The Michigan State men’s basketball team started their season with a win, defeating Colgate 80-69. However, the game was not without its challenges, as the Spartans struggled with mistakes on both offense and defense. Despite this, they were able to pull away in the second half thanks to strong team rebounding, led by senior forward Jaxon Kohler, who had 16 points and 15 rebounds.
The Spartans’ seniors, including Kohler, Coen Carr, and Carson Cooper, combined for 38 points and 25 rebounds, but struggled with free throw shooting, going 10-18 from the line. Head coach Tom Izzo was critical of his captains’ leadership, saying they need to do a better job of lifting the play of the rest of the team.
Izzo also expressed concern about the team’s three-point shooting, which has carried over from last season. The Spartans shot 28.6% from beyond the arc, while Colgate hit 11 three-pointers at a 37.9% clip. Despite these struggles, Izzo was pleased with the intensity and athleticism shown by freshmen Jordan Scott and Cam Ward, who brought a high level of energy to the game.
The Spartans will look to improve their play as they face No. 14 Arkansas on Saturday. Izzo emphasized the need for his team to clean up their mistakes and play more consistently, saying that they will be “embarrassed” if they don’t improve by then. The game against Arkansas will be a tough test for the Spartans, as the Razorbacks are led by Hall of Fame head coach John Calipari and are looking to build on their success from last year.
Overall, while the Spartans got the win, they know they have a lot of work to do to reach their full potential. Izzo and his team will be focused on improving their play in practice this week, with an emphasis on correcting their mistakes and playing more consistently. With 30 games remaining in the season, the Spartans have plenty of time to find their rhythm and make a push for success.