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Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Spartans will beat Hurricanes

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 9, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) dunks the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions guard Josh Reaves (23) looks on in the first half during the Big Ten Conference Tournament at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) dunks the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions guard Josh Reaves (23) looks on in the first half during the Big Ten Conference Tournament at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 9, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Miami Hurricanes guard Davon Reed (5) controls the ball against North Carolina Tar Heels guard Nate Britt (0) during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sportsat Barclays Center.
Mar 9, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Miami Hurricanes guard Davon Reed (5) controls the ball against North Carolina Tar Heels guard Nate Britt (0) during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sportsat Barclays Center. /

4. Miami offense is containable

If you’re Michigan State, the last type of team you want to face is one that likes to get out in the fast-break and put up points in big numbers. Michigan State’s defense has been inconsistent all year long and it could have something to do with the young freshmen getting acclimated to the faster game as well as trying to avoid foul trouble.

Often times you see guys like Miles Bridges, Josh Langford and Cassius Winston back off opponents because they don’t want to pick up a second or third foul.

Miami isn’t going to try and force the issue often and the Hurricanes average just 69 points per game and don’t have a single shooter who makes 40 percent of his threes. They shoot about 36 percent as a team from downtown and 45 percent from the floor. The Spartans have struggled against teams who can catch fire from the perimeter.

Not just that, but the Hurricanes also average more turnovers per game (13) than they do assists (12) which is something Michigan State hasn’t seen in a while.

If the Spartans play defense the way they’re capable of, they can shut down this Miami offense and force the Hurricanes to play at Michigan State’s speed.

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