Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from blowout win over Minnesota

4. Nick Ward needs to keep a level head

There was a sequence against Minnesota which proved this point. On one end of the floor, Nick Ward got the ball in the post, tried to back down his man one-on-one, and then a help-side defender came over to disrupt any potential uncontested shot, forcing him into a no-win situation. He tried to pass the ball back out, but it was too late and he turned it over.

On the other side of the floor, he was whistled for a defensive foul. Then, back on offense, he turned it over again. This may not have happened in back-to-back-to-back possessions, but it was surely in a short time frame.

Ward often gets frustrated with not drawing foul calls when going up for a layup, which is warranted, but he needs not let that carry over past that possession. He needs to keep a level head and not allow the missed calls get to him. His emotions sometimes cause him to be less effective on the floor.

Officials judge his play differently than most big men because he’s so aggressive in the post and that’s been a problem all year. However, his six turnovers on Tuesday were the product of frustration setting in and leading to a barrage of mistakes.