Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from exhibition win over Bowling Green

Michigan State basketball is back. Well, not officially. The Spartans had their first action against an opponent besides themselves on Thursday. In an exhibition matchup, the Spartans handled Bowling Green State, including former Spartan point guard-turned-assistant coach Tum Tum Nairn.

The Spartans won, but much like last season, Bowling Green threatened. MSU emerged victorious, 75-66. What can we take away from the victory?

1. Give everyone an adjustment period

Overall, the Spartans played a solid game. The defense was sloppy but part of this comes from working four players in who are expected to push for major minutes. Additionally, players such as Kur Teng and Jesse McCulloch are expected to take a step up after being played seldom, if at all, last season.

Both freshmen, Jordan Scott and Cam Ward, finished in the negatives for +/-, as well as transfer Divine Ugochukwu. However, all played solid minutes and showed flashes. This team may need an adjustment period, which may result in tough watches against UConn next week and Arkansas in a few weeks.

2. Veterans shined

While the freshmen and newcomers had struggles, the returning core of Carson Cooper, Jaxon Kohler, Coen Carr, and Jeremy Fears Jr. all shined. Fears was an assist shy of a double-double, and was shooting the three with confidence.

Jaxon Kohler, despite a slow start on the boards, was able to rocket to 10 rebounds as the game closed out, while adding 15 points, including a three. He also added a pair of blocked shots to round the game out.

Cooper only had five points, but contributed four rebounds and three blocks. The senior also drew praise for his leadership with Tom Izzo post-game, with him giving the senior credit in developing Jesse McCulloch and Cam Ward so far.

Coen Carr, while, that is a point of itself. He deserves that.

3. Coen Carr is not real

The main question to ask about this Michigan State basketball team was about who could take the next step. Everyone had highlighted Carr’s development, and there is a big reason why. The junior stepped up for the opening bout of his third campaign. He opened the scoring with a dunk, led the team with five blocks, and finished with 17 points to lead the team. Carr was a menace all over the court, driving the lane, passing the ball off, and making life impossible for Bowling Green. BGSU coach Todd Simon was very complimentary afterwards, and predicted that Carr would be making life difficult for teams besides his MAC school this season.

Carr absolutely stuffed the box score, with a stat line of 17 points, five rebounds, five blocks, four assists, and a steal. Additionally, the junior drew five fouls, sending him to the line a team-high eight times. He also played a clean game, with no fouls or turnovers on the contest.

The one concern becomes his free throws, but Tom Izzo was quick to dispute tonight’s 3-for-8 outing, saying that the junior had shot 88 percent from the line in the practice before the game.

What’s next for Michigan State Basketball?

The Spartans travel out to UConn on Tuesday night to play the Huskies in their final exhibition before the season opener. That game tips at 7:30 p.m. EST.