Did we just watch a track meet or a Michigan State basketball game?
The Spartans were battling for everything, and a huge offensive rebound by Carson Cooper and subsequent foul led to a signature Izzo fist pump with about 13:50 left, and the team never looked back as the effort looked much better from that point on.
Michigan State was able to pull away for its 12th win of the season before Big Ten play resumes later this week, beating Cornell 114-97.
Monday’s Michigan State vs. Cornell matchup at the Breslin Center felt like the longest game in recorded history, but that probably had something to do with all of the offense as well as the foul calls.
What’d we learn?
1. Trey Fort is starting to look like a weapon
For whatever reason, Trey Fort has found himself in Tom Izzo’s dog house this season, and that’s a dangerous place to be because there’s a chance you may never get out.
Fort looked like a new man on Monday night, scoring 14 off the bench, and looking aggressive with the ball in his hands. Izzo has wanted to see better defense from him and a more consistent offensive game, and the senior two-guard exhibited just that.
The senior transfer looks like he’s getting that confidence back. Adding him to the list of offensive weapons just makes this team even scarier.
2. Coen Carr may have turned a corner
While it would be easy to praise Jeremy Fears Jr. for putting up 21 points and 11 rebounds, it was Coen Carr who really caught my eye.
Yes, Fears was great, but almost always is. Carr has been under the spotlight lately as a guy who needs to step up if Michigan State is going to make any noise in the Big Ten.
Afetr scoring 22 against Oakland last week, Carr dropped 19 points and he left another seven at the free throw line. He could’ve easily scored 25, but he struggled from the line (9-for-16). If he continues to play with this aggressiveness moving forward, Michigan State’s offense can take a major step.
3. Defense optional?
Giving up 53 first-half points had to make Izzo sick. The Spartans had been one of the best defensive teams in the country all season, but it looked anything but against Cornell in the first 20 minutes.
Cornell was hitting about 40 percent of their threes, but there was a lot of lazy defense, and it was contagious.
This obviously has to be cleaned up before the Spartans face Nebraska, but giving up 97 points to Cornell was just disgusting.