Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from first-round win over Bucknell

Michigan State was able to hold off upset-minded Bucknell on Friday evening in Detroit. What did we learn about these Spartans?

Upset-minded Bucknell put up a fight, but in the end, Michigan State came away with an 82-78 win at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The home crowd got behind the Spartans and led them to an opening round win over the Bison, winners of the Patriot League.

While the final score looks as if it was a close contest, the opposite was actually true for most of the second half. In fact, the second half was all Michigan State until the final couple of minutes. The Spartans were up by 18 with just a few minutes left and then Bucknell started hitting 3-pointer after 3-pointer.

Michigan State’s defense in the second half was the different. Well that, and Miles Bridges. What’d we learn from the round of 64 victory?

5. Michigan State needs more Jaren Jackson Jr.

Let’s face it, when Jaren Jackson Jr. is on the floor, Michigan State is an infinitely better team. He makes the Spartans more dangerous on both sides of the ball, but he often gets himself in early foul trouble.

Such was the case versus the Bison and there were a couple of ticky-tack fouls, but he must avoid putting himself in that position. The Spartans need him.

Jackson Jr. played a measly 18 minutes, scoring six points with four rebounds and two blocks. He had three fouls, but two of them came early in the first half and the third was early in the second half. That gave him a quick ticket to the bench.

If Michigan State is going to make a run to the Final Four, Jackson Jr. must find a way to stay on the floor for 20-25 minutes. No more having two fouls before the opening tip.