The Michigan State Spartans continue their season with both triumphs and challenges as they maneuver through the Big Ten Conference. Recently, the Spartans secured a victory against the Ohio State Buckeyes, but a reoccurring problem has emerged: their three-point shooting. This issue has plagued the team since the beginning of the season, and as competition ramps up, it could prove decisive.
On Friday, January 15, 2025, the Spartans faced off against the Buckeyes, managing to come away with a win. Despite the success, concerns about their long-range accuracy remain front and center. The Spartans struggled considerably at the charity stripe, finishing the game with only 3 successful three-pointers out of 18 attempts—a mere 16.7% success rate. This performance has not been out of character for MSU, who currently averages just 5.6 made three-pointers per game against 20.1 attempts, ranking them at the bottom of the Big Ten Conference.
While the statistics tell one story, Spartans coach Tom Izzo remains optimistic about his team's potential. Post-game, Izzo expressed pride in their performance, highlighting key moments: "We went on an 8-0 run, we didn't turn the ball over the last 8 minutes of the game, we made some big free throws. I'm really proud of my team, because Ohio State has been playing pretty good. The crowd really got involved once they cut the lead. I thought we had numerous guys step up." His confidence points to the harmony within the team, regardless of their shooting percentages.
Key players responded when the pressure was on. Junior guard Tre Holloman, redshirt freshman Jeremey Fears Jr., and senior Jaden Akins all delivered clutch performances, contributing significantly to the final score. Together, they combined for 23 points, including all three of MSU's three-pointers. This collaborative effort shows promise, but consistency will be the true test moving forward.
Looking ahead, Michigan State's next challenge will be the Washington Huskies, who have shown themselves to be effective from distance, posing yet another obstacle for the Spartans. Although the Huskies currently find themselves with just 1-2 conference play record, their shooting capabilities may give them the edge if MSU doesn’t rectify their three-point woes.
Given the stakes as the conference season progresses, the Spartans will need to develop effective strategies to increase their three-point shooting efficiency. Without improvement, their position as they hunt for more victories could be significantly jeopardized. Fans will certainly be keeping close tabs on both the Rutgers game and their performance against Washington, hoping to see enhanced shooting percentages to help support another winning season.
For now, the Michigan State Spartans are set to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on January 15, 2025, at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET live from Piscataway, New Jersey. With tickets still available, both fans and analysts are eager to see if the Spartans can turn around their shooting misfortunes. A solid performance will be key to maintaining momentum and confidence as they close the conference play schedule and look toward potential postseason opportunities.