Jaxon Kohler is going to be the key to beating No. 1 Kansas

It's been an ideal start to the season for Michigan State basketball and Jaxon Kohler.

The junior big man is averaging 12.5 points and 10.5 rebounds through the Spartans' first two games and while that may not seem like much against two inferior opponents, it's a sign of growth. He struggled with consistency through his first two seasons and it felt like he was just not in the best shape last season after coming back from a foot injury.

Through two games, he looks better than he ever has in a Michigan State uniform.

And that comes just in time for Tuesday night's Champions Classic matchup with No. 1 Kansas. The talented big man is finally coming into his own and he's going to be the key factor in Michigan State's pursuit of an upset. He is going to be responsible for guarding Hunter Dickinson and also scoring on the Kansas big man who began his career at Michigan.

Tom Izzo won't be asking for another 20-point, 10-rebound game against the No. 1 team in the country, but he will be expecting Kohler to hold his own on the defensive end, crash the boards, and pose a threat in the post on the offensive end.

Kohler's newfound ability to shoot from deep is going to make Michigan State harder to guard, especially if Xavier Booker is in that same lineup, but it'll also help defensively.

If Michigan State is going to go into Tuesday's Champions Classic and come away with a signature win, it's going to be because Kohler played to the level of which he is capable and also because the team shot the ball better from deep.

Kohler is the key to victory on Tuesday.