EAST LANSING – Michigan State's Spartans Achieve Longest Winning Streak in Two Years

The Michigan State Spartans continued their impressive run, achieving their longest winning streak in two years with an 80-62 victory against Western Michigan on Monday night. This win marked the No. 18 Spartans' sixth consecutive triumph as they improved to 11-2 overall and maintained a perfect 2-0 record in Big Ten play, while the Broncos fell to 3-9.

Coach Izzo Expresses Discontent with Team's Effort

However, the atmosphere in the locker room was anything but celebratory, as head coach Tom Izzo and several players expressed disappointment with the team's effort during the game. Coach Izzo lamented, “I thought we played like we thought we were going to win the game,” highlighting a sense of complacency among the players.

Jaden Akins Reflects on Lazy Performance

Guard Jaden Akins, who led the team by scoring 18 points, echoed this sentiment, stating, “We just played lazy today. I felt like we had really good days of practice and then we just kind of showed up expecting to get the job done.” Such remarks indicate a struggle with maintaining focus and intensity, even against lower-ranked opponents.

High Turnovers and Humor from Izzo

Despite the victory, the Spartans' performance included a staggering 17 turnovers, tying their season high. Izzo humorously remarked, “I should be arrested for that,” clearly frustrated with the lack of discipline displayed on the court.

Tre Holloman Advocates for Increased Energy

Fellow player Tre Holloman added, “Today we just didn’t have it... We just didn’t bring it all today. Tomorrow we’re going to have to come to practice with some more energy.” This statement suggests a critical turning point as the team prepares to refocus and regain their edge in practices leading into the next matchups.

Carson Cooper Shines Despite Overall Struggles

One bright spot in the game was center Carson Cooper, who scored a career-high 13 points and grabbed six rebounds off the bench. Izzo praised his performance, noting that Cooper has been one of the strongest defensive players, though he has struggled this season. Cooper himself acknowledged his recent slump and expressed optimism: “For me to come out and kind of put together a game is a good confidence builder for me, and then hopefully I can just keep that consistency going in the future.”

Coen Carr Points Out Complacency Issues

Forward Coen Carr reflected on the overall team mindset, suggesting that the Spartans fell into a trap of complacency. “There was a lot of things we needed to do, there was a lot of things we put emphasis on in practice that we just didn’t execute,” he stated.

Izzo Emphasizes Maturity and Energy

Izzo reiterated the importance of maturity and work ethic, admitting, “My first key to the game was are we mature enough to take the practice to the game? And the answer is no, we were not.” He also expressed disappointment at the lack of energy from the team, especially in front of a passionate Breslin Center crowd, stating, “I felt bad for them… you let down 15,000 people today.”

Frustration with Jaxon Kohler's Performance

Tensions flared during the match, resulting in a double technical foul involving Jeremy Fears and Western's Chansey Willis after an altercation where Willis shoved Fears. Izzo said he was perplexed by the call and that he had heard Fears said something back to Willis.

Looking Ahead: Can Spartans Bounce Back?

Lastly, criticism fell on starting forward Jaxon Kohler, who finished with just one point while missing all four of his shots. Izzo remarked, “He just looked tired the whole game but he had been sick... He was run down; he looked gassed.” As Michigan State moves forward, it is clear that improvements must be made to maintain their winning momentum and fully realize their potential in this competitive season. Will the Spartans be able to shake off this lackluster performance and come back stronger in their upcoming matches? Only time will tell!