Jaxon Kohler had some interesting words following Saturday’s loss to Duke. The senior big man and team leader spoke to the media and used the term “wounded animal” this week to describe the Spartans after that heartbreaking loss to the Blue Devils.
That term felt a little harsh, especially since the game was evenly-matched throughout, but Kohler didn’t mean it in a negative way.
Jacob Cotsonika, who covers Michigan State for SI.com, asked Kohler what he meant by the “wounded animal” comment, and his response is exactly why Michigan State has been so good this season and why the term “special” gets thrown around when describing the Spartans.
Jaxon Kohler likened MSU to a “wounded animal” after practice Thursday because of its loss to Duke.
— Jacob Cotsonika (@jacobcotsonika) December 12, 2025
I thought that may be a bit much for the No. 9 team in the country, so I asked him about it.
Here’s his full, illuminating response: pic.twitter.com/0DLiO2XeNj
Kohler’s response made much more sense when he explained himself, essentially saying that when animals are wounded, they have more of a sense of urgency. They’re no longer just sitting back, they’re ensuring that it doesn’t get worse. That mentality — that mindset — is exactly why this team has a chance to do big things.
A close loss while controlling a good chunk of the game to the No. 4 team in the country has Kohler talking about playing with more of a sense of urgency — it’s December and Michigan State is 8-1.
This Michigan State team is cut from the old-school Tom Izzo cloth
Michigan State had been lacking an identity for years. The Spartans seemed to have lost their identity after Cassius Winston graduated until the 2024-25 season, and that toughness and team chemistry returned. The Spartans started trending in the right direction again.
Why? Players like Kohler, Carson Cooper, Cam Ward, Jordan Scott, Jeremy Fears Jr., and Coen Carr are exuding toughness and that old-school mentality. They’re exactly what Tom Izzo would create in a lab.
This team is full of OKGs who don’t like losing and who will do everything to make sure it doesn’t happen on a regular basis.
As Fears once told Izzo, “I want to win this more than you do.”
A player-coached team, as Izzo always says, is the best team. This Michigan State team is full of player coaches, and that’s a recipe for long-term success.