Michigan State center Jaxon Kohler rings in new year with career high vs. Nebraska

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State freshman center Jaxon Kohler rang in the new year Tuesday night against Nebraska (8-7, 1-3), delivering upon some of his resolutions in a career-high, 10-point performance. 

Kohler has endured some growing pains in his young Michigan State career, but the four-star high school prospect from American Fork, Utah, came into Tuesday night’s game with a refreshed mindset. 

“It’s a new year, and I kind of just wanted to change some things about what I was contributing to the team,” Kohler said. “The first thing was the passion. Try to bring more energy, a little more passion. I didn’t want to play scared. Not that I was, but I wanted to be one of those guys that tries to get all the other guys ramped up.”

That energy was on full display Tuesday night against the Cornhuskers. Throughout the game, Kohler was seen clapping, screaming and high-fiving his teammates. There was a lot to be excited about, especially in the first half. Michigan State (10-4, 2-1) took a 39-17 lead into halftime thanks, in part, to a dominant defensive performance. 

“When we play like that, there’s no better way to play basketball,” Kohler said. “It’s fun and it gives the most energy. It’s a different kind of experience because everyone’s happy, everyone’s energized, and that’s how we’re trying to play every game.

“You just get this rush of adrenaline that just makes you want to scream and cheer for your teammates and you just want to play harder. You want to keep that rush going. You don’t want that rush to ever end. You just want to get your teammates open, you want to make sure the team chemistry is at its peak.”

Kohler opened the game with two mid-range jump shots, the second of which was a Dirk Nowitzki-esque one-legged fadeaway on the baseline. Kohler hasn’t demonstrated his shooting touch much this season, but his new, more aggressive mindset helped give him the confidence needed to “shoot his shot,” as he put it. 

“In practice, I’ve got a good thing going with my mid-range,” Kohler said. “I feel like it’s just something that I haven’t really shown yet. Coach (Izzo) gives me the green light, but in games, I haven’t been able to do it. Going into this game, I wanted to be a little more aggressive. If I have a shot, don’t be afraid to take it. Today, they all felt good and they all went in, and it was good.”

Kohler was 5 for 5 from the field in 14 minutes played against the Cornhuskers. He tied for second on the team in scoring and also contributed three rebounds. Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg made sure to compliment Kohler’s performance and potential after the game. 

“I love Kohler as a young player,” Hoiberg said. “He made a couple of tough shots for them in the first half.”

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said he’s happy with Kohler’s progress thus far, but acknowledged that improvement is needed in certain areas of the freshman’s game. 

“He’s definitely made some progress,” Izzo said. “He’s getting in better shape. He still gets tired, but he’s starting to feel more comfortable offensively, which he really is a good offensive player. He’s starting to do a few things defensively. I think the one area where I’d like to see him improve upon (is rebounding).”

Kohler came to East Lansing as a work-in-progress on the defensive end, but Michigan State has been able to compliment what Kohler lacks on that side of the ball with Mady Sissoko’s continued maturation as a defender. 

But when Sissoko gets in foul trouble, Kohler will be counted on to provide on that end. Kohler knows this and has continued to work on his conditioning and defensive skill set in practice. 

“(My) defense is getting better every day,” Kohler said. “(I’ve been) trying to look over film and see where I can improve things. I know that I have a lot to improve upon on defense. But I think from where I was at the beginning of the year to now, I think I’ve made some big steps. But at the same time, I have a lot of big steps to go.”

What’s encouraging, though, is the scoring touch that Kohler flashed against Nebraska. For much of the season, Kohler has struggled to get into a consistent scoring rhythm. 

“Back in November, it was all just happening so fast,” Kohler said. “We were in a lot of good games and it was just a lot of stuff and it all just kind of collapsed on me. I was rushing it a little bit, just trying to find my place and just find the pace and the tempo.”

But Kohler has scored more points over the past four games (19) than he did in his first seven (18). Continuing to unlock Kohler’s full offensive skill set will be valuable for Michigan State as he grows on defense. 

“Instead of me trying to rush everything, I feel like the game is finally slowing down and coming to me, coming to the team,” Kohler said. 

“I know that it’s going to get hard at times, and when it does, make sure not to drop your head and lose your confidence. You have to make sure that no matter what happens, you keep confidence and try to work hard and get it to the next play.”

Kohler said the two other members of his class – guard Tre Holloman and center Carson Cooper – have been instrumental in his development both on and off the court. 

“Tre’s been amazing,” Kohler said. “All of the freshmen have been amazing. I feel like we’ve all adjusted. We’ve been doing this everyday for months now, and I feel like we’re finally adjusted to the pace and the level of competition, just all of it. I think we’re handling it really well.”

Michigan State will begin a tough stretch of games with Saturday’s match-up against Michigan at the Breslin Center (2:30 p.m., FOX). The Spartans will face a bevy of talented big men over the next four games, including Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson and Purdue’s Zach Edey. 

Kohler is aware of the challenges and opportunities that the upcoming stretch of games will provide, but coming off a career performance, he’s staying focused on the goals he set for the new year and beyond. 

“Every game, period, is going to be a big one,” Kohler said. “You’re going to play every game the same way. You’re going to scout the same way, prepare the same way, practice the same way. There’s a lot of big games coming up, and we’re going to be ready.

“I feel like tonight was a good game. At the same time, I want to make sure not to get too hung up on it and try to get ready for the next challenge.”