Michigan State walked out of its exhibition against No. 4 UConn with a 78-70 loss, but the bigger takeaway was pretty clear: Tom Izzo now has a full game of film showing exactly where this team needs work.
The Spartans were slow out of the gate, sloppy in stretches, and never quite found the kind of chemistry that makes Izzo teams dangerous once the calendar turns. That’s not exactly new territory for a Michigan State group this time of year. In fact, this may be as rough as the Spartans look all season.
Still, even in a game that didn’t count, there were a few performances that stood out in both directions.
Jasiah Jervis was one of the bright spots. The freshman guard didn’t exactly light it up, finishing 2-of-6 from the floor, but he played like someone who wasn’t afraid of the moment.
He attacked when he had the ball, kept hunting his shot with a defender right on him, and looked comfortable in his first matchup against a high-level opponent. For a C+ night, he still made an impression.
Jordan Scott also earned a nod on the positive side. He scored seven points on 3-of-8 shooting, but the box score doesn’t really capture how steady he looked.
Scott kept making the right reads, defended well, and put together one of the more polished all-around nights on the floor in a top-six matchup. The word that fits best is “smooth,” and if this is him on an ordinary night, Michigan State has something.
Jeremy Fears Jr. gave the crowd the kind of moment that changes how people talk about a player. His athleticism looked back, and then some.
After the leg injury that forced him to essentially relearn how to walk as a true freshman, Fears has gradually been working his way back toward being the explosive guard he once was. Against UConn, he announced that he’s here with an eye-opening driving dunk that caught everybody off guard.
If that burst is real again, defending him gets a lot uglier for opponents.
Not everything went Michigan State’s way, though, and the issues were obvious.
Anton Bonke had the roughest night of anyone in green and white. He played only six minutes and was pulled after struggling on the glass against much smaller UConn players.
He also let a Jeremy Fears pass slip right through his hands and never looked settled. That’s enough to raise questions at center, at least for now, and it helps explain why Michigan State leaned so heavily on small-ball looks.
Ethan Taylor looks like the one with the inside track in that battle.
The most glaring team issue was the shooting from deep. Michigan State went just 3-for-20 from 3-point range, and the cold start from beyond the arc is becoming a familiar October storyline.
Kur Teng missed all three of his attempts, Jordan Scott went 0-for-2, Carlos Medlock was 0-for-4, Coen Carr was 0-for-3, and Jesse McCulloch missed his lone try. Jervis was the exception, hitting 2-of-5 and helping keep the offense from looking even worse from long range.
Defense, though, was the broader concern. UConn was without Braylon Mullins and Solo Ball, who’s been ruled out for the year, and Michigan State still gave up too many clean looks.
The Spartans missed assignments, fouled 3-point shooters, got beat off the dribble, allowed too many offensive rebounds, and never sustained the kind of effort that usually defines an Izzo team. Holding the Huskies under 80 points won’t look awful on paper, but the performance itself left plenty to clean up.
And in a strange way, that’s the silver lining. Izzo got a live look at the warts before the games start counting, and not many coaches get the chance to schedule a top-five opponent in exhibition play and use it as a teaching tool. UConn gave Michigan State a clear picture of what needs fixing, and that may end up being the most useful part of the night.
In Other News...
Tom Izzo Sent A Clear Message To MSU Fans In Loss
An October exhibition at the Breslin Center turned into a showcase of how intense Michigan State fans can be, but it also brought a reminder from Tom Izzo about where the line should be. When UConn coach Dan Hurley was met with hostile chants during the game, Izzo stepped in and asked the crowd to stop, even as the No. 5 Huskies went on to beat No. 6 Michigan State 78-70.
The game itself still had the feel of a big-stage meeting between two nationally respected programs, with both coaches showing plenty of appreciation for the other side afterward. Izzo and Hurley each praised the opposing team and coaching, leaving the Spartans with a result they did not want but also a clear message from their own coach about how he wants the home environment handled. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremy Fears Jr. Just Gave Michigan State Fans A New Worry
Michigan States exhibition against UConn ended with a familiar preseason mix of promise and concern, as the Spartans fell 78-70 at Breslin Center but still got a strong performance from Jeremy Fears Jr. The guard paced the team with 23 points and eight assists, helping keep Michigan State in the game against a UConn frontcourt that controlled stretches of the night and made life difficult on the glass.
The bigger worry for the Spartans came in the second half, when Fears gave the fan base a scare after appearing to deal with an ankle issue. Even in a game that did not count in the standings, his health matters to a team trying to sort out its backcourt and tighten up before another exhibition against Marquette, especially with UConns rebounding edge serving as a reminder of how quickly preseason games can expose issues. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State May Have A Bigger Jeremy Fears Jr. Story Brewing
Michigan States exhibition loss to No. 4 UConn still gave the Spartans a useful look at where things stand early, and Jeremy Fears Jr. made sure he stayed at the center of it. The sophomore guard led Michigan State with 23 points and eight assists, and he looked more explosive than he did a year ago, punctuating the night with a one-handed dunk that stood out even in a game the Spartans ultimately dropped 78-70.
The bigger takeaway, though, may be how much Fears can shape everything around him if this version sticks. Michigan State also got 11 points from freshman guard Jasiah Jervis, while the starting center spot remains unsettled after Jesse McCulloch played well enough to challenge the expected starter Anton Bonke. For a team still sorting out its rotation, Fears jump is the kind of development that can change the ceiling in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]