1. In beating USC, MSU played like a team that’s grown into squad that can be a tough out
COLUMBUS, Ohio – It’ll get tougher from here. But Michigan State on Friday looked the part of a team with some of the qualities it takes to make a run in March. Most importantly, MSU took the first step in this survive-and-advance tournament, pulling away from USC in the second half for a 72-62 first-round win, earning a second-round date with Marquette or Vermont on Sunday.
What we saw was a season’s worth of experiences propel the Spartans to victory — from Tyson Walker running the point when A.J. Hoggard found foul trouble, to Carson Cooper’s essential minutes in the second half, to Jaden Akins’ vigor and confidence on the offensive end.
MSU has blown a lead in the final two minutes. The Spartans won and lost close games on big stages. They’ve played under pressure against challenging opponents since November. They’ve grown into a team that can beat an opponent in a number of ways, with enough depth to deal with all sorts of situations and, Friday at least, had more poise and oomph than their opponent.
Their top four players down the stretch — Hoggard, Walker, Joey Hauser and Akins — all made shots and plays and scored in double figures. Their young centers stepped up to help Mady Sissoko, who needed it. And Malik Hall, who’s struggled and did at times Friday, made a couple important plays on both ends in the second half.
I don’t know if what MSU has will be enough to win another round or more. But Friday, they were better than a 10th-seeded opponent and played like it. That’s all you can ask.
2. MSU’s ability to lean on Tyson Walker at point guard when needed won the Spartans this game
The Spartans put this game away with A.J. Hoggard running the show. But they perhaps won it because when Hoggard picked up his third foul barely two minutes into the second half, they could put the ball in Tyson Walker’s hands at point guard. Walker moved over from the 2 spot and led an 11-2 run that gave MSU some separation. He scored twice, splitting the defense, and set up his teammates. It was a calm, smooth and efficient few minutes from the Spartans on both ends of the court.
It was also reminiscent of what happened at Ohio State a month ago, when MSU turned to Walker for a similar stretch and won 62-41. So few teams have a second point guard of his quality, let alone one that can shift seamlessly from shooting guard and run the show. If you’re looking for reasons the Spartans can make a run, this is one of them. Hoggard’s foul trouble didn’t bite them. Instead, it produced a run. That’s a luxury that can become a necessity in a one-and-done tournament.
3. Freshman thoughts – the NCAA tournament first-round edition
This was a good day for MSU’s three freshmen, each of whom contributed important plays in the game, Carson Cooper and Jaxson Kohler especially. Cooper vitally. It was a good example of how far both of them have come in the course of a season from when MSU could barely survive with them on the court.
Cooper was MSU’s best answer defensively in the second half to USC’s ball-screen offense. He relieved Mady Sissoko at the 17:39 mark — just as A.J. Hoggard also sat down with his third foul — with the game tied 38-38 and MSU immediately went on an 11-2 run, capped by two dunks from Cooper, one off a pick and roll, the other a put-back to make it 49-40. During that stretch, MSU got five straight stops and didn’t give up any offensive rebounds. When Cooper checked back in for Sissoko a few minutes later, he almost right away boxed out and secured a defensive rebound with one hand with MSU leading 58-49 and 7:19 to play.
Cooper had a moment in the first half Friday that also showed his value and skills, when he set a screen, rolled hard to the hoop at an angle that made a pass possible, caught Hoggard’s feed with one hand and was fouled, before hitting both free throws for a 19-11 lead. I don’t think Hoggard throws that pass if it’s Sissoko rolling to the basket. But he knows Cooper can catch it.
Kohler was a critical piece late in the first half offensively when things were getting a little wobbly for the Spartans. He created four points in the final 2:08 before halftime, including a post move baseline jumper and a screen on the break that gave Hoggard the lane for a layup. Kohler also gave the Spartans an extra possession just before that when he was fouled on an offensive rebound.
The play that showed his offensive growth, however, came on the possession after his bucket, when he got the ball on the block again, began his move and dished it to Malik Hall. It didn’t result in points, but Kohler didn’t try to force it. He made a good pass that had the defensive on its heels.
Tre Holloman played sparingly and had one defensive error that drew the ire of Tom Izzo as he checked out of the game, but Holloman also stepped into an open jump shot off the dribble and made it, giving the Spartans a 26-17 lead.
For all three guys, this was an important showing — for this game, this tournament and perhaps beyond.
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.