Toasters in the Cold Tub

Two wins against UCLA and Ohio State keep the Spartans at 22-5, but this episode earns its soul not from the wins themselves — the UCLA game was a blowout and the Ohio State game was an officiating drama wrapped around a Bruce Thornton highlight reel — but from the questions underneath: whether Kohler's foul trouble and shooting coldness is a problem that follows them to Mackie, whether Fears can finally become the guy Izzo is still waiting for, and whether Carson Cooper's career performance against Ohio State is a new floor or just a good day. Mick Cronin provides the comic relief, the Naismith committee provides the outrage, and Plum once again is right about Jeremy Fears being maddeningly inconsistent, even in a win.