Simply the Best: Haynie and McCutcheon
3/23/2020 9:16:00 AM | Women's Basketball
East Lansing, Mich. - There are only two basketball players in Michigan State women's basketball history to record at least 1,000 points and 500 assists.Â
The first is Kristin Haynie, a star who went on to an incredible professional career and solidified herself as one of the greatest Spartans ever. The second is senior Taryn McCutcheon who made a great case to be included amongst the MSU greats.Â
McCutcheon and Haynie share a lot of similarities. Both are powerful point guards and phenomenal leaders. Their connection has grown stronger this season with the addition of Haynie to the MSU coaching staff.
 "I feel like she has brought a whole different perspective to the game for me. She gives me confidence when I need it and I think that's a lot of what I was missing," said McCutcheon. "Not only do I appreciate her knowledge for the game, I appreciate the kind of person and coach she is."Â
Haynie, who played for MSU from 2001-05, brings a unique perspective to the team cherished by MSU head coach Suzy Merchant.
"If you're a point guard on this team and don't listen to someone who was a Big Ten champion, took their team to a Final Four, played in a National Championship game, and then won a WNBA championship, then you really don't have a clue," said Merchant. "Haynie just keeps it real, that's what I love about her. If you're not playing well, she is going to tell you. I think a lot of coaches nowadays kind of want to appease kids, but Coach Haynie just tells it like it is."Â
Haynie's resume is deep. She was a four-year starting point guard for the Spartans, reaching the 2005 National Championship game and winning 33 games, and winning the 2005 WNBA title with the Sacramento Monarchs. She has been coaching since 2012, working at Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan.
One thing McCutcheon really values about Haynie is the confidence boost through the ups and downs.Â
"Everything that she does here for me is positive," said McCutcheon. "When I'm not confident she shows me good clips and shows me when I'm doing well. She sees what I'm seeing. Even if I have a turnover, she will tell me that she knows what I was looking at. For her to be encouraging and tell me, 'I see what you're seeing,' it just helps a lot in games and in practice."
Haynie said in some cases, she sees a lot of similarities between her and McCutcheon. They play the same position and have the responsibility to drive the team on the floor.
"She has a high IQ," said Haynie. "She has good vision and does a really good job at setting up her teammates."Â
When asked if there is a difference between them, Haynie volunteered McCutcheon has an advantage.
"She is a better shooter than I am," said Haynie.Â
So, who's the better player? The MSU legend? Or the MSU senior?
 "Kristin Haynie all day," said Haynie.Â
Competitiveness aside, good chemistry is a valuable asset to have between a player and a coach. McCutcheon and Haynie share just that. Â
"We have a good relationship," said Haynie. "We are always talking to each other and she is always asking for advice."
Even though Haynie has only been with the team for one year, she has seen improvement in McCutcheon's game.
"She is demanding more of her teammates. Being more of a vocal leader on the floor and she is doing a really good job of setting her teammates up," said Haynie.
McCutcheon set the school all-time assist record on Senior Day against Penn State n March 1, passing Haynie who had 574. The senior finished with 582 assists, becoming a permanent part of the Michigan State record book.
"We have talked about it for a little here and there," said Haynie. "She will get it. She's a great player, a great passer and we have a lot of games left."
McCutcheon could not help but express how much it means to be mentioned in the same breath as Haynie.Â
"I look up to her so much," said McCutcheon. Â "She's the best point guard to ever come to Michigan State. The fact that I am even being mentioned with Kristin Haynie, for me that is such an honor."
It is more than serendipity that brought Haynie back to Michigan State during McCutcheon's senior campaign. It was also the knowledge greatness knows greatness.
Â
The first is Kristin Haynie, a star who went on to an incredible professional career and solidified herself as one of the greatest Spartans ever. The second is senior Taryn McCutcheon who made a great case to be included amongst the MSU greats.Â
McCutcheon and Haynie share a lot of similarities. Both are powerful point guards and phenomenal leaders. Their connection has grown stronger this season with the addition of Haynie to the MSU coaching staff.
 "I feel like she has brought a whole different perspective to the game for me. She gives me confidence when I need it and I think that's a lot of what I was missing," said McCutcheon. "Not only do I appreciate her knowledge for the game, I appreciate the kind of person and coach she is."Â
Haynie, who played for MSU from 2001-05, brings a unique perspective to the team cherished by MSU head coach Suzy Merchant.
"If you're a point guard on this team and don't listen to someone who was a Big Ten champion, took their team to a Final Four, played in a National Championship game, and then won a WNBA championship, then you really don't have a clue," said Merchant. "Haynie just keeps it real, that's what I love about her. If you're not playing well, she is going to tell you. I think a lot of coaches nowadays kind of want to appease kids, but Coach Haynie just tells it like it is."Â
Haynie's resume is deep. She was a four-year starting point guard for the Spartans, reaching the 2005 National Championship game and winning 33 games, and winning the 2005 WNBA title with the Sacramento Monarchs. She has been coaching since 2012, working at Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan.
One thing McCutcheon really values about Haynie is the confidence boost through the ups and downs.Â
"Everything that she does here for me is positive," said McCutcheon. "When I'm not confident she shows me good clips and shows me when I'm doing well. She sees what I'm seeing. Even if I have a turnover, she will tell me that she knows what I was looking at. For her to be encouraging and tell me, 'I see what you're seeing,' it just helps a lot in games and in practice."
Haynie said in some cases, she sees a lot of similarities between her and McCutcheon. They play the same position and have the responsibility to drive the team on the floor.
"She has a high IQ," said Haynie. "She has good vision and does a really good job at setting up her teammates."Â
When asked if there is a difference between them, Haynie volunteered McCutcheon has an advantage.
"She is a better shooter than I am," said Haynie.Â
So, who's the better player? The MSU legend? Or the MSU senior?
 "Kristin Haynie all day," said Haynie.Â
Competitiveness aside, good chemistry is a valuable asset to have between a player and a coach. McCutcheon and Haynie share just that. Â
"We have a good relationship," said Haynie. "We are always talking to each other and she is always asking for advice."
Even though Haynie has only been with the team for one year, she has seen improvement in McCutcheon's game.
"She is demanding more of her teammates. Being more of a vocal leader on the floor and she is doing a really good job of setting her teammates up," said Haynie.
McCutcheon set the school all-time assist record on Senior Day against Penn State n March 1, passing Haynie who had 574. The senior finished with 582 assists, becoming a permanent part of the Michigan State record book.
"We have talked about it for a little here and there," said Haynie. "She will get it. She's a great player, a great passer and we have a lot of games left."
McCutcheon could not help but express how much it means to be mentioned in the same breath as Haynie.Â
"I look up to her so much," said McCutcheon. Â "She's the best point guard to ever come to Michigan State. The fact that I am even being mentioned with Kristin Haynie, for me that is such an honor."
It is more than serendipity that brought Haynie back to Michigan State during McCutcheon's senior campaign. It was also the knowledge greatness knows greatness.
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Players Mentioned
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