Michigan State Basketball: 5 keys to a 2018 Final Four run

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 10: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a call during a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Breslin Center on January 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2. Nick Ward, Jaren Jackson Jr. must stay out of foul trouble

Foul trouble has hurt the Spartans for most of the season, especially with Nick Ward and Jaren Jackson Jr. It seems as if those two had two fouls as soon as the game tipped off. The over-aggressiveness of both bigs has caused officials to blow the whistle early and often and that must change in the tourney.

Michigan State will likely have an advantage in the post against whoever it faces, including Duke, and the Spartans need to utilize that strength in order to get opponents into foul trouble by trying to slow down Ward, Jackson Jr., Gavin Schilling and Xavier Tillman.

Not only does Michigan State need to stay out of foul trouble in the post, but the Spartan bigs need to crash the boards and force opponents to foul in order to avoid easy second-chance points.

If the bigs can stay out of foul trouble and play 20-25 minutes per game, the Spartans are going to be extremely difficult to beat. When Ward and Jackson Jr. are patrolling the paint, teams have a difficult time doing anything but settling for outside shots.

Jackson Jr. and Ward’s foul troubles have a bigger effect on the overall game plan than some may think.

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