ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 12: Jeremy Fears Jr. #1 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after drawing a foul on a basket against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half of the State Farm Champions Classic between the Kansas Jayhawks and Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Arena on November 12, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Michigan State basketball took their first loss of the season on Tuesday, and it came at the hands of the No. 1 team in the country. The Spartans fell to Kansas 77 to 69 in a frustrating game for MSU.
You would think that an eight-point loss to the top team in the country wouldn’t leave such a bitter taste, but the fact of the matter is that the Spartans had every opportunity to win this game, but the team couldn’t hit a shot, part of an unsettling trend to start the season.
However, we are still learning a lot about this team that has four new starters this year, and we definitely learned a lot on Tuesday night. Below, you can see five takeaways from the loss.
Frankie Fidler is excellent at drawing fouls
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 12: Frankie Fidler #8 of the Michigan State Spartans drives against Rylan Griffen #6 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half of the State Farm Champions Classic between the Kansas Jayhawks and Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Arena on November 12, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Frankie Fidler was brought in this year as a transfer to do two things: shoot and draw fouls. He did one of those things at a high level on Tuesday night, going 8-8 from the free-throw line. While the offense looked ugly at times, Fidler getting to the line was a huge boost, and a big reason he finished with the most points for MSU.
Jeremy Fears Jr. is mostly ready, but scoring will be limiting
Jeremy Fears Jr. was given the keys to the MSU offense this year, starting at point guard after missing much of last season due to a gunshot wound. Fears looked ready for the part, mostly.
Fears had six assists, two steals, three rebounds, and nine points. His defense was strong, and he was making smart passes. While Fears did manage to get nine points in this one, that part of his game will still need some more maturation. For now, the lack of scoring threat from Fears is part of what made life tough on Jaden Akins, because Kansas could focus on Akins.
Jase Richardson is ready for a bigger role
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 12: Jase Richardson #11 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after drawing a foul on a three-point basket against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half of the State Farm Champions Classic between the Kansas Jayhawks and Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Arena on November 12, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Only three players hit a three-pointer against Kansas. It took Frankie Fidler six attempts to make one three. It took Jaxon Kohler five attempts. Jase Richardson made his only attempt.
Richardson finished with eight points in 20 minutes and in a game where MSU routinely looked overwhelmed and frazzled on offense, Richardson, a freshman, looked like a veteran.
The lineups are not helping MSU
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 12: Coen Carr #55 of the Michigan State Spartans drives against Rylan Griffen #6 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half of the State Farm Champions Classic between the Kansas Jayhawks and Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Arena on November 12, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
I really like Coen Carr, Jaxon Kohler, Szymon Zapala, and Carson Cooper, but playing any three of those four players at the same time is not doing this team many favors. Tom Izzo is famously stubborn about wanting to adapt to the modern inclinations of college basketball, but we have seen in short stretches how good Coen Carr can be at power forward instead of small forward. With Carr at small forward next to Kohler and Zapala or Cooper, it really hampers the team’s speed and shooting.
Xavier Booker and Jaden Akins need to play better
Nov 12, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard AJ Storr (2) shoots agasint Michigan State Spartans guard Jaden Akins (3) during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
I know this is about the most obvious statement on this list, but it has to be said. This team simply will not be good if Xavier Booker and Jaden Akins combine for two points. These are supposed to be two of the best scoring options on the team. I don’t expect them to be that bad again, but it was definitely not encouraging to see.
This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Five takeaways from Michigan State basketball’s loss to No. 1 Kansas
