Chicago Showdown: Michigan State's Tough Exit Against UCLA
In the world of college basketball, sometimes you run into a team that's just on fire. Michigan State knows this all too well, recalling past encounters with teams like Middle Tennessee State and Wisconsin. Yet, Friday's Big Ten tournament clash with UCLA left Coach Tom Izzo with a rare sense of frustration.
The Bruins were relentless from beyond the arc, sinking 13 three-pointers, and outmuscling the Spartans in an 88-84 showdown. Despite a late surge, Michigan State's tournament hopes fizzled out.
Coach Izzo, in his 31st season, didn't hold back, describing his team's performance as "out of sorts" and "not ready to play." The defensive lapses and sluggish start were particularly troubling, especially after showing improvement late in the regular season.
Junior forward Coen Carr, who contributed 12 points and eight rebounds, summed it up: “They started off and punched us in the mouth, then we didn't respond. By the time we responded, it was too late.”
Izzo's candid analysis hit the mark: UCLA played with the desperation needed in March, while the Spartans lacked that same fire. “I just did not think that was a Michigan State effort,” he stated bluntly.
“They played harder, tougher,” Izzo continued. “It doesn't happen to my team very often.
But for some reason, we didn't answer the bell coming out. … I think they made us play that way.
They came at us. They punched us in the mouth, and we didn't respond.”
Defensive Struggles
Now, Michigan State (25-7) awaits their March Madness seeding, hoping for a favorable draw in Izzo’s record 28th straight tournament appearance. The loss to UCLA (23-10) might bump them closer to a 3-seed, rather than the 2-seed they seemed poised for.
“They kicked our you-know-what. So they deserved to win,” Izzo admitted.
“But we did not do the things that we've been doing most of the year. That's disappointing when it gets to tournament time.”
UCLA became the 15th team this season to hit at least 10 threes against Michigan State. The Bruins, leading the conference in three-point shooting, went 13-for-27 from deep, exploiting the Spartans’ defensive gaps.
Point guard Donovan Dent was instrumental, orchestrating plays and finishing with 23 points and 12 assists. His ability to penetrate and dish out to teammates like Trent Perry and Skyy Clark, who combined for seven threes, was pivotal.
“I think he was huge for them. He played great tonight,” said Jeremy Fears Jr., who had 21 points and 13 assists. Fears acknowledged the challenge of containing Dent, who seemed to navigate the court at will.
The Spartans' defense, once a national leader, struggled without key players from last season. UCLA’s 48.1% three-point shooting was the second-highest percentage allowed by Michigan State this year.
“We had some possessions where we'd get two or three stops and chip away, but then they hit a big-time 3,” Fears reflected. “We got down early too much, and they made us pay.”
Looking Ahead
What does this loss mean for Izzo’s squad? Historically, Michigan State has had one-and-done exits from the Big Ten tournament yet still made deep NCAA runs. This team, however, lacks the NBA-level depth of past rosters.
Despite setbacks, the Spartans have shown they can compete with top-tier teams. But as the tournament looms, the margin for error remains razor-thin.
“It’s definitely going to sting for a while,” Fears admitted. “And we’ve got to watch it and understand that, next time, is your season.”
As Michigan State gears up for March Madness, they'll need to channel the intensity and precision that defines championship teams. The next game could be the last, and they'll need to bring their best to keep the dream alive.