Tag: Xavier Booker

Former NBA player Stephen Bardo highlights upcoming Rutgers vs. Michigan State matchup

Stephen Bardo is anticipating one Rutgers game in particular this year.

When Rutgers basketball takes the court to start this upcoming season, they will look very different than just a few months ago. That is partly due to a star-studded freshman class that includes the five-star pair of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.

While the talented duo has created plenty of excitement in and around the Rutgers basketball program, they are also getting national attention.

On Monday, college basketball and NBA analyst Stephen Bardo highlighted Rutgers vs. Michigan State as one game he is looking forward to. While Bardo touched on Rutgers’s talent, he also has high hopes for Michigan State. That is due to a roster that includes Jeremy Fears and Xavier Booker.

I Want To See Michigan State @ Rutgers!https://t.co/JT2DX4iJcd pic.twitter.com/bqmZbCq62K

— Stephen Bardo (@stephenbardo) June 3, 2024

 

“I always love calling games there because I love the energy of that place. I get mad love out there,” Bardo said in his social media post.

For Rutgers, this matchup will be their shot at redemption. During the 2023-2024 campaign, Rutgers went 0-1 against Michigan State. In a 73-55 loss, the Scarlet Knights shot 37 percent from the field and turned the ball over ten times.

Although the college basketball season is months away, fans can already start marking games on the calendar. For Bardo, the Michigan State and Rutgers matchup is one game fans shouldn’t miss.

LOOK: Former Spartan working with Xavier Booker

Xavier Booker is putting in work with a former Spartan

Xavier Booker was a 5-star coming into MSU in the 2023 recruiting class. Booker, who has high expectations among the fanbase, is someone that fans are expecting a big season from in the 2024-25 campaign. If the Spartans are going to have the success fans desire in 2024-25, Booker is going to be a key component in that happening.

Here at the start of summer, it appears that Booker is getting some good work in with a former Spartan many believe Booker should be modeling his game after.

https://x.com/ssn_nba/status/1795952112414720266?s=46&t=wsijTQ4eyzHYcpF51dS9BA

Yes, Booker is getting workouts in with Jaren Jackson Jr., who is the player comparison that fits Booker best.

 

Michigan State basketball F Xavier Booker speaks on his future at MSU

Xavier Booker commented on his future with MSU

Michigan State’s 2023-24 season came to an end on Saturday night, losing a Round of 32 game against No. 1 seeded North Carolina. Obviously, with the season coming to an end, a lot of questions surrounding the team’s roster will start to commence.

Xavier Booker, a former 5-star McDonald’s All-American, has had an interesting and frustrating year that saw fans and media question Tom Izzo’s decisions on the freshman’s minutes. With the frustrations, many questioned the future of Booker with the program.

Booker commented on those questions after MSU’s loss on Saturday saying, “I’m definitely coming back next season.”

While this came after the emotions of a loss, and will still be something to monitor, this is encouraging to hear that Booker is locked and loaded in his development at MSU.

3 good and 3 bad takeaways from Michigan State basketball’s loss to No. 2 Purdue

3 good and 3 bad takeaways from MSU’s loss to No. 2 Purdue

Michigan State has lost its third straight game on Saturday, dropping a matchup with No. 2 Purdue, 80-74, inside of Mackey Arena.

While the loss isn’t what any Spartan fan wanted, the team showed some really good things in this game, while also showing some inconsistencies that have killed this team all season long.

At the end of the day, it ends up being a loss for MSU, dropping the team to 17-12 (9-9 B1G) on the season. If there is any hope of keeping Tom Izzo and the school’s NCAA Tournament streak alive, there is work that desperately needs to be done.

Let’s take away at 3 good and 3 bad takeaways from MSU’s loss to Purdue:

WATCH: Xavier Booker on being taken out at end of Michigan State basketball’s loss to Ohio State

Xavier Booker answered a question about being being taken out during MSU’s loss to Ohio State

One of the most divisive decisions by the coaching staff in Michigan State basketball’s loss to Ohio State on Sunday was the call in the second half to play Mady Sissoko over Xavier Booker, who had originally started the game.

Booker, who led the team in box score plus-minus, didn’t play the last 15 minutes of the game, and it stuck out as the team had a very hard time scoring after that.

