Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from big win over North Carolina

Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from blowout win over North Carolina

PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 26: North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye #32, Michigan State Spartans forward Nick Ward #44, North Carolina Tar Heels forward Garrison Brooks #15 and Michigan State Spartans forward Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 battle for position in the first half of the game during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 26, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

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PORTLAND, OR – NOVEMBER 26: Michigan State Spartans forward Miles Bridges #22 blocks the shot of North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II #2 in the first half of the game during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 26, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

3. Defensive-minded Spartans are virtually unbeatable

Everything has seemed to change since the Duke loss in the Champions Classic a couple of weeks ago. The Spartans allowed 88 points to the Blue Devils as Grayson Allen torched Michigan State from deep. While they weren’t being lazy on the defensive side of the ball, they also weren’t communicating enough.

Since that game, the most points Michigan State has allowed has been 71 to Stony Brook. The Spartans held DePaul to 51, Connecticut to 57 and North Carolina to just 45. That might be the best three-game stretch in Tom Izzo’s tenure on the defensive side of the ball.

DePaul was expected to be a poor offensive group, but Connecticut had some players and could only muster 57 while North Carolina’s 45 was a shock. The Tar Heels also accounted for the lowest shooting percentage (25) in program history in the PK80 title game.

When Michigan State plays tough defense and contests each and every shot, it’s extremely difficult to beat and some might say unbeatable.

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