Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from win over Cleveland State

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 18: Miles Bridges #22 and Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans react to a second half play while playing the Houston Baptist Huskies 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 21: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks the ball during the game against the Long Beach State 49ers at Breslin Center on December 21, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2. Nick Ward has serious All-American potential

When Nick Ward is playing at a high level, watch out. This kid has serious All-American potential, meaning that if he plays the way he did against Cleveland State throughout the Big Ten schedule, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see him selected as one of college basketball’s best.

Sometimes it’s tough to get players on the No. 2 team in the country up for a game against lowly Cleveland State, but Ward treated the game like a Final Four matchup. He was aggressive on the glass, finishing with 14 rebounds, and he added 22 points.

Most of his points were extremely loud. What do I mean by this? Just watch how angry this dunk was:

Need more proof? Here’s another angry slam:

Who says Miles Bridges is the only one on the team who can have highlight dunks? Ward looks the part of an All-Big Ten big man, averaging 15 points and 7.3 rebounds, but if he continues to shoot 70 percent from the field and play more than 20 minutes per game, he will be an All-American.

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