1. The MSU backcourt we saw Thursday can take the Spartans places
Just when you come to grips with the idea that this Michigan State basketball team isn’t long for March, they pull you back in with a performance like that.
The Michigan State backcourt we saw Thursday afternoon can beat some people. Maybe even North Carolina. They’ll likely get their shot on Saturday after dominating just about wire to wire in a 69-51 win over Mississippi State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Here’s the combined line for Tyson Walker, Jaden Akins, and A.J. Hoggard: 42 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, five turnovers, five steals.
To get anywhere in tournament play, you’ve got to have three guys rolling. I’m a firm believer in this. One of the things that makes the Spartans somewhat dangerous in the postseason is they’ve got four (maybe five) players capable of getting going. One of the problems this season has been they often haven’t gotten to two, let alone three.
When MSU gets what it did from Akins on Thursday — 15 points, 6-of-14 shooting, three 3s, seven rebounds, a block, and a steal — and Hoggard controls the game like that — with eight points, eight assists, five turnovers and a steal, a stat line that doesn’t do justice to his floor game — the Spartans are very likely to have three guys at a level that can take them places.
Especially when they get 13 rebounds out of the center position, including nine from Mady Sissoko, who looks determined not to finish his MSU career on the bench.
I think Hoggard is made for this tournament. We’ve seen it now for a couple seasons. He’s as focused as he’ll ever be in these games, and that’s sometimes his issue. The key is getting Akins going early. He hit his first shot and then kept shooting. And when he didn’t shoot, Tom Izzo immediately told him to “shoot it.” His drive and dunk over a defender in the second half spoke of a guy who’d regained his confidence.
The Spartans’ backcourt was too much on both ends for a Mississippi State team that had no answer for MSU’s gap-help-defense — Illustrated by Josh Hubbard going 1-for-9 in the second half — or collective team rebounding. MSU out-rebounded the Bulldogs 35-29, with Tolu Smith getting just two.
MSU remains an imperfect team — even as the big men have improved late in the season, even as Xavier Booker has become a helpful player. The Spartans don’t have surefire pros among their core. But they’ve got a backcourt that, collectively we saw Thursday, can be too much for some teams and give MSU a chance against a lot of others. Just have to see it again Saturday.
2. An NCAA tournament pattern is emerging for this sort of MSU team
Just as Tom Izzo is known for his team’s record in the second game of an NCAA tournament weekend (a whopping 24-7), perhaps he should also be known for what his program has done over the last decade as a 7 seed or worse in the first game.
The 9th-seeded Spartans’ win over 8-seed Mississippi State on Thursday was MSU’s fifth straight in these sorts of circumstances, not counting the play-in loss to UCLA in the COVID year. And even that was a good showing much of the night.
MSU has also been in control of four of those five games — as a 7 seed against USC last season, as a 9 seed in a drubbing of 8-seed Miami in 2017, and as a 7 against 10-seed Georgia in 2015, at the beginning of the Spartans’ Final Four run. As a 7, they also narrowly beat Davidson two years ago.
These mid-seed vs. mid-seed matchups are always flawed team vs. flawed team, but MSU has either had the lesser of the flaws or been dialed in — both in focus and in game plan — to where the Spartans looked like the better team from the jump. It happened again on Thursday.
This wasn’t the case as much earlier in Izzo’s career. It could be mostly circumstance of matchups. But we’ve now seen the same first-round game several times over the past decade.
3. Freshman thoughts — the Mississippi State NCAA tournament edition
Xavier Booker continues to be a plus-minus star on this MSU team. He played 11 minutes. The Spartans were plus-13 points when he was on the floor. He’s a plus-player now. That’s been clear for a while. His length, body control, and improved strength were on display with a transition bucket around a defender, under the basket on offense, and defensively, where his arms are everywhere, even if sometimes he’s still not in the right place.
Five points and a rebound in 11 consequential minutes, including a 3-pointer that helped separate the Spartans — two months ago, you’d never have thought that was what Booker would be contributing in an NCAA tournament game.
There’s no denying the potential and impact of the MSU backcourt, particularly in tournament play. They have shown they can take the team places with their skill, scoring ability, and defensive prowess.
Looking ahead, these performances raise interesting implications for the future of the Michigan State basketball program. With the solid foundation and talent in the backcourt, the Spartans have the potential to build on this success and become a force to be reckoned with in the coming seasons.
Furthermore, this trend of success as a mid-seed team in the NCAA tournament could signify a shift in the team’s overall performance. Coach Tom Izzo has consistently guided his players to elevate their game in crucial moments, and the recent string of victories in these situations is a testament to his coaching prowess.
As we analyze the key points of this article, it’s essential to draw connections to current events and emerging trends in the basketball industry. The rise of dynamic backcourt duos and trios has become increasingly impactful in the modern game, often leading to success in tournament scenarios. Teams that can rely on multiple guards to contribute significantly on both ends of the court possess an advantage over their opponents.
Looking beyond Michigan State, this concept of a formidable backcourt provides valuable insights for the entire basketball industry. Coaches and teams should invest in cultivating talented guards who excel in various facets of the game. The ability to depend on these players when the stakes are high can be a game-changer in tournament situations.
In terms of recommendations for the industry, it would be wise for teams to scout and recruit versatile guards with a well-rounded skill set. Emphasizing player development in the backcourt positions will yield long-term benefits and enhance a team’s chances of success, not only in the NCAA tournament but in any competitive environment.
In conclusion, the impressive performance of the Michigan State backcourt showcased their potential to make a significant impact in the NCAA tournament. These talented young players, supported by the coaching expertise of Tom Izzo, have the ability to take the Spartans to greater heights. Moreover, their success highlights the importance of cultivating a strong backcourt and its implications for the broader basketball industry. By recognizing and investing in the value of versatile guards, teams can position themselves for success in future tournaments.