“Coen Carr played like the player we've all been waiting for, and I think it was an incredible day for Coen, because he wasn't just good offensively, but he was really, really, really good defensively,” Izzo said. “Conwell is a guy that we put him on, and we put him on him for a reason. Coen did an incredible job on him.”

In Michigan State’s 77-69 win, Carr had 21 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. It is unusual that a player with his athleticism had not accomplished the feat before. The junior forward has faced plenty of criticism — not for his highlight dunks or near-50-inch vertical — but for his lack of shot creation and scoring. But today, Carr did it all.

The Stockbridge, Georgia native has hit two or more threes in a game four times this season, and 19 total. He shot 50% from deep today with two three-pointers, taking advantage of the space he was given in the corner.

“This is tear-jerking for me, because I'm watching guys grow in front of me like it's supposed to happen,” Izzo said.

Carr has grown up a lot this season. He lost teammates who play a similar style, with Kaleb Glenn’s injury before the season and the loss of Xavier Booker to the transfer portal, Carr knew he would become a constant in the starting lineup this year. It may have seemed like a big ask for Carr, who averaged 10 points and five rebounds in the first 10 games of the season. But he scored his most points since Dec. 20 and grabbed a career high in rebounds.

“That was the Coen we've seen all summer, the Coen coming in,” Fears said. “It was a little up and down, obviously, throughout this whole year. He had some really good games, and he had some where he was okay. But, Coen showed himself.”

Louisville lost one of its top scorers in Mikel Brown Jr. earlier in the week, forcing the Cardinals’ senior guard Ryan Conwell to see extended minutes. Carr’s assignment tonight, guard Conwell, the team's best player. Conwell, like Carr, was all around the court. The Xavier transfer had 21 points and shot 5-for-11 from the field. Conwell averaged 20.5 points in Louisville’s final eight games and showed the same prowess tonight.

Carr slowed him down when he wasn’t raining threes, quickly shuffling down the lane to wall Conwell off and thwart an easy bucket in the paint. Carr only allowed his opponent 2 points on layups, the rest coming from tough jumpshots. 

“My team has surprised me a little, but usually when you have surprises, they’re in a negative way,” Izzo said. “And so when you have a surprise in a positive way, you just keep grinding.” 

With one minute left in the win, Carr headed to the bench and gave Izzo an emotional high-five — a sendoff for a player who played with even more desperation than Izzo could have hoped for. For Carr, the moment has been a long time coming, but he met it with humility, even when it has not always been easy.

“It means a lot to be in March Madness, one of the greatest stages in the world, and to have a game like this, Carr said. “I just credit it to my coaches, my teammates, just for always believing in me. They always want me to go out there and be aggressive, and that's what I tried to focus on today.”

When Carr plays the part of the slashing big, it opens up Jaxon Kohler's ability to hit from three. The two look more comfortable when they play the type of game they know they're best at.

Carr has played every role; on this day, he played senior big man Jaxon Kohler’s. Not every game can be your best — something Kohler knows after recent struggles. Kohler had 10 points on 33% shooting and six rebounds. Carr backed down his defender like a big man but could also dribble and drive toward the rim with intensity. His play was all-encompassing, and it paid off in a big way.

“He was everywhere, from offense to defense. The big defensive plays that he had, the blocks and sprinting down the court and getting the offensive rebounds, keeping the ball alive, those hustle plays,” Kohler said. “He just kept us in the game and kept them out of the game. That's what we need in this tournament.”

MSU earned its third Sweet Sixteen in four years and will play the winner of UConn and UCLA on Friday, March 27.