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MSU Spartans MBB- 1st Quarter Review

EAST LANSING, MI

After securing a third-place finish with a 94-91 OT victory against UNC in the Maui Invitational on Thanksgiving Day, Coach Izzo and his Spartans returned back home for a six-day break. Awaiting them back in East Lansing? The bitter cold of the Midwest winter and the start of Big Ten gauntlet.

Before their season continues tomorrow, traveling to Minnesota, to open conference play, let us take a peak back at their first 8 games.

Through 8 games, the Spartans find themselves at a respectable 6-2 with one foot in the ranking pool (AP-26th, Coaches- 25th) while sporting solid marks according to KenPom: 17th on defense and 62nd on offense. The team averages 80.5 PPG but only 62nd in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency. On defense, allowing 69.8 PA/G, but sport a significantly better 17th ranking in KenPom adjusting defensive efficiency. Collectively, MSU is shotting at 47.2% FG but a an abysmal 22.4% from 3-PT range which puts them at 356th out of 364 Division 1 teams. From the charity stripe, they are 78.5% placing them 29th overall and 54th for percentage of team points at 23.3%. Lastly, in typical Coach Izzo fashion, the team continues to pound the glass and fight for loose rebounds, sporting at 56.4% Team Total Rebounding rate, checking in at 20th in the country.

https://kenpom.com/index.php

As for the individuals, only three players are averaging above 10.0 PPG: Jaden Akins (12.9), Frankie Fidler (11.4) and Jase Richardson (10.4). Jaxon Kohler leads the way with 7.5 RPG, while Jeremy Fears Jr. tallies a team high 5.8 AST and better than 2:1 AST-to-TO ratio (5.8/2.4). Fears also is tied with Trey Hollomon for steals per game at 1.3.

Peeling back the numbers, this team is competitive. Absolutely not short on energy and talented options off the bench. However, there have been some slow starts against Bowling Green and Samford as well as Colorado. Now, all 3 resulted in Spartan wins, however, the ugliest stat that has been making its rounds on the internet—their 3-pt shooting.

It is actually impressive that despite such a major inefficiency, the rest of their metrics are fair or better. The helpful offset is their overall Field Goal percentage, Free Throw percentage and their ability to limit second chance opportunities on the defensive glass (13th at 80% Team DEF Rebounding). To help create a spark, Coach Izzo has even rotated out previous starter Xavier Booker but still remains true to approach of a lineup determined by the matchups. The Spartans spread minutes around fairly generously with the 10th player, Carson Cooper, averaging almost 15 minutes per game.

Could that approach be a reason for their prolonged slumps that occur in virtually every game so far this season besides UNC? Most likely not. The emphasis to keep shooting is visibly strong and knocking a few buckets from deep would elevate the offense into a well-balanced machine.

With other aspects checking the boxes from the height inside, mid-range game and ability to execute on the pick-and-roll, pick-and-pop and other sets as well as isolations, MSU is not backing down from the 3-pt line. The question that seemingly has yet to be answered, who will begin the turnaround? Akins was their leading threat heading into this season and while transfer Frankie Fidler is 35.5% from downtown, those numbers are from a smaller sample size. Jase Richardson is at a team high 53.8% from 3-pt (7/13) and a whopping 65% from the floor overall. At the surface, it would appear the bulk will fall Richardson, Akins, Fidler and help from reserves Fears Jr. and Trey Holloman given the shot volume. Ironically, Richardson was held out of the UNC game dealing with symptoms from the Memphis game, most likely due to a collision that occurred in-game and was not terribly missed. Jase was cleared on Monday after being held out of last Friday’s practice and cleared to return against the Golden Gophers.

Looking ahead, MSU tested their unproven roster and found mostly positives; solid defensive rebounding team, hustle plays are everywhere, they are looking to transition without blindly throwing an outlet pass and its leading to some Sports Center Top 10 dunks, including a few by Coen Carr that certainly made its replay across the turkey and gravy tablecloth. Before another break for finals week for the students, MSU will play at Minnesota on 12/4 (8:30pm EST) and host Nebraska on 12/7 (12:00pm EST).


DECEMBER SLATE:

-12/17 vs. Oakland U (*-Little Caesars Arena) at 7:00pm EST

-12/21 vs. FAU at 2:00pm EST

-12/30 vs. Western Michigan at 3:00pm EST

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