Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from overtime win over Rutgers

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 10: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on during a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Breslin Center on January 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2. Michigan State got caught looking ahead

Sandwiched between an Ohio State road game and then a rivalry contest against Michigan were the Scarlet Knights. Michigan State beat them by 10 on the road in the first matchup of the season over a month ago and expected to roll right over the Scarlet Knights at the Breslin Center on Wednesday night.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. This was the exact definition of a trap game and on top of that, it had all the makings of an upset. For one, Rutgers made some unbelievable shots down the stretch to make it a game. Two, the Scarlet Knights played fearless and Corey Sanders was seemingly unstoppable. And three, the Spartans were playing uninspired and couldn’t make their shots.

Luckily Michigan State was able to leave this one with a win in hand despite having the Scarlet Knights take it to overtime. The Spartans were nearly caught looking ahead.

The youthfulness of this team nearly cost them a game they should have easily run away with, but the Spartans got caught overlooking a team that is clearly improved from a season ago. You can bet this will act as a serious wake-up call before Saturday’s Michigan game.

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