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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: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Rebounding: A

Was this the best rebounding performance of the season? Potentially. Michigan State began the game red-hot and that extended to the glass as well. The Spartans had an early advantage of 12-1 on the boards and Notre Dame was struggling to gain any momentum in the first half.

Michigan State seemed to win each 50-50 rebound and the Spartans finished the game with a 42-21 advantage on the glass. Notre Dame didn’t have the length or aggressiveness to hang with Nick Ward, Jaren Jackson Jr., Miles Bridges, Xavier Tillman, Ben Carter or Gavin Schilling.

Heck, even Cassius Winston added five rebounds and Matt McQuaid had three. The Spartans have learned their lesson, it seems. Ever since that tough loss against Duke in which the Spartans allowed 25 offensive rebounds, Michigan State has out-rebounded each of the teams they have faced rather easily.

The Spartans finished with 15 offensive rebounds against the Irish and allowed just five offensive boards. Holding the No. 5 team in the country to just 21 total rebounds is quite the accomplishment.

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