Defense continues to be Matt McQuaid’s strong suit — well that and making clutch 3-pointers. There’s one thing that McQuaid has struggled with, though, and that’s making baskets inside the arc and he usually attempts at least one off-balance mid-range jumper with his feet not set and his body far from square to the hoop.
I only counted one of those off-balance jumpers on Wednesday as the rest were 3-point attempts as he finished 3-for-7 from deep, including the most important shot of the game which got Tom Izzo to fist pump his arm nearly off his body.
Get you a head coach who gets hype like Tom. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/mB4Iz1UoQX
— Michigan State on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) February 21, 2019
What got Izzo to do this? With the Spartans down 40-37 and needing some sort of spark with about 12 minutes left, McQuaid took a Cassius Winston pass and got a three up with little space, drilling it right in a defender’s face to tie the game. The rest is history.
McQuaid finished with 11 points, including three big 3-pointers, as well as five rebounds and two assists all while playing impressive defense.