Michigan State freshman Carson Cooper ready to keep making the most of his minutes

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State freshman big man Carson Cooper has kept his nose to the grindstone since logging a career-high 12 minutes against Alabama in the first game of the Phil Knight Invitational on Thanksgiving. Cooper didn’t play over 10 minutes in any game after that, until he was called upon Tuesday night against Wisconsin.

Cooper tied his season-high of 12 minutes against the Badgers and ended up being the go-to big man off the bench when starting center Mady Sissoko was forced to sit for stretches of the game.

Cooper’s length and athleticism proved valuable at times against Wisconsin’s bigs. The Jackson, Michigan, native did not score, but played solid defense and grabbed two key rebounds, recorded two blocked shots and one steal in Michigan State’s 69-65 win over Wisconsin.

“Carson did a good job,” Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said. “We still have a lot of faith in Jaxon [Kohler], but certain lineups are gonna call for certain things. We even went small ball a little bit because [Wisconsin] did. We’re going to be adjusting our [lineups] according to that, too. But I thought – considering that it was an extended period of time – I thought he did a good job against that team. What he can do against another one is yet to be seen. But I was pleased with Carson and how he handled it.”

As Michigan State gets deeper into the conference schedule, Cooper could be called upon to provide the defense and rebounding that comes more naturally to him, as opposed to Kohler, who is more skilled offensively. 

“I think we’re both just trying to play as hard as we can,” Cooper said, referring to Kohler. “He’s more of an offensive player, which really is a big piece of this team to help in the post, to give other teams different matchups and stuff. It’s harder to guard him than it is me in the post, I’d say. But defensively, I’d say we both just try to play as physically as we can against the other Big Ten bigs because it’s a pretty physical conference. They’re going to try to bully you down there.

“I haven’t been known for having a big offensive role, but I’m just trying to play as hard as I can. So me running down the middle of that lane, sprinting my heart out, it really opens up everything. [It] causes the defense to collapse, so it opens up things for other people. When I do get [the ball], I just try to make a play, make something happen.”

Tuesday night marked the first time this season that Cooper logged more minutes than Kohler. Even with his role being more fluid on a game-to-game basis, Cooper has maintained a consistent approach each day.

“I just come in with the same mindset everyday,” Cooper said. “Just try to be patient. If my opportunity comes that game, than I’m going to make the most of it. But if it doesn’t come that game, I’m just going to look at it like a learning opportunity and learn from what Mady and Jaxon do when they’re in there.”

Against Wisconsin, Cooper flashed some of the potential that Izzo saw in him when he recruited him late out of IMG Academy in Florida. With Sissoko on the bench midway through the second half, Cooper stood tall in the post against a much-improved Steven Crowl and logged one of his two block shots. 

Moments later, Cooper grabbed an offensive rebound off of a missed Jaden Akins three-pointer, which led to Tyson Walker‘s drive and score to cut the Wisconsin lead to 50-48.

“It definitely helped my confidence for sure, knowing that I can do that at a higher level,” Cooper said of his performance against the Badgers. “It gave me more motivation to grow off that and get better for the next one.”

Cooper’s foot quickness for a 6-foot-11, 230-pound center is valuable in a physical conference like the Big Ten. It’s something Cooper can provide in spurts this season while he builds toward the future. 

“I think me just being as mobile as I am,” Cooper said of his skillset. “Being able to move my feet well for my size. And my length, I can contest further out than other guys can. So I think just being able to move my feet, I can work with some switches and stuff if that’s part of the game plan.”

The Spartans play Illinois (11-5, 2-3) on Friday in Champaign (9:00 p.m., Fox Sports 1), a team that is coming off back-to-back wins against Wisconsin and Nebraska after losing by 13 to Northwestern on Jan. 4.

The Illini primarily play two bigs in Coleman Hawkins and Dain Dainja, with Dainja providing a forceful inside presence thanks to his 6-foot-9, 270-pound frame. Should Sissoko get into foul trouble against Illinois, Cooper could once again be called upon to provide solid reserve minutes against a talented team. 

“I think just physicality, with [Dainja] being, like, 270 and me being at like 230-235, it’s going to be a challenge to just banging bodies the entire time,” Cooper said. “So I think just being taller than him, being lengthier than him, hopefully we can just lock that down to the post and guard ball screens and make sure that we’re playing sharp on every play.”

For now, Cooper is focused on getting back to the grind that he’s been on all season. 

“I feel like I made the most of my opportunity [against Wisconsin],” Cooper said. “Everyone was pretty happy with what I did, but I just want to keep building off of that performance and go onto the next one.”