Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from runaway win over Purdue

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 08: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans loses control of the ball next to Aaron Wheeler #1 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Breslin Center on January 08, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 02: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball while defended by Barret Benson #25 of the Northwestern Wildcats in the first half at Breslin Center on January 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

4. Nick Ward needs to improve defensive vs. Big Ten bigs

Defense was something Nick Ward knew he had to improve on when the season began and he struggled against Kaleb Wesson over the weekend in a win over Ohio State and then once again versus freshman big man Trevion Williams of Purdue.

The latter finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for the Boilermakers, making 6-of-10 shots from the floor.

Not only did this prove that Ward needs to improve against Big Ten big men if this team expects to beat teams like Michigan, Wisconsin, Maryland and even Nebraska, but it also goes to show that Michigan State missed out big-time on Williams who was a Spartan target.

Williams, from the Detroit area, looks like a guy who could give the Spartans problems for years to come, but Ward must improve that defense within the next couple of weeks if the Spartans expect to beat Purdue again.

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