Michigan State is coming off an embarrassing showing in Madison as the Badgers absolutely dominated every aspect of the game.
This week, MSU is back home to take on the Bruins, Feb 17 at 8:30pm on Peacock.
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UCLA Overview
Valentine’s Day had no love for the Bruins as they were manhandled by 30 points in Ann Arbor. The Bruins shot only 38% from the field, 50% from free throw and 29% from behind the arc. That is some pretty abysmal shooting, especially against a Wolverine team shooting 62%.
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UCLA actually started the season ranked number 12 and had a decent start to the season with a loss to Arizona by only four points. UCLA has yet to win a game this season against a ranked opponent. The Achilles heel for the Bruins has been field goal percentage. They have been in most games and play relatively well defensively but when they are cold, they are very cold. The Bruins also give up more second half points. If you can stay close in the first half, you have a shot at overtaking them in the second. The Bruins have a lot of experience in the starting five and matches up size wise pretty evenly against the Spartans. UCLA does not have a prolific passer
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UCLA Rotation
The Bruins’ likely starters are:
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#2 6-2 SR G – Donovan Dent. 13.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 7 apg, 41.3% FG, 18.6% 3FG, New Mexico transfer
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#00 6-4 SO G – Trent Perry. 12.7 ppg, 46.2% FG, 44.7% 3FG
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#3 6-8 JR F/G – Eric Dailey Jr. 11 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 46.5% FG, 26.2% 3FG, Oklahoma State transfer
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#34 6-9 SR F – Tyler Bilodeau. 17.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 51.4% FG, 45.2% 3FG, Oregon State transfer
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#1 6-11 JR F/C – Xavier Booker. 7.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 55.3% FG, 41.5% 3FG, Michigan State Transfer.
Bilodeau is the main scoring threat and takes control of the offense.
Two players generally provide help off the bench:
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#4 6-5 SR 5th Yr G – Jamar Brown. 5.0 ppg, 46.3% FG, 36.7% 3FG
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#55 6-3 SR G – Skyy Clark. 13.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 47.5% FG, 49.3% 3FG
Perry was the hottest hand in Ann Arbor as he had 14 on 5/9 shooting. Clark has also been known to start some but is slowly coming back from a hamstring injury. Perry has played well recently we will likely see him starting.
UCLA Coaching
Mick Cronin is in his 7th season as the Bruins’ head coach. He spent 13 years at the helm in Cincinnati prior to heading to Westwood. He took the Bruins to the Final Four in his second year and is a two time Pac 12 Coach of the Year winner.
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Cronin has been vocal this year about B1G scheduling and has been unhappy with the travel. He also laid into his team after the pounding in Ann Arbor and cited changes. What those changes are and their significance has to do with lineup changes. Cronin has been unhappy with the selfishness and poor effort. He’s searching for a lineup that plays for the program, not individual stats. This shift could turn the season around or really send it into the depths and it all starts in East Lansing. Cronin did sign a 5 year extension last May so he’s going to be there through 2030 so the players are going to need to get on board.
Scouting UCLA
What will be the most interesting thing to watch is how this Bruin team responds after Cronin’s comments. There could be an entirely different starting lineup which does make it hard to plan for. This Bruin team thus far does not pass the ball around much. Lots of individual isolation moments which explains the selfishness Cronin has mentioned. Dent leads the team in assist per game at 7 and the next closest is 2.5 from Perry and the rest of the team is under that. UCLA has played well against ranked opponents this year, not counting the last one, and with MSU’s recent issues this game feels like it could be ugly if both teams are throwing up bricks.
This also marks the return of Xavier Booker. The frustrating former Spartan who has always seemed to have all the potential but never seemed to put it all together. I know there were those of us who just figured classic Spartan luck would see him balling out as a Bruin. This has not been the case. He’s averaging 20 minutes and really should be rebounding more. This UCLA team could use more rebounding and paint play but Booker has been the same player we know all too well. It will be interesting to see the reaction of the Izzone and Izzo himself.
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Keys to the Game for MSU
MSU needs to right a lot of wrong from the past two weeks. One of those is just simply shooting better. MSU was burned behind the arc and the Badgers hot start from there and the 8-0 run when Cooper went down just finished the Spartans off. They will need to defend the perimeter better and the paint. Those two areas were very lopsided against Wisconsin. The Spartans faced a hot shooting team but defensively they have to get in the face more and limit production.
Offensively, the Spartans are in similar shape as years past. They struggle in FG percentage and specifically, from behind the arc. If the Spartans are cold, it’s relatively difficult for them to win. If they at least have someone hitting, and they rebound and play perimeter defense, they can pull out victories. It is a big game for both teams trying to either reinvent or solidify an identity. MSU needs this one and they need to do it convincingly.
What are your thoughts TOC nation? Do you like our chances or are we in for another rough one? Let us know in the comments and be on the lookout for Tuesday’s Game Thread.
