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Michigan State Basketball: 5 keys to victory over Michigan in season finale

By Connor Muldowney

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 24: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans and his teammates prepare to play the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 24, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 24: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans and his teammates prepare to play the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 24, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 24: Cassius Winston #5 and Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans react after a 77-70 win over the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 24, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 24: Cassius Winston #5 and Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans react after a 77-70 win over the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 24, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

3. Defend the perimeter

This was one of my keys in the first matchup, and it remains the same this time around. Michigan can get hot from long range and make teams pay for not aggressively guarding against the three-ball.

You won’t be able to find a single player in Michigan’s starting five that isn’t able to make threes. Jon Teske, Isaiah Livers, Jordan Poole, Iggy Brazdeikis and even Zavier Simpson made a few against the Spartans in the first matchup. Heck, if he’s healthy, Charles Matthews can take advantage of some space on the perimeter, although that’s not his best shot.

Michigan has dudes who can make threes and that’s what the Spartans need to be aware of and not give space like they did to Indiana’s Justin Smith just because ‘he had just four threes coming in’.

The Spartans need to lock down and keep guys like Livers and Poole away from open perimeter shots. Switches will be key defensively because Michigan will set plenty of picks and hedging Simpson could create some problems for the Wolverines.

Lock down that perimeter and force the dribble-drive — even though Simpson usually makes his shots near the hoop.

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