Michigan State basketball: More Jaxon Kohler moving forward could be key to run

Fourteen minutes. That's all we've seen from Michigan State basketball sophomore Jaxon Kohler. He has barely played in four games since returning from injury, with his most playing time being eight minutes against Rutgers where he scored his first, and only, basket of the 2023-24 season.

This lack of playing time has been confused and slightly concerning, especially since Carson Cooper and Mady Sissoko have been struggling on the offensive end of the floor.

For a team that desperately needs some post production on offense, you'd think that Tom Izzo would give Kohler some more playing time. However, he's averaging just 3.5 minutes per game and he's attempted a grand total of three shots on the season. That's not ideal, especially since Kohler has the potential to be a legit scoring threat down low.

And he has to be because, well, that's the only thing missing from this team right now.

If Michigan State is going to make a run in the Big Ten (it would require a huge run) or in March, it will need some production offensively in the post. It can't all be from Malik Hall or the driving guards, it needs to be partially from passes into the paint and hard-earned back-to-the-basket scores.

Think about it. Michigan State has elite guards and wings and a really solid forward in Hall with some key players like Coen Carr and Tre Holloman coming off the bench and a raw talent like Xavier Booker who could blossom at any moment. All the Spartans are missing is that go-to scorer in the post and Kohler can be that and needs to be that.

It's time we see more of him and that starts on Sunday at Maryland.