Michigan State’s exhibition loss to UConn didn’t just end in a defeat - it also left Tom Izzo with a real question mark in the middle, and Dan Hurley wasted no time putting a finger on it.
After the Huskies controlled the game for 40 minutes at the Breslin Center on Tuesday, Hurley said the Spartans have the pieces to matter on a national level. The missing piece, in his view, is obvious.
Hurley: "They (Michigan State) have everything they need to be a national contender, they just need to figure out the center spot."
That assessment lands because the center spot has already looked like a problem in exhibition play, and Tuesday only sharpened the concern. Anton Bonke struggled badly and logged just six minutes, while Ethan Taylor looked better but still raw. For now, Taylor appears more likely to be the starter, even though that was supposed to be Bonke’s job.
Bonke’s night against UConn sent plenty of people reaching for the panic button, and the reaction is understandable. He was expected to be the more polished option, but instead looked uncomfortable and unsure of himself. That has to change quickly with bigger bodies on the schedule and games that actually count.
The good news for Michigan State is that this issue surfaced early. The challenge now is fixing it before the regular season begins in less than two weeks.
Izzo has one more exhibition left, a Sunday afternoon matchup with Marquette, and it figures to matter plenty when it comes to the center rotation. Bonke gets another chance to show something, though it’s unclear whether that opportunity will come with the first unit. He needs a strong performance, and a softer opponent would be a good place to find it.
Still, the quickest path forward may be giving Taylor the start and letting him grow into the role. He’s the one who seems most likely to raise the ceiling of the lineup, and until Bonke settles in, that route makes the most sense.
There’s also another option in the mix that deserves more attention: Jesse McCulloch. He’s more of a stretch-four type, but both exhibition games have shown that he can handle the physical side of the post and contribute on both ends.
A starting five of Jeremy Fears, Jordan Scott, Coen Carr, Cam Ward, and McCulloch could end up being the cleanest solution of the three center possibilities to open the season.
In Other News...
Michigan State Let A Statement Win Slip In Top 10 Showdown
Michigan State had a chance to turn its Breast Cancer Awareness game at DeMartin Stadium into a statement win, and for a stretch it looked like the No. 6 Spartans might do just that. Andrew Darakdjian gave Michigan State the early edge against No. 7 Washington, setting up a top-10 showdown that carried plenty of weight in the Big Ten race and a little extra energy with the home crowd behind it.
But Washington answered with a Zach Ramsey goal to level the match, and Michigan State had to settle for a 1-1 draw in a game that could have given it a bigger boost. Even so, the Spartans remain tied for first in the conference standings, with another stretch of chances ahead against Green Bay and Rutgers as they keep pushing through the season. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States Injury Hit Secondary Faces A Brutal UCLA Test
Michigan States secondary enters the UCLA matchup under real pressure, and not just because of the Bruins balanced offense. The Spartans have been dealing with injuries on defense, and that has made an already difficult assignment even trickier as they try to slow down a UCLA rushing attack that can force a defense to defend every blade of grass. It is the kind of test that exposes communication issues in the back end and makes every coverage bust feel magnified.
Ty Dieffenbach adds another layer to the problem. With UCLA potentially leaning on its backup quarterback, Michigan State still has to be ready for the ball to come out often enough to challenge a battered defensive backfield, especially if the ground game sets up manageable throws. The passing number attached to Dieffenbach has become a notable angle in the buildup, and it is one more reason the Spartans cannot afford to let this game turn into a track meet early. [Read more 🡒]
Spartans Drop First Game Despite One Bright Sign In Net
Michigan States trip to Whittemore Center Arena started with a frustratingly familiar edge, as the Spartans fell 1-0 to New Hampshire in the series opener. The margin was small, but the pressure on freshman goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen was not, and he answered with a season-high 33 saves while helping keep the game within reach for much of the night.
The rest of the box score told a tougher story for the Spartans, who were outshot 34-14 and could not generate enough at the other end to break through. Their penalty kill did its job, but a third-period power play goal proved decisive, and Michigan State left with a loss despite one encouraging sign in net. [Read more 🡒]