1. Three guys, it appears, are going to lead the way for this MSU team
EAST LANSING — Michigan State’s men’s basketball team might wind up having good depth again this season, but “strength in numbers” won’t be the mantra. Not out of the gate, at least.
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The strength of this roster begins with three guys: Jeremy Fears Jr., Coen Carr and Jaxon Kohler. I think all three would have played well over 30 minutes Thursday night had the Spartans’ 75-66 win over Bowling Green been a regular-season game. Fears and Carr got to more than 30 anyway, because this was a battle.
The final score only becomes a concern if the Spartans are struggling to separate themselves from solid mid-majors (and defend them) a few weeks from now, as roles get more defined. A few are pretty clear already.
Fears was MSU’s point guard last season. But it wasn’t his team. This is his team. And, one narrow exhibition win in, it appears he’s going to create an awful lot of MSU’s offense, be it in the half court or in transition. Fears had 12 points on 3-of-7 shooting (2-for-4 from 3), with nine assists, two turnovers and two steals. He looks comfortable running the show. He’ll need to be. It’s his show.
Carr looked a lot like the player we saw last season, with a higher usage rate. And there’s a lot of good in that. He was great in transition, putting pressure on the rim and getting most of his 17 points there. He was MSU’s best rim protector, with five blocks. He had four assists. And yet I think there’s more to him offensively. MSU has to figure out how best to unlock that and where on the court to get him the ball in the half court. He missed one 3-pointer badly and didn’t take another. He’s worked too hard on that shot to abandon it. I don’t think he will.
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Kohler’s physicality stands out. And MSU needs it. He had 15 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in 24 minutes. He made one 3 in four attempts, a nice-looking shot from the top of the key. But he did most of his work around the rim and at the line. MSU could use Kohler to be A.J. Granger or Kenny Goins from beyond the arc during his senior season, and to be more efficient in the paint. But he’s an essential physical presence for this team.
2. MSU will have enough 3-point shooting (I think)
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., center moves the ball against Bowling Green during the first half on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
The Spartans still have scars from their 3-point shooting struggles the last couple seasons, especially early in those seasons. That’s everyone from fans to Izzo to Carson Cooper, who spent the offseason adding a 3-point shot.
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And it’s a question again entering this season: Does MSU have enough outside shooting? I think so. And I think we saw why Thursday, even if the final numbers — 8-for-25 on 3-point tries — weren’t inspiring. We’ll have to see more to know for sure.
The Spartans look like they’ve got at least five guys who are likely to be part of the rotation who can knock them down with regularity. That doesn’t include Coen Carr, who I think will start hitting open 3s, and Cooper, who supposedly will shoot them from time to time, though passed up his most obvious opportunity Thursday and drove the ball instead.
Importantly, Fears’ shot four 3s Thursday without hesitation, making two. He didn’t shoot a bad percentage last season, but he didn’t take many, either. And opponents knew he was reluctant to let it fly. The Spartans need Fears to take them and make them and, for him to flourish driving the ball, he needs defenses to come out to guard him at the 3-point line.
Kur Teng is a smooth shooter. That’s clear. It’s a nice stroke, mid-range to out beyond the arc. His transition catch-and-shoot 3 late in the first half was the sort of shot that’ll lead scouting reports next to his name.
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Trey Fort showed he’s capable of hitting them from deep. He went 3-for-5. Either he or Teng will be on the court most of the time at shooting guard.
Kohler is going to take and make 3s. I do wonder if what’s asked of him in the paint will tax his legs late in games. Redshirt freshman Jesse McCulloch, who hit a 3 (an important one late) and another jumper, is clearly a confident shooter. He’s going to play a decent-sized role on this team. So that’s another guy who can stretch the floor.
Fears is going to play 30 minutes a night. And between Kohler / McCulloch and Teng / Fort, MSU should have two other capable outside shooters on the floor most of the time. That should be enough for decent spacing, if those guys hit shots. We’ll see if other guys can hit them when they’re open, too.
Michigan State’s Cam Ward, center, steals the ball from Bowling Green during the first half on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
3. Freshman and newcomer thoughts — the Bowling Green exhibition edition
I began Thursday night thinking freshman Cam Ward would play a sizable role on this MSU basketball team. Nothing that transpired during the Spartans’ win over Bowling Green suggested otherwise. He’s a presence and plays within himself. He had two points on one nice jumper from the elbow, along with six rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. He did have three turnovers. I don’t think that’ll be an issue. There are some guys who are built for exhibition games and others you know will be a big part of the real deal. He’s the latter.
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Transfer Devine Ugochukwu is an interesting player. He played more than 16 minutes Thursday and played alongside Fears for some of them, looking fairly comfortable at the off-guard spot. You can see where he can help — he had a terrific drive to the rim and dish for a layup (one of four assists) and had three rebounds. He’s an athlete. There’s some Jaden Akins and Charlie Bell to how he elevates for rebounds. That’ll earn him minutes.
Jesse McCulloch played only 11-some minutes, but he grew into the game and finished it. His late 3-pointer clinched it. He had five rebounds and an assist. He’s such an important part of this, given MSU’s lack of depth of size. Beyond Kohler and Cooper, he’s it. This was a promising true debut for the redshirt freshman.
Michigan State’s coach Tom Izzo, right, talks with Jesse McCulloch during the first half in the game against Bowling Green on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on X @Graham_Couch and BlueSky @GrahamCouch.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU basketball survives Bowling Green in exhibition: 3 quick takes
