PHOTO: Michigan State’s Coen Carr dunks in this photo from his freshman year.

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More from Michigan State playing at the Garden, January 22, Carr soaring to develop overall game

More from the Garden: January 25, Michigan State’s depth neutralizes Rutgers

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By TOM SHANAHAN

NEW YORK – Michigan State sophomore Coen Carr used to show us flashes of developing an overall game from his freshman season. Now he’s showing us consistency. And he did it at basketball’s mecca, Madison Square Garden.

Carr raised some eyebrows in Gotham with his 14 points and defense – not to mention a swooping alley-oop dunk – that helped Michigan State beat Rutgers 81-74 Saturday before 17,480 fans at the Garden.

Michigan State’s swingman has been making a name for himself coming off the bench – mostly for his leaping and dunks – but outside of the Big Ten little is known about him. He’s changing that, though. The climb coincides with No. 8-ranked Michigan State (17-2, 8-0 Big Ten) attracting attention with 12 straight wins and climbs to the top of the Big Ten standings and into the Top 10 rankings.

The 6-foot-6, 225-pounder played 26 minutes on Saturday to finish with 14 points and eight rebounds and backed those numbers up with defense on Rutgers’ 6-9 freshman Ace Bailey. The projected NBA lottery pick finished with 18 points, but he was 4-of-17 from the field.

Carr, who entered the game averaging 21 minutes, also was 5-of-5 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line, including 2-of-2 in the final minute. A year ago, he averaged only 11 minutes a game.

“Coen is a special kid,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. “He’s one guy I thought was good the whole game … and Jase Richardson. He made one mistake on a switch and knew it right away and said it. It’s a joy and an honor to coach him.”

The next question was a follow up from a New York-area sportswriter.

As Frank Sinatra sang, what better place to grab attention than New York?

“If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere.”

The question: “Coach, I wanted to follow up on Coen. I thought he had a great game. I was really impressed by his leaping ability. At the end of the first half (Rutgers) had it tied, and (the Spartans) threw the alley-oop to him going into halftime I said to myself, this guy got hops of an NBA player. Do you have the backs story on him?”

Izzo’s deadpan reply: “Yeah, he couldn’t jump when we got him. … ”

“The backstory on him is we got him late. He was highly ranked but not overly because he didn’t have the offensive skills. He’s worked hard.”

College basketball’s ultimate leaper with an all-around game was David Thompson while leading North Carolina State to the 1974 NCAA title. I’ve heard through a Thompson teammate that Thompson has heard about Carr and wants to learn more about him. Maybe he tuned in Saturday.

Somehow, Carr’s alley-oop dunk against Rutgers didn’t make ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 highlights. Maybe he’s making it look too easy.

As for Carr’s overall game, his improved play includes fitting into the flow of the offense from the 4 or the 3 positions on the floor. Against Rutgers, he entered the game just four minutes into the first half as the first two substitutes in along with freshman Richardson. Carr drove to the basket, crossed the lane and scored a layup as he was fouled. He converted the free throw for the three-point play and 10-5 lead.

Four minutes later the Spartans passed the ball around the zone until hitting Xavier Booker at the top of the lane. He passed low to Carr, who easily dunked with a soft touch.

The alley-oop dunk the New York sportswriter referenced gave the Spartans a 30-28 lead with 1:30 to play. The Spartans, who are 15-0 when leading at halftime this year, led 35-32 at the intermission.

And there is another area of improvement that can keep Carr on the floor during crunch time. Last year he hit only 56 percent of his free throws (28 of 50). This year he’s at 69 percent (43 of 62) for the season and 80 percent (24 of 30) in Big Ten games.

Carr hit 4-of-5 against Rutgers, including 2-of-2 with 22 seconds remaining after Rutgers scored on a three-point field. Carr’s two free throws bumped Michigan State’s edge back to a three-score game, 79-71.

“He works, he cares and he’s a great teammate,” Izzo said. 

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Tom Shanahan is an award-winning sportswriter and frequent contributor to Spartanamag.com. His new book on Michigan State leading college football integration is, “THE RIGHT THING TO DO, The True Pioneers of College Football Integration in the 1960s.” His first book was “RAYE OF LIGHT, Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, the Integration of College Football and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans.”

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Below are links to click on to purchase my books focused.

My books tell the true story of college football integration in the 1960s and address the myths and fiction that allowed a false narrative surrounding the 1970 USC-Alabama game to usurp the credit from the true pioneers. As I said when I spoke at the National Sports Media Association book festival, no two books provide an accurate portrayal more than RAYE OF LIGHT and THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I’ll put my facts up against anybody, anytime, anywhere. Watch here.

Click here for my story on the 1962 Rose Bowl and Segregation awarded first place by the Football Writers Association of America. I tell untold stories on Michigan State’s leading role and the true pioneers of college football integration. Click here to read the summary as a first-place story.

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Click here to purchase The Right Thing To Do

THE RIGHT THING TO DO

The True Pioneers of College Football Integration in the 1960s

Foreword by Ruffin McNeill

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Click here to purchase Raye of Light.

RAYE OF LIGHT

Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, the 1ntegration of College Football and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans

Foreword by Tony Dungy

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Click here to purchase my children’s book, Bubba’s Dad, Duffy and College Football’s Underground Railroad

The book for now is only a Kindle version on Amazon. Print and audio platforms available soon.