1. This was a huge win for MSU. Shaky at times. But there is no apology. This was required.
Portland, OR. The Spartans were looking for something, anything, anyone to get them going Friday night against Oregon. They’ve found it in a lineup of Tyson Walker, Trey Holloman, Pierre Brooks, Joey Hauser, and Jackson Koehler.
They regained some chemistry and bonding, as Tom Izzo later described it—two things that made the Michigan State team so much better than he could have expected at the start of the season.
That set produced a 14-0 MSU lead in the final four minutes of the first half that changed the Spartans’ night, the championship and possibly the complexion of their non-conference record. And this run was not accidental. Five consecutive stops. Six straight auxiliary hoppers. Four of those pass by Walker. Brooks, Hauser, Koehler and Walker all scored during the race. Shots started falling, defense got better and body language improved.
MSU looked like a career team again. It’s sometimes easy to overlook what subtracting an integral piece or pieces of the entire process does. I remember MSU’s first game without an injury to Nick Ward in January of 2019 — before Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman became a magical duo. The Spartans seemed disjointed trying to figure out how to play in a new way, minus the mammoth in the middle that was a part of them.
The MSU team had a bit of that disjointed look again early in Friday night’s game. Even that unit, minus starters AJ Hoggard and Mady Sissoko, was rolling on both ends.
“The ball started moving a little bit more,” Hauser said. “It’s tough. You’ve got two frustrated guys (Malik Hall and Jaden Akins) and you know some roles have changed a little bit. You’re looking, you’re looking a little bit.”
There was a long way to go before MSU put that thing away, and the 74-70 win sealed some shaky moments with six free throws from Hoggard, Sissoko, and Walker. But that stretch – from 27-19 to ahead 33-27 – was so necessary for a shorthanded team that was batting miserably and looked destined for a seventh-place game at the PK85 Invitational, a rematch with Villanova I don’t think it could have worked out. Fine.
Instead, the Spartans (4-2) took on their hometown team, the University of Portland, in the fifth-place game on Sunday, at Portland Stadium. This game kicks off at 2:30 PM PT (5:30 ET on ESPN). Portland gave North Carolina a game and then beat Villanova, so it’s not a gift to the MSU, but a better tie than replacement. And if MSU can get the job done, it sets up access through November at 6-2, if the Spartans can also pass an under-impressed Notre Dame team after Wednesday night on the road in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
It took MSU an entire game and most of the first half on Friday to figure out how to function without Hall and Akins. It took them a long time to find some grit and mojo. However, that was hardly enough against a now self-depleted, struggling Oregon team. The Spartans did it Friday without starting point guard Hoggard playing well. And with Sissoko in bad trouble and only having an impact in the second half, mainly on the cup.
There is no apology. For MSU, this was a huge win.
2. Much better presentation than Hauser and Brooks
And as long as Malik Hall and Jaden Akins are out, MSU can’t win without the production and determination of Joey Hauser and Pierre Brooks. Case in point: Thursday and Friday matches. Neither was good Thursday against Alabama and the Spartans didn’t have enough to keep up the lead. Friday, both were much better. Cool at times.
Brooks, who angered Izzo after Thursday night’s game, scored 15 points, hitting 3 of 11 three-pointers. This is not a large percentage. But these were pretty good shots. And the designs were timely, including two shots filmed at the start that were judged 3 seconds and changed to 2 seconds. He was engaged to both parties. Not always a great defensive tackle. This is not what it is now. But the level of competition has increased from the previous night.
Hauser, after suffering from a tall Alabama sprain and a rolling ankle the night before, was the catalyst behind a lot of good things that happened to the Spartans on Friday night. Scored 18 points, hitting 7 of 11 shots and 4 of 8 3s. He wasn’t hesitant. Equally important was his work on the offensive glass, as he grabbed four of 10 rebounds. He had three assists as well. Michigan State University needs this version of Hauser. Especially now.
3. Freshman Thoughts – Oregon Edition PK85
Let’s start here: Jaxon Kohler and Tre Holloman were part of MSU’s best lineup Friday night. And that’s no small feat for a couple of back-up players and role-playing players who discover life at this level.
Izzo said that their understanding of their roles was part of the reason it went 14-0 and the ball started moving again.
“When we put the new players in, the ball moved better because people knew just who was needed to kick the ball and Joey and Tyson needed to kick the ball, and then Pierre, we thought if we could get him some shots,” Izzo said.
Kohler made a positive impact for the second night in a row, both offensively and on the glass. Oregon does not have the kind of seniors they will experience in the low mass. But I thought he was pretty good defensively, especially his assist defense. He finished the game with six points and three rebounds in 16 minutes. Unlike Thursday night, the Spartans were better on the glass when Sissoko was in the game – as it should be. But Kohler is making notable strides.
Holloman was also increasingly becoming a player MSU could count on. Maybe more. It helps if he fits well on or off the ball, like Walker and AJ Hoggard, allowing him to play alongside either. He and Walker played well on Friday. Holloman ran the show somewhat and made good decisions for the most part – only pissing Iso off a few times. Izzu doesn’t go after players he can’t rely on. Looks like Holloman can handle it. Defensively, he had some solid moments, including a late first half block during MSU’s big run. His baseline doesn’t jump at you – no points, two assists, rebounds and a block in 17 minutes. Nor does it explain his influence or Izu’s growing confidence in him. Holloman was in the game with the last 39 seconds to defend.
Carson Cooper kept seeing the minutes out of necessity. He had a dunk that rocked MSU in the first half and an offensive rebound that didn’t get credit for, because a foul was committed on the play. He’s hanging out there and looking noticeably more comfortable than he did 10 days ago against Kentucky.
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Graham_Couch.