Tag: Xavier Booker

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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WATCH: Get to know MSU basketball incoming freshman star PF Xavier Booker

Get to know more about incoming Michigan State basketball freshman star PF Xavier Booker

Michigan State basketball will be welcoming an elite group of freshmen this upcoming season, and that includes five-star power forward Xavier Booker.

The Spartans social media team is putting together fun video clips during the preseason to introduce each of the new freshmen. It was Booker’s turn this week, with him answering a number of questions for fans to learn more about him as a player and person.

Check out Booker’s answers to a number of fun and interesting questions below:

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LSJ’s Graham Couch offers 3 quick takes on MSU’s four freshmen from opening night at the Moneyball Pro-Am

See what Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal had to say about the incoming Spartans who made their Moneyball Pro-Am debut on Thursday

We got our first glimpse of the Michigan State basketball freshmen on Thursday.

All four of the Spartans’ star-studded 2023 recruiting class participated in the opening night of Moneyball Pro-Am. The exhibition event is annually held in the summer with the entire Michigan State basketball team set to participate this year — except Malik Hall who’s recovering from offseason surgery.

So how did the four new Spartans do in their exhibition opener? Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal was on hand on Thursday and has some thoughts on each player — check that out by clicking on the tweet below:

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Xavier Booker checks in at No. 30 in USA Today’s latest 2024 NBA mock draft

Check out where Xavier Booker sits in USA Today’s latest mock draft:

Xavier Booker is one of the highest rated recruits in the Tom Izzo era of Michigan State basketball and the anticipation and hype around the prospect is growing large.

In the latest edition of USA Today’s mock draft, Xavier Booker was featured as the No. 30 overall pick, assuming the 5-star prospect will be a one and done in East Lansing.

Booker’s stock will only rise as he continues to get acclimated to Michigan State.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

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MSU freshman PF Xavier Booker listed in ESPN 2024 NBA mock draft

What are the chances Michigan State star freshman power forward Xavier Booker will be a one-and-done? Decently high, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony

What are the chances Michigan State star freshman power forward Xavier Booker will be a one-and-done? Decently high, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

Booker was listed as a fringe first round pick in ESPN’s first mock for the 2024 NBA Draft. Givony has Booker going No. 33 overall to Portland in his initial mock for next year’s draft.

Booker was a five-star prospect in last year’s class, and ranked as the No. 2 center by 247Sports. He will surely play a role for the Spartans this next year but it will be interesting if it’ll be enough to play his way into the first round of next year’s NBA Draft.

Click on the link below to see the complete mock draft from Givony:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on Twitter @RobertBondy5.

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