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Michigan State Basketball: 3 breakout candidates needed for tourney run

By Emmett Matasovsky

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 29: A.J. Hoggard #11 and Max Christie #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates in the second half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Breslin Center on January 29, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 29: A.J. Hoggard #11 and Max Christie #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates in the second half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Breslin Center on January 29, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State’s A.J. Hoggard scores as Maryland’s Fatts Russell defends during the first half on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at the Breslin Center.220306 Msu Maryland 094a
Michigan State’s A.J. Hoggard scores as Maryland’s Fatts Russell defends during the first half on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at the Breslin Center.220306 Msu Maryland 094a /

2021 tournament stats: 2 points on 1-for-3 shooting, 2 assists against UCLA

AJ Hoggard is a player who has already started to break out on this roster. For portions of the second half against Purdue, he put the team on his back and put All-Big Ten Defensive Player Eric Hunter Jr. on skates.

Against Purdue, the Spartans were shorthanded, missing Tyson Walker for the entire second half, as well as having Julius Marble foul out with eights minutes remaining and the other bigs in foul trouble. Despite all of this, Hoggard led the team for as long as he could, with a game that could have been a disastrous 20-plus-point loss into only a five-point defeat.

Hoggard also is one of the best players in the country in terms of assists, ranking within the top 50 for assists per game, total assists, and assist-to-turnover ratio. When Hoggard is on, this Spartans team is deadly as it is hard to tell if he will drive for a layup, or push in, making the defense crash, and pass the ball off to a teammate for an uncontested shot.

In order for the Spartans to make a tournament run, Hoggard needs to improve his free throw shooting. In an ideal world, he would also improve his three-point shooting, but it is unrealistic to ask him to turn into Steph Curry or Cassius Winston overnight. If Hoggard can improve his free throw shooting, however, his opponents will have to think twice about their strategy if he drives the lane. He also needs to continue to improve on cutting down turnovers, something he has gotten better at throughout the season.

Hoggard is a player who will play with all of his heart in addition to his physical toughness, as evidenced by him playing through the pain against Purdue. Hoggard plays some of his best ball fast and nearly out of control, and the Spartans can utilize that against players prone to a defensive lapse or two.

Foster Loyer will need to play his best ball or Hoggard will have his breakout game against the Wildcats.

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