Spartan Avenue
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Michigan State Basketball: Report card for comeback win vs. No. 19 Iowa

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 08: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with his team during the second half at Breslin Center on January 08, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 77-59. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 08: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with his team during the second half at Breslin Center on January 08, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 77-59. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 21: Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Jalen Smith #25 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half at Breslin Center on January 21, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 21: Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Jalen Smith #25 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half at Breslin Center on January 21, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

KENNY GOINS. B-. . F. Senior

Kenny Goins had one of the best games of his career just three days before facing Iowa in Iowa City and it would have been shocking to see him repeat that 14-point, 12-rebound performance which would have earned him an A/A+, but he can’t be too mad about a B-.

The senior forward did what he does best: rebound. He finished with eight boards to go along with seven points on 3-of-6 shooting but he didn’t earn a higher grade because he struggled on the defensive end of the floor guarding both Luka Garza and Tyler Cook.

Goins was bullied in the paint by Iowa’s two bigs and that led to some easy layups for both guys. Garza and Cook combined for 37 points on 16-of-31 shooting and Goins picked up three fouls in the process because he couldn’t handle their size and strength down low, for the most part.

This is something I’ll give him a slight pass for because he’s not out there to post up the biggest guy on the floor, but he did look vulnerable on that end of the floor.

Goins added two assists but had two silly turnovers as well. Sometimes he tries to force the ball to Nick Ward down low and it ends up getting stolen or sailing out of bounds like it did against the Hawkeyes.

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