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) 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)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/6074c81b939280c280462c1ced505a8603257bf7bb6d6e07225c10e4597839ae.jpg)
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.