Michigan State basketball: 3 quick thoughts from big-time win over No. 13 Purdue

Michigan State basketball, fresh off of a come-from-behind victory against Illinois, did not get a break. Tom Izzo faced off against Purdue and Matt Painter, making it yet another case of the top two active leaders in conference wins playing each other.

In recent years, Painter has had the Spartans’ number, with the Boilermakers winning nine of the last 10 contests against MSU. However, Purdue came into Tuesday night on a two-game skid. If there was a time to end the five-game losing drought to Purdue, it was Tuesday. At the start, it seemed in doubt. The Spartans trailed by seven early. On the strength of seven dunks and their numbers, Michigan State prevailed.

1. Strength in numbers

Michigan State basketball had four scorers finish in double digits on Tuesday night. Jase Richardson led the way with 12 points, a majority of which came in the first half to keep the Spartans in the game against Purdue.

Frankie Fidler added 11, which was arguably one of his best performances of the season. He added an assist and a pair of steals, both of which were just as important to the Spartans. While 11 points is not the same as Jaxon Kohler’s outing against Illinois, or Jase Richardson’s 29-point outing, putting in double digits against a top Big Ten team and stealing the Big Ten assists leader twice was crucial.

Jaden Akins and Coen Carr added 10 points as well, with Akins receiving four points at the charity stripe late. Akins had a rough outing, missing multiple uncharacteristic shots. However, that did not get the senior down. He was locked in on defense, and was part of the group suffocating the Boilermaker offense. Akins joined Fidler and Richardson with a pair of steals. When Akins was not stealing the ball, he was making the Boilermaker’s lives difficult. It was hard to find anyone covered by No. 3 open the whole game.

Carr added multiple dunks and a pair of perfect free throws, but more on him later.

Then, the Spartans added four more players with seven or more points. If a Spartan scored, they fit in the “contributor” category. Tre Holloman had seven points, and was visibly frustrating Purdue star Braden Smith. Holloman had a trio of steals, almost all of which came against Smith. Matt Painter pulled Smith to cool him off at one point. Holloman was all over Smith, including under his skin.

Jaxon Kohler, Szymon Zapala, and Carson Cooper all added seven or nine points. This includes a Kohler three, one of the crucial plays of the first half.

2. Strength in dunks

The fun part of Tuesday: the dunks. Michigan State basketball knew that former Purdue big man Zach Edey was in the NBA, and took advantage. The Spartans had seven dunks, including a trio from Coen Carr and Szymon Zapala. The big men ate against the Edey-less Boilermakers. Matt Painter had no answer in the second half, as the first half answer, Will Berg, was not at the level Painter wanted for offensive contributions.

The highlight of the night came on a Richardson steal. A loose ball became a one-on-one of Richardson and Fletcher Loyer battling for the ball. Richardson was able to grab the ball off the floor first, and saw Carr streaking to the basket. With Loyer sprawled on the floor, Richardson was able to grab the ball as a Boilermaker closed in. Richardson had a left handed pass to offer to Carr. Somehow, someway, Carr was able to corral the desperation heave and slam it down to drive the Breslin Center wild. That dunk gave the Spartans a lead they never relinquished.

Carson Cooper and Szymon Zapala each had their own dunks, each driving the Breslin Center into a frenzy. The Boilermakers turned into a Spartan big personal highlight tape. Frankie Fidler added a steal and dunk, with Carr right next to him in case he wanted to pad his assist numbers.

Both coaches in the post-game press conference had to ask for clarity when asked about Carr dunks. When you have three dunks and a reverse layup on what could have been a dunk, that happens. As said in my X comments post-game, Carr is the basketball equivalent of watching Kenneth Walker III run. Carr might be the most athletically gifted Spartan to grace the halls of the Breslin Center.

3. The job is not finished

After winning arguably the biggest game of the year, there is not a lot of rest for Michigan State basketball. The Spartans have two days to prepare for Michigan before they are in Ann Arbor on Friday. Even post-game, Tom Izzo said he would be breaking his 24-hour rule, and instead enforcing a two-hour rule. Only two hours of celebration. Izzo also guaranteed that he and the staff will put emphasis on free throw shooting this week, as a 71 percent mark from the stripe was awful for the Spartans this year.

The other mark, as always, against the Spartans was 3-point shooting. The Spartans attempted 13 threes, but only made four. What’s worse than that, you might ask? Their 30.8% mark from the beyond the arc somehow improved their season average (29 percent). They also let Purdue hit nearly 40 percent of its threes, which is not a winning recipe in this final push.

Izzo had a great win, but is already hard at work to plan for Michigan.

Big Ten title hunt update

With the win against Purdue, the Spartans have their own destiny in their own hands now. Winning out guarantees a Big Ten title, but, with the quality of the schedule, a 4-1 mark likely wins it, as well. Going 3-2 is where things become complicated. If the Spartans go 3-2, but sweep Michigan, they would need a bit of help but likely take a share of the title. If they go 3-2, but lose one or are swept by Michigan, much help would be needed.

With Purdue mostly knocked out of contention, Wisconsin remains in contention, too. The Spartans host them next Sunday. If the Spartans beat Wisconsin and sweep Michigan, it is practically guaranteed they raise a banner this year.

What’s next?

As mentioned earlier, it is a 48-hour rest before the Spartans travel to Ann Arbor to play Michigan on Friday. Unlike years past, the Crisler Center is not Breslin Center South. Expect unfriendly confines for the Spartans. They will tip at 8 p.m. ET. The Spartans do not return home until the previously mentioned Wisconsin matchup next Sunday, March  2.