Spanish reporter can’t stop raving about Michigan State basketball

In case you missed it, Michigan State basketball just destroyed the Valencia All-Stars on Sunday, winning the game in blowout fashion 105-59.

Even though this game was just an exhibition, Michigan State fans were rightfully excited. The team was excellent in every phase of the game and the things they struggled with in their first game were corrected just three days later.

But it wasn’t just Michigan State fans that were impressed. One Spanish sports reporter who helps organize these overseas games with college teams can’t stop raving about how impressive MSU looked to him.

Gerard Solé is a sports reporter who was in attendance for Michigan State's game against Valencia, and it's safe to say that MSU's performance on Sunday was one of the best that he has ever seen from a college team that's come overseas.

"This is an Elite Eight team. They have the skills, the maturity and they are incredibly physical in both rims. What they did today is unbelievable. We were completely crushed. And it was a similar team from the Madrid one that got a close game."

- Gerard Solé

The praise didn't stop there. A friend of mine quickly told Solé to pump the breaks so he wouldn't get his hopes up, but that made him double down on what he said in this thread on X.

"I have been organizing games for college teams for more than ten years. I’ve never watched this physicality and killer instinct. They wanted to destroy us after the Madrid game and they got that."

- Gerard Solé

If that doesn't get the juices flowing for the upcoming season then nothing will.

Solé had one more thing to say, this time about a specific player. If you watched the Spartans' game on Sunday you can probably guess who he was impressed with.

Coen Carr.

Carr arguably had his best game of his Michigan State career as he led the team with 20 points. But it was his athleticism and nine dunks that caught Solé attention.

I'll translate the post for you below.

"Coen Carr's display of athleticism today at L'Alquería was historic. I have never seen a player with such ease to smash everything that comes into his hands."

- Gerard Solé

This game alone made it very apparent that Carr needs to be a focal point of Michigan State's offense this season. I doubt Carr will be a starter, but he is a matchup nightmare and that is impossible to ignore. Tom Izzo will have to be strategic with how he maximizes his abilities, but Carr's athleticism gives Izzo endless opportunities.

The Spartans have one final game on their trip in Barcelona on Tuesday. While it is nice to see MSU look as strong as they did on Sunday it's crucial that they string these strong performances together. So let's hope we see another dominant performance from Michigan State on Tuesday to help carry us through the rest of the offseason.