Michigan State Spartans Demolish Kentucky Wildcats At State Farm Champions Classic
Well, if you’re a Kentucky fan, you might want to look away. Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden wasn’t just a loss for the Wildcats; it was a full-blown expose of a team that looked completely out of sorts. No. 17 Michigan State didn’t just beat No. 12 Kentucky; they dismantled them, walking away with a commanding 83-66 victory that felt even more lopsided than the final score.
Mark Pope, Kentucky’s head honcho, must be wondering what he needs to do to get this team to click. After a shaky performance against Louisville last week, Pope lamented that he wished his squad was “farther ahead.” Well, after this beatdown, he might be wishing for a time machine. The Wildcats looked less like a cohesive unit and more like a group of guys who just met in the lobby. Frustration was so palpable that players were reportedly “barking at each other” during timeouts.
Meanwhile, Tom Izzo’s Spartans look like they’re already in midseason form. They’ve moved to a clean 4-0, and this win, on the heels of knocking off John Calipari’s Arkansas, sends a clear message: Michigan State is for real.
How Michigan State Dominated the Garden
From the opening tip, it was clear this was Michigan State’s night. After a brief feeling-out process, the Spartans hit the accelerator and never looked back. They blitzed Kentucky with a 17-2 run in the first half that left the Wildcats spinning. Jaxon Kohler was a man on a mission, dropping 12 of his game-high 20 points before halftime and looking like he owned every inch of the paint.
The most shocking part? Michigan State, a team that had made a total of 13 three-pointers all season, suddenly couldn’t miss from deep. They drained 7-of-13 from beyond the arc in the first half alone, finishing the game with 11 made threes. It was the kind of out-of-character shooting performance that makes you check if the rims at MSG are regulation size.
Kentucky, on the other hand, couldn’t buy a bucket. They closed the first half shooting a miserable 2-of-18 from the field. It was a brick-laying festival of epic proportions, leading to their lowest-scoring half of the season.
Kentucky’s Second-Half “Push” Was More Of a Nudge
You knew Kentucky had a run in them, and for a fleeting moment in the second half, it looked like they might make a game of it. An 11-2 spurt cut the lead and forced a quick Izzo timeout. But just as quickly as the hope appeared, Michigan State snuffed it out. A Jesse McCulloch three-pointer here, an easy Kohler layup there, and suddenly the Spartans were back in complete control. Before you knew it, a Cam Ward dunk pushed the lead to 20, and it was officially cruise control time for Sparty.
Kentucky’s offensive woes were compounded by injuries. Jaland Lowe sat out with a shoulder issue, and Mouhamed Dioubate limped off late in the game, adding insult to an already significant injury. Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with 12 points, but it was a lonely effort on a night when his team shot just 35% from the field.
For Michigan State, it was a team effort. Kohler’s 20 points led the way, but Kur Teng and Trey Fort added 15 and 13 points, respectively. They played with a confidence and swagger that Kentucky simply couldn’t match.
So, what’s next? For Michigan State, the path looks bright. For Kentucky, it’s back to the drawing board. This team is loaded with talent, but talent alone doesn’t win games in November, especially not in the Garden.
