After scoring just eight points in the paint in the first half, the Cornhuskers attacked MSU's interior defense and scored 22 in the paint after halftime.
Michigan State's inability to put together a full 40 minutes of defensive effort, with their backs against the wall, is a red flag. The Spartans actually shot the ball well tonight, connecting on 8-of-17 attempts from deep. It was the other end of the floor that let MSU down.
2.) AJ Hoggard and Malik Hall: The good and the bad
Make no mistake, Michigan State was on the ropes coming into this game, despite it being only early December. This was a must-win game for the Spartans, and seniors A.J. Hoggard (finally) and Malik Hall both played with a sense of urgency. With Walker held to just two points early, Hall came up big with 22 points on an efficient 7-of-14 shooting from the floor and 7-for-7 from the free throw line. He added seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal.
Hoggard, too, played well in the opening frame on both ends of the floor. At the break, the point guard had seven points on an efficient 3-of-4 shooting, and Hoggard finished with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
While both veterans played well for long stretches of the game tonight, we also saw their limitations in the closing minutes of the game. With the Spartans up by one with under three minutes left, Hoggard lost sense of the shot clock on one possession which resulted in a Hail Mary 3-point miss by Walker. On the very next defensive possession, Hoggard went under a screen to give Nebraska a wide open look from 3 and the lead.
Later, with MSU trying to pull back even, Hall bricked his own 3-point attempt on a shot that hit only backboard. Overall, its hard to fault the play of the Spartans' two veterans, but when things have gone as poorly as they have this season for Michigan State, everything and everybody is under the microscope.
3.) Jaden Akins active early, disappears late
After a no-show game against Wisconsin, Jaden Akins came out strong tonight against Nebraska. His 3-pointer with 13:30 left in the game cut Michigan State's deficit to 46-43 at the time, and the junior 10 points. However, not only was that the last time Akins would score on the night, he would only attempt one more shot for the remainder of the game.
While the Spartans should feel somewhat encouraged by Akins stat line tonight — 10 points, 4-of-7 shooting, 2-of-4 from three, four rebounds — we've seen this disappearing act far too often from the junior. Whether that's a problem with Akins, or its on the coaching staff to dial up more plays offensively to get him involved (I'm inclined to believe the latter), Michigan State needs to get the junior more involved. Tonight was a step in the right direction, but Akins can still do more.
4.) Michigan State has no answers at center
Izzo and his staff have flip-flopped Mady Sissoko and Carson Cooper in the starting lineup multiple times this season, and even tried starting both of them in the last outing against Wisconsin. Despite the tinkering, neither guy have been very productive for the Spartans, and the reality is that neither Sissoko or Cooper is a Big Ten-caliber starting center.
I think both of these guys can be good players in limited roles, primarily defensively, but Michigan State is get zero offensive production out of either guy. Tonight, the production was even worse than it has been, with the pair combining for two points and three rebounds. There's not much else that can be said. Izzo and the Spartans have to hope sophomore center Jaxon Kohler can bring some productivity to the center position when he returns from his foot injury. That's a lot of pressure to put on a young player who will still need to get back into game shape when he is good to go.
5.) Freshman development?
By now, Izzo's stance on freshman players has been pretty well established. The head coach prefers to rely on his veterans, and first-year players have to earn Izzo's trust and earn their way into minutes on the floor. On the surface, I understand the approach — there's nothing wrong with making freshmen, even highly-rated prospect, earn their keep.
My question is, why has it been so long since a freshman came into Michigan State's program and made a big, immediate impact? When and who was the last guy to do that in a Green and White uniform? Miles Bridges? Jaren Jackson Jr.?
Michigan State landed two five-stars in Xavier Booker and Jeremy Fears, and a highly-touted (albeit somewhat raw) four-star in Coen Carr. While Fears and Carr have had their moments this season, neither has been a true difference-maker yet for MSU. Meanwhile, the highest-rated guy, Booker, hasn't played in either of Michigan State's two Big Ten games this season. Maybe Izzo is right. Maybe the freshman aren't ready to be relied on and contribute right now. But, who's fault it that?
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