Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from overtime win over Rutgers

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 10: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Breslin Center on January 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

1. Miles Bridges hasn’t been himself lately

In the first half on Wednesday, Miles Bridges looked like the Monstars from Space Jam came to the game and sucked all of his energy. He was just non-existent and no the Miles that everyone has grown accustomed to.

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The second half version of Bridges was much more like himself — especially later on — as he finished with 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks, but also had three turnovers and four fouls. He was getting frustrated with his inability to draw fouls and the fact that he was just 3-for-10 from the floor.

Bridges did show off more aggressiveness in the second half, but he just hasn’t been as consistent on both ends this season as he was a year ago. Is it a confidence issue? Potentially, but it seems as if he’s feeling the pressure of everyone who believes he should be dominating games.

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The target on his back is growing by the day and so are the harsh critics. Bridges needs to get back to being his old self, shake off the rust and prove people wrong. He hasn’t been himself lately and it’s not helping the team much.

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