Michigan State’s 3-Point shooting woes: Can the Spartans catch fire in March?

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State is toiling through its worst 3-point shooting season of the Tom Izzo era. But it doesn’t need to stay that way. And that’s why Izzo ponders what could be, if the Spartans’ shooting ever heats up. Izzo has piloted the Spartans to a 23-5 record, and Big Ten title contention, despite poor shooting from deep. The Spartans’ defense, rebounding and transition game have been strong. Those three prongs of the Michigan State program have been up to the standard of some of Izzo’s best teams. And that’s why they’re winning.  “If we play good, we are good,” Izzo said. “And if we shoot good, we maybe could be great.” Michigan State is shooting 29.5 percent from 3-point range. Izzo has never had a team shoot below 32.1 percent from beyond the arch for a season.  Michigan State ranks dead last in the Big Ten in 3-point percentage for the year. Michigan State is a bit better in conference games, No. 14 in the Big Ten at 32.4 percent. Michigan State’s 2021 team was the worst 3-point shooting team of Izzo’s career, prior to this year. That season was also interrupted by COVID-19. The Spartans got hot during the last two weeks of the season and barely squeaked into the NCAA Tournament.  The other two sub-33 percent shooting teams in the Izzo era were his first team, of 1996, which went 32.2 from long range, finished the season 16-16, and played in the NIT.  The other sub-33 percent team was the 2001 Final Four team of Jason Richardson, Charlie Bell, Andre Hutson and David Thomas. That team was so strong in defense and rebounding that it overcame 32.2 percent shooting from beyond the arch to win a fourth straight Big Ten Championship and a Regional Championship.