1. MSU looks like a team still with a lot to figure out, especially at center
EAST LANSING — With 17:57 remaining Tuesday, we were reminded how fragile the dreams of a college basketball season can be, as Jeremy Fears Jr. laid on the baseline clutching his left ankle. Suddenly nothing else mattered. Certainly not this exhibition game.
Fears hobbled off and, two minutes, later, checked back in. Crisis averted. Michigan State 1, bad luck 0. The score between MSU and Connecticut less relevant.
The Huskies did win the actual game, 78-70. That’s a really good UConn team again. The Spartans I think should be, as well — and were in parts and spurts Tuesday — but there are a lot of new players and combinations that still have a lot to figure out. As there often is on Oct. 20.
Like last year, MSU has likely seen what it’ll have to beat to be at the top of college basketball. Like last year, I think this game will serve them well. And I think this MSU team has a higher ceiling (and lower floor) than last season’s group. But it’s going to take a little bit to reach it and settle on the lineups and players who can deliver it. I think November will be a clunkier month than it was last season.
Because outside of Fears and Coen Carr, most of this MSU roster is still figuring out who they are as players for this team. Even Jordan Scott, who I think is in store for a terrific season — and might be MSU’s second-best player, factoring in both ends of the court — will need a bit of time before he understands that expanded role on offense is his to take.
Most obvious: MSU’s big man rotation is miles from being settled. Jesse McCulloch might offer the most offensively — he had eight points and four rebounds Tuesday, following up his 20-point night in the first exhibition. He had some nice moments on that pick and role with Fears. On the other hand, Tom Izzo lamented his defensive rebounding.
McCulloch and Cam Ward are a nice pairing at the 4 and 5 spots, because McCulloch can stretch a defense. Ward might also be MSU’s best option at center at some point — with a smaller lineup. Hard to say to right now. They hadn’t worked on it much yet before Tuesday, Izzo said.
Ethan Taylor showed some flashes. He’s determined to be a factor. We’ll see. Transfer Anton Bonke started and had two points and three rebounds in six minutes and didn’t play in the second half. “He didn’t seem as ready to play on a couple of things,” Izzo said.
“We’re trying to find who we can play at center and what we can do there,” Izzo said later.
MSU’s coaches will have to see all these guys in more of these high-stress, difficult-matchup situations before they really know. Or if they think they know now, for the sake of roster unity, they’ve got to let it play out on the court, so it’s obvious to the players, too.
“They have three viable guys (at center). They all bring different things,” UConn coach Danny Hurley said. “If they could figure out the center thing, they could be one of the best teams in the country.
“They have everything you need to be a national championship contender. They’ve got to figure out that center spot.”
Beyond that: UConn, without question, had more offensive weapons that hurt MSU on Tuesday than MSU had weapons that hurt the Huskies. MSU had Fears, who was mostly tremendous, with 23 points, eight assists and four turnovers, playing with February-like determination. His driving, one-handed dunk over UConn defenders was an eye-opening moment. Freshman Jasiah Jervis was MSU’s other top perimeter weapon (more on him in a bit). Scott had some tantalizing moments. finishing with seven points and six rebounds in 29 minutes. He was great defensively.
But Duke transfer Nik Khamenia (19 points) and guard Demary Silas Jr., who the Spartans are very familiar with, too often carved up MSU, which has some work to do on the defensive end. Want to know who will be playing center for MSU? Whoever best gets those coverages down.
The most important takeaway from Tuesday should be that it’s Oct. 20 and these games used to be closed-door scrimmages. The Spartans lost plenty of these sorts of exhibitions when they were behind closed doors and went on to have memorable seasons. We just didn’t see them or know the details. For example, I’ve been told MSU lost badly to Gonzaga in closed scrimmages before Cassius Winston’s junior and senior seasons.
These games are snapshots. And if there’s a talent deficit, they can be troubling snapshots. That’s not MSU’s issue. The Spartans look like a team that still has to be molded and figured out.
“This was the best exhibition game we could have played,” Izzo said.
2. Freshman thoughts — the UConn edition
I’d be surprised if freshman Jasiah Jervis isn’t in MSU’s closing lineup almost immediately. For starters, MSU needs guys who can close offensively. He’s one who clearly can. We saw Tuesday some of what he can be — getting downhill, rising and shooting. He’s a complete scorer and a guy who looks like a shot-maker. He hit two of MSU’s three 3-pointers Tuesday.
“He’s the guy we have to keep getting shots for,” Izzo said after the game.
It’s the most obvious thing. His ability jumps off the page, so to speak. He had 11 points in 23 minutes. Like Jordan Scott a year ago, I think you’ll see those minutes be at least that high and perhaps grow into the upper 20s.
Carlos Medlock Jr. is figuring out this new level — mostly the length and strength he’s got to deal with. I think he’ll get there. The key for him will be to be solid as a backup point guard as the season gets going. MSU doesn’t need him to make shots. Great if he does. But they need him to run the show. He was 1-for-7, with one assist and one turnover in 10 minutes. He shouldn’t be taking seven shots in 10 minutes.
Ethan Taylor is someone to watch. He showed some things — on the drive, on the glass. He finished with five points and two rebounds in 11 minutes at center. Talking to him last week, he is determined to be a factor this season. I wouldn’t rule that out, especially if the center position is this unsettled. Defensively, he lost his assignment a couple times. If he’s solid on that stuff and strong enough to hold his ground, he’ll be in the rotation.
3. Those 3-point shooting numbers, oh my
MSU has been through this before, so it's easy to get nervous about a 3-for-20 shooting night from beyond the arc. This should be a decent shooting team, though. There are too many good-to-capable shooters on this roster. But you also have to make shots. You can't just be known as a guy who can.
Kur Teng, who is coming back from a foot injury, missed all three 3s Tuesday. He’s at this level because he’s a shooter. He's got to make them. Jordan Scott missed both of his 3s. Jesse McCulloch only took one and missed it. He should take more. Carlos Medlock tried four — he should try less. Jasiah Jervis went 2-for-5. Jeremy Fears Jr. hit the only other one on a brutal night collectively from deep.
The center position is part of what this team will have to figure out. So, too, is having enough shooters on the floor at one time. And, ultimately, the shooters are the guys who make shots and do so at a clip that’s respected by opponents enough to be on the scouting report.
It’s one exhibition game, with a lot of bizarre lineups. It’s way, way too soon to react with concern. But MSU does need three or four guys it can count on to make shots from beyond the arc.
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 78-70 exhibition loss to Connecticut