Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from 2019 Big Ten tourney title win

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 17: Matt McQuaid #20 and Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans pose for photos after beating the Michigan Wolverines 65-60 in the the championship game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 17: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during the championship game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

3. Matt McQuaid has done a complete 180

Remember watching Matt McQuaid a season ago? The sharpshooter from Texas was brought to Michigan State to be just that, but Tom Izzo probably didn’t realize he would have gotten so much more from him at this point in his career.

The senior is now a captain and arguably the best defender on the team. He’s also not shying away from his shot — something he did a ton of last season.

We would see pump fake after pump fake from McQuaid through his first three seasons and he would always be hesitant to look for his own shot. Not this year.

Izzo actually challenged him at halftime with the Spartans down by eight and he responded by posting a career-high 27 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the 3-point line. He would have never attempted that many threes in a three-game span two years ago.

The change we’ve seen from McQuaid has been monumental as he’s done a complete 180 since even is junior year.

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