1. A missed alternative for the Spartans, who bought baited into a distinct type of recreation
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – For some time Friday evening, Michigan State appeared prefer it is likely to be on its technique to, maybe, its most spectacular win of the season. All it needed to do was do what it has been doing greatest — end video games.
For the primary time shortly, the Spartans have been outplayed on each ends within the ultimate minutes, damage by the absence of Malik Hall within the ultimate a number of minutes, after he rolled his left ankle once more. Illinois scored on its ultimate seven possessions, helped by three offensive rebounds, turning a 60-60 recreation right into a 75-66 Illini win. They have been more durable, extra poised and extra environment friendly.
It’s not a type of losses that is the top of the world — or the top of something — for MSU. But it is a misplaced alternative. Because, for an extended whereas, the Spartans have been the higher crew after weathering the preliminary power within the constructing.
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MSU confirmed it could play in opposition to the Big Ten’s most athletic groups and in essentially the most troublesome settings. But I feel we knew that. The query was, may they hold being the higher crew down the stretch? Could they impose their method on Illinois, transferring the ball, hitting photographs? They did not. They did not make a single 3-pointer within the recreation, ending 0-for-7. Instead, they practically beat the Illini at their recreation — a extra one-on-one fashion.
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Weird recreation. A tricky matchup recreation for MSU. A number of good protection. Some good moments for the Spartans. But in the long run a missed likelihood — a professional likelihood — to win at a spot only a few Big Ten groups will win.
2. MSU not often performs a recreation like that. Even traditionally.
Some of it you may chalk as much as a highway statistician. But MSU completed that recreation with 4 assists on 28 made buckets. Dating again so far as I had time to look in the course of the recreation — 10 years — the Spartans have not had fewer assists in a recreation or come near such a ratio.
At Breslin Center, that is in all probability an 8-10-assist evening. Still MSU has performed numerous highway video games previously decade and by no means had a recreation like that. The Spartans have gone full seasons and not using a recreation with single-digit assists.
That was a part of the problem Friday evening. And but, with only a couple extra made buckets and stops, MSU might need received that recreation. It confirmed the Spartans can play the extra one-on-one fashion that Illinois lures its opponents into. But it is also not their recreation.
For historic context, MSU had 5 assists on 19 area objectives in a Nov. 30, 2014 neutral-site loss to Kansas. The Spartans beat Virginia within the 2015 Sweet 16 with seven assists on 17 photographs made. This season’s lows earlier than Friday have been 9 assists in opposition to Alabama and eight in opposition to Notre Dame. Their 13 at Penn State have been their fewest in a win.
3. Freshman ideas — The Carson Cooper exhibits out at Illinois version
You’ve bought to do one thing sudden or momentous to get your identify within the subhead right here. Well, mark it down: Jan. 13, two months and 6 days into his freshman season, Carson Cooper grew to become a participant. That was an eye-opening eight minutes within the first half. He was helpful, impactful. Probably MSU’s best choice at heart by way of operating the ground, grabbing offensive rebounds, and ending in visitors at the rim. And his numbers mirrored it: Six factors, 3-for-3 capturing, 4 rebounds, two on the offensive finish.
And to do it within the hardest ambiance the Spartans have confronted this season, that he is possible ever confronted in his life, that is one thing. There is a poise to the younger man that is rising. The recreation is slowing down. He’s beginning to acknowledge his benefits — his top and size, his arms, his pace rim operating. He’s holding offensive rebounds above his head and going again up in visitors calmly, utilizing the opposite facet of the rim to defend the ball from defenders.
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He would not fumble the ball when he catches it on the transfer — see his driving dunk — or when he comes up with it on the glass.
In the second half, he was the primary participant off the bench, together with Malik Hall. He had a block on considered one of his first defensive possessions. Then he hit a shot popping out of a timeout. In all, he completed with simply these six factors and 4 rebounds and one block in 12 whole minutes. But that’ll go down as a memorable recreation — one which makes you marvel what he can grow to be and the way quickly it could occur and the way a lot the Spartans can get out of him this season.
Another freshman, level guard Tre Holloman, had a pair good moments within the second half. He drove at Matthew Mayer and completed at the rim to offer MSU a 52-45 lead. And then, a possession later his drive and dish to Jaden Akins resulted in a wide-open 3 level try from the nook. Had Akins made the shot, the Spartans are up 10 close to the midpoint of the second half.
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.