Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from Indiana blowout in Week 11

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 19: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his made basket late in the second half during a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Breslin Center on January 19, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 19: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Devonte Green #11 of the Indiana Hoosiers at Breslin Center on January 19, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3. The offense feeds off of Cassius Winston

The flow of the offense had been awful over the three previous games leading into Friday night’s matchup with Indiana. The Spartans weren’t able to run plays effectively nor were they able to find the open man. A reason for the struggles on offense was the slump of Cassius Winston.

Although he had 15 assists over those three games, he had seven turnovers as well. When he’s playing sloppy, the offense follows suit. He looked much better against the Hoosiers, finishing with eight assists and just one turnover, and the offense looked to run much smoother.

It’s not Miles Bridges, Nick Ward, Josh Langford or Jaren Jackson Jr. who the offense feeds off of and needs to succeed, but rather it’s Winston.

When he’s not playing well, the offense struggles and the ball movement isn’t quite the same. However, when he’s facilitating and cutting down on silly turnovers, Michigan State looks like a completely different team.

It’s no surprise that the Spartans were able to shoot over 50 percent from the floor for the first time in three games and they had 23 assists on 32 made field goals. That’s the type of ratio Michigan State has excelled with.

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