EAST LANSING — Jaxon Kohler plays with the boundless energy of an uncaged new puppy, barking and bouncing around the court, excited to be doing the things he couldn’t a year ago after foot surgery put a leash on him.
Yet at the same time, the Michigan State basketball junior forward channels his enthusiasm through his howls and growls for another reason: to let opponents know he’s an alpha dog.
“My dad kind of explained it to me that not only are you giving yourself energy, you're giving your teammates energy. And also, you're kind of putting your foot down against the other team, showing like, 'Hey, I've got the energy, don't mess with me,’” Kohler said after practice Tuesday.