10 Arizona Wildcats vs 12 Michigan State Spartans Player Ratings and Recap

Welcome back to the start of another college basketball season. Once again, I will be reviewing and assigning player ratings following the big games I watch throughout the season. I think this is important as the season continues, and team's enter conference play. I am a huge soccer fan, so player ratings are assigned much as they are in soccer recaps. Team Ratings are weighted based on playing time. A player's rating that played 35 minutes, for example, is weighting heavier than one who played only 10 minutes, etc. Here's the first big game of the season. 
10 Arizona 65 defeats 12 Michigan State 63

Arizona: 7.75

C Dusan Ristic Jr. 4

Despite starting, Ristic only played 18 minutes, sitting in favor of the more productive Comanche. Ristic was just 1-6 from the floor, scoring 2 points and adding 3 rebounds. Arizona doesn't need his size with 7'0 Markkanen in the lineup, and Comanche is the better player.

F/C Lauri Markkanen Fr. 8

The freshman had a good showing in his first college game. Markkanen showed a good inside out game, using his height against a smaller MSU team, and playing the pick-and-pop well, shooting 2-3 from 3pt range. Markkanen finished with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Markkanen also showed good stamina playing 34 minutes. That's impressive from a 7'0 freshman.

G Rawle Alkins Fr. 5

Alkins played the majority of minutes, but was quieting than fellow guards, Jackson-Cartwright, Allen, and Kobi Simmons off the bench. Alkins does look like a good perimeter defender though. He finished just ¼, scoring 3 points, with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 turnovers. He has better days ahead of him this season.

G Kadeem Allen Sr 6

Allen played well down the stretch to help cinch up the win, but he struggled to find his offense at times. Allen took the most shots (11), along with Jackson-Cartwright, shooting 3/11, and missing his only 3pt attempt. He had 10 points. Allen did look good on the perimeter on defense though, making a nice pairing with Jackson-Cartwright up top. He finished with three steals.

G Parker Jackson-Cartwright Jr. 7

PJC led Arizona, especially on the defensive end. He was very good pressuring the ball handler, disrupting the offense, and forcing turnovers. He had three steals in the game, but his full defensive value doesn't show up on the stat sheet. On offense, PJC could have been more consistent shooting. He was just 4/11 from the field, and a dreadful 1/6 from three. He scored 9 points, and added 3 assists, while turning the ball over twice.

G Kobi Simmons Fr. 9

In the absence of Allonzo Trier, Kobi Simmons stepped up, and was the team's go-to player for most of the game. The freshman showed off great athleticism, and first step, to blow past defenders, and get to the basket with ease. It also helped that MSU didn't really have a rim protector to challenge him. Simmons exploited the weakness at the hoop. Simmons' ability to drive also caused MSU to get into foul trouble early. UA took 27 foul shots in the game, making 20 of them, and Simmons alone was 8/10 from the stripe. Simmons also showed off his shooting ability; he was 2/3 from beyond the arc. Simmons finished the game with 18 points.

C Chance Comanche So. 7.5

Arizona looked like a transformed team when Comanche was in the lineup. He gives them a threatening low post scorer. However, he needs to stay out of foul trouble. Comanche picked up four in just 18 minutes of play. Arizona is a more dangerous team with Comanche playing alongside Markkanen.

F Keanu Pinder Jr. 6

Pinder seems like Arizona's energetic defensive substitute. He played alongside each of the other big men and just did all the little things a coach loves. He grabbed 6 rebounds, played good defense down low, created turnovers, etc. He finished with just 2 points, but looked more useful than Ristic when he was in there.

Team Overview:

Allonzo Trier was supposed to come back his sophomore season, and be the leader of this team. In his absence, and who knows if he will return this year, Arizona could have looked lost against the twelfth ranked team in the country. Instead, they overcame an early deficit to win a big game early in the season. This victory will give the team confidence looking forward. Kobi Simmons looks like one of the best freshman in the country, and should have no ploblem stepping in for Trier. Jackson-Cartwright and Allen look like much improved perimeter defenders, who can set the pace on both sides of the floor. Arizona also have a pair of talented big men that gives the team size, and multiple paths to score. Arizona proved their a top ten team without Trier. Of course, if they do get him back, they could be very difficult to beat.

