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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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LINCOLN, NE – JANUARY 17: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans attempts a shot over Isaac Copeland Jr. #14 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – JANUARY 17: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans attempts a shot over Isaac Copeland Jr. #14 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

2. Cassius Winston is looking like the Big Ten’s best player

If we learned anything from Thursday night’s big win in Lincoln, it had to be that Cassius Winston is currently the best player in the Big Ten — no disrespect to the rest of the conference’s top players.

The junior point guard was coming off one of the worst games of his career against Penn State and Tom Izzo called him out following the contest. How did he respond? He posted a career-high 29 points to go along with six assists on 9-of-15 shooting. He was a menace on the offensive end of the court and looked like the best player in the conference.

If the season ended today, Winston would win the Big Ten Player of the Year award, no question about it.

Michigan State doesn’t win that game against the Cornhuskers in Lincoln without Winston posting some career numbers and they may not win a number of games this year without him. That’s exactly what it means to be the most valuable player in the league.

Not many guys can answer the call like Winston does when Izzo is on his case and some would shut down, but that just goes to show how great of a player he has become.

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