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Michigan State Basketball: Report card for non-conference play

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 21, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reacts to a play during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reacts to a play during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 20, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) drives the baseline against Florida Gulf Coast Eagles forward Demetris Morant (21) during the second half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) drives the baseline against Florida Gulf Coast Eagles forward Demetris Morant (21) during the second half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

A-. . Forward. Freshman. MILES BRIDGES

Miles Bridges has been one of the best players to ever commit to Michigan State out of high school. There’s no doubt about it, this freshman sensation has been a joy to watch through the first month of the season and he’s been living up to the hype.

However, he suffered an ankle injury during the Duke game and has been out ever since. He was leading the team in scoring and rebounding before his departure, and that has hurt the Spartans on both sides of the ball. He brings an added swagger to the table that is sorely missed, but Michigan State is finding ways to win without him.

Bridges looks like a one-and-done player and it’d be almost shocking if he didn’t depart for the NBA after his freshman season in East Lansing. However, this injury may have changed the way he looks at the season. Will he be OK with missing a few games and maybe not making a run at the Final Four or will he want to come back and do so in 2017-18?

Still, he has been incredible and would probably have a higher grade if he didn’t get injured. He has played in just eight games this year, wowing fans along the way, and he’s averaging 16.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He is the best dunker Izzo has ever had and he can also step back and make threes.

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