Taryn McCutcheon Is Quietly Chasing History

Michigan State's point guard commands respect on the court

Michigan State women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant’s current squad features arguably the best point guard to ever play for the school, but she believes anyone unfamiliar with Taryn McCutcheon’s on-court accolades wouldn’t assume that McCutcheon has such a court presence upon first glance.

“She has a big game and a little baby tiny voice,” Merchant said. “Her voice is about as mild and tiny and low as you can get but the way she plays and carries herself is really big. I think if people heard her speak, they would be surprised at how mild and quiet her voice projects, especially for someone who plays with such toughness.”

While some may forget McCutcheon’s voice, it will be a long time before any Spartans fans forget her game. McCutcheon came into the 2019-20 season in the top seven all-time at Michigan State in 3-point field goals made, 3-point percentage, total assists, assists per game, free throw percentage and minutes per game. She also started her senior season as the Spartans’ all-time leader in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Over Michigan State’s 21 games played so far this season, McCutcheon has only added to that legacy. She has moved into third place for 3-point attempts and makes. Heading into Monday night’s game at Maryland, McCutcheon is just 32 assists short of tying current Michigan State assistant coach Kristin Haynie for the program’s all-time record. McCutcheon is elated about chasing her coach in that category.

“It was the only thing I really wanted coming here,” McCutcheon stated. “It's been a personal goal of mine. I wasn't really concerned about points or anything. Especially with Kristin being my coach, she's helped a lot. She really wants me to do well so it's cool for her to have that record and help me trying to beat it. It would just be cool to be here forever in the books. I'm second right now so I guess I am in the books but number one sounds better.”

Haynie believes McCutcheon has what it takes to accomplish her goal.

“She sees the floor well,” Haynie commented. “She's an unselfish player. She's always making the extra pass and getting everyone involved. She knows the game. She's a four-year starter and has logged a lot of minutes. She sets people up in the right place at the right time.”

For the Spartans, McCutcheon’s story is an ideal one. A product of East Lansing, McCutcheon stayed local to play collegiately and expresses her pride in playing in front of her community for nearly four years. As one of four seniors on the Michigan State roster, McCutcheon believes the team has the ability to “do something special” in her final undergraduate year.

In the Big Ten standings, however, the Spartans have some work to do. Michigan State faces the Terrapins on Monday currently sitting four and a half games back of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Northwestern Wildcats. The Spartans will have to win all of their remaining regular-season games then at least their first-round game in the Big Ten conference tournament to reach the magic number of 20 wins this season.

McCutcheon’s personal striving to catch and surpass Haynie works in tandem with Michigan State’s goals. Although her career assists per game average has dropped from 4.80 to 4.55 over the course of this season, she is still well on pace to break the record with nine guaranteed games left on the Spartans’ schedule. McCutcheon is also much more than just a facilitator. Her defense and leadership also make her stand out on the court despite her 5’5” frame.

“I always say that if you're soft on the ball, you're soft everywhere,” Merchant elaborated. “Taryn is definitely not soft on the ball. She extends defensively from the time the ball goes through the hoop. She's committed to guarding the ball. When she does that, she elevates our play all around.”

“I think her leadership skills have gotten a lot better,” Haynie added. “She's more vocal and we need her, being a four-year starter. Leadership is the most important thing and she's definitely grown from the beginning of the season until now.”

Despite her accomplishments on the court, McCutcheon says that one of her struggles is asserting herself. Haynie has been one of her biggest supporters in that regard.

“She works on individual things and shows me what I did well because she knows I'm not the most confident person,” McCutcheon explained. “She gets it. She has changed my whole senior year.”

The potential future career assists leader at Michigan State has a personality that fits well with that distinction. Yet McCutcheon’s preference for others to take the spotlight gives way at times, when the fire McCutcheon displays in her game stirs up and she uses her voice to address the issues she sees.

“Those things definitely don't match up,” Merchant adds. “She has a little voice and a big message. Sometimes we have to stop practice because when she has something to say, she means it and people really do listen.”