Michigan State Wins, But the Warning Signs Are Getting Louder
Recap for Michigan State Spartans Basketball (Men) – Feb 23 reveals a program that is currently surviving rather than thriving.
On a weekend where the No. 1 ranked Michigan State hockey team dismantled Notre Dame and the women’s basketball team secured a massive upset over No. 23 Minnesota, the men’s basketball program left much to be desired.
The No. 15 Spartans managed to scrape together a 66-60 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday afternoon.
But anyone who watched this sluggish affair at the Breslin Center knows something doesn’t feel right right now.
Context Matters — And Ohio State Was Shorthanded
I can already hear the chorus of Spartan fans pointing to the scoreboard and saying, “A win is a win” in the grueling Big Ten.
Fine.
But let’s talk about context.
Ohio State entered this game severely undermanned, missing two of its best players — Devin Royal (illness) and John Mobley (injury). Those two combine for roughly 29 points per game for head coach Jake Diebler.
You simply should not struggle at home against a conference opponent missing that much offensive production.
Yet Michigan State did exactly that, allowing Bruce Thornton to essentially play one-on-five and torch them for 32 points on 12-of-22 shooting.
The Spartans looked out of sorts defensively against a one-dimensional attack. For a team with March aspirations, that’s a glaring red flag.
The Five-Minute Offensive Freeze
If the defensive issues were concerning, the first-half offense was arguably worse.
Michigan State endured a scoring drought of over five minutes in the opening half. They looked hesitant and disjointed, trailing 26-23 at halftime.
This team is dangerously low on reliable shot-makers.
When the offensive sets break down, there isn’t someone on the floor who consistently steps up to stop the bleeding with a tough bucket. That lack of a dependable perimeter threat continues to show up in high-leverage moments.
And that’s not a small issue this late in the season.
The Supporting Cast Has to Be Better
This brings us to the uncomfortable part.
Coen Carr finished with five points on 2-of-7 shooting. Jaxon Kohler grabbed 10 rebounds but scored just nine points on 4-of-8 from the floor.
You cannot convince me these two are not capable of more.
Their importance to the ceiling of this roster is undeniable. If Michigan State wants to be mentioned in the same breath as true national contenders, this core group has to elevate its production.
That’s not unfair criticism. That’s reality.
Fears Can Only Do So Much
Jeremy Fears Jr. continues to do what he does — 11 points and eight assists against Ohio State.
He’s steady. He’s composed. He manages the game.
But he is not a consistent perimeter shooter, and his effectiveness is tied directly to others converting around him. When teammates aren’t knocking down shots, the offense compresses.
Right now, that compression is obvious.
Cooper Saves the Day — But Is It Sustainable?
Credit where it’s due.
Carson Cooper was the primary reason this didn’t turn into a damaging upset. He erupted for a career-high 20 points and added 11 rebounds, securing his third double-double of the season. He shot 7-of-10 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.
He was efficient. He was decisive. He was necessary.
The lingering question is consistency. Relying on Cooper to carry the offensive load nightly is not a sustainable formula, especially against elite competition.
Jordan Scott’s Growth Is Real
One genuine bright spot is the continued development of Jordan Scott.
The freshman contributed 12 points and four rebounds and showed flashes of confidence that this roster desperately needs from the wings. If Scott’s growth continues, he could become the secondary offensive spark this team has been searching for.
That’s the long-term optimism.
Yes, It’s Back-to-Back Wins — But Let’s Be Honest
For the record, this was Michigan State’s first back-to-back win in nearly a month.
That matters. Stability has not been this team’s strength recently, and stacking wins — even imperfect ones — is part of surviving a Big Ten season.
But let’s be honest about what those wins were.
Neither opponent was ranked. Neither opponent sits inside the top 25. Both are middle-of-the-pack conference teams. And Michigan State was at home, where expectations are different.
Programs with this pedigree are expected to win these games at the Breslin Center.
So yes — it’s a positive that they didn’t drop either one.
But it’s not proof that the issues have been solved.
What these two games really reinforced is something we’ve seen all season: this team can look sharp and confident one night, and then lackluster and disconnected the next. The volatility is the concern. It’s not about beating average teams at home. It’s about whether the performance level can hold when the competition rises.
That question is still hanging in the air.
Stat Capsule 🏀
Game Leaders
- Carson Cooper: 20 pts, 11 reb (7-10 FG)
- Jeremy Fears Jr.: 11 pts, 8 ast
- Jordan Scott: 12 pts, 4 reb
- Bruce Thornton (OSU): 32 pts (12-22 FG)
Team Shooting
- Five-minute first-half scoring drought
- Limited perimeter shot creation
Hustle & Control
- Kohler: 10 rebounds
- Cooper: Perfect 6-of-6 from the line
The Real Question Heading Into March
This analysis may sound harsh to some. But the standard in East Lansing is not survival — it’s championships.
In the modern NIL era, expectations are elevated. And this group has already lost to the Michigan Wolverines and the Duke Blue Devils this season.
Can this current iteration beat truly elite teams?
There are only four games left in the regular season. Two are against top-10 opponents, including a road trip to Purdue and a showdown with No. 1 Michigan.
If the Spartans perform the way they did against Ohio State, it’s going to be a very long week for the green and white.
The win keeps them afloat.
But it does not quiet the warning signs.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
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