Senior captain Carson Cooper has become Michigan State basketball’s quiet anchor, with his growth mirroring the program’s traditional culture of hard work and determination. The 6-foot-11 center from nearby Jackson, Mich. has played a pivotal role on both ends of the floor, helping the Spartans to a 24-5 record and a No. 8 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll entering the final week of the regular season.