2. Jaxon Kohler is becoming the big that this team needs
A year ago, there was so much doubt about the post that fans didn't even want the ball dropped into the paint by the guards. There was no need to get the ball to Mady Sissoko, Jaxon Kohler (when healthy), or Carson Cooper. Nothing good could come from it.
But Kohler seems to have turned the corner and he's now living up to his potential as a formidable big man on both ends of the floor. A fire has been lit in him.
Tom Izzo went out into the portal to address the center spot with Szymon Zapala and Kohler seemed to have taken it personally, although the two are in the starting lineup together and seem to feed off each other. For the fourth time this season, Kohler recorded a double-double and make it look rather easy, scoring 14 points with 10 strong rebounds and he even added three blocks.
It's good to see him becoming the big man that this team sorely missed last year and he and Zapala are making the post a scary place for opposing teams.
Zapala seems to feed off Kohler's energy as he finished with five points, eight rebounds, and six (!!) blocks as well. This duo is fun to watch.