Michigan State Spartans Men s Basketball Vs Auburn Tigers Men s Basketball Match Player Stats
The December 9, 2023, matchup between the Michigan State Spartans and Auburn Tigers was a highly anticipated non-conference clash, pitting two NCAA Tournament-caliber teams against each other.
Michigan State, under legendary coach Tom Izzo, brought a disciplined, defense-first approach, while Auburn, led by Bruce Pearl, relied on up-tempo offense and aggressive perimeter play.
The game ended in a narrow 75-69 victory for Auburn, but the underlying player statistics reveal deeper complexities about individual performances, team strategies, and the evolving dynamics of modern college basketball.
While the final score suggests a straightforward outcome, a forensic analysis of player stats exposes critical disparities in efficiency, shot selection, and defensive impact factors that not only decided this game but also reflect broader trends in NCAA basketball analytics.
At first glance, Auburn’s Johni Broome (14 points, 7 rebounds) and Michigan State’s Tyson Walker (15 points, 4 assists) appeared evenly matched.
However, advanced metrics tell a different story.
Broome shot 60% from the field (6/10), while Walker struggled at 38% (5/13).
According to, Broome’s Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 22.
3 dwarfed Walker’s 14.
7, illustrating Auburn’s superior interior scoring.
Michigan State’s reliance on contested mid-range jumpers (a staple of Izzo’s system) proved costly.
The Spartans shot just 28% from three, compared to Auburn’s 37%.
As notes, modern analytics favor either high-percentage paint scoring or three-point efficiency areas where Auburn excelled.
Auburn’s defensive pressure, led by Tre Donaldson (3 steals), disrupted Michigan State’s ball movement, forcing 12 turnovers.
Synergy Sports data shows the Tigers generated 18 points off turnovers, a decisive margin in a six-point game.
Conversely, Michigan State’s Malik Hall (12 points, 6 rebounds) was effective in isolation but struggled in help defense, allowing Auburn guards to penetrate at will.
Critics argue that Michigan State’s defensive scheme prioritizing rim protection over perimeter closeouts is outdated in an era of positionless basketball.
A 2022 study found that teams hedging heavily on pick-and-rolls (as MSU did) surrender 8% more corner threes precisely where Auburn capitalized.
Auburn’s bench outscored Michigan State’s 21-9, with Chad Baker-Mazara providing a spark (9 points in 14 minutes).
Meanwhile, MSU’s reserves combined for a -6 plus/minus.
KenPom’s adjusted efficiency metrics rank Auburn’s bench among the top 15 nationally, a testament to Pearl’s recruiting depth.
However, some analysts contend that over-reliance on bench production can backfire in high-stakes games.
A study of March Madness outcomes found that elite teams typically shorten rotations, relying on starters for 75% of scoring a strategy Izzo has historically favored.
This game underscores a growing tension between analytics-driven strategies and traditional coaching philosophies.
Michigan State’s emphasis on post-ups and mid-range shots clashes with Auburn’s modern, pace-and-space approach.
As ’s Seth Davis observes, “The teams that adapt to efficiency trends without abandoning their identity are the ones cutting down nets in April.
” The Auburn-Michigan State matchup was more than a battle of teams it was a clash of basketball ideologies.
While Auburn’s superior shooting efficiency and defensive versatility secured the win, Michigan State’s struggles highlight systemic challenges in adapting to analytics-based play.
For coaches, the lesson is clear: balancing tradition with innovation is no longer optional.
For fans, this game serves as a microcosm of the evolving NCAA landscape where every possession, every shot, and every defensive rotation is a data point in a larger story.
- Basketball-Reference.
(2023).
- FiveThirtyEight.
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(2022).
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- KenPom.
(2023).
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(2023).
- Davis, S.
(2023)