Michigan State Basketball: Report card for bounce-back win over Minnesota

Michigan State basketball bounced back to beat Minnesota in a big way, but which Spartan earned the highest grade on Saturday?

Michigan State needed a win and it got one at home against a struggling Minnesota team. No one knew what to expect when the game tipped off, but the energy that the 1979 National Championship team brought the alumni crowd was perfect, and the team fed off it right away.

The Spartans raced out to an early 11-point lead before holding that for the first half and then extending it in the final 20 minutes. They went on to win by 24 and the duo of Matt McQuaid and Nick Ward were a big reason for that.

Also, the Spartans took care of the basketball and got back to the basics — crisp passes, rebounding and easy fast-break buckets.

Which Spartan received the highest grade from Saturday’s 79-55 win?

A guy who had a rough game against Illinois — who didn’t? — Aaron Henry looked much improved and more energetic and under control against the Golden Gophers.

Though his only points were on an and-one, he played solid defense all afternoon long and finished with three assists and three rebounds in 24 minutes. Even better, he didn’t record a single turnover and just looked laser-focused.

There really wasn’t a ton of production coming from him as he shot the ball only twice, but he needs to work on that mid-range jumper and even 3-point shot because defenders are giving him a huge cushion that he could take advantage of with added touch from 15-plus feet out.

Henry’s and-one in the second half was impressive, making up for his ugly mid-range miss, slashing right to the basket and making a nifty layup through contact — we need to see more of that from him.