Jesse McCullough and Jordan Scott ignited a high-flying offensive clinic while Jeremy Fears orchestrated a dominant performance, showcasing a re-energized roster and a promising influx of freshman talent.
From beginning to end, the Michigan State Spartans came ready to show the more than 6,000 Izzone students in attendance that this team is the real deal. From the most experienced veterans to the youngest players on the roster, everyone showed up and showed out.
Between jaw-dropping dunks from Coen Carr and a barrage of 3-pointers, the Spartans looked both familiar and completely new at the same time.
Jordan Scott and Jesse McCullough proved just how impactful they could be this season. Even Jon Rothstein noted before the game that people close to the program were expecting a massive uptick in production from both sophomores.
Boy, did they deliver.
McCullough led all Spartans with 20 points, shooting 8-of-13 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He added five offensive rebounds, an assist, a block and two steals in an impressive all-around performance.
Scott, who added considerable muscle during the offseason, looked even more comfortable than he did a year ago. He finished with the second-most points on the team with 16, shooting 6-of-8 from the field and 4-of-6 from 3-point range. He also contributed five rebounds, a block and two steals.
Michigan State's Freshman Four Make Their Debut
The freshman four were an absolute blast to watch. It was the first opportunity for Spartan fans to see the four players who helped make up the top-10 recruiting class Tom Izzo assembled, and each of them showed why the future is so bright in East Lansing.
Jasiah Jervis tied Jeremy Fears for third on the team with 10 points, while Carlos Medlock Jr. finished with three assists, the third-most on the team. Julius Avent brought tremendous tenacity to the floor, finishing with four points and two rebounds. Ethan Taylor led the Spartans with nine rebounds.
Kur Teng also knocked down three 3-pointers, sending the Izzone into a frenzy with each one.
As a team, Michigan State shot 13-of-30 from beyond the arc compared to UIW's 4-of-18. The Spartans also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Cardinals 39-23.
However, one area that needs attention is turnovers. Michigan State finished with 18, a problem that plagued the Spartans last season and will need to be addressed over the next month before the regular season tips off in November.
Jeremy Fears Picks Up Right Where He Left Off
Fears returned to his usual ways, delivering a jaw-dropping 13 assists to go along with 10 points.
Last season, Fears set the Michigan State single-season record for assists but finished 17 shy of Purdue's Braden Smith's Big Ten single-season record. Fears could have his sights set on that mark this season, although he would be the first to tell you that individual accolades mean little compared to winning a championship.
His ability to control the offense and create opportunities for his teammates was on full display Friday night, and it was another reminder of just how important he will be to Michigan State's success.
A Different-Looking Spartans Team
Despite many of the same faces, this looked like a different Michigan State team. The relentless defense and dominance on the boards were still there, but the shot selection appeared smarter, and the offense looked more comfortable.
The freshman four even shared the floor together, occasionally alongside a veteran such as Kaleb Glenn or Scott. They looked ready to make an immediate impact in East Lansing.
Izzo may have planned to gradually increase their roles, with even bigger opportunities potentially coming next season, but Friday's performance showed that these freshmen are hungry for playing time. If they continue to perform at this level, they could force Izzo's hand much earlier and more often than expected.
Michigan State cruised to an 89-59 victory, but the final score wasn't what Spartan fans were most interested in. They wanted to see how this team looked. Could it run away with a game it was expected to dominate, or would it fall victim to the early-season struggles that have derailed teams in the past?
Fortunately for Spartan fans, it was the former.
The Spartans looked every bit like a team capable of competing among the nation's elite, and Friday's exhibition offered an exciting glimpse of what could be a special season in East Lansing.
Defense: Relentless From the Opening Tip
Relentless defense was the name of the game for Michigan State. The Spartans forced UIW into multiple scoreless stretches throughout the first half and wasted no time implementing the full-court press.
With a month remaining before the regular season begins, it looked as though Izzo wanted to test his players' stamina and see just how much pressure they could sustain.
If Friday was any indication, this team is more than ready to bring the heat.
