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Memphis Handles MSU 71-63, Advances to Maui Championship

An undefeated Memphis Tigers team rolled in the second half despite the Spartans shooting woes improved but pockets of scoring droughts late in the first and into the second halves doomed MSU (5-2), falling 63-71 to the Memphis Tigers (6-0) Tuesday afternoon at the Maui Invitational.

Instead of enjoying the waves of the beautiful island of Maui, the Spartans were beaten repeatedly by timely shooting by Memphis by losing: the turnover battle (13 to 9), fastbreak points (5 to 11), outscored in the paint (22 to 32) and struggled from the FT line (12-19, 63.2% to MEM 11-14, 78.6%). The aforementioned areas contributed towards the Tigers maintaining a double-digit lead in the second half, as high as 15-point lead, despite MSU shooting an improved 7-20 from 3-PT and 42.3% overall from the field.

The first half saw a see-saw type battle with neither team taking a commanding lead until the later quarter of the half as Memphis quickly built a 32-23 lead with 3:49 left. Jase Richardson would hit a 3-point buzzer beater to cut the lead down to 3, 31-34 at half. After a stretch of almost 8 minutes into the second half where both teams cooled off, Memphis took off shortly after and maintained a 10+ point lead for the majority of the remaining time.

Coach Penne Hardaway was led by Senior (G) Tyrese Hunter (23 points, 7/15 FG, 5-10 3-PT) who also had 26 points vs UCONN the previous day, Sophomore (G) PG Haggerty (16 points, 6-11 FG, 9 rebounds, 4 assists) and Senior (G) Colby Rogers (10 points, 4-11 FG, 2-5 3-PT). Starters accounted for 60 of the team’s 71 points.

As for the Spartans, reserve Freshman (G) Jase Richardson had a career day in 25 minutes off the bench (18 points, 5-8 FG, 3-5 3-PT, 5-8FT, 3 reb, 2 ast) helped out by Senior (G) Jayden Akins (12 points, 5-11 FG, 2-6 3-PT, 5 reb) and Senior (F) Frankie Fidler (10 points, 3-10 FG, 0-3 3-PT, 5 reb, 2 ast). While chipping in with 7 points and 8 rebounds, Jaxon Kohler had ball security issues leading to a team-leading 4 turnovers of their 13.

Takeaways; MSU seemingly does not have a proven identity. The idea heading into 2024-2025 was depth (which they do have) and ability to get out in transition and be an outside shooting team with an inside presence among Coach Izzo’s substantial playbook of sets, motions and isolations to take advantage of mismatches. However, the start of the season saw MSU dead last (364 out of 364 in D1) in 3-PT % and moving up *drum roll* 3 spots to 361 (ironically with Oakland U replacing them as the 364th and last) after the day’s slate was finished.

Ironically, most of the forwards were held without impact outside of Kohler. Szymon Zapala, Coen Carr, Xavier Booker and Carson Cooper combined for: 5 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 turnovers, 1 block and 7 total fouls committed.

Going forward, beyond the Maui Invitational and looking ahead to the upcoming conference schedule, these are the key areas for improvement in order to build them toward a Big Ten contender:

-Reduce the rotation: Virtually every night a grouping of 2-4 players just do not produce much of anything. While there are new faces and freshmen in the program, MSU cannot afford that many empty minutes across multiple players. While fouls, injuries and matchups may alter approaches from the original game plan, the most impactful players need to see the most time. -Additionally: players like Fidler, Akins, Trey Holloman, Carr, Kohler and Booker need to step up. Zapala has been active and doing ok up until the Memphis game, but that’s been about it from the F/C positions. There needs to be more than just 3 guys barely averaging over 10 points a game to pace this offense as tougher competition is trending their PPG at a considerable downward trend.

-Overall FG % and 3-point shooting: Self-explanatory. If they continue to struggle in both aspects, it may end up causing more strain on the defensive end as they are only 149th in PPG at 78.6, 145th in FG % at 46.2 % (and steals are not a strong suit: 6.3/game average ranks 267th and #296 in fouls/game at 15.4).

-Strengths: 25th in FT %; 54th in rebounds at 40.9/game and a marginally OK 17.3:11.7 assist/TO ratio.


UPCOMING: MSU falls to last in the Big Ten as the first team with two losses. They play UNC on Wednesday (11/27) at 9:30pm EST in the 3rd place game in Maui.

Then a week off prior to kicking off Big Ten play with a trip to MINN on 12/4 (8:30pm EST) and hosting NEB on 12/7 (12:00pm EST). MSU will wrap up non-conference play in hosting a trio of teams: Oakland University (neutral site at Little Caesars Arena) on 12/17 at 7:00pm EST, FAU on 12/21 (2:00pm EST) and in-state WMU on 12/30 (3:00pm EST).

-Devin Fossen

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