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

TULSA, OK - MARCH 19: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans attempts a free throw against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 19, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 19: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks during 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) /

2. Spartans don’t need Miles Bridges to win

Yes, I understand that Miles Bridges did play on Friday night, but the Spartans didn’t get a full game out of the star sophomore. He played just 17 minutes against the Huskies on Friday night and it was clear that he wasn’t going to have his typical game after spraining his ankle on Sunday.

Michigan State didn’t even start him and he was used sparingly as he finished with just six points, eight rebounds and a block. He was nowhere near his averages and that’s a good sign for the Spartans.

The day before against DePaul, Bridges sat out and the Spartans won by 22. Against Connecticut, he finished with six points and the Spartans beat the Huskies by 20.

We saw a couple of years ago with Denzel Valentine sitting out with an injury that the Spartans found ways to win without their star player. It’s good that Michigan State is playing without its star because they will need other players to step up and to not rely on Bridges too much.

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