The painful loss to Michigan could be the catalyst for MSU to reach their potential

There are some days and in sports where the difference between winning and losing is akin to the difference between ecstasy and agony. Not every game is like that, of course, but sometimes the circumstance surrounding the game create a unique situation where the result of the contest matters more than a single win or loss in the conference standings.

Friday night in East Lansing was just such a night. The Michigan State Spartans were facing their archrivals from Ann Arbor in a battle of top 10 teams with first place in the Big Ten on the line. A win by MSU would have given the Spartans their best start in program history. A win would also have been the perfect birthday gift for the now 71-year-old Tom Izzo.

But it was not meant to be.

Following the 83-71 loss to the Wolverines, a clearly frustrated birthday boy expressed what was likely going through the minds of Spartan fans everywhere.

"To say that I'm disappointed would be an understatement," Izzo said. "I did not like the way we played... (Some of the guys) didn't compete like I think they need to compete to play a game at that level."

For the second time in two games, the Spartans got off to a slow start. It took over 11 minutes for MSU to get to just 10 points while Michigan slowly built a double-digit lead. Michigan State appeared out of synch for much of the first half as they struggled with the Wolverines' size and athleticism in the paint.

"We didn't rebound, we didn't run, and I didn't think we moved the ball very well, to be honest with you," Izzo said. "They (Michigan) deserve some credit for that. They're a good defensive team too."

The Turning Point and the Comeback

Even with the rocky start, the Spartans trailed by only eight points with 2:29 remaining in the first half. A foul was initially called on Wolverine star Yaxel Lendeborg as he jockeyed with Cam Ward for a rebound, but the officials initiated a video review.

After a lengthy stoppage, the call was reversed and MSU's Ward was assessed a flagrant-one foul for a hook and hold. Izzo commented later than he never got a good enough look at the playl to judge whether it was a good call or not.

Instead of shooting free throws with a chance to cut the lead to six, Lendeborg hit a pair of free throw and then drew a foul and scored an and-one on the ensuing inbounds play. Kohler had his shot blocked on the next possession which led to a made three-pointer by Wolverine reserve freshman and native Michigander Trey McKenney.

In less than 30 seconds, an eight-point deficit turned into a 16-point deficit and the entire complexion of the game changed.

Photo Credit: Marvin Hall/Spartans Illustrated

"We dug too big of a hole, and it all started with that hook and hold, which it might have been (legitimate), I have no idea," Izzo said. "(It was a) bizarre call, I mean, in the middle of everything."

The officiating crew on Friday night made their presence known early and often. It was a physical game overall, with a total of 43 fouls called over the two-and-a-half hour duration of the contest.

"The three guys (officials) who worked tonight had a very, very difficult job," said Michigan coach Dusty May. "They earned their Big Ten salary."

Both teams made exactly 23 free throws on a combined 87% efficiency from the line. Neither team carved out an advantage from the charity stripe. But the frequent whistles interfered with the overall flow of the game.

"There were a lot of bizarre plays," Izzo explain. "I'm sure he (May) felt the same way, but when you win, you don't think of them as much as when you lose. So hey, the officials didn't cost us this game. The lack of getting rebounds and playing defense at the right time of the game cost us the game."

Despite the tough end to the first half, MSU roared back early in the second half. The Spartans outscored the Wolverines 31-to-13 in the first 12-and-a-half minutes of the second stanza. 

But the comeback seemed to consume too much energy and just like the first half, MSU faded in the final minutes of the game. The Spartans hit just three of their final 13 shots from the floor while the Wolverines closed out the game hitting six of their final eight shots.

"I thought it was an incredible comeback" Izzo said of the second half. "We did everything we could do, and then we just couldn't get over the hump... I like the way they responded, but I don't know why they responded late." 

Exposing the Faults

If there can be a silver lining to a home loss to a bitter rival, the failures by MSU on Friday night laid bare several areas of concern that need to be shored up if the Spartans are to reach their full potential.

Jeremy Fears once again was outstanding. The Spartans' sophomore point guard set a new career high of 31 points to go along with seven assist, five rebounds, and just two turnovers. This marks the seventh time this year that Fears has posted a new career high. But he simply cannot do it alone.

"It's a shame (because) Jeremy played about as well as he could play in a lot of ways," Izzo said. "He just didn't get enough help from enough people."

Michigan State needed more out of the veteran big-man tandem of Jaxon Kohler and Michigander Carson Cooper. Kohler was an inefficient 4-for-13 from the field and continued his midseason slump from deep (2-for-7). Kohler grabbed just five rebounds, well below his season average of 9.1, despite playing 36 minutes.

Photo Credit: Marvin Hall/Spartans Illustrated

Meanwhile, Cooper got into early foul trouble in the first half and struggled to get into the flow of the game. He scored just six points and grabbed just two rebounds.

Izzo also expressed  specific concerns about the sudden uptick in turnovers, especially from his frontline. The Spartan bigs have accounted for nineteen total turnovers in the past two games.

"It's hard to do that, and that means they're trying to do more than they can do," Izzo said. "So we're gonna have to talk about that."

Friday night's loss also highlighted MSU's continuing problems at the shooting guard position.

Starter Divine Ugochukwu and reserves Kur Teng and Trey Fort were complete non-factors against Michigan. They combined for zero points on 0-for-3 from the field. That lack of production cannot continue. But Izzo implied that the offense is not even his primary concern.

"(We) couldn't play our best shooters, Kerr and Divine," he said. "Because they can't…. We just couldn't play them."

Izzo did not actually finish his thought after the long pause, but it is safe to assume that their ability or inability to defend his 99-year old mother is likely what was on his mind. He hinted that a shakeup to the playing group could be just around the corner.

"There's things I've wanted to do for a couple weeks because I saw some things coming, and we'll do that now," he said before adding. "When you win, you don't want to change things up then. But some of those problems reared its ugly head."

A New Path Forward?

These comments were almost exclusively in the context of one of the bright spots in the game, which was the solid play of freshman wing Jordan Scott. He put up 10 points and grabbed four rebounds in 26 minutes of action. Scott seems to always win the hustle plays and Izzo opted to start him in the second half.

"We didn't look real comfortable (tonight)," Izzo explained. "He (Scott) looks more comfortable to me.  I like his comfort level. It makes me feel more comfortable."

Don't be surprised if Scott makes his first start as a Spartan when MSU takes to the court again on Wednesday night in Minneapolis. Don't be surprised if this change continues for the rest of the season. Don't be surprised if the entire Spartan rotation operates more smoothly if this change allow Ugochukwu to come off the bench in a more natural backup point guard role.

Despite the level of pain felt by Spartans fans to kick off the weekend, it is important to keep things in perspective.

"I'm not going to panic over getting beat in one game," Izzo said.

Neither should you, Spartan fan.

Michigan State is 19-3 on the season, which is tied for the best start in program history. All three of MSU's losses have come at the hands of teams currently ranked in the top five nationally. Two of the losses were one-possession games with a minute left in the game.

The Michigan game was the Spartans' third game in seven days with a long winter road trip to New Jersey squeezed in the middle. Also, under Tom Izzo, Michigan State has a bizarre tendency to hit a lull in performance in late January and early February.

It sounds weird, but it also happens to be true.

For now, the Spartans no longer control their own destiny in the Big Ten race. That could change on Sunday afternoon if Illinois is able to upset Nebraska on the road. 

There is still a lot of basketball yet to be played. More twists and turns are likely to come. All of Michigan State's goals are still on the table.