Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from win over Southern Utah

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 9: Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a made basket during the game against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds at Breslin Center on December 9, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 9: Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a made basket during the game against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds at Breslin Center on December 9, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

4. Jaren Jackson Jr. is getting better — and that’s a scary thought

If there was ever a game in which fans truly got a glimpse of why Jaren Jackson Jr. is considered a top-five pick in next summer’s NBA draft, it was Saturday night against Southern Utah. The freshman sensation had himself quite the night, finishing with a double-double to go along with five blocks.

With those five blocks, he’s now at 13 in the past two games and he has 30 on the season in just 10 games. He continues to get better each game out and on Saturday, he improved his post defense, moving his feet, defending without fouling and free throw shooting.

Jackson Jr. is an 84 percent free throw shooter on the year, which is incredible for a 6-foot-11 freshman, but he even exceeded those numbers, making 11-of-12 on Saturday.

On top of that, he finished with yet another double-double, his fifth on the season and fourth in the past seven outings. If he continues to improve his rebounding ability, there won’t be a big man in college basketball that will be able to stop him. He’s averaging 10.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game and he hasn’t even scratched the surface.

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