Skip to main content
michigan-state logo

V-Cast: how good is Michigan State coming off of 88-54 win over Washington?

On3 imageby:Paul Konyndyk•about 22 hours•

PKonyndyk

V-Cast11025

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State moved to 4-0 in the Big Ten with an impressive 88-54 rout of Big Ten newcomer Washington at the Breslin Center on Thursday night. The atmosphere in the stands was electric on a night with the alumni members of the Izzone were back on campus for this game.

Afterward, SpartanMag staffers Jim Comparoni and Paul Konyndyk checked in from courtside with the latest V-Cast.

V-CAST TOPICS

How good is Michigan State? The Spartans have not had the most challenging of schedules by Izzo era standards, but they keep winning games, and winning games at home by a large margin. In both Big Ten home games, this one and in December against Nebraska, Michigan State post 30 plus point beat downs of their respective conference opponents. The competition level will undoubtedly get tougher, however, as the Spartans prepare to face Northwestern on Sunday in Evanston. Boo Buie is no longer at Northwestern, but this game will be a better barometer of where Michigan State is at as a team than Thursday’s game against Washington.

Fears has double double Redshirt freshman point guard Jeremy Fears delivered another masterful performance running the Michigan State offense to finish with a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists. Fears was a key factor for Michigan State in a fastbreak that was effective from start to finish. The Spartans enjoyed a 28-2 advantage in fastbreak points against Washington.

Michigan State guards feast on Washington defense: Led by Jaden Akins with 20 points, four different Spartan guards finished with double figures in scoring against Washington. One of the reasons why Michigan State guard were so effective scoring in this game was the availability of driving lanes that simply have not been available against most Big Ten opponents prior to this game against Washington. Freshman guard Jase Richardson had one of his best performances of the Big Ten season, scoring 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting coming off the bench. Richardson was also one of the most effective defensive players for the Spartans. Fears also scored 12 points to which he added 10 assists in the win. Tre Holloman was also impactful for Michigan State in this game. Holloman finished with 11 points and six assists. He and Jaden Akins were the only Spartan players to make multiple threes in the win.

Michigan State bigs get the job done: Jaxon Kohler, Szymon Zapala, and Carson Cooper combined for just 14 points in the win, but the big man collective for the Spartans was highly effective on defense and shutdown Washington’s leading scorer Great Osobor.

You may also like