BASKETBALL

Scouting Notes: Michigan State

Indiana basketball — having lost five in a row and seven of eight — heads on the road to face Michigan State.

Published

43 minutes ago

February 11, 2025

Indiana basketball -- having lost five in a row and seven of eight -- heads on the road to face Michigan State. (Dale Young-Imagn Images)

Indiana basketball heads on the road on Tuesday to face Michigan State, looking to avoid a its sixth straight loss.

Michigan State enters Tuesday’s matchup at 19-4 overall and 10-2 in Big Ten play. The Spartans rank 26th in offensive efficiency with a rating of 118.7. Defensively, they rank 11th overall with a 94.2 rating. Overall, Michigan State is ranked 17th in KenPom’s ratings.

Here is a deep dive into some of the challenges Michigan State could give the Indiana basketball program.

More: Indiana basketball is poised for a rebirth, new era amid coaching search

Key Players

Michigan State is led by Jaden Akins on the wing who has settled into a nice steady and consistent force. Akins has always been the second or third option on the Spartans but is the go-to player for the majority of the year. While Akins is the leading scorer, he’s far from the most efficient. In the past six games, Akins is shooting just 35.2 percent from the floor, with an effective field goal rate of just 40.8 percent. Part of the reason for his struggles this year is because he’s struggled from the perimeter. A career 38.6 percent shooter in his first three years, Akins has dropped to just 29.8 percent this year on 5.0 attempts a game. The lefty is still a threat from three but extremely streaky so Indiana’s guards need to continue to close out while understanding where he’s most effective this year, and that’s slashing. With his athleticism and bounciness, Akins explodes at the rim and does a good job finishing in the paint. He’ll look to come off screens and can settle at times. Defensively, his wingspan and quickness sets the tone for what the Spartans are trying to do.

The new name for the Spartans is Jase Richardson off of the bench. Another lefty, the freshman guard is the real game changer for this team. While he’s extremely efficient from the floor, he’s either hot or cold. He has 10 games in double figures but also has six games with less than six points. Richardson is terrific with the ball in his hands and can create for himself off of the dribble. He has a bouncy first step and quick-twitch energy that allows him to get into the paint and find his shot. He can score off of screens or just with his ability 1-on-1. He’s coming off of a career-high 29 points as well as a high of 13 shot attempts — his first game this year with over 10 attempts.

Tre Holloman is another backcourt player who is starting to emerge as another go-to option at times. He’s a quick and physical player who has tremendous length. He’e best with the ball in his hands but is streaky as a scorer. He’s scored in double-figures in five of the last nine games but only shot above 40 percent in four of those game. Most of Holloman’s game revolves around utilizing screens to create separation or getting out in the open floor. He has a good first step, but he’s not someone who consistently gets to the rim as a finisher. When he’s attacking the basket, he’s looking to create for his teammates, with the 6th best assist rate in the Big Ten.

Jaxon Kohler mans the front court for the Spartans and is one of the toughest and best rebounders in the conference. Kohler has good size and frame and is quick on his feet with a very good ability to read shots and where the ball will come off the rim. Kohler ranks 6th in the Big Ten in offensive rebounds and 7th in total rebounds — in less than 20 minutes. His per-40 minute averages are 15.9 rebounds per game and 5.1 offensive rebounds a game. Most of his game will revolve around the paint, and as a screener in the high pick and roll. HIs production typically comes from his motor and ability to get offensive rebounds — rarely are there specific sets for him.

Splitting point guard duties with Holloman is Jeremy Fears. Fears is the typical Tom Izzo point guard who is a terrific leader, great playmaker for his teammates and a hard-nosed player. The sophomore guard is starting to emerge as one of the best passing guards in the league, bringing in a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. While there are a lot of playmakers for Michigan State, it starts and ends with Fears’ ability as the primary ball handler. He ranks 3rd in the NCAA in assist percent and has 13 games this year with at least six assists and less than two turnovers. Most of Fears’ scoring punch will come off of transition opportunities or pick and rolls with his quick firs step. Fears is an extremely tough defender who sets the tone with his ability to disrupt ball handlers and create easy action in the open floor.

