Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from blowout of Minnesota

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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 02: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game against the Indiana Hoosiers in the second half at Breslin Center on February 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3. MSU can play stretches without Cassius Winston and be OK

Foster Loyer played 11 minutes which is as many as he saw in the previous five games combined. It may not have been by choice, but Tom Izzo got his freshman backup point guard onto the floor the most he has all season long — well, he’s had a couple of 11-minute outings before.

Cassius Winston found himself in foul trouble early on and Izzo’s hand was forced. He either had to play Matt McQuaid at point or insert Loyer and Kenny Goins’ injury forced the latter.

The freshman didn’t score a bucket or really put together much of a line, but he didn’t completely crumble under the pressure of leading the offense. He made a couple of sloppy passes and had two fouls, but he ran the floor well and even found Thomas Kithier on a nifty pass in the first half.

What this showed is that Loyer can play 2-3 minute stretches at a time and Winston can sit for 10 minutes every game and the team will be just fine. McQuaid can handle primary ball-handling duties if he needs to, but Loyer held his own with the ball in his hands.

No, it wasn’t a good game for Loyer, but even so, the Spartans held a double-digit lead throughout.

A week ago, if Winston sat for 16 minutes in a single game, you probably would have assumed the Spartans lost by double-digits — maybe they can win without him playing 35-40 minutes.

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