Michigan State basketball: Report card for huge win over No. 23 Rutgers

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Michigan State’s A.J. Hoggard, right, moves the ball as Rutgers’ Aundre Hyatt defends during the first half on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.230119 Msu Rutgers Bball 101a /

AJ Hoggard: A-

Leading the team in scoring, AJ Hoggard showed just how important it is to have elite guard play. He’s one of the best in the Big Ten and when he’s on top of his game offensively, Michigan State is so dangerous.

In 31 minutes, Hoggard logged 16 points which led all scorers and he added seven assists. He made 4-of-10 field goals and, like Tyson Walker, was 3-for-5 from 3-point range.

Hoggard was hunting his own shot, making the deep ones, and getting teammates involved with really good passes. He did have four turnovers which needs to be cleaned up, but you can live with that when he has 16 points and seven assists.

Defensively, he had Rutgers’ guards in a torture chamber as well. He was a main reason why the Scarlet Knights struggled to shoot the ball and get open looks.

A very solid game from Hoggard and he’s a couple of turnovers away from being a clean A.

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