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

3. Josh Langford still has ‘it’

What slump? Two weeks off for Josh Langford seemed to be the best thing for the sophomore as he played arguably his best game since the North Carolina outburst in the beginning of the year. He looked confident in his shot again and didn’t take many contested mid-range jumpers.

Langford’s shot selection was exactly what it should be and he was one of the reasons Zach Thomas’ first-half scoring barrage for Bucknell didn’t put the Spartans in the hole.

For those fans quick to hit the panic button on the sophomore wing, it’s time to step back and realize that everyone goes through slumps. Langford was in his own head too much and that caused him to force some shots and try to shoot his way out of it — that almost never works.

Now that he has the first-game jitters out of the way — not that he even had any — he can build off this performance and help lead the Spartans on a deep run.

This performance by Langford has Michigan State feeling good. When he scores at a decent clip, Michigan State is elite.