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Michigan State Basketball: Report card for blowout win over No. 5 Notre Dame

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans posts up against Austin Torres #1 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the game at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans posts up against Austin Torres #1 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the game at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Bonzie Colson #35 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish shoots a lay up against Gavin Schilling #34 of the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Bonzie Colson #35 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish shoots a lay up against Gavin Schilling #34 of the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Defense: B+

If the Spartans maintained that defensive intensity they showed in the first half for the entire 40 minutes, this grade likely would have been an A or maybe even an A+, although I do not give out the latter unless the performance was flawless. The defense in the first half was as close to flawless as it gets.

Michigan State was holding Notre Dame to around 30 percent shooting from the floor and the Irish couldn’t get anything going from long-range, either.

On top of that, Jaren Jackson Jr. was playing phenomenal defense on national player of the year candidate Bonzie Colson. He did pick up four fouls and was limited to just 14 minutes, but he made his impact felt on the defensive end, also adding three blocks.

The Irish were able to finish with 37 points in the second half and got their field goal percentage up to around 44. The defense did hold the Irish to just 63 points which is far lower than their season average over over 80. Michigan State forced 10 turnovers and had six blocks and four steals.

Holding Colson to just 6-of-19 shooting was the big victory of the night.

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