Michigan State Basketball: 3 post-game thoughts from EMU win

1. Joey Hauser looks to like “the guy”

While there were some rough moments, Joey Hauser’s night was overall a promising one. Hauser showed off a dominance on the glass, grabbing nine rebounds along with scoring 15 points.

Eleven of those points came in the second half, and a few of his buckets came off offensive rebounds and put-backs while also getting fouled. Michigan State didn’t play with a very big lineup, so Hauser was out there playing the five at times.

Eastern didn’t go with a lot of size either, so this matchup played out favorably for Hauser, as he was allowed to feast on the boards and get to the free throw line.

Going forward, Michigan State will need a primary scorer if they want to remain atop the Big Ten. After watching versus Eastern, Hauser looks like he could be that guy. Yes, he made a few bad plays turning the ball over and he missed the pair of threes he attempted but overall, he looked comfortable for most of the night.

If Izzo plays him at the four where he fits best, he’ll be able to thrive against the slower, bigger forwards he’ll face later on in the season. His three-point shot is a reliable one, so expect him to hit some long shots in the near future.