Michigan State’s preseason tune-up against No. 4 UConn didn’t end with a win, but it did offer something Tom Izzo can actually use: a clearer picture of which players are ready to outgrow their labels.
The Spartans fell 78-70 on Tuesday in an exhibition that briefly sent panic through the fan base before the usual preseason reality check set in. The game doesn’t count, but the problems it exposed will matter once the season does. That’s the good part for Izzo - he gets a chance to clean things up now.
Just as important, the Spartans also saw a few players keep pushing past expectations. Three stood out in particular.
Jesse McCulloch is starting to look like the kind of big man who can do a little bit of everything. He was already a popular pick after the Incarnate Word exhibition, where he led the team in scoring and showed off a varied offensive game with work around the rim, touch shots from mid-range, and threes. He backed that up against UConn with eight points, five rebounds, and a block in 17 minutes, even if the offensive glass gave him some trouble.
The bigger takeaway is how different he looks from last season. He’s producing when given chances, but now the overall package is coming together.
Jordan Scott is drawing plenty of attention inside East Lansing, but on a national scale he’s still being slept on. There are already whispers that he could be an NBA prospect by 2027, and after what he showed against UConn, those whispers are only going to get louder.
Scott finished with seven points, six rebounds, and a block while going 3-for-8 from the field, but the stat line doesn’t tell the full story. He looked more comfortable offensively, stronger in his frame, and elite defensively.
Entering his freshman season, he was projected as more of a role player early on. Instead, he’s making a case to be one of the team’s best players, maybe even the second-best.
Then there’s Ethan Taylor, a former five-star center who had some questions hanging over him after an uneven senior year at Link Academy and a small slide in the recruiting rankings. With memories of Xavier Booker and Marcus Bingham Jr. floating around, it would have been fair to wonder whether Taylor would need time before he truly contributed.
So far, that hasn’t looked like the path. Izzo has praised him all offseason, he stood out in the first exhibition against Incarnate Word, and against UConn he looked like the better of Michigan State’s two centers. He wasn’t expected to start when the year began, but based on what’s been shown already, it would be a surprise if he isn’t in the starting five by season’s end.
Taylor may have entered the year with questions, but the early signs say he’s ready to answer them fast.
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 🡒]