1. MSU should feel good about that win over Ohio State, even if not about the performance
Michigan State won’t want that game film at the top of its resume for NCAA tournament seeding. But it was a win that ought to actually feel pretty good, even if the last minute wasn’t all that inspiring.
The Spartans’ 66-60 win over Ohio State on Sunday was hard earned, and the sort of game they couldn’t afford to lose if they want to climb to a 3 seed in the NCAA tournament — which could make a big difference in their draw. And it was a win they needed if they hope to be a top-four seed in the Big Ten tournament, which comes with a bye to the quarterfinals.
MSU on Sunday won the sort of game that would trip up any team without unwavering grit and great point guard play, a day when shots didn't fall (MSU hit just 4 of 22 3-point tries) and the other team had a determined star who was on his game. MSU point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. has had many better statistical days. His second half — especially four loud assists, getting good shots for teammates in the middle of the second half as the Spartans made their move — was as consequential as any of his scoring outbursts this season.
MSU ran into a throw-back senior guard in Bruce Thornton, who’s dead set on carrying the Buckeyes to the first NCAA tournament appearance of his career. Thornton, who racked up 32 points, was the best player on the court for a lot of the night. The Spartans eventually wore him down a little, throwing different defenders at him, including freshman Jordan Scott, who’s become a weapon on both ends. Scott's timely passing and offensive rebounding showed up again Sunday, as he scored in double figures (12 points) for the sixth straight game.
MSU won this with rebounding (a 43-28 edge), Carson Cooper’s shooting, Fears’ second half, and by having a couple more weapons than the Buckeyes. It wasn’t a performance that’ll win in the Sweet 16 or next Thursday at Purdue. But it’s the sort of stick-to-itiveness that matters in a season, and in a postseason, that goes anywhere.
2. Cooper’s shooting was critical to MSU pulling this out
Carson Cooper has had some strong days offensively this season, and in big games, too. But I don’t know if any of his top scoring outputs have been more needed and important than his efficient shooting and 20 points were Sunday.
Cooper was tremendous. Not just rolling to the basket and catching and finishing, but also shooting from distance — with three 15-foot-plus jump shots, at least twice in the soft spot in Ohio State’s zone, along with a hook shot out of the post. He was 7-for-10 from the floor, 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and hauled in a team-high 11 rebounds in 34 minutes.
It was a critical performance, given MSU’s struggles for a long time offensively and Jaxon Kohler’s foul trouble. Cooper has come a long way as an offensive player, which we’ve seen in 15 double-digit scoring games this season. What he showed Sunday is exactly what he’s wanted to become — someone who is a threat offensively, beyond just being a rim-runner. He’s done that. And he’s picked a good time to find confidence in his jump shot. If only he had another year of eligibility.
3. Chalk one up for the two-foul auto-bench (and the need for six fouls)
Tom Izzo is one of those coaches whose philosophy, generally speaking, is to sit a player with two first-half fouls until the second half. He’s occasionally flexible with that — like Sunday, when he put Jaxon Kohler back in the game to try to jumpstart the Spartans with two fouls and 5:49 remaining until the break.
MSU trailed 20-14 and needed a jolt. It worked. On MSU’s next possession, Kohler hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key. He then grabbed the rebound on the other end. But on Ohio State’s next possession, after the Buckeyes’ Colin White boxed out Kohler to grab the offensive rebound, Kohler was whistled for a foul as White tried to score.
It was chintzy call. But one that gets made regularly. And part of the reason for Izzo’s two-foul auto-bench philosophy. Sometimes he can’t trust his players. He rarely trusts the officials. For good reason.
But officiating is hard and the game moves fast, and thus Kohler and all of MSU’s top guys have to be smart about not wasting fouls. Kohler’s second foul, just three minutes into the game, was entirely unnecessary. But also, the sport should not be fouling out players at five fouls with no recourse. Either every player is allowed to get to six fouls before fouling out, or at least one player per game, or there are reviews or challenges of fouls, something.
Given the outcome — Kohler’s 3-pointer when he first checked in with two fouls, and Carson Cooper’s performance — it worked out for MSU on Sunday. One might argue that’s why you don’t worry about an arbitrary break like halftime as the moment it’s OK to put back in a player with two fouls. Kohler finished the game strong, and with nine points, 10 rebounds and a team-best plus-minus of plus-15 in 17 minutes. And five fouls, picking up his fifth with 21.9 seconds remaining.
Still, you can see why coaches auto-bench players with two fouls.
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on X @Graham_Couch and BlueSky @GrahamCouch.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU basketball fends off Ohio State, 66-60: 3 quick takes