Michigan State Basketball: Report card for Spartans win over Stony Brook

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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans walks through the tunnel before the game against the Stony Brook Seawolves at Breslin Center on November 19, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Defense: C

Tom Izzo’s face in the picture above says it all. While it wasn’t the worst defensive performance of the year, it truly could have been better. Izzo would tell you that a ‘C’ is probably still a little too generous of a grade for the defensive effort.

Nick Ward struggled defensively in the post, although he did finish with two blocks. Izzo was quick to talk after the game about some of his big guys who can’t defend well enough yet. Ward is presumed to be one of them while Gavin Schilling could be another. The latter played just 12 minutes and had 12 fouls. He reaches too much instead of standing straight up.

Cassius Winston also had some struggles defensively. He picked up some ticky-tack fouls, but he needs to be able to defend and keep his man in front of him without reaching in and hand-checking.

The perimeter defense struggled all game as Stony Brook was able to step out and make 13-of-26 shots from distance — and a number of them came from the bigs. Michigan State’s post players need to learn how to defend inside-out.

The bright spots were the 13 forced turnovers as well as seven blocked shots.

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