After the game, Tom Izzo gave his thoughts on the decision and why it was made, and Booker himself also commented on it, which you can see below:

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Michigan State basketball fans, media react to loss to Ohio State

Michigan State fans are frustrated following a second straight home loss

It was a frustrating day for Michigan State basketball fans, as they watched their Spartans drop their second straight game at home. MSU was favored in both games.

There was plenty for MSU fans to be upset about. The offense looked completely stagnant in the second half, with the plays not even being setup to be ran until 10 seconds were left on the clock, Tyson Walker and Jaden Akins couldn’t hit a shot, and Xavier Booker inexplicably got benched for Mady Sissoko to close the game despite starting and leading the team in plus-minus on the night.

After the game, MSU fans stormed social media to vent their frustrations about the loss, and you can see some of the more colorful reactions from fans and media members below.

MSU basketball blows lead, loses on buzzer-beater vs. Ohio State

Welcome back to the bubble, Michigan State

Michigan State basketball continues to disappoint this season.

The Spartans blew a double-digit second-half lead to lose on a buzzer-beater, 60-57,  in a must-win scenario against Ohio State on Sunday afternoon. Dale Bonner hit the game-winning three-pointer for the Buckeyes in the win.

The Spartans led by as many as 12 points in the second half and didn’t surrender the lead until the final seconds of the game.

Michigan State dropped both of its home games this week to fall to 17-11 overall and 9-8 in Big Ten play. The Spartans were favored by more than nine points in both losses.

Michigan State used a stifling defensive effort in the first half to build a double-digit lead going into the break. The Spartans held Ohio State to only 22 points to carry a 32-22 lead into halftime.

The Spartans throughout the second half but their lead slowly dwindled away until they found themselves behind in the final 11 seconds for the first time all game. Tyson Walker hit one of two free throws to tie the game with six seconds left. Bonner would then hit the buzzer-beater to lift Ohio State past Michigan State.

The Spartans were led in scoring by Malik Hall who had 15 points. Walker finished the game with 12 points.

Michigan State will be off until next Saturday in a big-time road matchup at Purdue. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on FOX.

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Couch: Michigan State basketball freshman Xavier Booker ‘in a really good place’

Couch: Michigan State basketball freshman Xavier Booker ‘in a really good place’

One of the most divisive topics surrounding Michigan State basketball this season has been the play, or lack thereof, of freshman phenom Xavier Booker.

Booker, who was a 5-star recruit coming into the season, has averaged just 8 minutes per game this season, and some fans are getting nervous that this might be giving him cold feet about staying in East Lansing for the long-term. Other fans are frustrated because MSU has had some struggles with their big men this season, and Booker seems like an obvious solution to some.

The one person who hasn’t weighed into this topic too much this season is Xavier Booker, and what little he has said has been very positive about his development, usage, and the coaching staff. That trend seems to be continuing, as Booker spoke to the media on Friday and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch reported on social media that Booker is ‘in a really good place’ and that Booker and Izzo are ‘in alignment’ on his progress and development.

Here is the full post from Couch, and we will link to his full story on Booker once it drops for the Lansing State Journal:

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3 takeaways from Michigan State basketball’s loss to Iowa

3 takeaways from Michigan State’s loss to Iowa

Michigan State basketball laid an egg on Tuesday night, dropping a game to Iowa inside of the Breslin Center, 78-71. The game proved to be a major disappointment for Spartan fans, with the team snapping a 3-game winning streak, and ultimately looked uninspired on the court.

The loss doesn’t end their season, or prove to be a huge blow to NCAA Tournament hopes, but it is one that will frustrate everyone involved with the program.

Albeit a loss, there is still something to take away from the game, and still something for MSU fans to look forward to:

Michigan State basketball freshman get jersey numbers

We now know what numbers MSU’s freshman will be wearing:

Michigan State brought in one of the most heralded classes of the Tom Izzo era in 2023, bringing in two 5-stars, Xavier Booker and Jeremy Fears Jr. to go along with 4-stars Gehrig Normand and Coen Carr.

While the basketball program is opening training camp to start getting prepared for the 2023-24 season, the school has released the official roster, which means we get to see jersey numbers for the incoming freshman.

The numbers are:

  • Jeremy Fears Jr., No. 1
  • Gehrig Normand, No. 7
  • Xavier Booker, No. 34
  • Coen Carr, No. 55

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