Michigan State basketball: The good, great, bad, and ugly from JMU loss

Bad: Veteran play

Let’s get to what most people are talking about after Monday’s loss to James Madison. Never before have I seen such a lackluster, disappointing performance from veterans on a Tom Izzo led team. This is obviously omitting Tyson Walker from this category. I absolutely hate singling out individual players in the bad and ugly part of these articles, but Monday night was terrible. Izzo himself said so after the game. 

“I don’t have a good answer why three juniors and seniors played like they played, but I also don’t care, because I’ll play some freshmen,” Izzo said. “Let the controversy begin.”

Izzo decided to reward loyalty and started Malik Hall at the four. He would log 24 minutes and score just four points on 2-for-12 shooting. It’s extremely unfortunate, but Hall looked like an absolute shell of his former self. 

Mady Sissoko got the start at center, and finished with four points and just four rebounds. That cannot happen, especially when you are playing a non-conference opponent. Sissoko is an experienced big man, who was thoroughly outplayed. Everyone, myself included, has hoped and prayed that Sissoko would figure it out and become that next elite Big Ten big man. But it hasn’t happened, and looks like it never will. 

Jaden Akins was tied for third most minutes on Monday night, and, similar to his veteran teammates, put up only four points. Akins saving grace was that he was able to come down with 11 rebounds. Doing so saves him from much further criticism, but as one of the top lethal scorers in the Big Ten, Akins cannot have dud games such as he did against JMU.

Finally, Michigan State’s floor general was not able to get anything going either. AJ Hoggard was essentially non-existent for most of the Spartans’ season-opener. Finishing with 34 minutes, nine points, four rebounds and three assists is an OK stat line, but, when MSU needed him most, he disappeared. With just under two minutes remaining in overtime, Hoggard was subbed out and would not come back into the game until there was just 38 seconds left and MSU was down two. Granted, Hoggard had four fouls, but as a senior and a leader of this team, overtime is the time to step up and get the job done, as Walker did his best to. Not force Izzo to take you out and let the game go by without you.

I hope I never have to be as critical to individual players again, but I think Izzo will use this as a deep, painful learning experience.