1. MSU is noticeably closer to Michigan’s level than a month ago
ANN ARBOR — No one on Michigan State’s side ever leaves a loss at Michigan feeling good. That would go against a century of bad blood and, if it ever happens, the rivalry dies that day.
But once the Spartans get over their 90-80 loss Sunday in Ann Arbor — a game they led midway through the second half — they should be encouraged heading into the postseason.
They were up for this. They absolutely belong on the same court as the Wolverines. And were close enough on the road to think they might be able to beat them in a one-off on a neutral court, should they meet again next week in Chicago or next month in Indianapolis. Just as important, MSU looked like it belonged in a different class of team than a few weeks ago, or the last time they faced the Wolverines, even if the final score was similar.
The Spartans (25-6 overall, 15-5 Big Ten) had the look of a team that’s found some additional mettle, a team that’s road-tested, a team with some shot-making from players who weren’t hitting shots a month ago. It’s still Jeremy Fears Jr.’s show. But Jaxon Kohler (23 points, eight rebounds), Carson Cooper (19 points, six rebounds), Coen Carr (seven rebounds, many of them loud) and Kur Teng (two 3s and some grit) all looked Sunday like guys ready for whatever showdowns are ahead. I’d argue Jordan Scott, even though he’s not shooting well right now, is there, too, everywhere but his shot. As is Cam Ward, if he can stay on the court. His foul trouble hurt MSU defensively. He was the Spartans’ best defensive matchup on Yaxel Lendeborg.
Same could be said for Tom Izzo, who played this one until the final buzzer, taking timeouts and having the Spartans foul, even once victory was beyond unlikely. He wouldn’t have done that against Indiana. Or two weeks ago, I don’t think. His 40-year disdain for the University of Michigan was clear throughout his postgame press conference.
This was a tremendous college basketball game. One that a lot of people saw. One that won’t hurt MSU’s NCAA tournament seeding one bit. Unless the Spartans look awful next Friday at the Big Ten tournament, I don’t see how they’re not a 2 seed in the Big Dance.
This game finished in frustrating fashion for MSU. But I think everyone who saw it was impressed by what they saw from the Spartans.
2. Yaxel Lendeborg locks up Big Ten player of the year
In another year, Jeremy Fears Jr. might be the Big Ten’s player of the year. In another year, this MSU basketball team might be Big Ten champs. Fears is deserving. The Spartans are good enough. Closer to Michigan’s level than they were a month ago. Close enough to beat the Wolverines.
But on an afternoon when Michigan actually needed Yaxel Lendeborg to be great, he was — with 27 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 5-of-6 3s, while making all six of his free-throw attempts.
Lendeborg was the best player on a historic Big Ten team, the first since Indiana 50 years ago to survive an entire Big Ten road slate unscathed. That alone makes him deserving. But hours before votes were due, Lendeborg left an impression.
Fears was fantastic — after one incident (more on that below). He scored 22 points, dished nine assists and turned the ball over just three times in 37 minutes. He’s got a good team around him, too — a better team than he had last month even — but he makes the Spartans go. If this Michigan team didn’t exist in this form, if Lendeborg hadn’t showed up like he did Sunday, Fears would be the only other choice.
3. Fears slips up, doesn’t let his kick and tech dictate his performance
Just as Jeremy Fears appeared to have kicked the habit, he made himself a villain again, when, as he was pushed forward and fouled, he swung his right leg back through the legs of Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau with 14:24 remaining in the first half. It was similar to what happened Feb. 4 at Minnesota, the exact same quick, back-swinging motion.
As the refs reviewed the play and called a technical foul on Fears, Fears argued he had lost his balance. Maybe so, but if that’s what his leg does as he loses his balance, he’s got to train it to do something else.
I have no doubt that Fears is aware he’s being closely watched and wouldn’t do anything if he thought he was going to garner a technical foul. I also think his reaction in that situation is likely something he’s grown up doing, an auto-response — a dirty play that he could get away with in pickup games or at a level that doesn’t have a zillion cameras covering it, but doesn’t fly in major college basketball.
Credit to Fears for not letting that moment dictate his performance. He embraced the boos and the vulgar chants with his name, even egging them on after one alley-oop pass to Carson Cooper deep into the second half. After that incident, he played like someone who deserves serious consideration for Big Ten player of the year, orchestrating a team that showed some teeth on a difficult stage. He didn’t have another foul until the final five minutes.
But he also rekindled a part of his reputation he’d be wise to put behind him.
Fears wasn’t the only player with such an issue in this game. Michigan big man Aday Mara was called for a technical foul when he pushed Cooper down to the ground on a rebound. It was Mara’s second foul — not his first incident this season — and took him out of the game for the rest of the half, which hurt his team. He had a flagrant foul later, when he pulled Fears back from escaping on a fast break.
But he’s an awkward big man, with nowhere near the profile of MSU’s star point guard.
There are a lot of people who want to dislike Fears. Sometimes he deserves the smoke.
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on X @Graham_Couch and BlueSky @GrahamCouch.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State basketball’s 90-80 loss at Michigan
Reporting by Graham Couch, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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