Michigan State basketball: It’s time for more Jaxon Kohler minutes

Jaxon Kohler might just be the key to Michigan State basketball success in the month of March and heading into next year.

Watching the Michigan vs. Michigan State basketball was admittedly frustrating.

Mady Sissoko started the game, struggled a bit, and Tom Izzo put Jaxon Kohler in the game and he played well. He scored four points and grabbed three rebounds with a block in just eight minutes, but for whatever reason, he didn’t see the court much throughout the remainder of the first half and into the second half.

It just didn’t make sense.

Sissoko and Carson Cooper spent time at center throughout the game while Kohler sat on the bench and it was disappointing because he was that spark on offense that Michigan State needed.

Michigan State just hasn’t looked to score in the post much this season because Mady is a liability on that end and that wouldn’t be much of an issue if Kohler just saw the floor more. Sure, Kohler’s defense is a bit of a liability as well, but his offense more than makes up for it. He makes defenses respect his offensive game.

The only post player who defenses can respect on the roster is Kohler. He has the quick feet in the post that rivals Nick Ward and while his finishing around the rim left a lot to be desired earlier in the season, he’s improved drastically. And his defense and rebounding have also been better despite the limited minutes. It feels as if something clicked in the middle of the season in Kohler.

Tom Izzo needs to do something that maybe he’s not used to doing and trust his freshman to play some big minutes. He’s done this in the past, but Kohler elevates the offense.

When he plays more than 15 minutes, Kohler is averaging 6.6 points and 6.1 points and he’s shooting 54 percent from the floor.

Kohler is a big piece to the future puzzle for Izzo and the Spartans and even with Xavier Booker coming in next season, he’s going to play a major role. That could start this season.