Three takeaways from MSU basketball's win over Incarnate Word
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Three takeaways from MSU basketball's win over Incarnate Word
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. celebrates after a play against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Andrew Brewster, Spartans Wire·Spartans Wire
·
2 min read
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Despite losing big-name players Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, plenty of buzz surrounds Michigan State basketball heading into the season as Tom Izzo continues his pursuit of his ever-elusive second championship. It helps when you have one of the best players in the country, Jeremy Fears Jr., on the roster for another season. On Friday night, the Spartans hosted Incarnate Word for an exhibition,winning by 30 points, and we saw the reasons for all of the hype.
Below, we broke down our three main takeaways from a fun preseason win for the Spartans.
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1. The Jesse McCulloch hype is real
Let's be honest, it was tough to see beloved MSU legend Jaxon Kohler head to BYU after getting one more year of eligibility. He left on extremely good terms, and it made sense why he needed to make that move for both sides, but there were also some major question marks at the power forward position heading into the season.
Cam Ward is an electric player, but his shooting is developing. Coen Carr seems committed to playing small forward as he continues to try to develop into an NBA player. There was an opportunity for a legitimate stretch four to emerge on this roster, and Jesse McCulloch seems poised to take that spot.
McCulloch led all scorers with 20 points on Friday. His stroke looked pure. And, most importantly, it seems evident he has put in some real work on his body and athleticism. He's moving well, exploding to the rim, and ultimately just looks like a new player. It's great to see.
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2. The Jeremy Fears Jr. defensive leap is here
This summer, Tom Izzo consistently insisted he believed Jeremy Fears Jr. had another level he could reach on the defense. He has publicly challenged Fears to compete to be the Defensive Player of the Year. It looks like Fears is taking that challenge in stride. He had six steals against Incarnate Word and was all over the court, pressuring Cardinals' ball handlers with tenacious, physical defense.
I'm going to give a pretty lofty comparison here, but I think when you add this level of defense, Fears is starting to look like a young Chris Paul.
3. Don't forget about Jordan Scott
There has been a great deal of hype around Jeremy Fears Jr. and Coen Carr this summer. I get it. But don't sleep on Jordan Scott. MSU's talented sophomore already broke out as a rising player as a freshman, and he looks poised to take it to another level this year. Scott looked imposing on both sides of the ball and finished with 16 points, hitting four 3s on the night.
Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo looks on during the first half in the game against Incarnate Word on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., left passes the ball as Incarnate Word’s Kaleb Spencer defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State’s Coen Carr, left, shoots as Incarnate Word’s Godswill Erherine defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State’s Kur Teng moves the ball against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State’s Coen Carr dunks against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State’s Carlos Medlock Jr., center, shoots between Incarnate Word’s Jayden Thomas, left, and Kaleb Spencer during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State’s Carlos Medlock Jr. communicates with teammates during the first half against Incarnate Word on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo, right, shakes hands with Incarnate Word’s head coach Shane Heirman before the game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State’s Anton Bonke grabs a rebound against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. celebrates his score against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. pushes the ball after a MSU rebound against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. celebrates after a play against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
1/12
Michigan State basketball vs. Quinnipiac: Score prediction, analysis
Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo looks on during the first half in the game against Incarnate Word on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
1/12
Michigan State basketball vs. Quinnipiac: Score prediction, analysis
Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo looks on during the first half in the game against Incarnate Word on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
2/12
Photo Gallery: Michigan State vs. Incarnate Word
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., left passes the ball as Incarnate Word’s Kaleb Spencer defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
3/12
Photo Gallery: Michigan State vs. Incarnate Word
Michigan State’s Coen Carr, left, shoots as Incarnate Word’s Godswill Erherine defends during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
4/12
Photo Gallery: Michigan State vs. Incarnate Word
Michigan State’s Kur Teng moves the ball against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
5/12
Photo Gallery: Michigan State vs. Incarnate Word
Michigan State’s Coen Carr dunks against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
6/12
Photo Gallery: Michigan State vs. Incarnate Word
Michigan State’s Carlos Medlock Jr., center, shoots between Incarnate Word’s Jayden Thomas, left, and Kaleb Spencer during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
7/12
Photo Gallery: Michigan State vs. Incarnate Word
Michigan State’s Carlos Medlock Jr. communicates with teammates during the first half against Incarnate Word on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
8/12
Photo Gallery: Michigan State vs. Incarnate Word
Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo, right, shakes hands with Incarnate Word’s head coach Shane Heirman before the game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
9/12
Photo Gallery: Michigan State vs. Incarnate Word
Michigan State’s Anton Bonke grabs a rebound against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
10/12
Michigan State basketball vs. Quinnipiac: Score, highlights, analysis
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. celebrates his score against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
11/12
Photo Gallery: Michigan State vs. Incarnate Word
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. pushes the ball after a MSU rebound against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
12/12
Photo Gallery: Michigan State vs. Incarnate Word
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. celebrates after a play against Incarnate Word during the first half on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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