Michigan State basketball freshmen play hero roles in Indiana win

“He’s improving every day.”

That was what Tom Izzo said when asked about Jordan Scott’s career-high 11 points against Indiana on Tuesday night. In the 21 minutes that Scott played, the freshman led Michigan State basketball in +/- with +24, hit three out of his four 3-point attempts and even had two steals, making plays on both ends of the court.

Fellow freshman Cam Ward had five of his own points, three rebounds and a steal in just 14 total minutes of game time. Ward’s box score stats may not look impressive to some, but Izzo thought otherwise.

“The freshmen were the difference,” Izzo stated in his postgame press conference. “Without them, we wouldn’t have had eight or 10 points tonight.”

Ward is currently still making his way back from an early wrist sprain against North Carolina. Before the UNC game, he played well out the gate for the green and white, even leading MSU in scoring in the Spartans’ early win against Arkansas with 18 points.

Ward averages 14.4 minutes per game, but where he excels is rebounding, averaging 4.3 per game, and shooting an impressive 56 percent from the field.

During the Indiana game, Ward’s biggest plays were not any points he scored, but the momentum swing during his two and-one opportunities.

Scott on the other hand has been thriving early on for MSU. Even though Scott normally plays at the three and four position, Scott has been in the running for the second guard spot as Izzo stated after the Indiana game, “Jordan has been a name we have been thinking about starting beside Jeremy (Fears).”

Early in the season, Scott struggled due to lack of playing time, but as the year has progressed, he has improved, averaging 4.3 points per game, while scoring a career-high 11 total points on Tuesday night. Scott also shoots 31.8% from deep range, which is fourth on the team with players averaging 10-plus minutes.

Scott and Ward are essential for the Spartans’ postseason success. If both freshman can extend their games to the next level in a Jase Richardson type of role, Michigan State basketball will be a very competitive team come March.