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Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from title-clinching Illinois win

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Te'Jon Lucas #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in the first half at the Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Te'Jon Lucas #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in the first half at the Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans late in the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans late in the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3. This team’s depth is incredible

How many teams in college basketball can do what Michigan State does on a nightly basis? What I mean by that is the Spartans can have players like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Nick Ward struggle offensively, yet they win by 20 points.

There are games when Miles Bridges doesn’t do much on the offensive end — he scored 13 combined points in the two previous games — and the Spartans still end up winning. Cassius Winston can have an off-game and Michigan State finds a way to come out on top. Josh Langford goes through rough stretches and Michigan State still replaces his production effectively.

This team’s depth is absolutely incredible and it has to be one of the deepest in Michigan State history. Tom Izzo usually goes about 9-10 deep with his lineups, but this year has been even more special with 10-11 players seeing action on any given night — and that’s with Kyle Ahrens missing the season with an injury.

Michigan State has a senior captain, a senior forward with Final Four starting experience, a transfer who has been through it all, a sharpshooter who has been on fire lately, a freshman with a bright future and a former walk-on who has earned big minutes all coming off the bench.

This team is loaded and that might just separate itself from the pack in March.

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