No. 16 Michigan State has the longest winning streak in the Big Ten.
The Spartans (12-2, 3-0 Big Ten) will put their seven-game streak on the line when they host conference newcomer Washington (10-5, 1-3) on Thursday in East Lansing, Mich.
Michigan State has been idle since Friday’s 69-62 win at Ohio State. For the fourth consecutive game, a different player led the Spartans in scoring. Szymon Zapala became the eighth player to lead them in scoring this season, as the 7-footer tossed in 15 points.
Jaden Akins tops them in scoring at 13.6 points per game but no other player is averaging in double figures.
“If everybody gets the ball and we move the ball,” forward Jaxon Kohler said, “I feel like that’s when we’re going to be at our best.”
Michigan State’s other conference victories came in early December against Minnesota and Nebraska. The Spartans don’t have any more non-conference games on their schedule.
“I’m excited we’re playing a lot of people and still getting a lot out of it,” coach Tom Izzo said. “I’m excited with the camaraderie and chemistry within the team. But we haven’t faced a lot of adversity yet.”
Izzo’s club has managed to average 81.1 points despite being a poor 3-point shooting team (28.0 percent). That’s been the story of the season so far — they’ve found ways to win despite some inconsistent performances.
“I do think we’ve done a lot,” Izzo said. “I do think we’ve played different ways. I think we’ve won in different ways. We’ve shot it well, we’ve shot it poorly. We’ve rebounded well, we’ve rebounded average. We’ve turned it over nine times, we’ve turned it over 17 times. Somehow, those all got to come together. If they do, you go from good to great.”
The Huskies are coming off an 81-77 home loss to then-No. 22 Illinois. Their top player, forward Great Osobor, was held to nine points. He averages 14.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.3 steals — all team highs.
“They do have arguably one of the better players in the country in Great Osobor,” Izzo said. “… He kind of does a little bit of everything. He doesn’t always look the part but he sure does make the part. He’s got incredible basketball skills.”
Butler transfer DJ Davis poured in 31 points against the Fighting Illini, making half of his 14 3-point attempts.
“When you got DJ Davis on the floor, I think you got to find him once he passes half court,” reserve guard Luis Kortright said. “When teams focus on him, you get open. If you’re not going to step up on his three, he’s capable of making seven threes. I’m happy for him. I love watching him shoot. I get mad when he doesn’t shoot it.”
The Huskies collected their first Big Ten victory in their previous outing, downing Maryland, 75-69. Washington will stick around in the state for a couple more days to face No. 24 Michigan on Sunday afternoon.
–Field Level Media
