Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from slim win over Iowa

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 31: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a play during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the second half at Breslin Center on January 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 31: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a play during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the second half at Breslin Center on January 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2. Michigan State can’t seem to put together a complete game

When was the last time we can say Michigan State put together a complete game? That has to date back to the home game against Indiana a few weeks ago, right?

The Spartans had trouble in the first half with Illinois, at times in the second half versus Wisconsin, in the first half against Maryland, in the first 30 minutes against Penn State, late in the second half at Indiana and for a decent 10-minute stretch in the second half at Iowa.

Tom Izzo even admitted after the game that his team has struggled all year to put a complete game together and that continued versus Iowa.

Michigan State had multiple double-digit leads over the Hawkeyes, but the defense looked fatigued and played flat-footed as Iowa turned that wide deficit into a slim one within a minute or two.

One thing that we can say that’s positive about Michigan State is this: they are resilient even when facing a deficit in second halves.

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