Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from blowout win over Oakland

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 21: Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans drives past Tray Maddoc Jr. #2 of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the first half at Breslin Center on December 21, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 21: Karmari Newman #10 of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies drives past AAron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at Breslin Center on December 21, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

4. Three-point defense must improve

If there was one downside to Friday night’s 30-point win over a team that’s usually a thorn in the Spartans’ sides, it was the inability to guard the three.

Michigan State’s defense in the post was solid, but the Grizzlies were able to get most of their baskets from long-range to drop. In fact, they finished the night 13-for-23 from long-range, accounting for half of their points in East Lansing.

If Michigan State gets in the Grizzlies’ faces (though many of the shots were contested) with hands straight up, they make just 7-8 of those and the Spartans may win by 40.

This has been a growing trend with this team and it’s been this way for years. Michigan State can defend the post with the best of ’em, but can’t seem to shut down the 3-point line. Oakland’s off-balance 3-point barrage on Friday night gave some Spartan fans flashbacks of Middle Tennessee, but luckily, the Spartans were able to score at will on the other end.

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