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Michigan State basketball: Handing out 2022-23 regular-season awards

By Scott Tolonen

Michigan State's Tyson Walker, left, and A.J. Hoggard, right, share a laugh on the bench during the second half in the game against Indiana on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.230221 Msu Indiana Bball 207a
Michigan State's Tyson Walker, left, and A.J. Hoggard, right, share a laugh on the bench during the second half in the game against Indiana on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.230221 Msu Indiana Bball 207a /
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As the Michigan State basketball regular season winds down, let’s hand out some awards.

We start with the Spartans’ MVP.

Most Valuable Player: Tyson Walker

This is a tough one. The Spartans have been so balanced throughout the season, especially of late. On any given night, any Spartan can lead the team in scoring but one stat separates one above the rest.

When shooting the ball with under five seconds on the shot clock, Tyson Walker is shooting an astounding 50 percent from the floor.

It just seems like when the Spartan need a big shot, whether it’s a three, a two, or even a free throw, Walker has stepped up to make those plays, something we begged him to do last year.

Most Improved Player: Joey Hauser

If going by just statistics, Jaden Akins would be the winner. He’s tripled his offensive output and is arguably the Spartans best defender. But the growth from Joey Houser from not only a statistical standpoint, but also a mental perspective has been a character arc that would make Severus Snape jealous.

Hauser came in with great expectations, ranking in the top five of 2021 transfers (maybe we should thank the NCAA for declaring him ineligible for the 2019-20 season so we get him for one more year).

But since his arrival, there may have not been a more polarizing figure in the last decade. His hot streaks were hot, his cold streaks were cold. Social media was not kind to him (I never post negative thoughts about my own teams on Twitter, but my oh my, did I curse his name more than a few times watching him play).

He could have easily walked away from the program, having done his senior walk and kissed the Spartan at the end of the 2021-22 season. He could have stayed away from the constant comparison to his All-ACC/NBA rostered brother, Sam. But he decided to stay, and I don’t know where the Spartans would be without him.

Hauser was the Spartans leading scorer in 12 games this season and has literally gotten better in ever statistical category across the board including nearly doubling his points per game from last year.

Whether we tweeted at him or not, Joey Hauser deserves our praises.

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