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V-Cast: Michigan State gets a culture win over Kentucky in a Champions Classic blowout

On3 imageby: Paul Konyndyk6 hours agoPKonyndyk
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NEW YORK – Michigan State is now 2-0 in non-conference games against ranked SEC opponents, but this one, an 83-66 beatdown of No. 12 Kentucky, was different. The Spartans have had a lot of close games, and even some memorable wins at the Champions Classic over the years, but they have never won in a blowout victory like this.

Afterward, SpartanMag staffers Jim Comparoni and Paul Konyndyk checked in from Madison Square Garden with a basketball V-Cast.

V-CAST TOPICS

Culture win: Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is committed to having a player development program and not a mercenary roster. That doesn’t mean that Izzo will not use the portal to bring in a player or two to fit a specific area of need when warranted. This game, however, proved to be a contrast in approaches to program building. Michigan State’s commitment to player development and accountability against a $22 million dollar Kentucky roster of talented individuals. This game wasn’t even close. Michigan State was better coached and executed out-executed Kentucky by a wide margin. The Wildcats looked rudderless, lacking both  leadership and direction. This was very much a culture win for Izzo and his program.

Shooting Guard: Michigan State got 40 percent shooting from three and 28 points between starting shooting guard Trey Fort and back-up Kur Teng. For played within himself and made good decisions for the most part, while holding up well on defense. Teng had his best game as a Spartan, scoring 15 points on 6-for-12 shooting. He made threes and he made shots inside the arc. He also had a couple of big passes for assists in this game. This was a much-needed confidence building performance for the second-year Spartan.

Kohler leads a strong frontline performance: Jaxon Kohler had one of his best scoring games as a Spartan totaling 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting. Kohler also hit two threes, filling the stretch component that the Spartans must have at the four to be the best version of themselves. Defensively, Kohler held up remarkably well in a difficult match-up with athletic Kentucky four man Mo Dioubate, who scored just 10 points in this game, and missed all four of the threes he took against Michigan State. Kohler was the leader of Michigan State frontcourt that got significant production from everyone that played against Kentucky. To his credit, Kohler had one of his most efficient scoring games of the season against Kentucky. This was a big game for him and for Michigan State as a result.

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