Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from BTT win over Oregon

When we last saw Michigan State basketball, Tre Holloman was busy defending tradition as the Spartans hung banners. After two days of Big Ten Tournament action, the Spartans were finally allowed their turn of basketball, taking on Oregon.

The Spartans started hot, were hot in the middle of the game, and ended hot, too. They took the Ducks beyond the limit, leading for over 35 minutes and winning by 10. This game was not without trials, however.

What did we learn about Michigan State in its 2025 postseason debut?

1. Jeremy Fears Jr. makes the difference

Against Oregon in February, the Spartans had to claw their way back into the game with Jeremy Fears Jr. out with illness. Against the Ducks on Friday, Michigan State basketball got off to an 8-0 lead and trailed for less than three minutes. Fears was the difference. Jackson Shelstad was flustered early and often against Fears, recording eight points on 4-of-11 shooting. When Shelstad was on the court (he missed extended time for foul trouble), Fears was on his hip.

Fears was also a scoring threat, in addition to his usual assist marks. He had 11 points and five assists, and that was with the guard leaving three free throws on the board. In all, Fears’ efforts were enough so that he was an astounding +18 in +/- on Friday afternoon. That is an elite mark against a team that had been playing its best basketball heading into the game.

2. Coen Carr made the leap

In my article yesterday, I mentioned Coen Carr as a player with “X-factor” potential. Turns out, I know ball. Carr added 10 points against the Ducks, including his fourth three of the season. The sophomore described that as a “nine-point play.”

Carr stated: “For me, the three is worth more than a dunk. If a dunk is worth six, threes are worth nine.”

One thing I did not account for Carr in my piece, however, was his rebounding ability. The forward played much beyond his 6-foot-5 frame, competing against Oregon players with four inches on Carr. That did not matter to him, as he was playing like a ball-hawking safety, tying a career-high eight rebounds. That ties his mark that was set in another NBA arena: Madison Square Garden.

3. Free throws?

Michigan State basketball has finally righted the ship on 3-point shooting (47 percent today), so the free throw shooting continues to plunge. The Spartans were an atrocious 58 percent from the charity stripe today. Tre Holloman was the only Spartan to hit 100 percent of his free throws today, and the captain was only at the line twice.

Name a Spartan, they struggled. Szymon Zapala has had a rough year from the line, and it continued on Friday. He went 0-for-2. Jeremy Fears Jr. regressed from his 70 percent clip to a 5-for-8 day. Akins split his two attempts. Carr missed a pair after being sent to the line five times. Jase Richardson, the hero of the win with 17 points, missed four shots at the stripe. In his defense, the freshman was forced to shoot two final shots before calling it a day after a flagrant foul via knee to neck.

The Spartans left a dozen points on the line, and still won by 10. Is that impressive? Most definitely. Would they have preferred a 22-point victory? Also, most definitely.

Performances like this from the stripe can see the Spartans bounced from the tournament at this point next week if this happens. Hence, my concern. The Spartans are fighting for a 1-seed, but they cannot hurt themselves like this with the NCAA tournament under a week away. This team can go all the way, but days like today can end the season prematurely.

Injury update

Jase Richardson exited the game with a minute left with a head-area injury, but he was available for an interview on BTN and in the locker room postgame. When asked, the freshman phenom had this to say: “I feel fine. I had a little bit of neck soreness after the play, nothing to do with my head. Had a neck rub-down, I feel great right now. This one, compared to Maui is not even close. (In Maui) I got jacked up, for sure. I definitely feel good.”

(For context: He got concussed in the Maui Invitational and missed a game)

What’s next?

The Spartans get to play No. 5 seed Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament. The Badgers knocked out UCLA via blowout. When the Spartans last played Wisconsin, they were missing Max Klesmit. He was back at full strength for the Big Ten Tournament on Friday. That game will tip at 1 p.m. EST on Saturday.