It’s not often that a Big Ten game results in a zero-stress win. Michigan State basketball had one of those on Saturday afternoon against one of the league‘a worst teams.
Maryland didn’t stand much of a chance against Michigan State in its first game back at the Breslin Center in over a week. The Spartans raced out to a double-digit lead in the first few minutes, and led by 20 about midway through the first half.
Michigan State left no doubt on Saturday afternoon, cruising to a 43-point win over Buzz Williams and the Terrapins to improve to 18-2 on the year.
Here’s what the report card from the win looks like (players are ordered by minutes played).
Jeremy Fears — A+
Any time a player makes conference history, you have to give him the credit he deserves. Jeremy Fears had 17 points and 17 assists against Maryland, becoming the only player in Big Ten history to have a stat line like that. Fears also continued his hot shooting, making 6-of-8 from the floor and draining his only 3-point attempt. Huge game for the sophomore guard — he looks like an All-American.
Carson Cooper — A-
Another solid game for Carson Cooper, following up his career performance against Oregon. He finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and three steals, shooting 4-for-8 from the floor. Not only does Cooper look like a defensive juggernaut, but he’s coming around big-time offensively — oh, and his first career 3-pointer was cool.
Jaxon Kohler — B+
Per Jaxon Kohler’s senior year standards, the veteran big man didn’t have his best game, but he got back on track after a short two-game lull. He scored 11 points with eight rebounds, and he was 5-for-7 from the floor. Kohler bounced back, and it’s good to see his confidence return just in time for Hate Week.
Coen Carr — A-
I won’t lie, Coen Carr has really impressed me over the past couple of games. He hit three 3-pointers against Oregon, and then added another against Maryland, along with a couple of mid-range jumpers. He really received an A- for those incredible alley-oops at the end of the Maryland game, and he was 6-for-8 from the floor. Is his jumper here to stay?
Divine Ugochukwu — B
Divine Ugochukwu had been quiet leading up to Saturday’s game, but his seven-point performance was a nice change. Ugochukwu really hasn’t done much offensively since that breakout game against Penn State last month, but he’s perking up again — though he took just two shots. Not a great game, but an above average one for Ugochukwu.
Cam Ward — B+
Cam Ward looked solid once again, and it’s clear that his wrist is no longer an issue. He plays with an aggression and toughness that Izzo loves, which is why he’s playing 20 minutes off the bench as a true freshman. He scored eight on 3-for-3 shooting with three rebounds and two blocks. Just imagine how good he’d be if he shot better from the line.
Jordan Scott — B+
Jordan Scott made the most of his 17 minutes off the bench, scoring eight with three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Him and his fellow freshman teammate were both a play or two away from earning an A from this blowout win. Scott was also 2-for-3 from deep which is a good sign.
Kur Teng — B
After that hilarious interaction with Tom Izzo during the Oregon game, Kur Teng perked up a bit against the Terps, scoring seven on 3-for-7 shooting. He defended better, and drew some praise in that regard after the game. It’s good to see that Izzo’s harsh words didn’t hurt his confidence.
Jesse McCulloch — B
Jesse McCulloch did get lost on one defensive possession that led to an open 3-pointer by Maryland, but other than that, he was really solid. He finished with three points, a rebound, and a block in nine minutes. He probably deserves more minutes.
Trey Fort — C
I obviously would’ve like to see more of Trey Fort after he played a hero’s role against Oregon days prior, but he went 0-for-2 from the floor in nine minutes. He didn’t do anything exceptionally well, but he also didn’t make any glaring mistakes.
Denham Wojcik — B-
Denham Wojcik comes in and just does what he’s supposed to. He’s in there to spell Fears for a few minutes at a time, and not turn the ball over while playing solid defense. He did all of that, and even scored his second bucket as a Spartan.
The walk-ons — Incomplete
Colin Walton, Brennan Walton, and Nick Sanders all played two minutes, and none of them scored — but they were a combined 0-for-1 from the floor. Izzo did say he was mad at Sanders for not taking an open shot, but they didn’t play enough to really earn a grade.