5 Observations: Michigan State’s comeback falls short vs. Arizona

The No. 21 Spartans were unable to overcome another slow start as their comeback efforts fall short against No. 3 Arizona…

Plagued by another slow start offensively, No. 21 Michigan State was unable to overcome a 16-point first half deficit in a 74-68 loss to No. 3 Arizona on Thanksgiving Day.

The Spartans used an 11-1 run last in the second half to take their first lead of the game, 66-63, with four minutes left, but the Wildcats responded with an 8-0 run of their own to retake control and put MSU away.

After entering the 2023-24 season as the preseason No. 4 team, Michigan State has fallen well short of expectations through a 3-3 start to the year. Here are five observations from tonight’s game…

1.) Arizona killed MSU with dribble penetration early

Even early in the game before the Wildcats got rolling, Arizona was getting way too much dribble penetration against the Spartans. Once Carson Cooper got into early foul trouble, MSU’s rim protection was gone and the Wildcats took advantage. Arizona got several easy baskets off back cuts as well, and shot 51.6% from the floor in the first half.

Michigan State was much better in the second half, and showed how good they can be defensively when they’re mindset and intensity are in the right place. That said, head coach Tom Izzo needs to find a way to spark this team earlier in games. It’s not enough for Izzo to breath fire and brimstone at halftime. The Spartans need to start faster to beat the beat teams in the country and make a run in March.

2.) Tyson Walker needs more help

As has been the case most of the season, Tyson Walker had to carry Michigan State offensively just to keep this one close through 20 minutes. The graduate senior scored 14 of MSU’s 30 first half points, and added three assists as well.

Walker shot 6-for-12 in the first half, while the rest of the Spartans’ starters were 2-for-10. Michigan State got some help from Jeremy Fears and Coen Carr off the bench, but they need more from the veterans.

Walker was held in check for much of the second half, finishing with 18 points on 8-for-20 shooting. Some of that had to do with other guys getting going on the offensive end, but Walker also seemed to wear down as the game went on. Michigan State is too reliant on the senior to create offense. Walker isn’t going to be able to do it that for 35 minutes per night.

3.) Hoggard, Akins second half not enough

There’s no excuse for a senior point guard to play the way AJ Hoggard has so far this season, and that continued in the first half tonight. Likewise, Jaden Akins was nowhere to be found for MSU in the first frame. Neither guy scored in the first half against Arizona. It’s inexcusable to have two veteran guards come out the way those two guys did in this one.

Both Hoggard and Akins were much better in the second half, combining to score 27 points after the break. Akins got MSU rolling early in the second half, and Hoggard’s improved play helped push the Spartans in front, briefly, down the stretch. Now, Michigan State needs both guards to play like that consistently going forward. Players are going to have ups and downs — Hoggard made some poor decisions late — but the prolonged poor play or disappearing acts have to end.

4.) Offensive rebounds kill MSU down the stretch

Michigan State surrendered five offensive rebounds in the first six minutes of the game tonight, which contributed to its slow start. The Spartans bottled up the glass for much of the game from that point, but the rebounding issues returned in the final minutes of the game.

After MSU took its three-point lead late, Arizona got second-chance points on three consecutive possessions immediately following the Spartans’ 11-1 run. Those offensive rebounds were what sparked the Wildcats’ 8-0 run that ultimately gave them the victory. 

Michigan State went small down the stretch to be better offensively, and that may have contributed to their inability to secure rebounds down the stretch. That brings me to my final observation…

5.) MSU’s bigs bring little offensively

Remember those fun Detroit Pistons teams from the early 2000s? As great as that group of guys was, opponents never had to defend Ben Wallace when the Pistons had the ball.

That’s kind of what Michigan State feels like offensively with Carson Cooper and Mady Sissoko. Opponents barely have to pay attention to the two Spartan bigs, and it makes it difficult for MSU to get easy baskets. The Spartans are practically playing four on five offensively. Maybe that changes when Michigan State gets Jaxon Kohler back from his foot injury, but right now the lack of an offensive presence in the frontcourt is a problem.

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