WASHINGTON, DC — In its Friday night Sweet Sixteen match vs. UConn, Michigan State fielded a starting lineup with a combined 15 years of Spartan experience. Coach Tom Izzo is steadfast in his philosophy: Continuity is king.
So it was only fitting in this meeting of bluebloods that Michigan State’s undoing was UConn senior forward Alex Karaban, playing his 148th game as a Husky.
“That’s what this time of year is all about,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said in his postgame press conference. “You’ve got to have great upperclassmen. You have to have great juniors, great seniors, veteran players that are not going to blink and just can handle the pressure.”
In a game of streaky shooting, Karaban’s 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks constituted the most well-rounded performance of the night.
“The main thing in the huddle that really stuck with me is coach saying, ‘Go out there and fire,’” Karaban told reporters. “I just go back to having my work pay off and if I see a glimpse of an opening, I’m going to let it fly.”
With both teams’ freshmen struggling, UConn’s attack fell to Karaban and senior center Tarris Reed Jr. Under their directive, the first half was an onslaught of and-ones, kick-outs and perimeter domination. Constant ball movement earned UConn a series of open looks and the Huskies sank 6 of 7 from deep to start the game.
The Spartans trimmed the halftime deficit to 35-27 after a rally by lead guards Coen Carr and Jeremy Fears Jr. The combination of a retuned MSU defense and diminished shooting from UConn put the Huskies on the losing end of a four-minute scoring drought early in the second half.
“Tarris had some opportunities that he left on the table,” said Hurley. “But then he was able to stabilize. If it’s a younger player, maybe they just keep unraveling.”
Hurley’s “younger player” — freshman guard Braylon Mullins — stumbled through the match, but delivered the spot-up three to snap State’s streak. From there, Reed and Karaban took on MSU frontcourt seniors Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler in a physical contest that deadlocked down the stretch. For 15 minutes, the Spartans threatened the second-largest comeback in Sweet Sixteen history. And then, they faded.
“We bounced back and picked away,” said Izzo. “Our goal in the second half was to play much better. We just kind of wore down. I played Jeremy so many minutes and Coen, but it doesn’t get away from the job that these two and the two seniors have done.”
With 1:39 to play, Karaban launched a deep three. His release was instantaneous. If the ball had clipped the rim or banked off the backboard, Michigan State might have had a chance. But the way it fell — slowly, perfectly — gave the sense that the game was already over. The make pushed UConn’s lead to four.
“At some point you can’t flip a switch or be down a lot and then expect to win a game, said Fears. “We’re fighting, fighting, fighting the whole game. Maybe if we were neck and neck, we give ourselves a better chance at the end of the game.”
Fears drained a bucket from deep to cut the lead to one. With 44 seconds to play, Reed — a 58-percent free throw shooter — was fouled. He needed to drain both attempts.
“I feel like I put in the work. The guys around me were like, T, trust,” he said. “We see you do free-throw game every day. You put in the work every day and we see you at the free-throw line.”
At center court, Spartans fans were banging empty bottles against the banister and screaming Tarris’ name. Reed closed his eyes. Sunk one. Sunk both. UConn led by three.
The rest of the game was to be played at the line. The Huskies — just 4 of 10 through the first 39 minutes — made six straight: four from Reed, two from Karaban. It might as well have been senior night.
“Get your mind focused on the preparation that we’re going to have to put in for Duke,” said Hurley. “I didn’t see any of that game. I could hear it in the locker room. I think what you try to do is focus on that next opponent and not think big picture.”
Izzo didn’t bring Cooper or Kohler to his press conference. They didn’t speak much in the locker room.
“It was always just take it in and appreciate everything that’s going on, and now this is over,” said Kohler. “I’d give anything just to go back and have another pregame meal. Another hang out. Another night at the bowling alley with the team.”
Now, Izzo starts again. Another recruitment cycle. Another freshman class. And next year, another run at the Sweet Sixteen.
“We made a run at it, fell a little short, but all in all, I’ve been blessed to have an incredible couple years with those seniors, Coop and Jaxon,” said Izzo. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I’m just not lucky enough to be playing on Sunday.”
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