Couch: 3 quick takes (from afar) on Michigan State basketball's exhibition win over Incarnate Word
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1. Jordan Scott, Kur Teng, Jesse McCulloch stand out in MSU's exhibition opener
It’s sometimes easy to forget in the offseason what a difference one year to the next can make for a player in college basketball. We see it all the time at Michigan State — Jeremy Fears Jr. and Carson Cooper, for example, last year took massive steps from the previous season. And yet, each offseason, we tend to get caught up with the possibilities of the unknown. It’s more fun to think about what could be with a freshman or transfer, than what might be with an improved returner, with someone whose flaws we’ve seen.
We were reminded during MSU’s 89-59 way-early exhibition win over Incarnate Word on Friday night at Breslin Center what experience and growth looks like. And what the very early stages of a freshman season can look like.
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MSU’s best players Friday were guys who’d been through at least one MSU basketball season before and had poured themselves into the offseason, well aware of what they needed to do.
Sophomore Jordan Scott, who started at shooting guard Friday, played (and looked) like someone ready to take a serious step. His wiry figure has been replaced by the arms of someone who’s seen a weight room. He's gone from welterweight to cruiserweight. Meanwhile, he hit 6 of 8 shots and 4 of 6 3-pointers and scored 16 points in 26 efficient minutes.
Kur Teng, who missed a lot of this offseason after foot surgery, looked like a shooter who’s had a lot of time to just shoot, hitting 3 of 4 3s for nine points in nine minutes, his time intentionally limited. I wrote Teng off a bit after his foot injury, figuring Scott and freshman Jasiah Jervis might take most of his minutes. The player we saw Friday night on the offensive end — patient, comfortable, making the most of his time — is someone who will have a significant role on this MSU team, if that keeps up.
Jesse McCulloch, who I’ll get into more below, played like someone who’s determined to have a meaningful career at MSU, and can stretch a defense from the 4 and 5 spots.
MSU played Friday without Cam Ward, who figures to start at power forward and be a significant part of everything. Not including Ward, MSU’s best players — 18 days before the second of three exhibition games, 13 days before practice used to be allowed to begin — look mostly like guys who’ve been around. In a couple cases, at least, strides appear to have been made.
2. McCulloch makes the most of his opportunity
Cam Ward will be MSU’s starting power forward. He’s got too much potential to be elite defensively and on the glass. If MSU is going to be great this season, Ward will be everything the Spartans hope he is as a power forward. But, in Ward’s absence Friday night, Jesse McCulloch showed why Tom Izzo and Co. believe he’s going to be a factor this season.
McCulloch started at power forward in place of Ward — who’s still coming back from a sprained ankle — and had 20 points, hit 8 of 13 shots and 2 of 3 3s, while grabbing five offensive rebounds. McCulloch looked very comfortable out there, albeit playing against a low-major opponent. But being comfortable in your skin on the court is no small thing for a player who redshirted two years ago and then played a bit role last season.
I think McCulloch will end up playing at least as many minutes at center as he does power forward. From either spot, he’ll be able to stretch defenses. I’ll be surprised if teams don’t start covering him like a threat at the 3-point line — Incarnate Word both did and didn’t Friday — and that’s as important as making 3s, because it contributes to spacing.
3. Newcomer thoughts — the Incarnate Word exhibition edition
MSU’s freshman backcourt really struggled in the first half Saturday. I thought Jasiah Jervis grew into the game well. Carlos Medlock Jr. will have many better days. Together, they combined for seven turnovers.
You could see both looking to make a splash early, throwing up 3-pointers that were nowhere near the best shot the Spartans could have had on the possession. In the last 10 or so minutes, though, Jervis showed why he has a chance to be an impact guy as a freshman. He finished with 10 points, hit a couple 3-pointers, and had a steal and bucket that got him going.
Keep in mind, college basketball teams didn’t used to begin practicing for two weeks. MSU doesn’t play its actual opener for a month. Friday will help Jervis and Medlock settle in next time — in more challenging exhibitions against Connecticut and Marquette, and then as the regular season begins.
I thought freshman center Ethan Taylor (who had four points and nine rebounds) showed both his talent and why he’ll likely play spot minutes for a while once the regular season begins, with McCulloch serving as the backup center. Taylor is huge and talented, but he gets a little lost defensively. That’ll take some time for him. But if he gets to a point this season where he’s reliable on that end, he’ll play.
Senior transfer Anton Bonke had four points and three rebounds in 15 minutes against an undersized foe. No red flags. Also not much that stood out. He had a couple good moments on the defensive end, and one or two lapses. He also hit a 3-pointer that showed off a sweet stroke. We’ll see how much that’s a part of his game this season (it was last year to a small degree at Charlotte). If it is, it would help MSU play lineups with both Cam Ward and Coen Carr.
Kaleb Glenn, finally making his debut, had a rough night, missing all five shots and grabbing two rebounds in 16 minutes. Coming of a serious knee injury, he doesn’t look as sure of himself out there as he’ll need to be to be a major contributor on this team.
Contact Graham Couch at [email protected]. Follow him on X @Graham_Couch and BlueSky @GrahamCouch.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Couch: 3 quick takes (from afar) on Michigan State basketball's exhibition win over Incarnate Word