1. A much-anticipated debut for this MSU basketball team.
EAST LANSING – For about 10,000 Michigan State fans, Wednesday night at the Breslin Center sounded like a therapy session that turned into a party. They had been experiencing enough dark introspection for the time being. Basketball season has arrived and the atmosphere has changed.
There’s only so much to be gained from the 85-43 exhibition win over Hillsdale. Most importantly, it happened on schedule.
After weeks of watching a middlingly talented football team fall short, MSU’s men’s basketball team took the court with the kind of lineup that would work well in college basketball. Five players with extensive starting experience were replaced by intriguing young players. With 16 minutes and 13 seconds left in the first half, the players entered the stadium to loud applause. Izzo then made it clear that he would not make any line changes once the actual game started. But that made Wednesday even more thrilling.
And for the MSU freshman, it was a big moment. This match was no different, and clearly helped to release some nervous energy.
“When we all checked in and the announcer called our names for the first time, it felt a lot different (than a scrimmage),” freshman Cohen Carr said. “I know everyone thinks it’s not (the opponent’s) fault, but it really helps to be able to play in your first game, no matter who you’re playing.”
This is a high-level team. But the thing I’ve seen over the years that people are blind to is the ceiling. Nothing that happened Wednesday can or should quiet the noise.
2. Impressions from new students – Hillsdale Exhibition Edition
Not since the last time Stephen Izzo checked in for mop-up duty have we heard such applause at the Breslin Center when MSU’s four freshmen checked in for the first time Wednesday. People were looking forward to the debuts of Jeremy Fears Jr., Cohen Carr, Xavier Booker, and Gehrig Normand. It was just an exhibition game, but I guess that’s enough for now.
A few things stood out to me.
Fiers is a tenacious two-way player who is extremely confident on offense and never lets up on defense. And he’s going to help MSU break out. He loves the look-ahead pass. Against Hillsdale, it mostly worked, except when Carr went down. It will be interesting to see how often he tries it against longer, more athletic competitions.
“I think if my teammates take a step or two, we can get through in front,” Fiers said after the game. “I trust myself to be able to put the ball right in his hands when he’s running and lead him right to the basket. … I’ve been doing that since I was young.”
As a recruit, I put Fears in the Gary Harris/Miles Bridges category. It’s a big game that Izzo sometimes handled with kid gloves. As a point guard, you already understand that — Fiers will get the full experience of Izzo. Wednesday included both Fiers nodding along and having tough conversations, and the pair arm in arm discussing what had just happened.
Fiers had two points, eight assists, and four turnovers in 18 minutes, capped off by a goal from Steven Izzo.
Related: Couch: Tom Izzo can’t hide his feelings about Jeremy Fiers Jr. on Michigan State freshman point guard
Kerr left the game for a younger Izzo, and another fan favorite became another. Carr will likely be active again this season. Of particular note in Wednesday’s game was a first-half steal and spectacular one-handed dunk, scoring two of his 12 points in 15 minutes. He had just three rebounds. That’s a remarkable number — one that will largely determine the extent of his role this season. He played primarily as a small forward, but also played a little as power forward. If he outperforms Booker, he could get some minutes there.
“Being able to play multiple positions is one of the reasons they hired me,” Kerr said. “(The challenge) will be more on the defensive end, guarding bigger players.”
Booker’s skill is outstanding. He started off with a somewhat contested 3-pointer from the left side, and then another 3-pointer after that. Those were his six points. I think his basic midrange jumper will also be a weapon. Although it was a small tournament, he also managed to successfully block three shots. I’d like to see Booker match up in a high major or Division I game before I really evaluate him. Because it’s not just when he’s tested physically, it’s also when you think his skill and height might actually set him apart. All of MSU’s players excelled athletically against Hillsdale. This is clear, Izzo said Wednesday night. If Booker is going to play significant minutes, he’s going to have to get better on the glass.
Norman played eight minutes and scored twice on a reverse layup in transition from Fiers. He’s likely the 11th player in a 10-man rotation. But he is skilled. If he had been on last year’s team, he might have been playing 12 to 15 minutes per game in November.
Related: Couch: MSU freshman Gehrig Normand is as unassuming as they come. But he knows he’s coming to MSU to get a shot.
3. Tre Holloman isn’t going anywhere.
There aren’t too many definitive things I’d like to say after the exhibition game against Hillsdale. One is that Tre’s Holloman won’t be taken out of this rotation, no matter how crowded and talented he is around the backcourt.
Holloman on Wednesday played the role of a sophomore who learned some things as a freshman, including what it takes to play. He knew last season that if he didn’t make a mistake, he had a role as a backup point guard. He’s acclimating, and if he does have a role this year, he says it will be primarily as an off-guard on the second unit, primarily next to freshman Jeremy Fears Jr. He seems to understand that.
Holloman had nine points (four assists) on five shots in 20 minutes Wednesday night, but lost two of his buckets — Xavier Booker’s triple and Xavier Booker’s triple — after getting mad at a freshman’s bucket in the last minute. The crowd was still buzzing from Cohen Carr’s first dunk, a 3-pointer following a strong drive, and he scored while being fouled.
I think that will be the story of his season. His presence doesn’t electrify the crowd like his younger teammates on the court. He also doesn’t have as much influence as his older backcourt mates. But the idea that Holloman might be a strange man…he doesn’t seem willing to budge.
Please contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.
