Chris Solari
@chrissolari.bsky.social
Michigan State football/men's basketball reporter for Detroit Free Press, Heisman/Naismith award voter. Work found at https://www.freep.com/staff/2648040001/chris-solari/
Spartans' stunning upset of Kentucky has roots in loyalty: 'That's what we call development'
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www.freep.com/story/sports...
Michigan State basketball upset of Kentucky rooted in loyalty
Michigan State basketball stepped out on the national stage thanks to breakthroughs by Kur Teng and Jesse McCulloch in Tuesday's win over Kentucky.
www.freep.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Spartans' stunning upset of Kentucky has roots in loyalty: 'That's what we call development'
www.freep.com/story/sports...
www.freep.com/story/sports...
Michigan State basketball rains 3s on Kentucky in Champions Classic spanking, 83-66:
“The first one went in, and you just kind of built on that confidence”
www.freep.com/story/sports...
“The first one went in, and you just kind of built on that confidence”
www.freep.com/story/sports...
Michigan State basketball rains 3s on Kentucky in Champions Classic spanking, 83-66
Spartans shot 11-for-22 from 3-point range to control the Champions Classic showdown against Kentucky from the start. Jaxon Kohler scored 20 for MSU.
www.freep.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Michigan State basketball rains 3s on Kentucky in Champions Classic spanking, 83-66:
“The first one went in, and you just kind of built on that confidence”
www.freep.com/story/sports...
“The first one went in, and you just kind of built on that confidence”
www.freep.com/story/sports...
Reposted by Chris Solari
Can't get enough of MSU's win over Kentucky in New York? Here's more New York for you. Plus, 9 minutes of MSU basketball analysis and avant-garde film-making from me and @chrissolari.bsky.social.
www.lansingstatejournal.com/videos/sport...
www.lansingstatejournal.com/videos/sport...
Talkin’ Spartans: Analyzing Michigan State basketball’s 83-66 win over Kentucky in the Champions Classic
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss MSU’s win over Kentucky in the Champions Classic.
www.lansingstatejournal.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Can't get enough of MSU's win over Kentucky in New York? Here's more New York for you. Plus, 9 minutes of MSU basketball analysis and avant-garde film-making from me and @chrissolari.bsky.social.
www.lansingstatejournal.com/videos/sport...
www.lansingstatejournal.com/videos/sport...
Reposted by Chris Solari
Found the poster photo for the upcoming smash hit "Chris and Graham's Excellent Adventure", brought to you by Musk Ox Flannels.
@chrissolari.bsky.social @grahamcouch.bsky.social
@chrissolari.bsky.social @grahamcouch.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Found the poster photo for the upcoming smash hit "Chris and Graham's Excellent Adventure", brought to you by Musk Ox Flannels.
@chrissolari.bsky.social @grahamcouch.bsky.social
@chrissolari.bsky.social @grahamcouch.bsky.social
Michigan State basketball rains 3s on Kentucky in Champions Classic spanking, 83-66 www.freep.com/story/sports...
Michigan State basketball rains 3s on Kentucky in Champions Classic spanking, 83-66
Spartans shot 11-for-22 from 3-point range to control the Champions Classic showdown against Kentucky from the start. Jaxon Kohler scored 20 for MSU.
www.freep.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Michigan State basketball rains 3s on Kentucky in Champions Classic spanking, 83-66 www.freep.com/story/sports...
Izzo: "Their loyalty to me has gotta be my loyalty to them. And loyalty still frickin' matters."
November 19, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Izzo: "Their loyalty to me has gotta be my loyalty to them. And loyalty still frickin' matters."
Izzo asked about transfer portal movement vs his program's continuity: "I don't give up on the people I got. That's called development."
November 19, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Izzo asked about transfer portal movement vs his program's continuity: "I don't give up on the people I got. That's called development."
MSU coach Tom Izzo: "That was a heckuva win for us." Says he didn't think his team played well early but turned it on. "The positive for us is we hit some shots."
November 19, 2025 at 1:57 AM
MSU coach Tom Izzo: "That was a heckuva win for us." Says he didn't think his team played well early but turned it on. "The positive for us is we hit some shots."
Kohler on Jesse McCulloch, who scored a career high 8 points and hit two 3s: "Jesse put his foot down on a spot in our rotation." Fears adds, "Them young boys showed up tonight."
November 19, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Kohler on Jesse McCulloch, who scored a career high 8 points and hit two 3s: "Jesse put his foot down on a spot in our rotation." Fears adds, "Them young boys showed up tonight."
Fears says MSU has grown since the UConn exhibition game. "The goal now is to put two great halves together and make sure that we bond."
November 19, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Fears says MSU has grown since the UConn exhibition game. "The goal now is to put two great halves together and make sure that we bond."
Jeremy Fears on Kur Teng: "I think for Kur, this game was huge. ... One thing about Kur, he's gonna work."
November 19, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Jeremy Fears on Kur Teng: "I think for Kur, this game was huge. ... One thing about Kur, he's gonna work."
