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Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from win over Northern Arizona

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 7, 2022; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Joey Hauser (10) moves the ball under the basket against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2022; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Joey Hauser (10) moves the ball under the basket against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan State’s Jaxon Kohler works on defense during the first day of practice on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.220926 Msu Bball Practice 052a
Michigan State’s Jaxon Kohler works on defense during the first day of practice on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.220926 Msu Bball Practice 052a /

2. The big guys actually played well

All eyes were on the bigs as the game started and I thought Mady Sissoko, Jaxon Kohler, Malik Hall, and Joey Hauser all played pretty well.

Sissoko had four points and six rebounds, Kohler had six points and nine rebounds off the bench, Hall had five points and seven boards, and Hauser led the team with 18 points and 10 rebounds. These guys really stepped up and showed that maybe the post play won’t be such a glaring weakness after all.

The defensive side of the court wasn’t a glaring weakness for this group either. They didn’t give up a ton to the Northern Arizona bigs as the two starting bigs combined for 12 points and 12 rebounds. That’s a great sign heading into the Gonzaga game on Friday.

Kohler got his feet wet and played well off the bench, making some nifty moves on offense but he needs to know when to pass out of traffic, Sissoko has looked like a different player this year, and both Hauser and Hall are just solid — although Hall tends to turn into a ghost offensively.

Not a bad night from the frontcourt.

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