On the wing is one of the most athletic players across the country with Coen Carr. While he’s just 6-foot-6, he plays closer to 7+ feet and plays above the rim on every possession. Carr flies through the air and is a highlight reel waiting to happen. Carr is used as a small-ball 4 and is terrific as the roller on most occasions. He’s going to see most of his action come from inside the paint and on the block — with just eight attempted 3s all year. In transition, Carr is a blur in transition and has the quickness, speed and athletic to beat everyone down the floor.

Szymon Zapala starts for the Spartans but isn’t a big threat and has seen his involvement in the offense dip in conference play. He has great size and muscle but is typically used as a lobber at this point in the season. He’s not a threat from three and isn’t a threat as a rim protector, so his overall impact isn’t very large.

Xavier Booker is a name most Indiana basketball fans are aware of but Booker has yet to fully crack into his potential consistently. At 6-foot-11, Booker remains very perimeter oriented but is just 2-of-25 from three in the last 11 games. He’s found some more success around the rim at that is directly correlated with his motor. When it’s high, he’s effective, but it’s never consistent enough to be a major threat game in and game out.

Frankie Fidler has good size on the wing but is a bit limited in his skillset. While he came to Michigan State as a shooter, he’s at just 17.3 percent from three this year — 9-of-52 on the season. Fidler has just three 3s in the last 10 games and is 3-of-18 in that span.

Key Tendencies

Michigan State is a team that has numerous options offensively and that shows with its ability to move the ball and pass up good shots for great shots. The Spartans typically have two point guards on the floor at all times, in addition to multiple ball handlers who can create off of the dribble. Michigan State ranks 4th in the country in assist rate, 64.7 percent, and 9th in assists per game at 17.9. What MSU does best is getting into the paint and either finishing at the rim or dumping off for cutters for easy looks. This is not a team that is a consistent threat from three — shooting just 29.3 percent as a team, ranked 359th in the country in percent of points coming from three. The Spartans like to play around the lane and have a knack for drawing contact, ranking 14th in the nation in with 23.5 percent of their points coming from the free throw line. With their struggles shooting the ball, it creates a great chance for offensive rebounds — something MSU continues to lean on. They rank 17th in offensive rebound rate. While they won’t seek out a quick pace, the Spartans pick their spots and have the quickness and athleticism to get out in the open floor. Overall, seven players average 7.8 points a game.

Defensively, Michigan State is extremely tough, long and versatile at multiple positions that makes life difficult for opposing offenses. MSU limits open looks and limits second chance opportunities — something Indiana basketball has had success at this year. There will typically be numerous defections but Michigan State struggles at times to create steals — 317th in steal rate — but do a phenomenal job at making ball handlers uncomfortable. At the rim, there are numerous defenders who can impact the shot.

Overall, this is a deep, talented, versatile and extremely comfortable Michigan State team when it comes to their roles. They play tough and are smart — rarely ever out of a game. What the Spartans do best is wear opposing teams down, something that has been an issue for Indiana basketball this season. If Indiana can limit live ball turnovers, especially the careless kind, it could be a game that goes down to the wire with MSU’s inability to outshoot teams.

Projected Starters

G – Tre Holloman (Junior; 6-2, 185)

Stats: 8.2 ppg, 3.8 apg, 34.1% 3pt

G – Jaden Akins (Senior; 6-4, 190)

Stats: 13.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.6 apg

G – Jeremy Fears Jr. (Sophomore; 6-2, 190)

Stats: 7.7 ppg, 6.2 apg, 42.1% 3pt

F – Jaxon Kohler (Junior; 6-9, 245)

Stats: 7.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg

F –Szymon Zapala (Senior; 6-11, 255)

Stats: 5.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg

Key Notes

MSU is one of two teams in the AP Top 25 with 7+ players averaging at least 7.8 ppg (Arizona).
The Spartans rank 3rd in the country in fast break points per game (17.4 ppg) and 4th in bench points (36.1 ppg).
Michigan State ranks 3rd in the nation in rebound margin (+10.2 rpg).