Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Spartans will beat UCLA

Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Spartans will beat UCLA in Vegas Invitational

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 06: Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball against the Kansas Jayhawks during the State Farm Champions Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

5 of 5

EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 18: Hunter Vick #20 of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles drives to the basket while being defended by Kyle Ahrens #0 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at Breslin Center on November 18, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

1. Defense continues to improve

Michigan State’s defense has been getting better by the game. First, it was giving up 92 points to Kansas, then the No. 1 team in college basketball, and then it was 82 points to Florida Gulf Coast.

And then Tom Izzo got angry. His team was allowing 87 points per game and he felt like changes needed to be made — borrowing pads from Mark Dantonio to help in practice was a good start. That seemed to have an immediate impact though the talent level of opponents was decreasing.

The Spartans held UL-Monroe to 59 points and Tennessee Tech to just 33. Yes, the Spartans held an actual Division 1 college basketball team to just 33 points. The defense stepped up and defended the perimeter even better.

There are still some liabilities on the defensive side of the ball, such as Foster Loyer as a backup point guard, but the Spartans have proven they can actually stay in front of people — something they didn’t do in the first two games.

Next. MSU basketball: 10 bold predictions for 2018-19. dark

UCLA will be a tough challenge, but if the defense plays like it did since FGCU, it’ll be a long day for the Bruins.

Home/Spartans Basketball