Kohler Keeps Cool After Colgate Opener
Michigan State senior forward Jaxon Kohler posted 16 points and 15 rebounds in the Spartans’ 80-69 season-opening win over Colgate but refused to break out a victory dance. He stressed that MSU’s true test comes this Saturday against No. 14 Arkansas, underscoring the team’s early-season lapses in focus and preparation. Kohler also pointed out the glaring disparity in free-throw attempts—37 for Colgate versus just six for MSU—as proof that the Spartans must sharpen their fundamentals, especially at the line, if they hope to avoid turning close contests into painful losses later in the season.
Move over, motivational posters—Jaxon Kohler is here to remind us that even a double-double is just “meh” without the proper amount of angst. In a performance that shouts “I just rolled out of bed,” Kohler managed to make 16 points feel like underachieving, as if putting up numbers against a mid-major opponent is somehow a glitch in the matrix of Spartan greatness. And what’s this? A free-throw fiasco so epic the refs almost handed out participation trophies? Strap in, Spartan Nation—apparently, the only thing tougher than beating Arkansas will be convincing the team to step up to the line with conviction rather than existential dread.
Spartans’ Bowl Hopes Dwindle, Smith Dodges the Axe
Michigan State enters its final three games at 3-6 overall and winless in Big Ten play, carrying just a 1.2% chance of qualifying for a bowl, per ESPN’s FPI. Yet head coach Jonathan Smith remains in place, buoyed by a handful of supporters and a surprisingly patient athletic director J Batt. In the latest episode of the Michigan State Spartans Insider Podcast, commentators dissect why Smith hasn’t been shown the door, what the team must demonstrate down the stretch, and feature a partial transcript of Smith’s postgame remarks following an overtime loss at Minnesota. Highlights include defensive pride, quarterback rotation details, and a referee group text gone awry.
In a plot twist worthy of daytime television, Jonathan Smith is still steering this sinking ship while Spartans fans wonder if the term “support” has gone extinct. Athletic director J Batt must’ve misplaced the firing pin under a stack of budgets and PowerPoint slides, because the coach’s hot seat feels more like a cushioned recliner. Smith’s postgame Q&A supplied gems like “we battled,” “got momentum swings,” and “field goal misses are totally on the refs,” which should keep the rumor mill spinning until the season finale—or until someone finds J Batt’s actual buyout numbers.
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