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Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from Maryland blowout

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 4: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 4: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 4: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball defended by Anthony Cowan Jr. #1 of the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 4: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball defended by Anthony Cowan Jr. #1 of the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3. Ball movement is the key to success

Moving the ball better than any team in college basketball right now is Michigan State. The Spartans average about 22 assists per game, which is No. 1 in the country, but they took it one step further on Thursday night.

In fact, Michigan State finished with 30 assists against the Terrapins in the blowout win on 32 field goals. That’s the kind of ratio that could make any head coach blush. That type of ball movement was the reason the Spartans shook off an early surge by the Terrapins and won by 30 points.

Passing has been a specialty of this team, and some guys who haven’t always been known as passers, such as Miles Bridges, are developing that trait to add to their game. Bridges finished the game with seven assists, second only to Cassius Winston who added eight.

Off the bench, Tum Tum Nairn had six assists and Matt McQuaid recorded five. This type of ball movement is contagious, especially if you see someone like McQuaid dishing five assists when he’s primarily a shooter. When Michigan State moves the ball like this, open shots aren’t hard to come by.

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