Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons not to panic after Michigan loss

Although Michigan State basketball dropped a crucial home game to Michigan, it’s not time to panic about the direction of this team.

The temperatures are falling, but the heat is being turned up on Michigan State basketball. The Spartans began the season with a 15-1 record before the past week. Michigan State is in a minor slump in which it has gone 1-2 with an overtime victory at home against Rutgers.

Losing to in-state rival Michigan in East Lansing was when panic really began to seep into the fan base as Michigan State faithful watched as the clock ticked down to 0:00 and the Wolverines were celebrating on the Spartans’ home floor.

Although Michigan State is in a slump right now and down after the loss to Michigan, there’s no reason to panic just yet.

Why shouldn’t Michigan State fans panic after the Spartans’ recent slump?

5. Defense will only improve after slump

Although there’s no proof of this happening after the losses to Ohio State and Michigan, the Spartans’ defense has to improve. Before the past week, the Spartans had one of the top defenses in all of college basketball, but allowing over 70 points in three straight games has people panicking.

Teams go through slumps all the time and this is also the case with Tom Izzo’s squads over the years. It’s just part of college basketball. It’s nearly impossible to be perfect game in and game out for 30-plus contests.

Izzo will be drilling defense in practice this week and luckily the Spartans get nearly seven days off between the loss to Michigan and home game against Indiana. This acts as almost a bye week and this will reset the system of the team, which could be a time to repair the defense.

This team hasn’t played like an Izzo-coached squad, but that’ll change soon.