Michigan State: 6.25

F Kenny Goins So. 5

Goins is going to have a tough task playing the five for this team. He was able to secure 8 rebounds, but he was not bale to stop Comanche and Markkanen inside, or prevent Arizona's guards from driving to the basket. MSU needs to find an answer for their interior defense. Goins also finished with four points.

F M.Bridges Fr. 8.5

Miles Bridges was the highlight of the team. He is a big game player, and really attacked Arizona, especially early. He has an excellent combination of strength and athleticism, which allows him to drive in traffic, and finish. Bridges is a little undersized at power forward, but would dominate at the college level as a small forward, and will be capable of playing shooting guard in the NBA. Bridges was best attacking the basket, where he could finish, or pass out. He showed off good passing ability this game. Bridges needs to be a more consistent shooter though. He shot 9/19 from the field for 21 points, and was just 1/6 from beyond the arc. He also pulled in 22 rebounds. Bridges is a freshman, and Arizona's perimeter defense looked great. So, I will forgive him the four turnovers, especially since his handle actually looked pretty good.

G Matt McQuaid So. 6.5

McQuaid really struggled in the first half before knocking down some shots in the second half to keep the game as close as it was. The sophomore finished 3/9 for 9 points. All, but one of his shots were taken from 3pt range. McQuaid's value is almost exclusively his shooting ability.

G Eron Harris Sr. 4.5

Harris struggled this game, and Izzo limited him to just 20 minutes because of it. Harris was the team's leading returning scorer, and he will need to be a leader on this team if they're going to succeed. That simply didn't happen. He finished with 7 points, and was just one of four from 3pt range. He also had 4 turnover, and no assists.

G L.Nairn Jr. Jr. 5

Nairn is not a big scorer. He finished with just 5 points on 2/3 shooting. He did have 4 assists, while also turning it over 4 times.

PF Nick Ward Fr. 7.5

Nick Ward is going to be one of the key players to MSU's season. There is very little size on the team, which will put pressure on their lone big man, especially since he's a freshman. Ward looked good when on the court. He showed a lot of hustle, and toughness inside. He finished with 9 points, and 4 rebounds, 3 of which were on the offensive end. Ward also had the team's only block. Perhaps, most impressively, he committed just one foul. Surprising since he is a freshman, Arizona attacked the basket, and the team committed 23 total fouls. Ward needs to be playing more than 14 minutes a game.

G A.Ellis III Sr. 6.5

Ellis had his moments, and he seemed like one of the leaders for the team when he was on the court. He made a big 3-pointer in the second half at a crucial moment, but that was his only field goal. Ellis finished with 3 points and 3 assists.

G Joshua Langford Fr. 6

Langford was a top-30 recruit coming into the season. He played only 12 minutes this game, scoring five points on 2/4 shooting, and making his only attempted three.

G Cassius Winston Fr. 6

Winston is another top-30 recruit. He played just 10 minutes, but seemed to have a good handle on the point guard position. He needs to take better care of the ball, turning the ball over twice in 10 minutes. However, he also had 3 assists in a short period.

G Kyle Ahrens So. N/A

Did not play enough to qualify.

Team Overview:

This game showed the Spartans were over-ranked at twelfth. They are going to have a tough time against bigger teams due to their lack of size. Miles Bridges is an exciting prospect. He will challenge for Big Ten freshman of the year, and is the best player on this team. However, there is not enough talent around him, especially if Eron Harris plays as poorly as he did last night. Nick Ward is going to be a key player for this team. He needs to be a starter, and play starter's minutes (20+). He is MSU's only true interior player. I didn't get to see much of Langford and Winston this game, but their development is going to be important as well.