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Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from critical win at Nebraska

By Connor Muldowney

LINCOLN, NE - JANUARY 17: Glynn Watson Jr. #5 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers drives past Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - JANUARY 17: Glynn Watson Jr. #5 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers drives past Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 03: AAron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a call during a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 03: AAron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a call during a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

4. Freshmen are coming along nicely

Once again, we didn’t see Marcus Bingham Jr. and we saw little of both Thomas Kithier and Foster Loyer, but it was because Tom Izzo wanted to stick with his veterans in a tough road battle.

Izzo kept to that mindset other than the fact that he started Aaron Henry and played Gabe Brown for 20-plus minutes for the second straight game. Brown had just three points which was a result of a nifty and-one but he grabbed four big rebounds and played solid defense with his length. He is further along than many had expected at this point in the season and he looks like a guy who could be a sixth man next year.

Henry started for the second straight game with Kyle Ahrens out and looked much improved. He took steps forward in his first start and then scored nine points and made a big 3-pointer in the second half to break a 44-44 tie — that pretty much broke open the scoring for the Spartans late.

Only two freshmen played big minutes, but those guys are coming along nicely and it’s only a matter of time before they become crucial figures in the Spartans’ rotation — if they aren’t already.

This is exactly what Izzo wanted to see from his young guys with Ahrens and Josh Langford out and when those guys return, this team’s depth will be frightening.

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