Michigan State basketball: Coen Carr’s impact can’t be understated

Coen Carr showed just how impactful he can be for Michigan State basketball against Michigan on Saturday night.

Coen Carr might have just had one of his best games in his young Michigan State basketball career. During the Spartans’ 73-63 win over Michigan on Saturday, Carr saw more minutes than he usually receives, and man did he take advantage of them.

Carr finished the game with eight points on 3-for-4 shooting. He also was 2-for-3 from the free throw line which is a step in the right direction as well. He was also very active and effective on defense, as he grabbed two steals.

All around, I would say this was one of his better games at Michigan State. Especially when you consider it took place on the road in a rivalry game.

Tom Izzo also noticed the impact Carr had on the game, and he commented after the game about how some of his plays impacted the game.

Tom Izzo comments on Coen Carr’s impact

You could point to many of Carr’s plays as having a serious impact on the result of the game. His two steals stood out to me. But it’s his high-flying dunks that have the most impact, even if they only count for two points.

Izzo said in his post-game press conference that some of Carr’s baskets “feel like 3 or 4 points.”

And that couldn’t be more true.

Basketball is a game of runs and momentum. I would argue that nothing gives this team more momentum than a monstrous dunk from Carr, which he had a few of in this game. One came directly off a steal he forced on defense and the second came on a backdoor alley-oop. We see these back door slams all the time in Izzo’s offense, but it feels different with Carr’s athleticism.

HE DOES IT AGAIN. 🤯@Coencarr2 x @MSU_Basketball

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/XZjJulOWPc

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 18, 2024

Even though Carr won’t be MSU’s best scorer or someone who plays a lot, his impact can’t be understated. His off-the-chart athleticism impacts the game in so many ways, from the threat he poses on defense to his momentum-swinging dunks. That’s why Coen needs to continue to play this season because one dunk from him has the magnitude to change the outcome of games.