Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Basketball: Report card for win over DePaul in PK80

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 19: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket against Bryan Sekunda #22 of the Stony Brook Seawolves at Breslin Center on November 19, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 19: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket against Bryan Sekunda #22 of the Stony Brook Seawolves at Breslin Center on November 19, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 14: Wendell Carter Jr #34 of the Duke Blue Devils is fouled by Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans during the State Farm Champions Classic at the United Center on November 14, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Duke defeated Michigan State 88-81. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 14: Wendell Carter Jr #34 of the Duke Blue Devils is fouled by Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans during the State Farm Champions Classic at the United Center on November 14, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Duke defeated Michigan State 88-81. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Defense: B+

Early on, the defense looked to lose focus. Heck, the Spartans may have never even had focus to begin with. They looked lost on the defensive side of the ball with screens and switches and it led to some easy buckets by DePaul.

If Michigan State was graded on the first-half defense only, it would have gotten a C/C+. However, the second half seemed to come with some redemption. After giving up 31 points and a couple of open shots to a lackluster offensive squad, the Spartans buckled down and made the necessary stops in the second half.

The Spartans forced just 11 DePaul turnovers, but looked to lock down and not allow open shots in the final 20 minutes. They allowed just 20 points in the second half after giving up 31 in the first. DePaul had a couple of long scoreless droughts led by this Michigan State defense.

The Blue Demons couldn’t find many open shots in the second half, finishing with a 26 percent shooting rate from the floor and 25 percent from 3-point range. Overall, Michigan State’s defense was solid, but could use some work on screens and switches.

Home/Spartans Basketball