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Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from Ohio State upset

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 4: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans rects 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: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans rects 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: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans rects 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: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans rects 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) /

4. Road games in the Big Ten are no joke

This one should come as no surprise, but even in a down year for the conference, road games in the Big Ten are nothing to overlook. Michigan State went on the road for just the second time in conference play this season and the Spartans struggled to overcome to hostile environment.

Road games are what help prepare teams for March. Michigan State needs to overcome its road woes, and quickly, if it wants to win the conference title and come away from games against teams like Ohio State with resume-building wins.

Sure, the Buckeyes weren’t exactly pushovers — now 13-4 overall and 4-0 in Big Ten play — but they were also a team that Michigan State should have taken care of. The Spartans are easily the most talented team in the conference and the deepest. There’s no way Ohio State should have handled the Spartans the way it did.

Michigan State will get three straight games at home before going to Illinois on Jan. 22. The Spartans also travel to Maryland, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern and Wisconsin this season. They will be favored in each of those games, but must get used to harsh environments first.

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