MSU Basketball Naughty and Nice List

The Spartans are simply having a wonderful Christmas time. But before everyone settles in for a long winter’s nap, it’s time to check that list one more time.

Michigan State enters its one-week holiday break after taking down the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in a hard-fought matchup at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. MSU secured its 24th straight win against Greg Kampe and Oakland, extending a three-game winning streak and moving to 11–1 (2–0 Big Ten) heading into the break.

Michigan State’s lone loss came three weeks ago at the hands of Duke, falling 66–60 in a game that was still within reach late. The Spartans have stacked up an impressive résumé, earning ranked wins over Arkansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky, along with conference victories against Iowa and a nail-biter against Penn State.

Conference play officially ramps up in January — 18 straight Big Ten battles, the time of year when college basketball becomes a nightly ritual. You gather months of information, convince yourself you know how March will unfold, and then watch all that confidence evaporate in the first weekend of the tournament. That’s the beauty of it.

Before the grind begins, Michigan State has one more non-conference game on the schedule: Monday, December 29 vs. Cornell, which will close out both non-conference play and the 2025 calendar year.

This comes after a season ago where MSU finished 30–7, earned a No. 2 seed, and made an Elite Eight run — followed by an 11–1 start this season built on players who have grown into major roles through the Tom Izzo trust system.

The Spartans may be off from games this week, but you can bet Izzo has them grinding behind the scenes. So before Big Ten play tips off, let’s break down what’s landed Michigan State on the Nice List — and what still sits firmly on the Naughty List.

Michigan State has been dubbed “Rebounding U” this season, and the numbers back it up. Led by big men Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, along with the explosive athleticism of Coen Carr, the Spartans dominate the glass.

As a team, MSU ranks 14th nationally with 42.7 rebounds per game. Rebounding is their bread and butter — especially with inconsistent perimeter shooting — and it must remain that way for sustained success.

Rebounding and ball movement go hand in hand for this team.

Jeremy Fears Jr. held the national lead in assists for most of the season and now sits second nationally behind Purdue’s Braden Smith.

As a unit, Michigan State averages 19.3 assists per game, ranking 15th nationally. The offense flows best when Fears is creating and the ball doesn’t stick.

Michigan State’s defense has been as stout as a fresh pint of Guinness.

Only two teams have scored 70 or more points against the Spartans this season:

That’s with MSU having already faced four ranked opponents.

The Spartans play tight, aggressive defense that forces tough shots, and when those shots miss, the rebounding takes over.

Michigan State needs consistent scoring from someone not named Jaxon Kohler.

Yes, there have been big nights:

But consistency is lacking. Against Duke, Jeremy Fears Jr. and Kur Teng combined to go 0-for-15 from the field.

The lack of confidence from deep could turn into a serious Achilles heel. If teams clog the paint and the Spartans can’t punish them from outside, Big Ten defenses will take notice. Players like Teng, Ugochukwu, Fort, and others must step up.

This could be the difference between a deep March run — or an early exit.

Michigan State shoots 74.1% from the free-throw line, ranking tied for 111th nationally. While Fears and Kohler are excellent (both around 87%), others need major improvement:

Opponents will exploit this late in games, intentionally forcing the ball into the hands of weaker shooters. Accountability here is non-negotiable.

Michigan State looks impressive — especially compared to Spartan teams of the past at this point in the season. There’s plenty to like, and the Nice List is stacked with positives.

But the Naughty List highlights real areas of opportunity. The Spartans have a week before their next game and only a few months before tournament play begins.

Time is slipping away to improve.

And now, every second matters.