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Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from win over DePaul in PK80

By Connor Muldowney

TULSA, OK - MARCH 19: Carlton Bragg Jr. #15 of the Kansas Jayhawks is defended by Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 19, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
TULSA, OK - MARCH 19: Carlton Bragg Jr. #15 of the Kansas Jayhawks is defended by Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 19, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 26: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates during a game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half at the Breslin Center on February 26, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 26: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates during a game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half at the Breslin Center on February 26, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

1. A focused Michigan State team could beat anyone

This is factual. Michigan State, when focused, is extremely difficult to take down. The Spartans looked to be in that focused mode during the second half on Thursday night after playing a mediocre first half filled with lackluster defense. It was, as the cliche states, a tale of two halves.

Must Read: MSU Basketball: 5 bold predictions for November

Michigan State looked sluggish, unprepared and just lazy in the first half, but Tom Izzo seemed to light a fire under them in the locker room. Everyone came out hot and the Spartans even put together a couple of big runs to pull away by 22 points.

The game was tied 31-31 at the half and Michigan State held DePaul, a clearly inferior opponent, to just 20 points while scoring 42. The Spartans looked like a different team and that’s because they were focused and got a wakeup call with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by DePaul to tie things up with 20 minutes to play.

Next: MSU Football: 5 takeaways from ugly win over Maryland

If we saw a motivated and focused team from the opening tipoff, we may be talking about a 30-40 point win instead of a 73-51 victory. Still, it’s early in the season and this team is only going to grow.

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