Jaxon Kohler on MSU's 11-for-22 3-point shooting: "The key was going into this game having confidence in your shot. And I feel like everyone did that. The first one went in, and you just kind of built on that confidence."
November 19, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Jaxon Kohler on MSU's 11-for-22 3-point shooting: "The key was going into this game having confidence in your shot. And I feel like everyone did that. The first one went in, and you just kind of built on that confidence."
FINAL: No. 18 MSU 83, No. 13 Kentucky 66 in the Champions Classic. Spartans 4-0 for the first time since the 2020-21 season. Kohler with 20 points, Fears with a career-high 13 assists, Teng with 15 points and McCulloch 8, both career highs.
November 19, 2025 at 1:37 AM
FINAL: No. 18 MSU 83, No. 13 Kentucky 66 in the Champions Classic. Spartans 4-0 for the first time since the 2020-21 season. Kohler with 20 points, Fears with a career-high 13 assists, Teng with 15 points and McCulloch 8, both career highs.
Back to back Cam Ward buckets, including an oop from Fears. Timeout Kentucky. MSU leads 75-55 with 5:03 left.
November 19, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Back to back Cam Ward buckets, including an oop from Fears. Timeout Kentucky. MSU leads 75-55 with 5:03 left.
MSU entered Tuesday 13-for-60 from 3-point range, and its 21.7% shooting from deep ranked 358th out of 361 Division I teams.
The Spartans are 10-for-19 on 3s against Kentucky tonight.
The Spartans are 10-for-19 on 3s against Kentucky tonight.
November 19, 2025 at 1:18 AM
MSU entered Tuesday 13-for-60 from 3-point range, and its 21.7% shooting from deep ranked 358th out of 361 Division I teams.
The Spartans are 10-for-19 on 3s against Kentucky tonight.
The Spartans are 10-for-19 on 3s against Kentucky tonight.
MSU has hit 5 of its last 7 and is up 69-55 on Kentucky, 6:10 to play.
November 19, 2025 at 1:16 AM
MSU has hit 5 of its last 7 and is up 69-55 on Kentucky, 6:10 to play.
McCulloch and Teng are really giving MSU a huge spark tonight, combining for 23 points and five 3-pointers. Up 13 on Kentucky with 8:15 left.
November 19, 2025 at 1:13 AM
McCulloch and Teng are really giving MSU a huge spark tonight, combining for 23 points and five 3-pointers. Up 13 on Kentucky with 8:15 left.
Cooper just got "blocked" three times. At least one wasn't a foul. Kentucky gets the ball. But MSU is up 17.
November 19, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Cooper just got "blocked" three times. At least one wasn't a foul. Kentucky gets the ball. But MSU is up 17.
Fears to Carr. Electric oop.
November 19, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Fears to Carr. Electric oop.
HALFTIME: No. 18 MSU 44, No. 13 Kentucky 27
November 19, 2025 at 12:26 AM
HALFTIME: No. 18 MSU 44, No. 13 Kentucky 27
I didn't think Teng was going to get a shot off. Not only did he, but went in. Refs call it good. MSU up 44-27.
November 19, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I didn't think Teng was going to get a shot off. Not only did he, but went in. Refs call it good. MSU up 44-27.
Kohler controlling inside and out, with a step-in jumper off a pump fake at the arc and a second-chance post-up bucket (credit Ward for tip-out and Carr for elevation for the extra possession). MSU up 40-25 on Kentucky, 3:08 left 1H. Spartans are 16-29 and 7-12 on 3-pointers.
November 19, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Kohler controlling inside and out, with a step-in jumper off a pump fake at the arc and a second-chance post-up bucket (credit Ward for tip-out and Carr for elevation for the extra possession). MSU up 40-25 on Kentucky, 3:08 left 1H. Spartans are 16-29 and 7-12 on 3-pointers.
Now McCulloch in on the 3-ball party, followed by another by Fort. MSU shooting the lights out right now from deep. After not hitting much in the first two games. At a place its historically has struggled to shoot. Timeout Kentucky, Spartans up 31-19, 6:51 1H.
November 19, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Now McCulloch in on the 3-ball party, followed by another by Fort. MSU shooting the lights out right now from deep. After not hitting much in the first two games. At a place its historically has struggled to shoot. Timeout Kentucky, Spartans up 31-19, 6:51 1H.
MSU controlling the pace and defensive side. McCulloch with a nice drop-step layup after a Teng dish, and the Spartans are up 25-19 on Kentucky, 7:45. MSU on an 11-2 run over last 5:06.
November 19, 2025 at 12:00 AM
MSU controlling the pace and defensive side. McCulloch with a nice drop-step layup after a Teng dish, and the Spartans are up 25-19 on Kentucky, 7:45. MSU on an 11-2 run over last 5:06.
Cooper with a nice post hook and MSU on a 7-0 run to go up four. Defense looking solid so far, too.
November 18, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Cooper with a nice post hook and MSU on a 7-0 run to go up four. Defense looking solid so far, too.