The freshman wall. It's something every freshman usually hits at some point in the middle of their rookie year but somehow, Michigan State basketball's Jase Richardson has avoided it.
Through 22 games in his freshman season (he missed one with an injury), Richardson is second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.2 points per game and he's shooting an incredible 54 percent from the floor and 41 percent from deep. On top of that, he's nearly automatic from the free throw line, shooting 86 percent there.
Over the first three months of his freshman season, Richardson has played a solid sixth man role, coming off the bench to score double figures on a regular basis. He's been the perfect role player and a guy who hasn't needed to do too much and yet continues to exceed expectations.
On Saturday against Oregon, he played the role of hero and "alpha" on the offensive end.
All season long, Michigan State has been searching for an "alpha" or "go-to" scorer. The expectation before the season was that it would be Jaden Akins or maybe even Frankie Fidler. Heck, even Xavier Booker's name was tossed around. But through three months, it felt like the balance that the Spartans had excused the need for an alpha or go-to scorer. Against UCLA and USC, it was obvious that a guy like that was needed to make a deep run or win a Big Ten title.
Richardson proved he can be just that against Oregon, scoring a career-high 29 points on just 13 shot attempts, making nine of them and dominating down the stretch with 18 second-half points.
When Michigan State needed a bucket, Richardson was the guy that was turned to and he delivered almost every time. Without Jeremy Fears or Xavier Booker, Richardson got his first start and he had to pick up the slack for the missing pieces and he did. He scored in a variety of ways and made it look easy. He didn't shy away from the pressure even with Michigan State down 14 to start the second half without two key pieces.
That's what an alpha dog is.
While Akins may be the team's leading scorer and captain, it should be Richardson who gets the nod when the Spartans need points. He proved it on Saturday and it was the second time in five games in which he scored 20-plus points.
Michigan State's NCAA Tournament outlook just got a whole lot better thanks to Richardson stepping up against Oregon and proving he can be "the guy" moving forward.