Michigan State basketball: Report card for clutch win over Marquette

Michigan State basketball: Report card for second-round win over Marquette

Mar 19, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Malik Hall (25) grabs a rebound over Marquette Golden Eagles forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (12) during the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchBasketball Ncaa Men S Basketball Tournament Round 2 /

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Mar 19, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard A.J. Hoggard (11) celebrates making a shot during the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament against the Marquette Golden Eagles at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchBasketball Ncaa Men S Basketball Tournament Round 2 /

AJ Hoggard: B+

AJ Hoggard didn’t have a great game, but he was far from bad. He had a solid performance but the free throw misses in clutch situations are a little concerning.

Hoggard finished with 13 points and four assists but he turned the ball over five times and had four fouls. He was a little careless with the ball and his defense was solid but he seemed to get whistled for a few ticky-tack fouls.

When Tom Izzo was speaking intensely to Hoggard on the bench at the Big Ten Tournament and the point guard looked unenthused, it felt like the season was crumbling. My how a week of solid play can change everyone’s thinking. It now looks like he soaked in everything Izzo has told him and the two very similar personalities are meshing right now.

Hoggard has answered Izzo’s call and he’s playing like a star and he’s being the team’s leader.

This is just what MSU needed.

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