Tom Izzo and Michigan State basketball have a big problem to solve

LINCOLN, Neb. — Tom Izzo has a big problem: Michigan State basketball’s lack of production from big men.

The emptiness from Mady Sissoko and Carson Cooper in the post, both offensively and defensively, became so frustrating for Izzo after Sunday night’s 77-70 loss at Nebraska in Pinnacle Bank Arena that he delivered a stinging quip about other potential options.

“The way I feel right now?” Izzo started. “Nick and Steven are options.”

That would be Nick Sanders, son of Barry, and Steven Izzo, son of MSU's Hall of Fame coach. One is 5 feet 10, the other 5-8. Both are walk-ons.

Izzo’s sarcasm does beg a logical follow-up question: What about that skinny 6-11 freshman, the five-star McDonald’s All-American, the guy who hasn’t played in three of the past four games?

GRAHAM COUCH: 3 quick takes on Michigan State's 77-70 loss at Nebraska

More on Xavier Booker shortly. Because it was not his fault that neither Sissoko nor Cooper could maintain defensive assignments, block out for rebounds or sometimes even catch a pass thrown their way.

The two centers struggled mightily against 6-10 Nebraska center Rienk Mast. The Bradley transfer finished with eight points on 4-for-9 shooting. He grabbed 14 rebounds, including three on the offensive glass, and two led to Juwan Gary second-chance layups.

Mast also dished out six assists, five in the second half, as Sissoko and Cooper got out of position with their help defense on backdoor cuts. Gary, a 6-6 swingman who started in place of the injured Josiah Allick, finished with 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting, including two of Nebraska’s eight 3-pointers.

It also did not help the Spartans that Sissoko, 6-9, did not take a shot in 13 scoreless minutes and grabbed just three rebounds. Cooper had a dunk for his only points and missed his other shot. The 6-11 sophomore did not grab a rebound in his 12 minutes. Neither got to the free-throw line.

That forced Izzo to go small and play 6-8 Malik Hall at center, and the senior forward produced a season-high 22 points with seven rebounds and two blocks. Freshman Coen Carr, at 6-5, logged 21 minutes and played a lot more down low, finishing with four points, three rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot he didn’t get credited with because it initially was ruled a goaltend.

“I thought Malik had maybe his best game overall, and I had to move him all over because the lack of production I got out of my two centers,” Izzo said. “Just disappointed. I thought we were playing well enough to win and boy they made some shots. … We did a hell of a job in those backdoors. And then our centers got lazy ball pressure, and they got three of them start to the second half.”

The lack of scoring in the paint allowed the Cornhuskers to load up defensively on the perimeter to shut down Tyson Walker, who scored two first-half points and went 2-for-11, before hitting five straight shots late to rally MSU.

Walker said getting more offense down low would help the Spartans’ guards.

“Their guards just can't stick to us as much,” said Walker, who missed his final two shots and finished with 17 points on 7-for-18 shooting. “It helps having a presence inside. It changes the way they gotta guard.”

Sissoko averages 4.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 17.3 minutes this season. Cooper is posting 3.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in 18.4 minutes. The Spartans remain without 6-9 sophomore Jaxon Kohler, who is recovering from foot surgery in October.

Yet with their continued problems on the block, the most glaring absence remains Booker, who remain parked on MSU’s bench after not playing in losses to Arizona on Nov. 23 and Wisconsin on Tuesday.

Booker averages 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10.7 minutes over six games. The bulk of his 63 minutes have come against low-major opponents: Southern Indiana (four points, two rebounds in 17 minutes), Alcorn State (five points, five rebounds in 19 minutes) and Georgia Southern (three points, two rebounds in 12 minutes).

Izzo was asked Sunday: “Do you feel that (Booker) could be at any point a help to this rotation, or what does he need to do to be a help?”

“Well, we put him on the scout team, and he really made some progress in the last two weeks, like every other great player I've had,” Izzo said. “I almost put him in, it's just that center was so physical. When they went with Gary, even though (Allick) got hurt, we were kind of concerned because Gary's in our minds a better offensive player.

“But Book will get his chance this week, because there's gonna be some rotating. But he's not the savior.”

A significant reason for his current usage is Booker’s lack of weight (220 pounds) and strength to battle the upper echelon of college basketball inside. Another component remains his learning curve, particularly on defense, and the need to discover the type of energy and effort Izzo demands.

Then again, Izzo is not getting much from Sissoko or Cooper.

“Listen, people gotta chill out on Book, because he's a great kid, he's doing everything he can do,” Izzo said. “He's just — it's gonna take him some time, just like a lot of other people. He's learning how to play harder. I've been really pleased with his practices, and I told you when I wasn't. And you're looking for it, because the guys that should be doing it are not doing it. And I'm looking for the same thing."

MSU (4-5, 0-2 Big Ten) is next plays Saturday, with another daunting task against No. 6 Baylor at Little Caesars Arena (2 p.m., Fox). Booker could be needed vs. 6-9 senior Jalen Bridges, 7-foot freshman Yves Missi and 6-10 sophomore Josh Ojianwuna among the Bears' top producers.

Asked Thursday about Booker, Hall said he has made a point to remind the quiet freshman to stay engaged despite a limited role.

“Sometimes, what you want isn't always gonna be what's best for the team," Hall said. "So it's making sure that he understands you just have to get better every day. He has been, and it's something I've talked to him about over the last couple of days — just keep getting better. As you get better, our team is gonna get better, too.”

Izzo said he believes that when Kohler returns sometime later in December, it will help cure some issues. Kohler must regain stamina after surgery and see the effects after a season where he averaged three points and 2.9 rebounds over 10.8 minutes as a freshman.

“The ball's gotta go in (the post)," Izzo said. “I think some of that is gonna be alleviated at least by Christmas or right after Christmas. It's gonna be a little easier to throw it in and have some offense.”

Until then?

“I'm just disappointed that when guys get opportunities, they better jump on them. If not, they disappear,” Izzo added. “And tonight, I just thought our bigs did not play very well. So they gotta play better, I gotta coach better. It goes back to that.”

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

Subscribe to the "Spartan Speak" podcast for new episodes weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

Next up: Bears

Matchup: Michigan State (4-6) vs. No. 6 Baylor (9-0).

Tipoff: 2 p.m. Saturday; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.

TV: Fox; WJR-AM (760).

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tom Izzo and Michigan State basketball have a big problem to solve