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Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from blowout win over Houston Baptist

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 18: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives around Braxton Bonds #30 of the Houston Baptist Huskies during the second half at the Jack T. Breslin Student Events Center on December 18, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 107-62. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 18: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives around Braxton Bonds #30 of the Houston Baptist Huskies during the second half at the Jack T. Breslin Student Events Center on December 18, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 107-62. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 18: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives around Braxton Bonds #30 of the Houston Baptist Huskies during the second half at the Jack T. Breslin Student Events Center on December 18, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 107-62. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 18: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives around Braxton Bonds #30 of the Houston Baptist Huskies during the second half at the Jack T. Breslin Student Events Center on December 18, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 107-62. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

4. Cassius Winston is dangerous with the ball in his hands

After Saturday’s showing against Oakland, Cassius Winston knew he needed to protect the ball better. He finished with six turnovers and just a few assists. He was criticized for not taking making every possession early on count, but he did close out with 19 second-half points.

Scoring wasn’t something he focused on Monday night as he just wanted to get his teammates the ball early and often. He did just that, showing he can be a world-class facilitator when he values each possession instead of trying to make full-court passes on breakaways.

Against Houston Baptist, he made nothing but smart passes, for the most part, and finished with a career-high 12 assists to go along with 10 points, three rebounds, a steal and four turnovers. Those cough-ups will have to be corrected moving forward, but a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio isn’t half bad.

Winston is dangerous with the ball in his hands and he may have just established himself as the best passer in the Big Ten. He’d already been averaging over six assists per game, but if he can play like he did on Monday, teams will have to respect his offense as much as his ability to find the open man.

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