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MSU's Coen Carr throws down sick windmill dunk, Spartans pounding No. 6 Baylor

Where have these guys been?!?
Matthew Lounsberry|
MSU's Coen Carr throws down sick windmill dunk, Spartans pounding No. 6 Baylor
MSU's Coen Carr throws down sick windmill dunk, Spartans pounding No. 6 Baylor

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Michigan State Spartans

Where have these guys been?!?

Michigan State came in with a 4-5 overall record after having been one of the biggest disappointments in college basketball early in the 2023-24 season, but the Spartans just played a darn near perfect half of basketball at Little Ceasars Arena in Detroit against unbeaten No. 6 Baylor.

MSU led by as many as 30 points against the 9-0 Bears so far in this one, and takes a 45-17 lead into the locker room. Near the end of the first half, Spartan freshman Coen Carr put an exclamation point on the half for Michigan State when he threw down an unreal windmill slam dunk in transition off a beautiful dime from senior guard Tyson Walker.

Take a look:

That slam from Carr was far from the only highlight play for the Spartans in that first half, but it sums up how the first 20 minutes went pretty succinctly. At the break, Walker has 18 points on an efficient 6-of-10 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point range.

Michigan State's big men, who faced heavy criticism from head coach Tom Izzo and just about everyone else who's watched this team this season, have played with a new level of toughness and fire so far as well. Senior Mady Sissoko had seven rebounds in the first half and scored a bucket. Sophomore Carson Cooper has six early points and has grabbed three rebounds. And even freshman Xavier Booker, who fans have been clamoring for after he didn't play in two of MSU's last three games, got three minutes of action in the first half and scored on a midrange jumper.

Carr is up to six points through 20 minutes as well, and he's made a couple nice plays on the defensive end. The freshman is at his best in transition, however, and there's nothing he likes more than to put on a show for the crowd. Here's what he did on a different opportunity early in the game off an assist from point guard A.J. Hoggard:

The Spartans are having all kinds of fun today in Detroit, and look like the team that was the nation's preseason No. 4 team. Let's see if they can keep on the heat now in the second half.

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Matthew Lounsberry
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