Welcome to my weekly article on The Floor Slap breaking down the Big Ten. In this series I will be breaking down the big scores of the week while focusing specifically on one team each week. I will cover all 14 teams in the Big Ten in an attempt to highlight each one after a critical week in their season. At the end I will briefly cover big games for next week and announce the team of the week for next week’s recap. All that being said, the first team of the week to be spotlighted is Michigan State. Let’s get into it!
So let’s start the discussion with Michigan State about what people were saying about the Spartans before the year. The worries that people had for this Spartans team is that they had a lot of B+ players and no superstars. Tyson Walker, AJ Hoggard, Joey Hauser, and Malik Hall are a nice core of solid guys but none are great players. Many people were wondering about their situation at the 5.
Michigan State didn’t have a big man that inspired confidence on their roster before the season. Mady Sissoko was the de facto starter but had barely played, Jaxon Kohler is a top recruit but might not have the body to bang with the Zach Edey’s of the Big Ten, and the only other player was Carson Cooper, a very late commit who had equal chances of redshirting as he did contributing.
Beyond the frontcourt there was a question in the backcourt; who was going to be the point guard for the team? Hoggard and Walker are both the Izzo point archetype but Walker struggled after transferring last year and Hoggard is inexperienced and can’t shoot.
There was enough talent and enough questions leading into the season to know Michigan State would be good but not know how good they would be. Two weeks into the season and we know a lot more about how good the Spartans can be.
It’s hard to have a better week than Michigan State did this past week. The Spartans won a double overtime thriller against Kentucky on Tuesday and followed it up with a home win over Villanova on Friday. Michigan State answered the questions people had entering the season this week.
Mady Sissoko has proven that he is the answer for Michigan State at the 5. Sissoko had a good game in their loss to Gonzaga and followed it up with a great game against Kentucky and reigning NPOY Oscar Tshiebwe. Sissoko flashed his size and ability both in the post and running to the rim off the pick and roll, emphasized by his showstopping alley-oop dunk to seal the Kentucky game in the 2nd overtime.
The questions in the backcourt have been answered too. The answer is both Tyson Walker and AJ Hoggard can be the point guard for the Spartans. Hoggard might not be able to shoot but he can pass the hell out of the ball. Hoggard is great in transition, pick and roll, and making the right read.
Tyson Walker has stepped up and has been great as more of a go to scorer and creator. Walker was great as the lead ball handler or coming out of curl screens. Hoggard and Walker have elevated the Spartans’ ceiling with their scoring and creation.
Michigan State might not have a true All-American player but what they showed so far is that anyone can step up and have that big game they need to have.
A Look ahead to Next Week
Next Week is one of the best weeks of the basketball year in Feast Week. I will cover all the big games of the week as well as Nebraska Cornhuskers as the weeks spotlight team. Can’t wait to recap it all with you next week!