EAST LANSING— Michigan State men’s basketball is now 5-0 in the Big Ten after beating Northwestern 78-68 Sunday afternoon. The Spartans advance to 14-2 on the season, which is the best program start since 2019. This team of young talent has a bright future ahead and could be the gateway to a new era of MSU basketball.
This group shows the toughness and hustle of a classic Izzo team, with the addition of excellent team chemistry, something that has been missing at MSU over the past few years.
MSU basketball has suffered some hardships in the past, the biggest disappointment was what could have been, with the 2019-20 squad of Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman Sr.
There were high hopes of that group bringing a national championship to East Lansing, but unfortunately, Covid cut things short and put a halt to the 2020 March Madness tournament. Winston graduating in 2020 would leave a big hole in MSU’s core. Winston was a once-in-a-lifetime player who had the talent and skill to make everyone around him better.
Winston embodied everything that a great point guard should be, averaging 18.3 points per game and 5.9 assists as a senior. His talent was undeniable, and his leadership on the court would be something difficult to replace.
MSU has managed to make the tournament for a consecutive 26 seasons under Izzo, which remains the longest active tournament streak in NCAA basketball. Winston took his team to the final four in 2019, but since then, MSU would typically end their season with an earlier-than-expected exit and could not compete deep into the bracket.
The 2023-24 season had very high expectations, and MSU was ranked fourth overall in the preseason, however the Spartans did not live up to those expectations and made it into the tournament with a nine seed, losing to one seed North Carolina in the second round.
This squad was led by senior point guard Tyson Walker, who made a name for himself with his fearless attitude and talent.
Redshirt freshman point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. was expected to have a breakout first year until he suffered a leg injury from a shooting in his hometown, forcing him to sit the remainder of the season.
With Fears’ role being put on pause, senior AJ Hoggard would have to step in as point guard which arguably was not his best position. Hoggard was inconsistent, along with the team, and after so many uncharacteristic losses, it was difficult to point out the true identity of what MSU basketball was.
After the season, Hoggard transferred to Vanderbilt, and seniors Mady Sissoko, Malik Hall and Walker graduated, leaving space for other players to step up.
The return of senior guard Jaden Akins and junior guard Tre Holloman has been huge for this team. Both Akins and Holloman were selected as captains, and their leadership is defined by their experience as well as their performance on the court.
Fears is healthy and back this season with 94 assists and 15 steals. His speed is something that drives MSU’s offense and allows for open teammates to capitalize.
Junior forward Jaxon Kohler has been huge on the glass, averaging 8.4 rebounds with 12 blocks on the season.
Sophomore forward Xavier Booker is looking more comfortable than ever, alongside the high-flying sophomore forward Coen Carr, who is arguably the best dunker in college basketball, and freshman guard Jase Richardson is showing great signs of potential.
It is difficult to win in the Big Ten, especially on the road. However, these games are too important to overlook. This team has shown that they can face adversity and persevere. They have been down, but they fight that much harder to get back instead of crumbling under pressure.
Patience and perseverance are two key aspects of a good basketball team. Although it is still early in the season, the Spartans seem more confident than ever, with no plans to take their foot off the gas.
If MSU keeps it up, this could be the return of what made this program great for two decades.
