Michigan State basketball: Stock Watch Following Victory Over SJSU

On Thursday, Michigan State basketball emerged as the victors of the “Spartan bowl,” winning 79-60 over San Jose State. The Spartans squandered at 23-point halftime lead down to 10 points late, but pulled away on the strength of Jeremy Fears Jr. hitting some threes.

Who’s stock rose, and who lost some ground in the last test before the Champions Classic?

Stock Up: Center Carson Cooper

One player who powered the Spartans in a big way was the Jackson (MI.) native. Cooper had a career-high 17 points, and was sent to the free throw line ten times, which was also a career mark. His defense was called “off” by Tom Izzo post-game, but Cooper made six of his seven shots from the field and added four steals.

The senior has emerged as a threat in his final year as a Spartan. His lone struggle came from the line, where he only made half his free throws.

Overall, Cooper stuffed the stat sheet. 17 points, four steals, two assists, a block, and seven rebounds. Entering the year, Cooper had four games with over ten points. Two of his first three games of the season have had the center reach that mark.

Stock Down: Guard Denham Wojcik

Wojcik was called upon late in the first half with Michigan State basketball controlling the game. However, he did not do much during his time leading the Spartans. He played 2:53 and showed little on the stat sheet, recording a rebound and an assist, while also being whistled for a foul.

Wojcik is the fifth team option at guard, and his play currently has the senior on the outside looking in for when the rotation gets trimmed for Tuesday’s big game against Kentucky.

Stock Up: Forward Jaxon Kohler

Kohler was everywhere today for the Spartans. He hit all his shots from the charity stripe, and had a career best (and eye-popping) 18 rebounds. Wherever the ball fell, Kohler was coming down with it.

The Utah native also added a pair of blocks, and had a 17-point effort to boot. With his wide-open misses from beyond the arc, the senior could have contested for his first 30-point outing. That said, a 17-18 stat line is absurd. The senior is the next player turning it up for his final season in the green and white.

Stock Down: Guard Trey Fort

Fort had an off day. In his second start of the season, the Samford transfer could not get the three to fall. He took five shots from beyond the arc, and all five clanked off. He was part of a Spartan effort that went six-of-25 on the day. A paltry 24% is not good enough for the Spartans.

Fort only added a two and a pair of rebounds and a block in over 16 minutes of action. The starting shooting guard doing a disappearing act is not great with a big matchup looming.

Stock Up: Guard Kur Teng

Teng, who was benched for Fort, had the opposite luck of the senior. Teng stood tall Thursday, hitting two shots from beyond the arc, finishing with ten points.

The sophomore was trusted and called upon at the end, with him being part of the “close off” unit alongside the four other starters (Jeremy Fears Jr., Jaxon Kohler, Coen Carr, and Carson Cooper) to finish off the Spartans in clutch time. Teng added a pair of assists on the day, too.

Stock Down: Forward Jesse McCulloch

McCulloch was a player who redshirted last season, and was a quiet candidate to be a breakout this year. Through three games, that is not the case. Today might have been the lowest outing of the season for McCulloch, with the sophomore playing nearly six minutes, missing his only shot, and only having one rebound as a forward.

He then sent the west coast Spartans to the line two times in the second half, where he was pulled from the game. He did add a steal on the contest, in positive news.

Stock Up: Guard Jeremy Fears Jr.

Jeremy Fears Jr. was the guard the Spartans needed tonight. After a second half that started to spiral and get some fans nervous late, the sophomore from Illinois had ice in his veins, drilling two three-pointers late and sending the fans home happy.

As always, Fears was dealing, with a team-high nine assists. Coach Tom Izzo was quick to point out that Fears should have been in the 12-to-15 assist range, with wide open shots not falling. Overall, the Floor General lived up to his name, with 15 points, and 11 of those coming from the field. He was smart, composed, and led the team for his 30:58 on the floor Thursday.

Stock Down: Guard Divine Ugochukwu

The Miami (FL.) transfer did not provide the spark needed today when Fears was off the floor. Ugochukwu appeared hesitant and did not provide much, if any, spacing on the court, and went one-of-four shooting, including a bad miss from three where he hesitated, lined up his shot, and still threw a brick.

Ugochukwu is not providing a solid spark in any role, with some passes questionable, some shots off, his free throw shooting being one-of-two, and his rotation minutes being a sedative to when Michigan State basketball is humming.

There is a long way to go for the guard, but there was a spark of positivity today. In his lone made shot from the floor, the guard made the call for an excellent play that had him drive forward for an easy layup.

What is next for Michigan State basketball?

The Spartans head out to New York to play in the Champions Classic on Tuesday. They will play No. 9 Kentucky (2-1, with a loss to No. 12 Louisville on Tuesday) at 6:30 p.m. EST.