Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from tight win over Oregon

PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 24: Jaxon Kohler #0, Joey Hauser #10, A.J. Hoggard #11, Tre Holloman #5, and Tyson Walker #2 of the Michigan State Spartans walk back to the court after a timeout during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Moda Center on November 24, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) /

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Michigan State basketball is finding out just how tough it is to win games in college hoops. The Spartans were taken down to the wire by an also undermanned Oregon team but escaped with a 74-70 win.

The victory places Michigan State in the fifth-place game on Sunday against Portland which just upset Villanova on Friday evening.

The Spartans are now 4-2 on the year after winning the midnight tipoff game and they’ll get a day of rest to break up their next game so maybe the guys can get some rest (looking at you and your ankle, Joey Hauser).

Here are my takeaways from Friday’s win.

3. AJ Hoggard is in a slump, and it might be mental

Whatever is going on with AJ Hoggard, let’s just say I’m happy it’s happening now rather than later in the season when Michigan State needs him to be on top of his game.

It just feels like he’s in a personal slump and he’s in his own head. He wasn’t hustling for loose balls like he normally does and when a mistake is made, it looks like he checks out. That’s not good for the team morale when the leader is showing poor body language.

Hoggard will likely be just fine, but seeing him struggle like this is tough.

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