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John Beilein On Michigan State's Struggles: 'It's Hard To Play Two Bigs'

The former head coach of the Michigan Wolverines questions Tom Izzo's strategy of playing two bigs at the same time following Michigan State's losses to Iowa, Ohio State...

Matthew Lounsberry

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Michigan State men's basketball limps into the month of March fresh off back-to-back home losses to Iowa and Ohio State, two teams who reside in the bottom-half of the Big Ten standings.

While the Spartans have question marks in several areas, the center position and head coach Tom Izzo's usage of his bigs has risen to the top of conversation in light of the loss to the Buckeyes. For much of this season, Michigan State has used a two-big lineup for stretches of games with some combination of Mady Sissoko, Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler.

While that strategy has been under scrutiny for quite some time, it reached a fever pitch on Sunday night after Izzo and his staff paired two centers alongside a non-shooter in freshman forward Coen Carr for stretches of the loss to Ohio State. After MSU's 60-57 defeat, Big Ten analyst and former Michigan head coach John Beilein weighed in on Izzo's lineups and rotations.

"Coach Izzo is an amazing coach and he's had so many wins, and beat me so many times," Beilein said. "I just suggest right now — he plays with a lot of big guys, and you can be too big. You can't guard everybody, you can't score, you can't do some things."

Sissoko is averaging just 3.7 points and shooting a career-worst 55.2% from the floor across 17 minutes per game. Cooper, playing the same number of minutes, averages 3.6 points per game and is shooting 54%. Since returning from foot surgery, Kohler has had some brief stretches of solid play, but the sophomore is still working his way back to pre-injury status. In eight minutes per game, Kohler averages 1.8 points per game and is shooting just 42.9% from the floor.

"Those big guys are giving everything they have, but when are they really producing baskets for Michigan State," Beilein asked. "I think they have to examine that and see if there's another way. Because, you lose to Iowa at home, now lose at home to Ohio State, it's got to send some flags up. Maybe I've got to make a change."

That change should come in the former of freshman Xavier Booker, who made his first career start against Ohio State and finished with seven points, three rebounds and three blocks against the Buckeyes. Michigan State sacrifices rim-protection and rebounding with Booker on the floor, but it gains a floor-spacer and another scoring threat at the offensive end.

One thing is for certain — Michigan State has to scrap it's two-big lineup, particularly when Booker is not one of the two bigs on the floor together.

"It's so hard to play two bigs today," Beilein said. "We've already talked on this show about one big and then a whole bunch of guys that can play. And I don't care what size they are, it's nice if they're 6-7 in the forwards, but it is hard to play that many bigs and over time it just will affect you."

The Spartans (17-11 overall, 9-8 Big Ten) have slid back to sixth place in the conference, and their hopes for a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament are all but diminished. Michigan State has much of this week off before returning to action Saturday with a road trip to No. 3 Purdue.

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Matthew Lounsberry
MATTHEW LOUNSBERRY

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