It’s been 14 years since Michigan State last lost on Senior Day, and Tom Izzo remembers that quite un-fondly. It was how Draymond Green’s home career ended in East Lansing.
Since that loss, Michigan State has reeled off 13 straight victories and will be looking for 14 in a row on Thursday night when lowly Rutgers comes to town in search of an upset. The Scarlet Knights nearly pulled off the upset a month ago in Piscataway, but Michigan State has gotten hot since.
Will we see another thriller or will the Spartans win comfortably on Senior Day?
Let’s get bold.
1. Both starting seniors record double-doubles
Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into the Michigan State basketball program for four years which is a rarity these days. They decided to stick around when things got tough and they’re now getting to celebrate the Senior Day that they got to watch teammates celebrate for three years before them.
And they’re going to put on a show for one final time at the Breslin Center.
Kohler will finish with 16 points and 12 boards and Cooper will add 15 points and 10 rebounds. Both guys will record double-doubles to cap off an impressive senior season at home.
They’ll both be missed.
2. Trey Fort scores 10 off the bench
Trey Fort has scored 10-plus points just one time since the calendar flipped to January and only once in Big Ten play this season. He has been in Izzo’s dog house likely for his defense, but the reports this week indicated that he was remaining positive and I think that pays off on Thursday night.
Fort will see the floor a little more than usual because it is Senior Day, and he’ll take advantage of his uptick in minutes, scoring 13 points with three big threes.
Maybe this kickstarts his ascension back into the rotation.
3. MSU wins by 30
Honestly, I don’t see this one being all that close. I do think that the Scarlet Knights will give Michigan State a fight through the first 10 minutes, but the Spartans will wake up and put Rutgers away.
Senior Day also has a different feel to it and the guys who are playing in their last home game as Spartans want to go out on the right note, and their teammates want to send them off right. That can only happen if Michigan State is up by a comfortable margin near the end of regulation.
I’m expecting all the seniors to play and be able to kiss the logo at the end of the game because of the blowout status. Let’s just hope there’s no drama at midcourt this time.