HARTFORD, Conn. — The way it used to be, we’d never know the details of a preseason matchup between two teams like Michigan State and Connecticut. Until this year, with a few exceptions, these were, by rule, closed-door scrimmages.
You can make an argument that it was better that way — that players were able to be tested without fan scrutiny, and that fans were able to dream about the possibility of their team being flawless at least until November.
Now the mask is ripped off before Halloween. And, in MSU’s case, with it, a little luster heading into the season. That might not be fair, but people see what they see. If you’re not ready for the microscope yet, play Ferris State, or keep it behind closed doors.
The benefit of Tuesday night’s 76-69 loss in front of a sizable crowd at what used to be the Hartford Civic Center is that the Spartans may have already faced their toughest opponent, and on the road, no less. From here, it’s about becoming a team that can knock off UConn. That’s the bar. Because this UConn team isn’t going to be ranked 20th in a few weeks. This wasn’t North Carolina in Maui or Kansas at the Champions Classic last season, two blue bloods we didn’t realize were mediocre.
“I feel like this team’s got a chance to be a contending team this year, both in the Big East and (nationally),” Connecticut coach Danny Hurley said confidently of his team Tuesday night. “We’ve got a lot of answers.”
The Spartans have fewer answers right now.
“We have a long way to go,” Tom Izzo said, “but that’s why it’s an exhibition game.”
The answers won’t all come next Monday when Colgate visits Breslin Center for the season opener. Or five days later, when a really talented Arkansas squad makes the trek to East Lansing. Or 10 days after that, when MSU has a date with Kentucky in the Champions Classic in New York. The tests are going to come fast.
The Spartans have a lot of new guys and guys in new roles, and so there is room to grow. But, as MSU senior Jaxon Kohler explained Tuesday night, “At the same time, we’ve had a lot of time to practice and work on things.”
So let’s dig in — what is worth being concerned about after Tuesday, what’s not, and what was actually promising from the Spartans’ showing:
Worth a small fret
Coen Carr on Tuesday reminded me of Jaden Akins in last season’s Champions Classic — wanting so badly to show that he’s the man this season in the first showcase game of the year, that he winds up all out of sorts when it’s not happening for him early. Carr, like Akins, does some things very well, but is probably not someone who can take over a game in the half court. And so when Carr couldn’t get anything going, he got away from the things he can control that make him special — mostly his otherworldly athleticism.
Carr had two rebounds all night. And he did not impact the game in a noticeable way. The whole night seemed to get into his head. It showed at the free-throw line.
“Coen, he’s got to get his butt to the boards,” Izzo said. “He’s got to rebound the ball. He’s got to make some things happen for him. And we’ve got to get the ball to him in the open court a little more, too.”
Carr was upset with himself afterward. He knows he’s a player whose game gets momentum from the energy he creates. The only reason Carr is of some concern after Tuesday is that MSU might be a team that’s short a creating offensive wing this season. And Carr will see that, if that’s the case, he may put pressure on himself to be something he’s not.
If he’s a give-me-that-ball rebounder, a dynamic player in transition and a dangerous cutter in the half court, and hits a decent percentage of open 3s (he hit one Tuesday) and free throws, he’ll find room on the drive, he’ll find fluidity and rhythm. But he’s got to dominate the game athletically where he can and let the rest of it come to him.
The bigger worry after Tuesday is the shooting guard position. If Izzo is concerned about something with his team this early, then concern is warranted. And after Tuesday’s performance, Izzo said, “Right now, at the 2-guard is my biggest concern.”
Sophomore Kur Teng, who started for the second straight game, struggled mightily, missing all four shots, including three 3-point attempts. He was worse defensively and didn’t grab a single rebound. He had family and friends at the game that rarely get to see him play in person, and Izzo wondered if some nerves got to him. Whatever the case, he’s got to be better if he’s going to be a major part of things this season. Given that he’s a sophomore who barely played last year and the regular season hasn’t even begun, Teng should be given some grace and time. But freshman Jordan Scott doesn’t look like he plans to wait his turn (more on him shortly).
Trey Fort has been fine. He’s hit 3s when MSU has needed them. He’s been solid. He might be letting too much of the game come to him. This is the position to watch. The Spartans need someone to emerge.
This is part of MSU’s issue offensively in the half court, which is also worth watching. MSU’s attack was pretty disjointed Tuesday. The Spartans played a lot of different lineups and that’s part of it. UConn’s aggressive and athletic defenders didn’t help, either. But never was MSU in any sort of flow on offense. And that’s with point guard Jeremy Fears doing a lot of things pretty well. That’s concerning.
MSU needs to get more touches for Jaxon Kohler and in more spots on the floor, including beyond the arc — he didn’t attempt a single 3 on Tuesday — and get Carr the ball headed downhill. I’d like to see the offense once MSU has an actual rotation. Maybe this was more situational — lineups, opponent, a bad night — than a real issue. Again, worth watching.
What’s not concerning yet
There’s no reason MSU won’t be a good rebounding team, given the players returning from last season, namely Kohler and Carson Cooper. Carr should be a plus-rebounder, too. I think MSU’s two freshmen, Scott and Cam Ward, will be. Divine Ugochukwo has the potential to be a rebounding guard. And in the second half Tuesday, we saw something closer to what I think the Spartans will be on this front. MSU had nine offensive rebounds after the break and held UConn to four. The difference in aggression, physicality and compete level was noticeable in the second half. MSU wasn’t great during the Bowling Green game on the glass. The first half Tuesday was troubling. But I think MSU will be fine.
Defensively, it might take a little time, but if MSU gets adequate defense at the shooting guard spot (which is an ‘if’), I think it’ll look different than it did Tuesday — especially once the lineups are a little more firm. MSU was slow to rotate at times Tuesday and that began with some poor defense on the perimeter. Let’s see what it looks like by the time MSU faces Kentucky in three weeks. By then, the DNA of this team, for better or worse, will be pretty clear.
Promising signs
I didn’t think Scott would be part of the rotation this season. Now I’m not sure he won’t become MSU’s starting shooting guard. It’s one preseason game, but he was MSU’s best off-guard in the second half Tuesday. He took the fight to UConn. He looked like he belonged out there, finishing with six points and four rebounds in 14 minutes, all but one minute in the second half. He stood out in ways some of his teammates didn’t. He looks like a guy who, at the very least, will provide a scrappiness that’ll give him a role. His length also makes him an intriguing option.
Fears has been very good in both exhibition games. One of the more important steps I think he’s made — because it’s his team, and he knows it — is that it’s no longer about him. He had some struggling teammates Tuesday and he’s worked on his messaging. He could tell they needed confidence more than a butt-kicking.
“My job was just keeping the positive reinforcement, letting them know that I need them,” Fears said.
When asked about what they need to do to get the offense going, Fears only talked about what he could have done differently. There’s a maturity to his leadership. He can’t take over a game like this athletically, but he kept the Spartans in the fight.
“I feel a lot better about Jeremy,” Izzo said. “I feel like he’s running my team, I feel like he’s guarding pretty good. We didn’t push the ball as well today, but give UConn credit, they just kept throwing guard after guard after guard on him. And all those guards are athletic and strong.”
UConn is better than MSU right now. That was clear. What’s not yet is how much better MSU can get.
MORE: Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State’s 76-69 exhibition loss at Connecticut
Contact Graham Couch at [email protected]. Follow him on X @Graham_Couch and BlueSky @GrahamCouch.
