Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from critical win at Nebraska

1. This year’s team has serious grit

Ugly is one way to describe the win, but no one is complaining — OK, maybe Tom Izzo is. Michigan State marched into Lincoln in front of a sellout crowd in a hostile environment and beat one of the top teams in the Big Ten and a likely tournament team coming off a huge 15-point road win over Indiana.

The Cornhuskers played tough, they played hard and they gave the Spartans all they could handle, physically, but Michigan State prevailed.

The grit that this team possesses is unmatched. Compared to last year’s team, this group is an absolute force. A year ago, would the Spartans have beaten Nebraska on the road after getting punched in the mouth over and over? It’s possible, but that’s become this team’s calling card.

The 2018-19 Spartans are tough — not something that was said about last year’s squad.

Michigan State has an identity. It’ll beat you with the fast break, on defense and on the glass and just wear opponents down slowly. Gritty play wins the day and this team continues to show just why it’s so fun to watch.

Could this end up being Izzo’s best team in the past 10 years, or so? It’s possible but there’s a widespread belief that it’s already better than his most talented squad from a year ago.