Michigan State has won 12 in a row, but Tom Izzo thinks Spartans aren’t close to ceiling

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EAST LANSING – Under the brightest spotlights – on national television, at the basketball Mecca, Madison Square Garden – Jase Richardson and Coen Carr showed out.

In doing so, they showed why Michigan State keeps winning. And why Tom Izzo can’t predict just how much more production remains with the potential for continued growth from his burgeoning young stars.

“Have we hit our ceiling yet? No, I don’t even think we’re close,” Izzo said during his weekly news conference Monday. “Can we get there? That’s everybody’s dream. But we aren’t maxing out.”

The seventh-ranked Spartans (17-2, 8-0 Big Ten) are looking to win their 13th straight game Tuesday when Minnesota (11-9, 3-6) visits Breslin Center. Tipoff is 8 p.m., and the game is only available through Peacock.

MSU’s balance once again was on display in Saturday’s 81-74 win over the Scarlet Knights. Richardson, a freshman combo guard, scored a season-high 20 points to lead the Spartans, while sophomore Carr delivered a few highlight dunks, two of MSU’s eight blocked shots, a career high-tying eight rebounds and 14 points while showing off his all-around growth and talent on an NBA court.

Jan 25, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Jase Richardson (11) drives to the basket against Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Jordan Derkack (0) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The in-season development of those two potential pros has elevated expectations for MSU. They are a big reason the Spartans got 50 points, 24 rebounds and seven assists against Rutgers from their bench players, which Izzo has termed a second starting five.

“I feel like I gotta provide energy off the bench when I come play,” Richardson, who averages 9.8 points with 2.6 boards and 1.8 assists a game, said in New York. “So if it comes to scoring, it comes to defending, it comes to play-making, I try to help the team. And today, it was scoring, so I felt…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-won-12-row-110833801.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2025-01-28 11:08:00

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